I am writing from Australia. We have the same gripes as you guys and worse lately, by far. The gambling industry here explains that the return to players has not changed...just the machines have changed...that means that more money is spent per spin with more paylines....and we are now betting more per spin.
I do not believe that to be the only cause of lower perceived payouts. The lower payouts are too consistent.
When I began playing poker machines I could have a good night out for $50-$100. NOW...an average time out of say 2-3 hours costs $600-800 before you can turn around usually. It is woeful. Sure our money spent per spin might be higher...but then shouldn't the rate of return be higher...when we ever DO win? And that is rarer too!
We get told that winning is impossible because the house always takes a stake...but frankly I wish that I could still have back 87% of what I have spent over 15 years of pokies! A win is now so remote...and when it does come it is so low...that there is nothing more to think than the casinos are tweaking machines.
If ever the casinos are questioned we run the risk of being told that we are deluded (and maybe we are in our thinking....though our misunderstanding is understandable with all the secrecy that shrouds the workings of this industry)...but if we can no longer have a decent night out for a fair and reasonable 'spend'....then the casinos have a case to answer...in bringing in more 'expensive' machines...when they also promote pokies as a 'legitimate, fun recreation'. Losing hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per time is NOT fun for anyone...and machines should be changed back to 'slower and lower'...if that is what must be done!
It is also amazing that you guys still seem happy to bring pokies into your country...eg Maryland. There is a big push here in Australia to have the wretched machines completely BANNED! We have all had a gutful. It is no longer a legitimate, 'value for money' recreation!