Class ii slot machines
You’re making a wager on an unknown outcome. What the class II slot games do is take the result of the bingo game to determine what happens in the slot game.
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How do class II slot machines work?
Many gambling enthusiasts in the united states are at least vaguely familiar with the indian gaming regulatory act, US law pub.L. 100–497, 25 U.S.C. § 2701.
Passed in 1988, this federal law established how indian (native american) gaming would be managed and regulated. The act included definitions for 3 types or classes of gambling games. They are usually referred to as:
- Class I games
- Class II games
- Class III games
Congress passed the law to help native american tribes and nations improve their economic status after more than a century of oppression and exclusion in mainstream US society. Many native american groups wanted to build land-based casinos, which would not only attract tourists but create jobs.
There was considerable resistance to this movement in many states, most of which did not allow gambling of any kind. To help resolve the conflicts and provide some clarity between treaties, state law, and federal law, the US government established a framework that eliminated some barriers to native american investment in gambling industries. The law also provided some regulatory limits to respect state laws.
The indian gaming regulatory act introduced some confusion into the worldwide lexicon of gambling games because the distinctions are only observed within US jurisdictions. Other nations regulate gambling with different definitions.
But as the internet became a worldwide communications network in the 1990s and 2000s, most of the content published about gambling dealt with US law and casinos. Although non-US casinos have to observe their own laws and regulations, players who research gambling law on the internet must be careful to distinguish between USA gambling definitions and other gambling definitions.
What are the 3 classes of gambling games?
Class I gambling includes all traditional native american gambling games, most of which are only used for ceremonial purposes or in the contexts of cultural-specific celebrations and ceremonies. These games, which are only available at small stakes, are completely regulated by the native american tribes and nations.
Class II gambling includes all variations of bingo games, player-vs-player card games like poker (where the house does not play a hand in the game), tip jars, pull-tab games, punch card games, and anything similar. Some people mistakenly include lottery games in this category, but the law clearly excludes state-run lotteries and similar games from class II.
Class III gambling consists of everything that is not included under class I gambling or class II gambling. That means the lottery games you play are class III gambling games. Slot games, roulette, dice games, and card games like blackjack where the house is also a player all fall under the class III gambling games category.
So how can there be class II slot machine games?
If you’ve ever visited a native american casino–like the winstar casino in oklahoma, you’ve almost certainly played some class II slot machine games. They look much like traditional slot machine games. They have 3 to 5reels with symbols on them, they pay jackpots, and they do everything else you expect of a slot game.
And yet, they are not slot machine games.
A clever company in franklin, TN, known as video gaming technologies, or VGT, developed electronic bingo games for native american casinos that use the results of those bingo games to emulate slot game action.
In other words, the slot machine cabinets contain two screens, one that displays the results of the bingo game and one that displays the results of the simulated slot game. This dual visualization of the gambling game takes advantage of the fact that at the core of all gambling games is a simple principle:
You’re making a wager on an unknown outcome. What the class II slot games do is take the result of the bingo game to determine what happens in the slot game.
What’s cool about this approach is that VGT was able to add bonus games to the bingo games that work like slot machine bonus games. They’ve developed a huge selection of bingo games that play like slot games. VGT is so successful they were acquired by aristocrat leisure limited in 2014, although the former VGT still operates as an independent subsidiary company of aristocrat.
How do class III slot machine games work?
The key to the hybridization of bingo and slot machine games is the random number generator. Mathematicians have been developing algorithms to calculate unpredictable numbers for hundreds of years. For a detailed look at the concept, read “how do random number generators work?” on jackpots online. Although the RNG does not produce a truly random number, in typical circumstances the number is random enough. Even so, slot game designers use random numbers in multiple ways.
Before I continue, I should mention that US law requires slot game designers to work by different rules from other countries’ slot games. In the united kingdom, for example, the outcome of a slot game is determined by a single random number. In the united states, the outcome of the class III slot game is determined by several random numbers.
To begin with, an electronic slot machine or online slot game uses a software concept called an array to represent each reel. Computer arrays work like rows of boxes, where each box holds one piece of information. The arrays for slot reels may have anywhere from 22 to 256 slots. Each slot in the array holds a symbol marker that tells the slot machine game what to display on the screen.
Slot game designers use special algorithms to decide how often each type of symbol should appear in each slot array. The frequency of the symbol’s use in the array and the size of the array determine how likely or unlikely it is for any single spin of the slot game reels to create one or more winning combinations. The game’s software may award prizes for one or more winning combinations at a time, depending on how many pay lines the game offers.
The random number generator produces a new number every few milliseconds. The number is placed in a temporary memory location called a register. The slot game software grabs the latest random number from the register and uses that to determine what happens next. For example, a 5 reel slot game needs 5 random numbers to pick how many slot positions will be spun on each reel before the reels stop in new locations. If the slot game awards random prizes like progressive jackpots, these are determined by additional random numbers.
How class II slot machine games differ from class III slot machine games
What VGT did was create bingo game software that determines the actual prizes awarded to players.
But to make the bingo games look like slot games, they used the bingo game’s random results as if they are the random numbers that class III slot games use.
To ensure that the slot game winning combinations match the bingo game prize values the VGT games work more like slot games in the united kingdom. The game determines what prize was won and then creates a short video simulation of the slots landing on that winning combination.
Conclusion
How do class II slot machines work?
Either way, the slot games award prizes on a random basis. You could say that US gaming laws are paranoid in that class III slot game software is required to closely emulate the physical spinning of slot reels. In fact, physical slot reel games have been displaying results of these virtual, in-memory array games for more than 20 years. So even when you see physical reels spinning, their stop positions have already been determined within microseconds of your pressing SPIN.
The class II slot gaming experience is a fun gaming experience.
But the bingo game is displayed on a small screen, because VGT’s designers have found that players don’t enjoy looking at bingo patterns as much as they enjoy looking at 3 to 5 reels spinning and stopping on various symbols.
For the player, what matters is that they’re gambling for real money on an unpredictable outcome–and they can enjoy an entertaining evening with friends or loved ones.
CLASS II SLOT MACHINES EXPLAINED
In a previous article, we explained the general differences between class III and class II slot machines. Most of our coverage here will be about ‘class III’ machines since those are the type you’re most likely to encounter in a major casino jurisdiction (las vegas, reno, atlantic city) or online. There’s still a fair amount of ‘class II‘ machines out there and it’s good to have an understanding of what they are and how they work.
The most common place to encounter a class II machine is at a slots parlor attached to a horse racing track or at a native american casino. The class II games have become more sophisticated as the technological tools that drive them have improved. They’ve reached the point that most ‘casual gamblers‘ won’t be able to tell the difference between a class II and class III slot machine. There are significant differences in terms of strategy and tactics (particularly with class II video poker machines) but for the ‘recreational’ player, these are of little relevance.
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WHAT ARE CLASS II SLOT MACHINES
Simply put, class II slot machines attempt to replicate the traditional ‘las vegas style‘ class III slot machine experience while staying within regulatory guidelines. The class system is outlined by the federal government in the indian gaming regulatory act and this act defines class II as “the game commonly known as bingo (whether or not electronic, computer, or other technological aids are used in connection therewith) and, if played in the same location as the bingo, pull tabs, punch board, tip jars, instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo.”
Initially, this legalized high stakes bingo games which were popular at one point and held in warehouse like ‘bingo halls’. As tribal councils began to upgrade their gaming offerings they sought a more ‘casino like‘ atmosphere and experience. In some cases, they were able to successfully add class III games to their offerings but in some area, the political climate was such that this was not an option. It was in this environment that the ‘class II’ slot machines were born. The seminole hard rock properties in florida have been at the cutting edge of these games and spared no expense to replicate a class III experience in a class II jurisdiction. They hired engineers that had worked for major slot machine manufacturers like IGT to develop the in-house computer system to make it work while their casino operations side worked with slots and video poker manufacturers to create games that would work within their system.
HOW CLASS II SLOT MACHINES WORK
It’s hard for most people to tell the difference other than the LED bingo card in the corner of the screen that shows the card patterns with every spin. Seminole hard rock casino operations VP explains what happens ‘under the hood’ to satisfy the legal requirements of a bingo game: “we have a 20-millisecond window, and anyone (in the casino) pushing the play button during that window is put in the game for that common ball draw. It must be at least two players, but the maximum is unlimited. If it is a minimum of two, one of them gets a bingo—a winning pattern.”
The odds of specific bingo game wins are then extrapolated to slot or video poker results with similar odds. There are some other algorithmic processes to determine the outcome on some games but the end result is the same: you pull a slot machine handle and spin the reels. Between that time and the time they stop spinning you are imperceptibly ‘entered’ into a multiplayer bingo game. The results are ‘reported‘ by the pattern of the reels when they stop and if you’re lucky you win a prize. You’ve had an experience virtually identical to a slot machine in las vegas while ‘behind the scenes’ the result has been determined in such a way to be legal in a jurisdiction where bingo is permitted but slot machines based on random number generators are not.
Casinos that operate class II slot machines insist that they offer similar odds to class III machines. The analogy they use is of a scratch-off lottery ticket–instead of scratching off a card you’re pulling a slot machine handle to determine if you ‘win a prize‘. Although there’s likely a lot of truth to this concept most serious gambling experts suggest that you seek out class III games whenever possible. This is particularly true for video poker–the class II video poker games are essentially unplayable (we’ll discuss that in detail in a future article).
Tips on playing class II slot machines
How to beat pot O gold machines
Players sometimes believe that winning on a class II slot machine is easier than winning on a class III machine. Class II machines are similar to class III machines, each machine has a pull handle or touch screens and are relatively the same size. Usually class II machines are for games such as bingo and other random number generated games of chance. A class II machine lets a central service determine if you win or lose each hand.
Winning strategies
Since class II machines are usually linked together with other machines to try and win the same pot of money, some people believe they will not win if someone has won recently. Therefore, a winning strategy is to play machines which have not recently paid out a jackpot. Another common strategy is to play more often, by playing the slot machine on a regular basis some players believe they will increase their odds of winning. Since keno and bingo are popular games for class II machines, some players choose to use the same numbers every time, which they believe will increase their odds of winning.
No strategy
Class II machines are the ultimate in games of chance, and a player who goes into their gambling session without a strategy is just as likely to win as someone else who has a full strategy. All players who are playing on the same set of class II machines are competing for the jackpot. Playing without a specific strategy is a tip many gamblers use; this allows them to enjoy their time at the casino without worrying about following a specific plan or program.
Graduated betting
The idea behind graduated betting is to bet more money when you are winning and to bet less money when you are losing. Betting on a quarter slot machine would start with one quarter. If the player won any money at all on that turn, the player would bet two quarters on the next turn. This process continues until the player loses. Once the player does not win on a turn, they return to betting just one quarter at a time. Graduated betting is done on class II slot machines as well as other gambling games.
Class II slot machines explained – does it matter?
Slots has been a thing for eons. Over the decades, it has simply evolved and changed in form. But at its core, the gambling basics have remained unchanged. In the past decade or two, the industry has experienced many ‘tech upgrades’ that have increased the number of punters in the world. Today, you don’t have to take a trip down to las vegas. All you need is a steady internet connection an online casino you trust and you are set.
Speaking of casinos, (land-based or online), there are two types of slot machines they feature; class III and class II. The two slots machines operate differently. The class II slot machines are common in slots parlors. They are attached to native american casinos or horse racing tracks. Owing to improved tech tools, class II slot machines have become more sophisticated. So much so that casual punters have a hard time telling them apart from class III slot machines.
But you are in luck. In this piece, we shall scrape off the confusion by explaining the basics and answering some common questions related to class II slot machines.
What exactly are class II slot machines?
It’s simple. The class II slot machines are designed to replicate class III slot machines while remaining within the confines of the regulatory guidelines. The class system is clearly stated and defined in the indian gaming regulatory act by the federal government. The act defines all class II games as bingo regardless of whether computer, electronic or any other tech gadgets are used with it and if it is played in the same room with bingo or any games similar to bingo.
The immediate consequence of this regulatory act was that the high stake bingo games were legalized. Yes, the bingo games held in halls were super popular at some point. But with time, as developers sought to upgrade their gaming experience, they leaned towards a casino-like environment and experience. Though they managed to incorporate class III casinos in some of their gaming options, they were met with a lot of resistance and legal issues.
It was during this time that class II slot machines were designed. Since their inception, key players in the industry have been working around the clock to replicate class III machine experience in class II jurisdictions. Engineers have been contracted to build in-house systems while slot manufacturers were brought on board to create games that would run on the designed systems
How do they work?
It’s true, aside from the LED bingo card which displays your card patterns for every spin; it’s really hard to differentiate the class II from the class III. The big part of the difference lies in how the game operates. So let’s peep under the hood and see how class II slots machines are designed to meet legal requirements of being a bingo game.
First, there is usually a 20-millisecond window. Any person that presses the ‘play’ button during this window enters into a common draw. For this draw to run there needs to be a minimum of two players (there is no maximum number). If there are only two players, one of them will get the winning pattern.
So here’s what happens when a video or slot poker is brought into the picture. Designers extrapolate odds of specific bingo games to video or slot games’ results that have similar odds. Usually, there are extra algorithmic processes that are in play which help to determine the outcomes but usually, the end results are similar – you pull the machine handle and the reels spin.
From the moment you pull the handle to the millisecond before they stop, you become one of the participants in a multiplayer bingo game. The results of the bingo game are ‘reported’ by the reels when they halt. If you are lucky, you’ll win some cash. So now if you think about it, you’ll have had a las vegas slot machine experience while in the background, the machine meets all the requirements which make it legal in class II slot machine jurisdictions – areas where bingo is legal but RNG machines are not.
Now, most casinos that run the class II slot machines claim that their odds are similar to those of class III machines. This is how they explain it – it’s more like a scratch-off lottery card. But instead of scratching you’ll be pulling a handle.
And though this analogy is close to the real thing, it’s not quite accurate.
What do class II slots look like?
While they look extremely similar to class III machines, the main way in determining if it is a class II machine is to look on the display for a bingo table. It will look quite obvious and will indicate that the machine is using bingo logic rather than the typical RNG of a class III machine.
Here’s an example below – notice that there is a bingo table located at the bottom right of the display.
Should you play class II slot games?
This is a really good question. And believe it or not, it’s pretty common. But despite this, its answer is not straight forward. But here’s something that will help you make that decision.
Gambling experts insist that class II games are similar to lottery scratch tickets than class II machines. You see, with lottery scratch tickets, the prize is determined before the printing of the tickets. Class II games may have shorter realization times but unfortunately, they aren’t random. The moment you pull the slot handle, the outcome of whether you have won or not and what prize you have won has already been made. The reels are only there to deliver the news.
Why do casinos prefer class II slot machines?
Why is it that modern casinos seem to have a mix of class II and class III slot machines and games? And why is it that even with the mix, they are skewed towards class II games?
Well, first, the IGRA granted casinos self-regulating powers when it came to class II games. However, with class III games, they must be officially undergo rigorous testing through third parties and approved goverment organizations. This is to ensure that the randomness and reliability of the machine is deemed fair.
Second, casinos don’t have to pay taxes on the revenues generated from the class II games. But on the class III games, they are obligated to pay taxes.
Thirdly, the odds on winning in a class II game are worse because you are put against a large pool of players to win instead of relying on RNG.
There you have it. Everything you need to make an informed decision. Hopefully, after reading this class II and class III slot machines don’t confuse you anymore. So with that go have a ‘happily ever after’ gambling experience.
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLASS III AND CLASS II SLOTS
In many of the strategy articles about gaming machines–video poker, video keno, slot machines, etc.–we emphasize the role of the random number generator (RNG) and with good reason. The RNG is the ‘brains‘ of these machines and understanding how it works is essential. It’s essential not only in terms of developing a proper strategy and selecting the right machines but it’s also important to dispel many of the incorrect and potentially costly player myths. Once the player understands that the concept of randomness on these games is legit he no longer holds on to long-running superstitions and conspiracy theories.
There is one major exception to the ‘RNG based‘ gaming machine and that is a class II slot machine. These machines (which can also include video poker and keno-style games) operate differently from the slot machines that we’ve been discussing. You won’t find many of them online but they’re fairly common in US land-based casinos due to the downright silly gambling laws in some jurisdictions. Throw in the always absurd involvement of the federal government and you’ve got the ‘class‘ system for casino games. For this reason alone, it’s a good idea to understand the definition of and differences between class III and class II slot machines.
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CLASS III SLOT MACHINES
We’ll talk about the class III slot machine first since it’s the easiest to explain. It’s easy because it simply refers to the type of slot machine that we’ve been discussing extensively in the strategy articles on this website. You won’t hear the ‘class’ system discussed in casinos in las vegas since it is derived from and refers to properties and jurisdictions under the auspices of the indian gaming regulatory act. This act establishes three classes of games. Class I gaming is defined as “traditional indian gaming, which may be part of tribal ceremonies and celebrations” and social gaming for minimal prizes. This class falls under the jurisdiction of individual tribal councils and doesn’t concern us.
We’ll skip class II for the moment–class III gaming is anything that doesn’t fall under class I or class II. Simply put, class III is traditional ‘las vegas’ or ‘casino-style’ gambling. The table games like roulette, blackjack and craps would all fall under class III as would the slot machines and video poker games you’d find in any las vegas casino. As far as it concerns slot machines, these are the RNG based games that we’ve described in the previous content in this section. While each individual machine is programmed to pay back a certain percentage of what it takes in it is otherwise completely random. You have the possibility of winning a jackpot on any spin of the wheel if the random numbers generated by the machine fall in your favor.
CLASS II SLOT MACHINES
Before we explain class II slot machines, it’s helpful to understand what the federal government defines as ‘class II gaming‘. According to the indian gaming regulatory act it is “the game commonly known as bingo (whether or not electronic, computer, or other technological aids are used in connection therewith) and, if played in the same location as the bingo, pull tabs, punch board, tip jars, instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo.” at one point, it was very common for tribes to offer high stakes bingo games in big warehouse like bingo halls. That has become less common as gaming has become more hi-tech and tribal gaming operators have sought to capture a more ‘vegas like‘ vibe in their gaming offerings.
All of that leads us to the class II slot machine. In theory, the fact that the definition “specifically excludes slot machines or electronic facsimiles of any game of chance from the definition of class II games” would seem problematic. There was at one point some contention over this proviso in florida–the seminole hard rock properties there are one of the industry leaders of ‘class II slots‘–but that’s been nearly a decade ago. For now, everyone seems content with the arrangement–presumably since everyone is making money.
In theory, the class II slot machine falls into the part that permits ‘electronic, computer or other technological aids‘ used in conjunction with a bingo game. Class II machines are in many ways indistinguishable from their class III cousins. In fact, many of the same popular titles you’d see in a las vegas casino will be found in a class III property. The big difference is that the results of each spin are based on electronic bingo games involving multiple machines throughout the casino. You’ll even see a little LED bingo card in the top right-hand corner of the game. These bingo games are conducted in the background while the player experiences a virtually identical slot machine experience that they’d have on a class III machine. Any relationship to actual bingo is tenuous, though in some jurisdictions the player has to touch the screen to daub the bingo card to collect winnings.
In future articles, we’ll talk about the class II machines in greater detail and give you some specific strategy tips for this type of game.
VGT slot machines
you’re an american gambler and you don’t remember seeing VGT slot machines,
then you probably live near one of the major gambling hubs in america. VGT
isn’t as prominent in las vegas, reno, atlantic city, or tunica, where IGT
and a few other companies dominate the class III slot machine market. Video
gaming technologies, inc. Is in the native-american casino niche. VGT
supplies class II gaming machines to indian casinos and other gaming venues
in the less frequented parts of the country. Again, you might not know the
distinction between these two types of casino devices, so before I discuss
VGT in too much depth, I want to talk about class II slots.
What are class II slots?
Class II slot machines are known as “video lottery terminals”, while class
III machines are called “vegas-style” slots. Vlts are connected to a
centralized computer. This computer determines the result of each wager.
Each machine linked to the system receives an equal chance of winning. VLT
payouts come from a limited prize pool, much like the scratch-off lottery
tickets you would buy at a convenience store or other vendor. Unlike common
perception, class II games may or may not have a skill element.
Some gaming machines have characteristics of both class II and class III
devices. In these cases, they are all considered class 2 machines. By law,
if even one characteristic is in the class II designation, it’s considered
in that classification. This is an important distinction, because states
only allow a certain number of classification III licenses. Those in the 2nd
classification aren’t regulated as closely.
Characteristics to note are whether you’re playing against the house (c3) or
against other players who’re competing for the same prize (c2). Whereas any
result is possible in a game with a payout schedule only, in the class II
games, a win doesn’t occur every spin, but the game continues until someone
win. Also, the player must be active, recognizing when they win and
announcing the result, like in bingo. Finally, all players play from the
same set of numbers.
Video gaming technologies games list
Now that you know the market video gaming technologies targets, let’s talk
about some of the games they market. The company offers 3-reel mechanical
games, 5-reel mechanical games, 5-reel video games, bonus blast, charity
gaming machines, “mexico games”, and multi-games. Each of these provides a
different gaming experience.
3-reel mechanical games
The largest list of gaming choices from VGT is the 3-reel games. Many of
these play like classic machines, though the graphics and sound quality are
21st century. Examples of these games include lucky ducky, 777 bourbon
street, caribbean cash, star-spangled sevens, quarterback cash, red zone
cash rush, squirrels gone nuts!, tito puento: king of mambo, mr.
Millionaire, red hot rubies x2, celia cruz: the queen of salsa, double
freedom wheels, and greenback jack.
5-reel video and mechanical games
The company offers four 5-reel mechanical games: free spins of fortune,
gemstone falls, land of free spins, and pirate’s paradise. If you prefer
5-reel video slots games, you have three options: silver dollar shootout,
the hunt for neptune’s gold, and cameloot. The top award on the first of
these three games is 25,000 credits, while the top fixed jackpot on the
second and third video slots listed are 50,000.
Bonus blast features
“the bonus blast” features are customizable bonus games offered on various
gaming machines or types of games for video gaming technologies. These offer
a different gambling experience for players. These games have intriguing
titles like rainin’ rubies, winning wheel, victory lap, lucky pluck, red
screen free-spin, pick a safe, pick a duck, and pick a pot. You’ll find
these one live-call bingo mechanical or video slot games.
Charity games
Under the charity games, you’ll find titles like red ball roundup. This
series of games has four iterations: red, blue, golden fan, and jade dragon
8’s. Games like mr. Millionaire, esmerelda’s dream, and crazy bill’s gold
strike are also available. A couple of these titles are also multi-game
platforms, meaning you can enjoy several games on each box. For instance,
red ball roundup, lucky leprechaun’s loot, jewels & gems, and red hot rubies
all offer 10 games. This is where you’ll find video keno for the VGT
company.
Mexico games
Some of the mexico games also have the multi-game feature. Eighteen
different mexican slots have been designed by video gaming technologies.
Some of the games I’ve already discussed are on that list (el millonario),
but some spanish-language games include carerra de oro, celia crus: la reina
de la salsa, gol de oro, diana cazadora, pancho pesos, locura por los
diamantes, joyas Y gemas, and la fortuna del gambusino. More titles exist,
but the idea is to design spanish language slot machines for an emerging
market of spanish speaking clients.
VGT slots review
Once you get over the word “bingo” plastered across the top of the screen,
class 3 machines don’t provide a much difference gaming experience than the
las vegas type of fruit machines. Obviously, you know the entire time you’re
competing against other gamblers in the vicinity, but since you can’t affect
the outcome of the game for better or worse, the difference is more academic
in nature. The games themselves are fresh, inventive, and look good, too. If
I had a complaint, I’d say I wish more 5-reel video slots were on the list.
Even that quibble is a muted one, because I can respect their decision to
stick with tradition as the 5-reel games become more prevalent all the time.
While I don’t play video game technology’s “mexico games” series that often,
it’s a smart move to tap into the gaming habits of the growing chicano and
hispanic population in the united states. While I might have missed the
effort, I know of no other major gaming machine producer in the USA which
has put so much effort into themes which might appeal to the gamblers who
use spanish as their primary language. America’s gambling industry is an
ever-changing landscape. With its attention to overlooked demographics and
its increasing saturation of the growing gambling network of the native
american casino industry, VGT is on the cutting edge of american gambling
technology.
So, let's see, what we have: in oklahoma, and other states with a lot of native american casinos, you'll find something called "class II" slot machines. This post explains the difference between class III and class II slots, and what those bingo patterns on the screen mean. At class ii slot machines
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