This is really interesting stuff about how tech is used in Las Vegas. Particularly interesting since I was just there. The surveillance stuff is kind of creepy!
http://us.cnn.com/2006/TECH/07/13/popsci.gambling/index.html
There has been surveillance in Vegas for years, although the technology is allowing for much more sophistication. Did you not notice those little "bubbles" in the ceilings? Fifteen years ago they were larger, but the newer casinos have much smaller versions. Each has a camera attached to it. Where they used to record on tape, they now record digitally.
I find it interesting to read about the networked machines, though. I rarely play those for the reason that was confirmed in the article. Although it's still a random number generator system, as with most electronic slots today, they use three random number generators that all must hit at the same time in order to get the "big win".
And, of course, in order to get that big win, you have to be playing the max bet, which on a 25 cent slot can be up to $5 a spin.
I'd rather play an unlinked machine with a lower max bet and one random number generator for a much lower payout. There is nothing more frustrating that hitting that royal flush on a poker machine with only one quarter in the slot, knowing you could have won thousands more than you did.