So the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch and in many cases accepting this cliche assertion is both reasonable and prudent and will protect against future disappointments.

On the face of it, the electronics behind video slot machines and other gaming machines has appeared to somewhat challenge this claim – relentlessly, the latest technology has offered ever more processing power, more vibrant graphics, more immersive sound, a growing diversity of features and at seemingly lower price points.