Slot Machine is universally regarded as one of the best ices ever printed. It's extremely efficient and a nasty tempo hit. Against most common breakers, this usually causes a 4-6 credit swing, which is excellent for a 3 cost ice. It was removed from standard play because it was so strong against every breaker that it made good ice look unplayable. It ALWAYS makes sense to rez this. It will always cover its own cost, and it may even generate enough revenue to pay for its rez as well.

As a point of reference, Diversion of Funds is potentially a game-winning move (a 9 credit swing for 2 actions). A Slot Machine by itself will probably make this something like a 4-5 credit swing for 2 actions. That's a hell of an impact for a 3-cost ice.

The first subroutine is ALWAYS live. It doesn't care about the results of the slot machine. It doesn't even NEED slot machine results, it's live even if Hunting Grounds has killed the slot draw. The second subroutine is usually live (I'd estimate 65-75% of the time, higher in decks heavy on events).

Its third subroutine is rarely live, but there are some IDs where being able to place 3 advancement tokens on an installed card is valuable. (E.g. if you're playing advanceable ice, if you're playing shell games, if you're on Eternal Tennin, if you have a City Work Project installed, if you have an agenda out that you're confident that they can't get to, etc). Just having a third subroutine, even if it rarely matters, helps harden the ice against ice destruction cards like Hippo and cutlery.

One final note, I think it's cool having corp cards interact with runner deck composition like this.

Rule #1 of gambling: The House always wins.

Slot Machine is the custom card designed by 2017 champion Wilfry Horig, and boy is it interesting!

With a rez/str ratio of 3/5, its already worth a look, and with 3 subs and priced at a single influence, its almost TGTBT. When looked at a little closer, however, it gets a little worse.

Encounter effect: Bottoming a card is useful but will rarely be game threatening. If its a critical icebreaker then the runner may have to dig for a tutor but most of the time they won't care about losing something random. However, this does get significantlu better with any sort of draw seal or a Kala Ghoda Real TV on the board. Furthermore, the information for knowing the next 3 cards is useful but not critical as well.

-> The runner loses 3

This sub is always useful, as making the runner lose money is important for any economic war, especially out of Spark Agency: Worldswide Reach. This sub also immediately evens out the cost.

If two of the cards..

This is where the ICE gets weird. Ensuring 2 of 3 random cards from the runner's deck isnt impossible: Many runners pack more Resources and Events than other types.

If 3 of the cards... This one will amost never happen, and if it does, what are you going to use those counters on? Importing into Weyland could work, or using a False Flag, but realistically you can't count on this sub.

One final note

Chief Slee.

1 influence, 3 rez, 3 subs. 5 strength. Nobody actually wants to break this ICE. Yup.

Best. NBN. Ice. With its 1 influence cost, it is often splashed across every faction and archetype. Even jinteki kill deck use it.

At 5 strenght, it is always taxing 3 cred or more, even if the runner is using Engolo. Often, the runner will let it fire to lose only 3 creds. Unless they are using Study Guide, it will always cost 3 cred or more to break.

Even better, it often pay for itself, by getting a sweep 3 creds.

And once in a blue moon, you get to put 3 advancement token on something, but don't count on it, this is a rare occurence indeed.

The only draw back : like many NBN card, it taxes well, but does not stop the run. So, keep that in mind, since it will not fit in every archetype.

Otherwise, for the low price of 3 creds, you tax the runner, you may gain 3 creds and it is resilient to trashing shenanigan like Parasite, with its strenght 5. While it is vulnerable to Hunting Grounds, it still retain the first sub, which is not dependant on encounter.

The newer Nisei art is way better. The old art was really not evocative. Slot Machine represent NBN well.