Learn How To Make Slot Machines

There are dozens of different payout systems used in slot machines. In one of the simplest designs, a jackpot is detected by measuring the depth of notches in the discs that drive the reels. For simplicity's sake, we'll look at this sort of payout system in a bare-bones slot machine.

• How Video Slot Machines Work
• Learn How To Make Slot Machines Without
• Make Your Own Slot Machine
• Learn How To Make Slot Machines Free

In the not-too-distant past, slot-machine players were the second-class citizens of casino customers. Jackpots were small, payout percentages were horrendous, and slot players just weren't eligible for the kind of complimentary bonuses -- free rooms, shows, meals -- commonly given to table players. But in the last few decades the face of the casino industry has changed. Nowadays more than 70 percent of casino revenues comes from slot machines, and in many jurisdictions, that figure tops 80 percent.

About 80 percent of first-time visitors to casinos head for the slots. It's easy -- just drop coins into the slot and push the button or pull the handle. Newcomers can find the personal interaction with dealers or other players at the tables intimidating -- slot players avoid that. And besides, the biggest, most lifestyle-changing jackpots in the casino are offered on the slots.

Advertisement

The following article will tell you everything you need to know about slots, from the basics to various strategies. We'll start at square one, with a primer on how playing slot machines works.

How to Play

The most popular slots are penny and nickel video games along with quarter and dollar reel-spinning games, though there are video games in 2-cent, 10-cent, quarter, and dollar denominations and reel spinners up to $100. Most reel spinners take up to two or three coins at a time while video slots can take 45, 90, and even 500 credits at a time.

Nearly all slot machines are fitted with currency acceptors -- slide a bill into the slot, and the equivalent amount of credits is displayed on a meter. On reel-spinning slots, push a button marked 'play one credit' until you've reached the number of coins you wish to play. Then hit the 'spin reels' button, or pull the handle on those few slots that still have handles, or hit a button marked 'play max credits,' which will play the maximum coins allowed on that machine.

On video slots, push one button for the number of paylines you want to activate, and a second button for the number of credits wagered per line. One common configuration has nine paylines on which you can bet 1 to 5 credits. Video slots are also available with 5, 15, 20, 25, even 50 paylines, accepting up to 25 coins per line.

Many reel-spinning machines have a single payout line painted across the center of the glass in front of the reels. Others have three payout lines, even five payout lines, each corresponding to a coin played. The symbols that stop on a payout line determine whether a player wins. A common set of symbols might be cherries, bars, double bars (two bars stacked atop one another), triple bars, and sevens.

A single cherry on the payout line, for example, might pay back two coins; the player might get 10 coins for three of any bars (a mixture of bars, double bars, and triple bars), 30 for three single bars, 60 for three double bars, 120 for three triple bars, and the jackpot for three sevens. However, many of the stops on each reel will be blanks, and a combination that includes blanks pays nothing. Likewise, a seven is not any bar, so a combination such as bar-seven-double bar pays nothing.

Video slots typically have representations of five reels spinning on a video screen. Paylines not only run straight across the reels but also run in V's, upside down V's, and zigs and zags across the screen. Nearly all have at least five paylines, and most have more -- up to 50 lines by the mid-2000s.

In addition, video slots usually feature bonus rounds and 'scatter pays.' Designated symbols trigger a scatter pay if two, three, or more of them appear on the screen, even if they're not on the same payline.

Similarly, special symbols will trigger a bonus event. The bonus may take the form of a number of free spins, or the player may be presented with a 'second screen' bonus. An example of a second screen bonus comes in the long-popular WMS Gaming Slot 'Jackpot Party.' If three Party noisemakers appear on the video reels, the reels are replaced on the screen with a grid of packages in gift wrapping. The player touches the screen to open a package and collects a bonus payout. He or she may keep touching packages for more bonuses until one package finally reveals a 'pooper,' which ends the round. The popularity of such bonus rounds is why video slots have become the fastest growing casino game of the last decade.

When you hit a winning combination, winnings will be added to the credit meter. If you wish to collect the coins showing on the meter, hit the button marked 'Cash Out,' and on most machines, a bar-coded ticket will be printed out that can be redeemed for cash. In a few older machines, coins still drop into a tray.

Etiquette

Many slot players pump money into two or more adjacent machines at a time, but if the casino is crowded and others are having difficulty finding places to play, limit yourself to one machine. As a practical matter, even in a light crowd, it's wise not to play more machines than you can watch over easily. Play too many and you could find yourself in the situation faced by the woman who was working up and down a row of six slots. She was dropping coins into machine number six while number one, on the aisle, was paying a jackpot. There was nothing she could do as a passerby scooped a handful of coins out of the first tray.

Sometimes players taking a break for the rest room will tip a chair against the machine, leave a coat on the chair, or leave some other sign that they'll be back. Take heed of these signs. A nasty confrontation could follow if you play a machine that has already been thus staked out.

Payouts

Payout percentages have risen since the casinos figured out it's more profitable to hold 5 percent of a dollar than 8 percent of a quarter or 10 percent of a nickel. In most of the country, slot players can figure on about a 93 percent payout percentage, though payouts in Nevada run higher. Las Vegas casinos usually offer the highest average payouts of all -- better than 95 percent. Keep in mind that these are long-term averages that will hold up over a sample of 100,000 to 300,000 pulls.

In the short term, anything can happen. It's not unusual to go 20 or 50 or more pulls without a single payout on a reel-spinning slot, though payouts are more frequent on video slots. Nor is it unusual for a machine to pay back 150 percent or more for several dozen pulls. But in the long run, the programmed percentages will hold up.

The change in slots has come in the computer age, with the development of the microprocessor. Earlier slot machines were mechanical, and if you knew the number of stops -- symbols or blank spaces that could stop on the payout line--on each reel, you could calculate the odds on hitting the top jackpot. If a machine had three reels, each with ten stops, and one symbol on each reel was for the jackpot, then three jackpot symbols would line up, on the average, once every 10310310 pulls, or 1,000 pulls.

On those machines, the big payoffs were $50 or $100--nothing like the big numbers slot players expect today. On systems that electronically link machines in several casinos, progressive jackpots reach millions of dollars.

The microprocessors driving today's machines are programmed with random-number generators that govern winning combinations. It no longer matters how many stops are on each reel. If we fitted that old three-reel, ten-stop machine with a microprocessor, we could put ten jackpot symbols on the first reel, ten on the second, and nine on the third, and still program the random-number generator so that three jackpot symbols lined up only once every 1,000 times, or 10,000 times. And on video slots, reel strips can be programmed to be as long as needed to make the odds of the game hit at a desired percentage. They are not constrained by a physical reel.

Each possible combination is assigned a number, or numbers. When the random-number generator receives a signal -- anything from a coin being dropped in to the handle being pulled -- it sets a number, and the reels stop on the corresponding combination.

Between signals, the random-number generator operates continuously, running through dozens of numbers per second. This has two practical effects for slot players. First, if you leave a machine, then see someone else hit a jackpot shortly thereafter, don't fret. To hit the same jackpot, you would have needed the same split-second timing as the winner. The odds are overwhelming that if you had stayed at the machine, you would not have hit the same combination.

Second, because the combinations are random, or as close to random as is possible to set the program, the odds of hitting any particular combination are the same on every pull. If a machine is programmed to pay out its top jackpot, on the average, once every 10,000 pulls, your chances of hitting it are one in 10,000 on any given pull. If you've been standing there for days and have played 10,000 times, the odds on the next pull will still be one in 10,000. Those odds are long-term averages. In the short term, the machine could go 100,000 pulls without letting loose of the big one, or it could pay it out twice in a row.

So, is there a way to ensure that you hit it big on a slot machine? Not really, but despite the overriding elements of chance, there are some strategies you can employ. We'll cover these in the next section.

Typically, the device itself consists of several important parts that could be found on every slot machine worldwide. These include the reels, the paylines and the paytable, among others. We shall discuss each of these elements and review the basics along with the specific features of the slots. However, it is important to remember that although the majority of slots are standardized, there are more complex machines that would require additional observation, in order to fully comprehend how they work.

£/€/C$88

How Video Slot Machines Work

10 Free Spins

100% up to

$/£/€200

+ 200 Spins

100% up to

$/£/€100

The reels are an essential part of the slot machine as they are the mechanism that makes the symbols rotate and the player's heart pumping with excitement. These are technically known as stepper reels and slot machines have at least three of them with the potential to add more. The most popular slot machines are those with three or five reels, but there are some machines equipped with as much as ten reels, which are often referred to as Big Berthas, just like the World War I super-heavy mortar.

Each reel has a number of steps or stops to mark the place where it could stop when it is spun. These stops have symbols on them like cards, fruits or diamonds, but they can contain basically anything. They could even be blank.

At the dawn of the slot industry, reels had only ten symbols on them but with the development of technologies, the number has increased drastically. Manufacturers wanted to add more symbols for more possible combinations, which in turn allowed them to offer bigger winnings and, thus, to attract more players.

Let us look at an example and calculate how many possible combinations a three-reel slot machine with 10 symbols on each wheel has.

Combinations = 10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000

This means the chances of hitting the rarest combination are 0.1%, which translates into smaller maximum winnings for the player because the machines are designed to be profitable for the company that operates them.

Later on, the typical slot machine consisted of three reels with 20 symbols on each of them, which translates into 8,000 combinations. An improvement, which nevertheless restricted slot machine operators from paying out major jackpots.

However, with the advancement of the electronic age and the implementation of microprocessors, the possible combinations have grown substantially. For example, a digital reel may have 256 symbols on it for more than 16 million possible combinations.

Those calculations only apply to three-reel slot machines, but as we mentioned before, the one-armed bandits could have up to ten reels, for a total number of combinations of 1,20892582×10²⁴!

It is important to note that the number of symbols does not reflect the player's chances of winning, but simply increases the number of possible combinations. This provides additional flexibility for manufacturers.

The chances of a payout are determined by the frequency of hitting winning combinations. If a winning combination has a relatively high chance of being displayed, the payout amount would be relatively small and vice versa. Having more combinations allows players to win millions with a $1 bet.

The hit frequency and the payouts are set by the manufacturers in line with the casino operator's specifications. Additionally, these metrics can be readjusted anytime by simply changing the computer chip.

The Payline

The horizontal line located at the center of the slot machine's screen is called a payline. In order for a spin to win, the winning symbols must align on the payline.

While slot machines first emerged, they had only one payline, positioned right in the middle of the screen. Eventually, the number increased to three, five and more. Some five-reel machines have 25 paylines or more. However, to activate all paylines, the player must place separate bets on each one of them. In most cases, one credit is staked per active line but some machines accept several coins per payline.

The Paytable

This is where all the winning combinations are displayed along with how much they pay according to the placed bet. Special combinations are also listed there.
The paytable will, in addition, indicate whether or not the machine is progressive and if it is, it will show the total jackpot to be won.

If you are not familiar with progressive slot machines, you will find them covered in another article. For the time being, let us just say that progressive machines are linked together to the same jackpot pools, which causes the prize to escalate quickly.

The Coin Tray

This must be the favorite component of the slot machine of every gambler as it is the part the coins come out from. The coin tray is located at the bottom of the machine facing the player and starts pouring winnings once the “Cash out” button is pressed.

The Slots Lever

This is the lever, which makes the reels spin. It is located on the left side of every slot machine and in modern times, it is there for authenticity rather than out of necessity. While it is true that before the lever was mechanically setting the reels in motion, all it does now is trigger the software which enables the reels to spin.

The Play Buttons

Now, let us go over the buttons that are most commonly found on slot machines. Note that exact names may vary for different models and different manufacturers, but in general, the functions remain the same.

Spin Reels

This is the button that starts the action. Once pressed, it sets the reels in motion.

Play Max Credits/Bet Max Coins

Regardless of its more specific name, by hitting this button, you will bet the maximum number of credits allowed on the particular machine. For example, if the slot machine accepts a maximum bet of five coins and a player presses the button, the machine will deduct five coins from the player's credits and automatically spin the reels.

Note that this button is only active if a player has inserted credits into the machine. If this is not the case, more coins need to be inserted before the button becomes active.

Play Two Credits, Play Three Credits

These buttons will usually indicate that the specific slot machine accepts only two or three credits as a maximum bet. If a player presses that button, the result will be the same as if they have pushed the play max credits/bet max coins button.

Play One Credit

This button enables players to bet only one credit per spin. The button is generally found on every slot machine ensuring players with different budgets can engage in the games. It is important to note that unlike the Bet Max Credits button, this one would not set the reels in motion and nothing will happen until the player pulls the lever or presses the Spin Reels button.

Additionally, if a player presses the button twice, the machine will add an extra credit to the next spin and so on.

The Cash Out Button

Basically, this button tells the machine the player has finished betting and wants to either move to another slot or stop playing altogether. When this button was pressed on older machines, the one-armed bandit would start paying out the remaining credits in the form of coins. However, the newer machines will simply issue a ticket that the player can later use at the cashier' cage to claim their winnings.

The Change Button

This button is located on the far left of the button display and is used to power up the red light at the top of the machine, which in turn signals all casino employees the player requires change.

The Displays

Learn How To Make Slot Machines Without

Every machine has several displays located on the front and while different manufacturers may choose different locations, the important thing is that the basic information will always be clearly visible to the player.

Credits Played or Coins Played

A player should always pay attention to the exact number of credits they are betting on each spin at their slot of choice. For example, if the display shows the number 3, this means three credits are bet on the spin.

Credits

This display shows how many remaining credits a player has. When the indicator shows zero, this means the player must deposit additional coins in order to continue playing. The credit count may be increased either by winning spins or by inserting extra money into the machine. Each credit will reflect the denomination played. For example, if a player sits on a $0.25 machine and deposits a $10 bill, the credit display will show that 40 credits have been loaded. Additionally, if a player places 3 credits on their next spin, the display will read 37, while if they win ten credits, the display will show 47.

As we pointed out, the display does not show the money a player has deposited, but rather the number of credits they bought. If that $10 bill was inserted into a $1 slot machine, the display would read 10, while if it was deposited on a $0.05 machine, the display would show 200 credits.

Pressing the Play One Credit button will automatically deduct one credit from a player's remaining credits, while the Play Max Credits button deducts the maximum amount of credits allowed per spin on a particular machine.

A player can use their credits only in two ways, by playing and losing them all or by pressing the Cash Out button, which will cause the machine to issue a ticket. The ticket represents the actual amount of money a player can redeem at the cashier's cage.

Winner Paid

This display shows the number of credits won on the last spin that would be added to the player's credit display.

Insert Coin

This display indicates the slot is not currently in play and that anyone can start a game by inserting coins or bills into the machine.

Error Code

This message will only be displayed if the machine has malfunctioned and needs the attention of a technician. The display will show a series of numbers or a code that will suggest the nature of the problem so that the staff member in charge of fixing the machine could repair the device as quickly as possible.

The Symbols

Make Your Own Slot Machine

Although technology has completely transformed most slots, some iconic symbols have persisted through time and can still be seen on machines today. For example, the liberty bell symbol, which was on the first slot machine built in 1899, is often used on popular slots. Other classic symbols include cherries, lemons and lucky sevens.

The bar symbol has also survived the test of time and nowadays is often modified to double bars, triple bars and so on.

Despite the preservation of many classic symbols, plenty more have been birthed by the imagination of slot-machine developers, ranging from fruits, numbers, cars, logos, letters, animals and many more. Practically, anything can be used as a symbol.

Wild Symbols

The wild has become very popular in modern slots and can be used to substitute any other symbol in order to create a winning combination. For example, if a player hits two identical symbols, say cherries, and a wild appears on the same payline, the slot will credit the player with a payout corresponding to the combination of three cherries.
On some machines, the wild may also function as a multiplier. For example, if a player gets two cherries and a wild, the machine will pay out the amount corresponding to three cherry matches but if the wild is also a multiplier, the payout may be doubled, tripled or quadrupled.

Learn How To Make Slot Machines Free

Any Bar

This is another popular symbol inherent to classic three-reel slots. There are single, double and triple bars the Any Bar symbols can combine with to form winning combos.

Blanks

Slot machines will often show blank symbols, which have no winning potential whatsoever.