SLOTS

How They Work

Before I explain how modern slot machines work let me explain how they don't work. Many books on slot machines incorrectly say that each reel is equally likely to stop on each position, or stop. They reason that if a slot machine has 20 stops on each reel and one jackpot symbol on each reel, then the probability of hitting the jackpot is 1 in 203 = 1/8000. This was true of the early days of slot machines before they become electronic. Today this is patently untrue.

Modern electromechanical SLot Machines are governed by random numbers and microchips. Based on evidence from a variety of sources including program specifications for specific slot machines I offer the following explanation of the steps that a three reel slot machines goes through on a typical play.

1. Player initiates a new play by inserting a coin, pulling the handle, or hitting the 'spin' button.
   
   
2. The machine selects three random numbers. These are chosen from a random number generator that is constantly drawing random numbers at a rate of thousands per second. The numbers chosen at the moment the play is initiated are the ones used to determine the final outcome. It is my understanding that the random numbers range from 1 to 231 = 2,147,483,648. The random numbers are drawn in a cycle, to insure that each number is chosen once per cycle, but to the player this would not matter since thousands of random numbers are drawn between plays.
   
   
3. The three random numbers chosen will be divided by a fixed number. This fixed number is often 32 but for IGT slot machines with large progressive jackpots it can be 64, 128, 256, or 512. After dividing the remainders will be retained. If the divisor were 128 the machine would have three remainders that would range from 0 to 127.
   
   
4. It is common terminology to think of the remainders as stops on "virtual reels." If the divisor were 128 then the virtual reels would each have 128 stops with each stop being equally likely. Each stop on the virtual reel will be mapped to a stop on an actual reel. Obviously there are more stops on a virtual reel than a typical 22 stop actual reel. Many different stops on the virtual reel can be mapped to one stop on an actual reel. In general there will be a lot more virtual stops mapped to non-paying blank stops than to jackpot symbols. It is also true in general that a disproportionate number of virtual stops will be mapped to the blanks directly above and below a jackpot symbol. In an another effort to build suspense, the first reels to stop will be more likely to stop on paying symbols than the latter stops.
   
   
5. With the final outcome predetermined the reels will actually stop where the virtual reels dictate they stop.
   
   
6. Notches in the reels are used to verify the outcome and payment is made if due.

 Myths Here are some common myths that people have about Slot Machines:

A recently vacated machine is likely to hit within several spins.

It is said that a lot of old ladies lurk about the slot machines waiting for someone to leave and then they will grab that machine and play it several times, often with great success. While I do not deny that little old ladies are doing this they do not have any better chances of winning than the player who just left. Selective memory and/or a small sample size of observations of this happening are how I account for this misperception.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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