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. The machine only accepts one kind of coin, and there is only one winning combination of images.
Which Slot machines pay the best. Once you know what to look at, picking a winning Slot machine is easier than it sounds. Every game comes with a specific set of requirements that can tell you how likely is the machine to pay. And if you can expect to win often or not.
When you put a coin in this machine, it falls into a transparent case. The bottom of the case is a movable shutter that is connected to a metal linkage, as you can see in the diagram. Normally, the linkage holds the shutter closed. But when the machine hits the jackpot, the third stopper shifts the linkage up, opening the shutter so the coins fall out of the machine.
Advertisement
Each of the three discs has notches for each stop position of the reel. The notch for the jackpot stop is deeper than the other stops. Consequently, when the first reel lands on the jackpot stop, the first stopper moves farther to the left than it would for any other stopper. If the second reel stops on the jackpot as well, the second stopper also moves farther left. Same goes for the third reel and stopper.
But if only the second reel stops on the jackpot, the second stopper will not move all the way into the notch. The first stopper has a catch that keeps the second stopper from moving past it. The second stopper, in turn, has a catch that holds the third stopper back. For the third stopper to lock all the way into the jackpot notch, then, the first and second reels would have to have landed on the jackpot image. When this happens, the shutter opens to dump all of the coins that have been played since the last jackpot.
Typically, slot machines will have more elaborate versions of this design in order to pay out partially on certain combinations of images and pay out completely on the jackpot combination.
In another popular system used in some electrical machines, the discs have a series of metal contacts attached to them. When the reels stop, one of the contacts engages a stationary contact wired to a circuit board. In this way, every stop on each reel will close a different switch in the electrical system. Certain combinations of closed switches (jackpot winners) will configure the machine's electrical circuit to operate the payout mechanism.
A more advanced system uses photoelectric cells (also known as photo diodes), devices that generate a current when exposed to light, to detect the position. In this system, a series of holes are drilled through the rotating discs, all around their outer edges. The photo diode is positioned on one side of the disc, and a light source is positioned on the other side. As the disc turns, the light shines through the holes onto the photo diode. The pattern of holes in the disc causes the photo diode to generate a similar pattern of pulses of electricity. Based on this pattern, an electronic circuit can determine the position of the reel.
Newer slot machines use computers instead of gears. We'll take a look at those next.
Repair My Slot Machine
Slot Machine To Buy
By Bill Burton
Over the last year I have heard many players complain that they are not having as many jackpots on the slot machines as they used to have. I first heard this from a few of my friends who said they believed that the casinos were tightening the machines because the bad economy was forcing people to make fewer trips to the casino. I did not pay too much attention to this but then I started to notice other players posting the same opinions on several Internet forums. It seems many of the players have come to believe that every casino was lowering the payback percentage on all of their machines.
A month ago I was contacted by a newspaper reporter from Colorado who requested an interview with me. He said he was writing a story about the casinos lowering the payback on the slot machines that was making it harder for the players to win. He wanted my opinion on the subject and he was surprised with my answer.
Why Players Win Fewer Jackpots
I told him I do believe that some casinos may be ordering new machines with lower payout percentages but I did not believe that this was the main reason why players may not be winning as much as they used to. I gave him the following reasons for my answer.
Over the years there have been many myths associated with casino gambling. One of the most common ones is the belief that a casino can raise and lower a machines payback with the flip of a switch. This is not true because the slot machines have a computer chip in them that determines the pay back percentage. These are set at the factory. In order for a casino to change the pay back, they would have to change the chip. In most jurisdictions there is paper work that has to be filled and submitted to the Casino Control Commission for each machine if the chip is changed. It is time consuming and the chips are very expensive. For this reason, the cost of changing the chip in numerous machines on the casino floor does not make economical sense.
Many of the gambling jurisdictions around the country require the casinos to report the overall payout percentages on a monthly basis. (California is not one of the States) These figures are a matter of public record and are published in some newspapers and gaming publications. I looked back on these figures over the last year and saw that there was very little change most casinos around the country. In some instance there was even some of the payback percentage had increased.
A reason why some players feel that they may not be winning as often is the fact that many players are making fewer trips to the casino so they are not playing as many sessions. So because they are playing fewer sessions they will see fewer big jackpots and fewer winning sessions overall. It is all proportional.
Some players may have decided to play lower denomination machines. Many of the nickel and penny slot machines have a higher hit frequency, which means you will have many more smaller wins but not as many big jackpots.
What to Do
If you still honestly believe that your casino is lowering the return rate on the slot machines you have several course of actions. The easiest thing to do is to play the older machines. It is doubtful that a casino would go through the expense of putting a new chip in an older machine to lower the return rate.
You can try a new casino. You may find that your luck is better at a different casino and a change is your routine will let you enjoy some new experiences.
You can switch to video poker. It is the only machine game that will let you know the payback of the machine by reading the pay table. However, if you do decide to try video poker, make sure you learn the strategy or get a strategy card to bring along with you when you play.
Switch to the table games. Playing the table games is exciting and they offer a lower house edge than the slot machines. Many casinos give free table game lessons so you can learn the basics before you sit down.
Let me close by saying again that I do believe that there will be some machines on the casino floors with lower returns, however I do not believe that is as wide spread as the rumors would have you believe. The casinos are in competition with each other for your business so they do not want to alienate the players by offering games where nobody can win. Remember, as a customer/player you always have the option of taking your business elsewhere. The ultimate decision of where to play is entirely up to you.
Until Next time remember:
Luck comes and goes.....Knowledge Stays Forever.