| A casino slot machine is one of the most | | | | |
| popular casino games. Traditional slot | | | | Most games have a variety of winning |
| machines are coin-operated machines with | | | | combinations of symbols displayed on the |
| three or more reels. They spin when a lever | | | | machine. If a player matches a combination as |
| on the side of the machine is pulled. The | | | | per the game rule then the slot machine pays |
| machines include a currency detector that | | | | the player cash or some extra games. Casino |
| validates the coin or the cash inserted to | | | | slot machines are programmed to pay out as |
| play. The machine typically pays off based on | | | | winnings between 82 to 98 percent of the |
| patterns of symbols visible on the front of | | | | total waged money. The minimum payout |
| the machine when it stops. Modern computer | | | | percentage varies among jurisdictions and is |
| technology has resulted in many variations on | | | | typically established by law or regulation. |
| the slot machine concept. Currently casino | | | | For example, the minimum payout percentage in |
| slot machines are the most attracting | | | | Nevada is 75 percent and 83 percent in New |
| gambling method in casinos and they generate | | | | Jersey. The winning patterns on slot machines |
| about 70% of the average casino's revenue. | | | | and the frequency at which they appear are |
| | | | carefully selected to deliver a certain |
| A person playing a casino slot machine | | | | percentage of the cost of play to the "house" |
| purchases the right to play by inserting | | | | (the operator of the slot machine), while |
| coins or cash, into a designated slot on the | | | | returning the rest to the player during play. |
| machine. The machine is then activated by | | | | Suppose that a certain casino slot machine |
| means of a lever or button. The game itself | | | | costs $1 per spin. It can be calculated that |
| may or may not involve skill on the player's | | | | over a sufficiently long period, such as |
| part - or it may create the illusion of | | | | 1,000,000 spins, that the machine will return |
| involving skill without actually being | | | | an average of $950,000 to its players. |
| anything else than a game of chance. The | | | | |
| object of the game is to win money from the | | | | There is a probability factor to the |
| machine. The game usually involves matching | | | | placement of casino slot machines on the |
| symbols, either on mechanical reels that spin | | | | gaming floor, but the highest paying machines |
| and stop to reveal one or several symbols, or | | | | are not often placed in high-traffic areas. |
| on a video screen. The symbols are usually | | | | Typically, machines of similar payback |
| brightly colored and easily recognizable, | | | | percentages are grouped together, with 1% or |
| such as images of fruits, and simple shapes | | | | less difference between the groups of |
| such as bells, diamonds, or hearts. | | | | machines. |