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