For example, a digital reel may have 256 symbols on it for more than 16 million possible combinations. However, with the advancement of the electronic age and the implementation of microprocessors, the possible combinations have grown substantially. An improvement, which nevertheless restricted slot machine operators from paying out major jackpots. Later on, the typical slot machine consisted of three reels with 20 symbols on each of them, which translates into 8,000 combinations. 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. Let us look at an example and calculate how many possible combinations a three-reel slot machine with 10 symbols on each wheel has.

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. They could even be blank.Īt the dawn of the slot industry, reels had only ten symbols on them but with the development of technologies, the number has increased drastically. These stops have symbols on them like cards, fruits, or diamonds, but they can contain basically anything. 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.Įach reel has a number of steps or stops to mark the place where it could stop when it is spun. These are technically known as stepper reels and slot machines have at least three of them with the potential to add more. 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.

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