How To Determine Slot Machine Odds

Slots Odds - Keeping it Simple. Whether you are spinning a slots wheel, playing video slots or virtual online slots, when you pull that lever or hit the button, the reel will spin and land on a random number. Each reel or wheel will land on one random number per spin. The outcome is determined as soon as you hit the spin button.

  1. In summary, who controls slot machine odds is answered by understanding they are controlled by the machine, the casino staff, both, possibly the state if the machine is a video lottery terminal, and by slot machine manufacturers themselves in the case of most Progressive slot machines.
  2. These values determine where the reel stops. Electronic slot machines generate these numbers at a rate of 300-500 per second. When you press the “Spin” button on an electronic slot machine, it processes the random values. The first value it chooses determines the position of the first reel.
  3. The odds of winning for a slot machine is a limited number of settings from the manufacturer. Besides understanding limited settings are available, it may help to understand that slot machines have two odds of winning to determine: If a player will or will not win anything; How much that win will be, i.e., the jackpot amount.
slotcalculator
English is not my best language, so please excuse the grammar and syntax of what is to follow.
I need to calculate the payout % of a slolt. Actually, any slot, if I can do it for one, I'll be fine for the others.
I decided to start with simulating a 5 x 3 slot machine, with reels of 32 positions. At the end, I'll need to calculate the payout of a slot with reels of 127 positions.
I'm not sure of the match invovled, so to validate the math, I decided to use a perl script (with 5 nested loops) to validate that the calculations are correct (hence the 32 positions, with 127, I pretty sure the script would time out).
My problem is that the script gives me 1015 ways to get 4 'A' and the math gives me 1013 ways to get 4 'A'.
The math I use to get to 4 'A' is as follow.
32 positions per reels.
reel 1: 1 A and 1 wild
reel 2: 2 A and 1 wild
reel 3: 1 A and 1 wild
reel 4: 2 A and 1 wild
reel 5: 2 A and 1 wild
The symbols have to line up from left to right.
So, the math should be (1 + 1) * (2+1)*(1+1)*(2+1)*(32-2-1) = 1044
and I should take out the times when I get 4 'W' right, 1*1*1*1*31 = 31
So 1044 - 31 = 1013.
Is that correct?
Once I confirm the odds of each result, I'll be able to calculate the payout %.
Thanks
Mission146
Is there a separate pay for 4 Wild, if not, is the pay for 4A greater than the pay for anything else except 5A? If so, then 4 Wild is effectively the same thing as 4A, if A is the highest paying symbol w/ no separate pay for 4 wild.
tringlomane


My problem is that the script gives me 1015 ways to get 4 'A' and the math gives me 1013 ways to get 4 'A'.
The math I use to get to 4 'A' is as follow.
32 positions per reels.
reel 1: 1 A and 1 wild
reel 2: 2 A and 1 wild
reel 3: 1 A and 1 wild
reel 4: 2 A and 1 wild
reel 5: 2 A and 1 wild
The symbols have to line up from left to right.
So, the math should be (1 + 1) * (2+1)*(1+1)*(2+1)*(32-2-1) = 1044
and I should take out the times when I get 4 'W' right, 1*1*1*1*3129 = 29
you cant use 31 for the 5th reel because you didn't use 31 for the 5th reel in the initial counting of 4 Aces
So 1044 - 29 = 1015.
Is that correct? now it is
Once I confirm the odds of each result, I'll be able to calculate the payout %.
Thanks


Fixed your post.
CrystalMath
Here's what you need to do:
[(1+1)*(2+1)*(1+1)*(2+1) - 1*1*1*1]*(32-2-1) = 1015
slotcalculator
There is a separate higher payout for 4 Wilds but ..
4 Wild might translate (for payout purposes) into 5 of a kind, based on the result of the fifth reel.
I'll have to adapt for the cases where 4 Wilds will pay more than 5 of another kind because of having 4 initial wilds.
Now that I know how to count them properly, thanks to the next posts, I have to tackle this part.
Thanks.
slotcalculator

Is there a separate pay for 4 Wild, if not, is the pay for 4A greater than the pay for anything else except 5A? If so, then 4 Wild is effectively the same thing as 4A, if A is the highest paying symbol w/ no separate pay for 4 wild.


After more work on my problem, I realize that what you said here is pertinent for one of the problems I am now facing. (wich I can't crack, .. yet).
For us to have a common ground, I'll comment on the Atkins Diet slot by the Wizard.
Based on the number of symbols on the reels, the number of times I can get 4 Bacon is
[ ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 5 + 1 ) - ( 1 * 1 * 1 * 1)]*(32-3-1) = 20,972.
But the Wizard reports, as per his enumeration script, 20,832.
After looking at the payouts, I realized that in some cases, 3 Atkins pays more than 4 of a Kind (for example 4 Bacon).
Hence, I have to calculate the number of times it is possible to get AtkinsAtkinsAtkinsBacon where the fifth reel is not Atkins and not Bacon and remove that from 20,972.
So, I figured this would be 1*1*1*4(number of bacon on 5th reel)*(32-3-1) = 140
Now it works, 20,972 - 140 = 20,832.
So, all proud that I had figure this part out .. I went and did the same things for all the 4 of a kinds and can match all of the number from the wizard.
A few minuters later, moving to the 5 of kind, crash and burn. I can figure out the correct number all the way down to cheese, using this method, but not Bacon and Mayonaise.
Since 4 Atkins pays more than 5 Bacon, I need to do ( 5 Bacon ) - (5 bacon where the first 4 are Atkins)
( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 5 + 1 ) *(3+1) - ( 1 * 1 * 1 * 1*1) = 2999 ways to get 5 Bacons.
Now remove the number of time it's actually 4 of a kind (so remove AtkinsAtkinsAtkinsAtkinsBacon) is 1*1*1*1*3 = 3
Hence, I should have 2,999 - 3 = 2,996 BUT the wizard is getting 2,976.
What am I doing wrong?
varmenti

English is not my best language, so please excuse the grammar and syntax of what is to follow.
I need to calculate the payout % of a slolt. Actually, any slot, if I can do it for one, I'll be fine for the others.
I decided to start with simulating a 5 x 3 slot machine, with reels of 32 positions. At the end, I'll need to calculate the payout of a slot with reels of 127 positions.
I'm not sure of the match invovled, so to validate the math, I decided to use a perl script (with 5 nested loops) to validate that the calculations are correct (hence the 32 positions, with 127, I pretty sure the script would time out).
My problem is that the script gives me 1015 ways to get 4 'A' and the math gives me 1013 ways to get 4 'A'.
The math I use to get to 4 'A' is as follow.
32 positions per reels.
reel 1: 1 A and 1 wild
reel 2: 2 A and 1 wild
reel 3: 1 A and 1 wild
reel 4: 2 A and 1 wild
reel 5: 2 A and 1 wild
The symbols have to line up from left to right.
So, the math should be (1 + 1) * (2+1)*(1+1)*(2+1)*(32-2-1) = 1044
and I should take out the times when I get 4 'W' right, 1*1*1*1*31 = 31
So 1044 - 31 = 1013.
Is that correct?
Once I confirm the odds of each result, I'll be able to calculate the payout %.
Thanks


Hello slotcalculator, Sorry to bust your bubble but slots are different from back in the day. But to answer your question on your own, simply walk behind a slot tech when he is working on a machine and you will see the percentage labeled there.
Here in Canada the OLG (Ontario Lotto & Gaming Commission) has them all set to 85% Payout in most Canadian Casino's
and every machine nowadays reset RNG after every pull.
Back in the day, we were able to sit at a slot machine and crouch down just a little bit and look inside the machine showing at the top right side (Total In) (Total Out) counters and on many Blazing 7 Machines, standing in front of the machine approx eye level you notice a small 1/4' x 4' clear glass window which displayed the counters.
This allowed anyone to record the amount going in and out of the machine, seeing if paid out or ready to payout utilizing the 85% law.
They are now removed. I don't want to get into detail but something in todays machines called Co-Processors or eprom chip or something like that I don't want to mention were placed in around 1998-2000 resetting machines after every pull.
'If it ain't Broke, Don't fix it' <br> 'Please note that my threads & posts are strictly for Educational purposes only and I do not care if you choose to Win or Lose your money. ' <br> 'Sometimes, Its not about the money, Its about being able to say yea, It can be done, and claim victory. That's Genius!!!' <br> 'There is a range of views among mathematicians and philosophers as to the exact scope and definition of mathematics.'
tringlomane


A few minuters later, moving to the 5 of kind, crash and burn. I can figure out the correct number all the way down to cheese, using this method, but not Bacon and Mayonaise.
Since 4 Atkins pays more than 5 Bacon, I need to do ( 5 Bacon ) - (5 bacon where the first 43 are Atkins because 3 Atkins are also worth 50 as well as subtracting out 4 Atkins because they are worth 500)
What am I doing wrong?


( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 5 + 1 ) *(3+1) - ( 1 * 1 * 1 * 1*1) = 2999 ways to get 5 Bacons.
Now remove the number of times four Atkins Appear with 5th reel bacon:
1*1*1*1*3 = 3
Now remove the number of times three Atkins Appear with 4th reel bacon and 5th reel either bacon or Atkins:
1*1*1*5*(3+1) = 20
So now we have:
( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 5 + 1 ) *(3+1) - 1 - 3 - 20 = 2,976
slotcalculator


( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 5 + 1 ) *(3+1) - ( 1 * 1 * 1 * 1*1) = 2999 ways to get 5 Bacons.
Now remove the number of times four Atkins Appear with 5th reel bacon:
1*1*1*1*3 = 3
Now remove the number of times three Atkins Appear with 4th reel bacon and 5th reel either bacon or Atkins:
1*1*1*5*(3+1) = 20
So now we have:
( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 4 + 1 ) * ( 5 + 1 ) *(3+1) - 1 - 3 - 20 = 2,976


Damn, if I had another eye, I'd be a cyclop.
Thanks
tringlomane

Damn, if I had another eye, I'd be a cyclop.
Thanks


MachineWhen I was first learning to do this, I made many similar mistakes. Definitely can be frustrating. It's generally why it's recommended doing 5 nested loops and evaluating each combination via computer program.

Understanding slot machines is easy. They’re basically just a giant math equation. Casinos are so open about slot machines, they publish their own payback percentages in industry publications, and they often brag about the percentage that their machines pay back in a given month or year.

The most important odds to understand in slot machine gambling are a machine’s hit frequency and payback percentage. It’s impossible to ascertain the specific odds of winning on a given slot machine in today’s casinos, though. Gone are the days of 3 reels with 10 symbols per reel, when calculating the odds of hitting a given jackpot took little more than some back of the napkin multiplication. Still, hit frequency and percentage are easy to understand, and that information is easy to find.

Basic Slot Machine Odds

Now that random number generators power slot machines, the odds are more complicated. In the old days, figuring out your odds of winning on a slot machine meant dividing the total number of symbols by 1. If a slot has 3 reels and 10 symbols on each reel, the odds of one particular symbol appearing on the machine would be 9 to 1, or 9 losing symbols and 1 winning symbol. To figure out the odds of hitting 3 particular symbols (for a jackpot), multiply your chances of landing one symbol three times by itself. You have a 1/10 chance of pulling up a particular symbol. The odds of pulling up a given 3 reel combination are 1/1000. That can also be expressed as 999 to 1.

Back to the random number generator: you just can’t use simple multiplication to figure slot machine odds any more. Modern slot machines contain so many different symbols, reels, and winning combinations, that a purely mathematical approach is out of most people’s reach. Understanding a slot machine’s hit frequency and payback percentage are important because we can’t just sit there and figure out our odds by looking at the machine.

For example, with a modern slot machine, one symbol might appear one out of every twenty spins. A second symbol might appear one out of every ten spins. And a third symbol might be set to appear one out of every fifty spins. But there’s no way to determine the settings unless you have access to the slot machine’s PAR sheet, which is what sets these specifications in the random number generator program.

Slot Machine Hit Frequency

The term hit frequency applied to slot machines means an informed estimate of the ratio of losses to wins on a given machine. As the number of wins in the ratio increases, so does the slot’s hit frequency rate. Because of the variety of ways to win on modern machines, figuring out a slot’s hit frequency is somewhere between taking a mathematical average and making a guess.

One way to estimate a slot machine’s hit frequency is to play the machine 100 times and track the results. The cheapest way to do this is to find a nickel machine, pull the lever 100 times, and work out the ratio the hard way. Make a mark for every time during those 100 spins that you win, any win big or small.

What’s a good hit frequency? That depends on how much you’re looking to win and what kind of machine you’re playing, but most slot gamers consider any machine that pays out less than 10% of the time a bad machine.

Texas holdem rules full house. The odds of this happening though are very rare and almost impossible in texas holdem because the board requires three cards of one suit for anyone to have a flush in that suit.STRAIGHT FLUSHTop CardNAStraight flushes come in varying strengths from five high to a king high.

To further complicate hit frequency, and to get a better overall idea of a machine’s odds, you can factor in the amount of winnings. Slot machines are often designed to pay out a lot of small winnings, so a hit frequency of 50% may seem like a loose slot machine, but if you’re only winning tiny amounts, you may want to move on down the line. On the other side of the coin, if a slot machine pays out only 9 or 10 times per 100 spins, but you win a ton of credits, you may be tempted to stay and press your luck for the big jackpots.

Slot Machine Returns

When you hear people talk about a slot machine’s return, they are referring to the percentage of money paid out by the machine compared to the amount of cash a gambler put into it. People who play slots at the tournament level keep track of these numbers and form strategies based on which machines to play at a given casino property.

To work out a return, you just need to do a little simple math. If you pumped $100 into a slot machine and at the end you’ve won $90 back, you just got a slot machine return of 90%. The casino kept $10 of your money for your troubles, but if that $100 kept you playing for an hour, you just had an hour’s entertainment for $10. That’s cheaper than going to the movies.

If you’re just a casual slot gamer, you don’t really need to keep track of slot machine returns. Casinos report their slot machine returns to local governments in most gambling jurisdictions, and those details and other figures are available to the general public. An easy way to stay on top of machine returns is to subscribe to Casino Player magazine or Strictly Slots magazine, where these numbers are published.

Slot Machine Payback Percentage

A final note on slot machine odds: don’t get too hung up on a slot machine’s payback percentage. Payback percentages are essentially made-up numbers, theoretical figures that make a guess about how much a particular machine will pay back to a gambler over time.

The trouble with payback percentage figures is that they’re developed from a pool of infinite spins. Think of payback percentage as slot machine returns in a vacuum. These numbers are used by game designers and casino managers and are not meant to inform gambling.

These numbers come from game manufacturers, who program a machine to return a theoretical amount to the customer. If a game designer advertises a slot’s payback at 95%, all that means is that over an infinite amount of time, the slot will pay back 95 cents for every dollar that is put in.

Slot Machines Odds Of Winning

If you finished this article more confused than when you started, you’re in good company. Slot machines are straightforward gambling devices, little more than random numbers activated by a gambler. Still, modern technology has muddied the waters of actual slot machine probabilities, placing an emphasis on a game’s design and features rather than advertising it as a particularly player friendly machine.

Best Casino Slot Machine Odds

Just because a game designer produces a machine that is programmed to pay back 90% of money put in doesn’t mean that you will always make $90 for every $100 gambled. At the same time, understanding slot machine odds and hit frequency can inform your choice of casinos.

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