The technology used to create a slot machine has changed considerably over the years. The classic mechanical design has given way to computer-controlled models, but the game's basic principles are the same. The player pulls a handle that rotates a series of reels with pictures printed on them. The winning combination is revealed when a player's bet matches the picture on the pay line in the viewing window. This payout is the player's reward, or the "taste" of the game. The return to player is not the only statistic of interest. Payout probabilities are equally important. For example, let's assume that a machine has a dozen different pay tables. For each of these pay tables, the probabilities of winning a jackpot are zero unless the player lands on the highest payout of them all. This w...
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