In previous articles on Casinoz, we considered various matters of slot machine construction and operation, trying to dispel the most popular myths and misconceptions. We gave recommendations on choosing slots, described betting strategies, explained bankroll management basics, etc. However, we still do not think that all readers fully understand how modern slots work, how winning combinations are formed, and why you can trust games from famous software providers.

In this piece, we will define step by step the essential aspects. To clarify, we will take IGT's Red White & Blue slot as an example.

This slot is available in most land-based casinos in the United States. Also, we will show the calculations by Michael Shackleford, the author of the reputable website Wizard of Odds. We hope this information will fill some gaps in your knowledge about slot machines.

How Casino Slots Work

We will start by reminding you that the basis of any modern slot machine is a random number generator (RNG), which determines the outcome of each spin. No pattern or algorithm is used in its work.

So, each round is unpredictable and independent of other spins. If you play on machines from reliable manufacturers and independent auditors monitor the slots, you can be sure that no one knows what combination will land on the reels in the next spin.

After a player makes a bet and starts a new gaming round, the RTG produces a number for each real, which defines the display of various characters on it. In other words, the result is known only at the moment after the player presses the spin button.


Red, White & Blue Slot by IGT

We now turn to Red, White & Blue to clarify some details from its example. The paytable of this slot machine is as follows.

WIN1 COIN2 COINS3 COINS

Red 7, white 7, blue 7

2400480010,000

Red 7, red 7, red 7

119924005000

White 7, white 7, white 7

200400600

Blue 7, blue 7, blue 7

150300450

Any 3 sevens

80160240

1 bar, 2 bar, 3 bar

50100150

3 bar, 3 bar, 3 bar

4080120

2 bar, 2 bar, 2 bar

255075

Any red, any white, any blue

204060

1 bar, 1 bar, 1 bar

102030

Any 3 bars

51015

Any 3 reds

246

Any 3 whites

246

Any 3 blues

246

Blank, blank, blank

123

In the Red, White & Blue gaming machine, the RNG can create 64 possible outcomes. Each of them means the display of a particular character on a separate reel. Here is the table illustrating the procedure:

STOP NUMBERREEL 1REEL 2REEL 3
1

2 bar

2 bar

2 bar

2

2 bar

2 bar

2 bar

3

2 bar

blank

2 bar

4

blank

blank

blank

5

blank

3 bar

blank

6

3 bar

3 bar

3 bar

7

3 bar

blank

blank

8

blank

blank

blank

9

blank

blank

blank

10

blank

white 7

white 7

11

white 7

blank

white 7

12

white 7

blank

white 7

13

white 7

blank

white 7

14

white 7

1 bar

white 7

15

white 7

1 bar

white 7

16

white 7

1 bar

white 7

17

blank

1 bar

blank

18

blank

blank

blank

19

blank

blank

blank

20

1 bar

blank

1 bar

21

1 bar

blue 7

1 bar

22

1 bar

blue 7

1 bar

23

blank

blue 7

1 bar

24

blank

blue 7

1 bar

25

blank

blue 7

blank

26

blue 7

blue 7

blank

27

blue 7

blue 7

blank

28

blue 7

blank

blue 7

29

blue 7

blank

blank

30

blue 7

blank

blank

31

blue 7

2 bar

blank

32

blank

2 bar

2 bar

33

blank

blank

2 bar

34

blank

blank

2 bar

35

2 bar

3 bar

blank

36

2 bar

3 bar

blank

37

blank

blank

3 bar

38

blank

blank

blank

39

3 bar

blank

blank

40

blank

blank

blank

41

blank

blank

blank

42

blank

red 7

blank

43

blank

red 7

red 7

44

blank

red 7

blank

45

red 7

blank

blank

46

blank

blank

blank

47

blank

blank

blank

48

blank

blank

blank

49

blank

blank

3 bar

50

blank

3 bar

3 bar

51

3 bar

3 bar

3 bar

52

3 bar

3 bar

blank

53

3 bar

blank

blank

54

blank

blank

2 bar

55

blank

2 bar

2 bar

56

2 bar

2 bar

2 bar

57

2 bar

blank

blank

58

blank

blank

blank

59

blank

1 bar

1 bar

60

1 bar

1 bar

1 bar

61

1 bar

1 bar

1 bar

62

1 bar

1 bar

1 bar

63

blank

blank

blank

64

blank

blank

blank

Red White & Blue Slot Gaming Process

After the customer clicks on the spin button, the RNG determines three numbers, and corresponding characters appear on the reels.

  • For example, if you have numbers 1, 2, and 3, you will see a combination of three bars.
  • If the generator gives you 5, 10, and 15, a combination of "blank," "white 7", and "white 7" lands on the reels.

As you can see from the table, some of the generated numbers produce the same symbols on the same or even different reels. Also, look at the number 45. It is the only number that allows you to get the red seven on the first reel, starting the two highest combinations in the Red White & Blue slot.

The same goes for 10 on the second reel (white 7) and twenty-eight for the third reel (blue 7). As you can see, the most valuable combination (red, white, and blue sevens) can be formed only if the RNG gives out 45, 10, and 28 in this precise order.

On some slot machines in some countries, there is a plate with data on the so-called "stop numbers" for all symbols on each reel. You can count them yourself, but we did it for you.

Weights for the Red White and Blue IGT Slot

Look at the table:

STOP NUMBER

REEL 1

REEL 2

REEL 3

Red 7

131
White 7617
Blue 7671

3 BAR

675
2 BAR769
1 BAR689
Blank323232
TOTAL646464

Red White and Blue Slot Return Rates

Here is one more helpful table:

COMBINATIONSPAYOUTSNUMBERODDSPAYBACK

Red 7, white 7, blue 7

24001

0.000004

0.009155

Red 7, red 7, red 7

11993

0.000011

0.013721

White 7, white 7, white 7

20042

0.000160

0.032043

Blue 7, blue 7, blue 7

15042

0.000160

0.024033

Any 3 sevens

801199

0.004574

0.365906

1 bar, 2 bar, 3 bar

50180

0.000687

0.034332

3 bar, 3 bar, 3 bar

40210

0.000801

0.032043

2 bar, 2 bar, 2 bar

25378

0.001442

0.036049

Any red, any white, any blue

20113

0.000431

0.008621

1 bar, 1 bar, 1 bar

10432

0.001648

0.016479

Any 3 bars

57977

0.030430

0.152149

Any 3 reds

2335

0.001278

0.002556

Any 3 whites

21036

0.003952

0.007904

Any 3 blues

2756

0.002884

0.005768

3 blanks132,768

0.125000

0.125000

Other0

216,672

0.826538

0.000000

TOTAL

262,144

1.000000

0.865761

The lower right cell shows the return of the Red White & Blue. In percentage terms, it is 86.58%. In the long run, the machine pays $86 out of every $100 total bet amount.

  1. Calculations were made for one coin.
  2. If you put two coins, you will get the same results.
  3. But three coin wagers increase the payback to 87.47% because the two highest combinations feature increased payouts.

Summary

You should also know that the term "random number generator" is somewhat incorrect. RNGs used in slots are pseudo-random as they are based on complex algorithms. 

If you are interested in this subject matter, read more about RNGs in the gambling industry

The following articles on Casinoz will describe other aspects of slot machine mechanics and mathematics. 

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