When you play slots, there’s a lot going on, from paylines to symbols and bonus features. To help players keep track of it all, most slots have information tables called paytables that provide a full breakdown of the game’s symbols, payouts and jackpots. This is especially important when playing online slots where the amount of info can be overwhelming.
In general, the more symbols on a slot’s reels, the greater the chances of winning a jackpot or big payout. However, there is also a tradeoff between the number of symbols and the game’s volatility. Slots with fewer symbols may pay out smaller amounts more frequently, but they also tend to have higher volatility and bigger jackpots.
The randomness of slot machines is a fundamental part of the gambling experience, but understanding it requires an understanding of probability. For example, if you roll a six-sided die, there is an equal chance that it will land on any of the sides. Slots work the same way, but the odds of hitting a jackpot are much higher than the chance of rolling a single zero.
Hirsch’s ideas were not without their critics, including William “Si” Redd, a key figure in the transition of slot machines from a fringe aspect of casino financial management to their status as today’s leading source of revenue. An extensive interview at the UNLV Oral History Research Center details how Redd was able to leverage new technology to overcome many of the weaknesses that Hirsch had identified.