Luck is an intangible resource, yet it represents the key element of any game built around risk: from video games to casino games. While video games involve some degree of chance, they are predominantly skill-based. Casino games are a totally different domain. Initially, they are considered games of chance where the outcome is random. Or isn’t it? Technically, there is no such element as luck. There are lines of code and computerized calculations.

Probably, this is the toughest issue since we can’t actually verify the outcome of games, especially when it comes to slots. Let’s explore how the claimed totally random games can be manipulated by the devs.

Odds in slot games

Before the rise of electronic slots

Years ago, players enjoyed old-fashioned slot machines with three physical reels and a physical leveler. The physical reel on the machines had limited space. It held 22 stops, containing 11 various symbols and 11 blank spaces. Therefore, the number of possible combinations was limited too — somewhat around 10 thousand. The reel stop was defined by the player’s force of a pull applied to the leveler. 

Therefore, physical machines had straightforward odds, which weren’t hard to calculate. We have 3 reels and 3 rows with 6 symbols, for example. By multiplying 6?6?6, you get 216. Now, let’s add the number of possible winning combinations. Assuming it’s 180, the odds would be 180/216, which is 83.3%.

The advent of virtual reel mapping

Virtual reel mapping became the breakthrough innovation back in 1982. And this approach applies to basically any electronic gaming machine (EGM) today. Whether you spin the reels in your favorite Golden Nugget Casino in Vegas or play innovative GWC Casino slots online, they are most likely based on virtual reel mapping.

EGMs use virtual reels, which are ‘invisible’ on the screens. Each virtual reel may contain from 64 to 256 stops. Since a physical reel couldn’t hold such a number of stops, the computer version of reel mapping was invented.  

Today, a small computer chip integrated into slot machines determines the outcome with the help of virtual reels. They may include various symbols in various quantities. For example, it’s possible for an EGM to contain more blank symbols and less winning or jackpot symbols.

So, if you play a slot game with a reel containing 256 stops, the program will choose a number from 1 to 256 where each number is mapped to a particular symbol. If game designers introduce only 2 jackpot symbols, the odds will be 2/256.

So far, these are hypothetical odds of just one reel, although slots usually have 3, 5 or even more reels. Assuming that a slot has 3 identical reels, the odds of hitting a jackpot would be 2/256?2/256?2/256 or 1 in 2,097,152. It doesn’t look very promising even considering that these are approximate estimates. Additionally, calculating the odds gets more complicated with the introduction of features such as multipliers, scatters, and bonuses.

Furthermore, the computer chips indicate the moment when the reel stops. This was not the case with slots featuring physical levelers and reels. This leaves space for game developers to alter the potential odds. The number of jackpot symbols per reel and jackpot combinations is also at the discretion of developers. What’s more, it’s virtually impossible for a player to check the actual odds.

Why does the last reel usually miss?

How often did you get CHERRIES, then again CHERRIES, and then a LEMON or just a blank? This outcome might not always relate to your bad luck, but to virtual reels programming. It’s in the power of game developers to stack the deck in a way that certain outcomes happen more frequently (or rarely) than others.

Usually, the reels are not created identical. Some studies reveal that the 2 first reels are more likely to strike the same symbol, while the last one misses. Due to the ‘invisible’ nature of the virtual reels, it’s hard to notice how many times a certain symbol is featured on each reel. While players expect balanced odds for all reels, it often turns out that the odds for getting the third symbol are poorer. For example, the Cherries symbol may appear 3 times on the first reel, 6 times on the second, and just twice on the third. 

What the players see, as a result, is the screen full of versatile symbols. What they have, as a result, is a reduced number of winning combinations due to the great variety of game symbols intended to limit the odds.

This gave birth to another misleading effect known as near-miss. Although it doesn’t actually influence the player’s odds of winning, it makes the player feel that he/she has almost won because of the third symbol coming up just above or below a payline. 

Other factors that can influence the slot odds

There is more than mathematics in odds calculation.

Slot payout percentage or RTP

RTP is a figure that is usually represented as a percentage. It shows how much a slot pays back in regard to the sum that you have bet on that slot. For instance, an RTP of 95% will give back $95 for every $100 you bet. In other words, it tells that you will lose $5.

However, it’s vital to know that RTP is estimated based on a myriad of spins — up to millions. It means that the longer you play a particular slot, the closer your return will approach the suggested payout percentage. 

On a final note

There are too many variables to consider when calculating the actual odds of a particular game — especially online games, and especially online casino games like slots. Yes, they are predominantly based on luck, but we can’t be sure to what extent slot games are operated by sheer chance.

Anyway, you must admit that if you get back $95 from the $100 bet after having played 100 spins, slots wouldn’t be so entertaining and thrilling games to play.