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How Slot Machines Work
Classic Old Style Slot Machines
Behind the scenes or under the hood of the classic old style slot machine runs
an elaborate configuration of gears and levers. The central element is a metal
shaft, which supports the reels. This shaft is connected to a handle mechanism
that gets things moving. A braking system brings the spinning reels to a stop,
and sensors communicate the position of the reels to the payout system. A coin
detector initially registers that a coin has been inserted and unlocks a brake
so the handle can move.
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Over the years, manufacturers have tried dozens of approaches to arranging
these elements. The diagram above shows one such design.
The design above includes three reels mounted on a central shaft. The central
shaft also supports three notched discs, which are connected to the three reels.
A second shaft below the central shaft supports a kicker, a piece of metal comprising
three paddles. The kicker paddles are lined up so they can push against the
notches on the three discs. The second shaft also supports a series of connected
stoppers, teeth that lock into the notches on the discs.
The kicker and the stoppers are both connected to springs, which hold them
in a standby position. The kicker is held in place behind the discs, while the
stoppers are held up against the discs, locking them into place.
So here is what happens when a player pulls the handle:
- The handle rotates a hook mechanism, which grabs hold of the kicker, pulling
it forward (toward the player).
- A catch on the opposite end of the kicker grabs a control cam piece and
pivots it forward. This rotates a series of gears connected to the control
cam. A spring pulls the control cam back to its original position, but the
gear assembly slows it down considerably -- the gears act as a mechanical
delay.
- When the control cam is pivoted forward, it releases a spring-mounted cam
plate extending across the back of the machine.
- The control cam also pulls the stoppers away from the notched discs. As
the kicker keeps moving, it pushes the stoppers against several catches on
the cam plate. These hold the stoppers in place, so the discs and reels can
rotate freely.
- As the handle continues to move the kicker, the kicker paddles push the
discs forward briefly. When the handle is pulled all the way back and the
kicker has passed the discs, the bottom of the hook mechanism moves up against
a slanted surface. The slant pivots the hook forward, which causes it to release
the kicker.
- The kicker spring jerks the kicker backward at a good speed. The kicker
paddles hit the notches on the discs, spinning the reels rapidly.
- While all of this is happening, the control cam is slowly returning to its
original position. When it does return, it pushes the cam plate back, which
releases the stoppers. The different catches holding onto the different stoppers
are positioned so that the cam plate will release the stoppers one at a time.
Each stopper springs forward and locks into a notch, holding the reel in position.
From the player's point of view, here's how it looks. The player pulls the
handle. There is a clunk, and the three reels start spinning. Then the three
reels stop abruptly one at a time, followed by the payout (if necessary). The
"stopping one at a time" part builds suspense. If the first reel stops
on the jackpot symbol, then you have to wait for the next reel to stop to see
if it is a jackpot, and then finally the third. If all three display the right
symbol, the player wins.
Conventional mechanical slot machines eventually gave rise to electrical machines
that worked on similar principles. In an electrical machine, the reels are spun
by motors and the stoppers are generally activated by electromagnets, but the
game basically plays out the same way. Electrical machines have more sophisticated
money-handling systems, like those you might find in a vending machine, and
flashier light and sound displays.
In both types of systems, once the reels have come to a stop, the slot machine
needs to read whether the player has won or lost. In the next section, we'll
examine some systems for making this determination.
So that's the "old school" slot machine mechanism.
Next we'll cover the .
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