The technology of slot machines has also changed a lot over the years. The classic mechanical slots have been
almost completely replaced by the slot machine box controlled by computer chips. The slot games have been
remained the same, but everything has been changed in the back. The player pulls a handle to rotate a series
of reels (typically three) that have pictures printed on them. The reels will stop where the computer chip
tells them to stop. The pictures combination stays with the pay line, a line in the middle of a viewing
window determine winning or losing.
The slot machines are programmed to return the player's percentages explosively. That is, sometimes nothing
comes out (more often than not) and sometimes a hell of a lot comes pouring out (rare, but heart-throbbing
exciting). It is the lure of a great windfall (or even a little breeze) that excites the slot player. After
all, inside the belly of that computerized beast are sequences that can make you rich and richer and even
richer than that - and the heart pounds with that knowledge. And thus the casino can return its 92 cents on
the dollar because it is giving us more than eight cents worth of anticipatory thrills with every dollar we
plunk into the machine's maw.