This paper by Prof. Kevin A. Harrigan at the University of Waterloo presents a sample three-reel three-coin slot machine game with a bonus for three coins, and a true payback percentage of 85.6% when one or two coins are wagered and 92.5% when three coins are wagered. The player sees the winning or losing combination of three symbols on the payline as well as (a) the physical reels as they scroll by and (b) what is just above and just below the payline at the end of play.
WATCH: “Who Profits From Causing Gamblers to Die by Suicide? Examining Corporate and State Accountability for the Institution of Predatory Gambling”
February 24, 2026
Despite a mountain of evidence, states continue to partner with powerful gambling corporations to promote ever more extreme forms of