When casinos want to switch out physical slot machine themes, they also have to change the physical reel strips in most cases. They could leave them out, but that would be a much more confusing game to play. They would be affixed to the reels, so players would know visually how they did on a spin. The days of mechanical reels meant they also came with physical reel strips, which have the various symbols printed on them.

Virtual reel mapping can extend the number of outcomes by making some spaces more common than others, and computerized slots with computer animated reels can have reel strips that are much lengthier. In the world of mechanical reels, there are traditionally 24 reel stops, 12 with symbols and 12 spaces. And press it down more firmly.In a previous Slot Vocabulary article, I discussed the concept of a Reel Stop, which is a single position on the reels where they can come to a stop for the purposes of determining what the spin’s outcome will be.Ī Reel Strip is the full set of Reel Stops that can appear on a given reel. When you are happy with how the decal is lined up, go back over it with your thumb. Pull just enough to keep the decal from sticking down until you are ready. *****CAUTION***** This decal will stretch if you pull on it as you apply but you do need to keep it tight and a little stretch is ok. Once you are at the end, the decal will overlap itself. Always work your thumb or finger toward the unstuck part of the decal. Working a little at a time pull back the backing paper and work the decal on as straight as possible using your thumb or finger to seal it down as you go. Making sure it is as straight and centered as possible, press down the first half of the exposed adhesive. Line up the dots on the bottom of the decal with the two side by side holes in the slot reel. Peel back about an inch on backing paper. If the images are right side up, then the teeth of the reel should be to the right.

How to make slot machine reel strips