Abstract: A slot machine of the type having a number of drums mounted individually rotatably on a common shaft and each provided with an annular row of various signs or symbols on the outer drum surface thereof, a starting arrangement is provided for starting the drums to rotate with a further device being provided for thereafter stopping the drums; a detector construction detects the stop positions of the drums and actuates a winner indicator in response to detection of the drums having stopped in a specific winner combination of the stop positions; each drum is mounted on the shaft by a free-wheeling coupling and the starting arrangement for the drums includes a device for rapidly rotating the shaft at least a fraction of a revolution, whereby the drums are rotated correspondingly, but allowed to rotate freely on the shaft after stoppage of the shaft.