The first slot machine appeared over 100 years ago, and since then, this type of gambling entertainment has undergone many changes. The machines have evolved from mechanical devices to computerized online games. Due to the popularity of this money-making pastime, many gamblers try to understand how slot machines work in casinos.
Types of Gaming Machines and Slots
Mechanical "one-armed bandits" are a thing of the past. While they can still be found in some Las Vegas casinos, they are more often seen as exhibition pieces. Nowadays, all machines in land-based casinos have electronic internals, and the lever to start the reels spinning is often just a nod to tradition and the original slot machines.
The principle of operation of mechanical and subsequently electro-mechanical machines was based on the independent rotation of three reels on a single axis and the sequential stopping of the reels. If identical symbols appeared on the visible part of the reels, the player was awarded a win.
Modern video slots in land-based and online casinos are merely a visualization of spinning reels on a screen. They are fully electronic devices, allowing game developers to vary the number of reels, rows, and paylines.
Principles of Operation of Slot Machines Online
Video slots are the most popular form of gambling games in online casinos and are created by software developers such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Novomatic (Greentube), Playtech, and Yggdrasil Gaming. These companies ensure a random outcome each time the game is played. The casino provides players with access to the video slot interface, but the computer program ensuring random outcomes is controlled by the provider. This means that a fair and licensed online casino cannot influence a player's chances of winning.
This scheme allows major providers to launch progressive jackpot systems by combining machines into a single network. When playing on machines with progressive jackpots, the sum of bets from all players across different casinos is added to a common prize pool. Multi-million dollar jackpots are paid out by the game developer, not the casino.
Random Number Generator
The winnings on slot machines are calculated using a random number generator. This is a computer program that enables developers to make the outcome of spinning reels unpredictable. The random number generator continuously performs calculations, even if nobody is playing the machine. As soon as the player presses the Spin button, the RNG produces a result. The symbols and their sequence on the reels, and consequently, the player's winnings, depend on the generated numerical value.
What is RTP
The abbreviation stands for Return to Player, or player return. It is a characteristic showing what portion of the funds spent on the machine is returned to the player over a very long session. Formally, if the machine's RTP is fixed at 95%, then by betting $100, the player should win $95.
However, RTP is a statistical indicator that only works with large numbers, thus not contradicting the very principle of gambling. A gambler can start the machine and hit a huge jackpot after the first spin, or go for a long time without winning. Nevertheless, the higher the RTP, the better for the player. Modern slots have payouts of up to 99%. A rate of 97-98% is considered high, around 96% is average, and less than 95% is low.
| Slot machine | Manufacturer | RTP (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Dicey Fruits | Synot Games | 98.13 |
| Blood Suckers | NetEnt | 98 |
| Snake | Gluck-Gamevy | 98 |
| Bikini Queens | Manna Play | 97.77 |
| Golden Tour | Playtech | 97.71 |
| Downtown | 1x2 Gaming | 97.7 |
Winning Combinations and Bonuses
All slots use similar principles for forming winning combinations: a specified number of identical symbols must line up on the game board in the sequence defined by the rules. Most often, three or more identical symbols form a combo on an active line. Sometimes, it is necessary for identical icons to appear simply on adjacent reels or to touch each other in any position. The more symbols the combination contains, the higher the winnings.
An important characteristic of a slot for the player is the presence of special symbols and bonus features. Special symbols come in three varieties:
- Wild symbol. Completes combos of standard icons. Sometimes forms independent chains with the highest payout coefficient or acts as an additional multiplier, allowing players to win large sums.
- Scatter symbol. Forms paying combinations outside the specified sequence rules. That is, it is enough for the required number of scatters to appear anywhere on the game board. Most often, this symbol triggers the most profitable mode for the player, such as free spins.
- Bonus symbol. Activates a bonus round that differs from the standard game and brings significant winnings. Bonuses make gameplay more exciting and increase the slot's payout.
There are many bonus features, limited only by the developer's imagination. These include respins, stacked and expanding symbols, sticky wilds, additional multipliers, and more, all of which increase the player's chances of winning.
The Future of Video Slots
Game software developers do not stand still. To maintain interest, developers come up with new mechanics, change the principles of the game, experiment with the number of reels, rows, and paylines, add special symbols, and unique bonus features. Over time, there will be even more bonuses in the slots, slots based on virtual reality technology will become more widespread, and the gameplay will resemble traditional video games even more.
