How Slot Machines Work
First of all, you should know that slot machines, unlike other casino games such as poker, or to a lesser extent Black Jack or roulette; are purely games of chance.
This means that, in slot games, personal skill plays a very low role in determining whether you will be a winner or not. Luck is in the hands of chance, and your ability to manage the money you invest wisely.
Having said that, we want to emphasize that for slots, the main objective you should have in mind is fun and adrenaline; if you want to have a fun time without having to think too much… Bearing in mind that it is possible that besides investing the money in that distracting time, you may recover it or even win an extra.
So, what is possible is to minimize losses and maximize profits. To do this, before starting to play, it is necessary to spend some time to know well how the slots work, either physically or online.
Mainly what you need to know is the basic operation of the slots, and their available game options; as well as the language of the game.
This is how we will learn how to play slots responsibly
And in this sense, it is very important to understand how the winning plays in the slots are determined.
This type of arcade games use a computer software called Random Number Generator (RNG) that constantly generates numbers. These numbers determine where the roller will stop the next time you spin it.
Random Number Generator (RNG)
It should be borne in mind that this process is totally random, so there is no way of predicting what will happen on any particular print run.
You must also bear in mind that each print run is an independent event. In other words, what has come out in the previous rolls does not affect what will appear in the next one.
It doesn’t matter if it is a physical slot machine, such as the one in arcades, physical casinos, or bars; or if it is an online slot machine such as the ones you can find in online casino websites such as 888 Online Casino: this applies to all the slot machines that have been and will be available. All of them are programmed with a program that generates combinations of numbers in a random way.
Another fact to take into account is that the random number generators are programmed so that the casino always has a profit margin. This is an insurmountable mathematical advantage, since the slots are not programmed to return 100% of the total amount invested by their players, but a lower percentage.
This percentage is called Percentage of Return, or “the house advantage”; and it is something like the commission that the casino takes away. This % will vary depending on the casino website and/or the slot machine in question.
This means, that in the long run the house always wins, because that’s the way the game is programmed.
And it doesn’t mean that you can’t become a winner in a short period of time, but it has nothing to do with choosing a “hot” or cold machine (a machine where you have already played for a long time or not).
Number of rollers
Traditionally, slot machines have always been three-rollers, and in fact, the most famous slot machines are those with three to five reels. However, there are slot machines equipped with up to ten reels.
Additional reels make it possible to get bigger jackpots but make it more difficult to win lower prizes because the chances of getting 7 matching symbols will always be lower than getting 3 matching ones.
Paylines
Traditional three-reel slot machines have a single payline depending on the combination of the reels. If the symbols form a certain combination, the machine pays.
However, on new machines, multiple pay lines can be activated, simpler and more complex, which you can activate before each spin. This type of slot games is the most widespread, both in physical slot machines and in online slot games.
By increasing the pay-lines, you increase your chances of winning as you are betting money on several lines, so the more pay-lines you bet on in a single spin, the more likely it is that a combination will fall on one of them.
Similarly, the more lines you activate, the more you are betting on each line.
5 reel online slot machine pay-lines
Multiple paylines in a 5 reel online slot machine
Finally, we want to clarify that the number of payment lines depends on each slot machine: it can go from one to dozens of payment lines; that’s why it’s important to know how to choose the most suitable slot machine for your needs.
For more information, we recommend you to read our article Tipos of Tragaperras: there are 7, do you know the differences?
Bonus Symbols
The bonus symbols make the slots more enjoyable and with more winning options.
These are special icons that appear on the reels of slot games, and when they appear on your payline (or paylines if you have activated several), they will activate an extra prize or opportunity.
They can be bonus symbols that activate bonus games, free spins, instant win, double play, wild, prize multiplier…
As we mentioned, they are special symbols that appear on the slot machine, they may be activated if they are on one of the paylines you have activated, or they may be activated just by appearing on the screen.
There are many types of special symbols. But the main ones are the following:
Wild symbol
Scatter symbol: its function is not clearly defined, it can be to activate a bonus game, a bonus round, etc. It is activated even if it does not appear on a winning line.
- Multiplier symbols: act both as a wild card and as a prize multiplier.
- Distribution symbols: activate free rounds.
Bonus Phases (Mini Games)
Many online slots usually have bonus games that are activated randomly after a few spins, when certain bonus symbols appear on the slots.
These types of mini-games can be additional spins on a screen parallel to the game, or they can be different games where some skill is required on your part.
It is sometimes possible to win a progressive jackpot in bonus games.
As you can see, these types of slots are more fun than traditional ones thanks to this additional component.
Tricks for Winning Slots
In addition to the tips we have given you to get the most out of slots, there are many other tricks to playing and winning slots that will help you to optimize your game by minimizing possible losses.
Some of these tricks are general for any other type of casino game, especially for online casino games, so it’s important to take them into account when choosing the best slots, how to manage your budget, and some other gambling strategies.
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