How Slot Machines Work – Real Facts About Casino Slot
If there’s a listing of the most popular casino games ever played (and displayed) on brick-and-mortar casinos, then surely the slot machines will figure prominently on the list. Affectionately called the ‘one-armed bandits’ or fruit machines thanks to its lucrative position on the casino floors, the slot machines have managed to define the casino experience through the years. As a popular casino game that dominated the casino lobbies of physical casinos, the slot machines feature a lever on the side and a button on the front which can be pressed to start the turning of the reels. The first versions of the reels included the currency detector which can detect and authenticate the money inserted. The object of the game is simple- players need to match symbols or objects on the reels to start winning the prizes.
Each machine features reels, and on the reels are common yet colorful symbols that must be matched. Some of the popular symbols that are often included in the classic slot machines are fruits, letters and shapes like bells, hearts, and diamonds. With the advent of new technologies, the mechanical reels were replaced by simulated reels and these are displayed on a video screen. For the modern reels, a more colorful set of symbols and images are used, and these were complemented by engaging sound effects. The result is an entertaining casino game that requires a basic gameplay. Thanks to its fun and colorful design and easy gameplay, slot machines became popular, and soon became the major money-makers in most brick-and-mortar casinos.
Today, the classic slots have become modern video slots, complete with high-end graphics and sound effects. There are even slot games that are rendered in 3D, complete with themes that are inspired by movies, heroes and the mythology. The designs, quality of graphics and sound effects may have changed, but the technology and principles remain the same.
Classic slot machines often used common yet colorful symbols like bells and fruits
Random Outcomes, Instant Winnings Assured by Random Number Generator (RNG)
One of the most critical components of any slot machine or video slots is the Random Number Generator (RNG). This is a software or a technology used in the game that allows the machine (or the system) to randomly produce number combinations as soon as the spin button has been pressed. This is an important component of the game since this can translate the series of random numbers into random outcomes as soon as the button has been pressed. And since the RNG works at random, each outcome is not directly related. A combination of three symbols now will not influence the results of the next spin made on the machine. Now, to ensure that the RNG is completely at random, and free from interference from the casino operators, many companies work with independent testing and technology companies that ensure the tool’s randomness. Once the RNG has been tested, the casino can now display the certification on its physical address, or the RNG certification can be displayed on the website, together with the licenses to operate.
Alien Robots features a 96.6 % RTP
Sure Winnings Through Return to Player (RTP) Percentages
Casinos operate a business, and it strives to make a profit out of its slot machines and online slots. While this is the natural law in business, slots players should keep in mind that these casino games are designed to pay out as well. And you will know how ‘generous’ these games are in paying out by checking the return to player (RTP) percentages of the game. The RTP is just one of the many facts and statistics about slot machines that should be clear to every player, beginners included. Just take the case of Alien Robots, a futuristic slot game offered by one of the leading software vendors in the market. Based on the published information, the game offers an RTP of 96.6%.
So, what does this mean to the slots player? Known as the theoretical payout percentage, the RTP approximates the payouts that can be expected from the game. Say for example a game costs $1 for every spin and has a payout percentage of 96.00%. This means that over a long period of time like 1 million spins, the game will return an average of $960,000 to the players who have wagered $1 million. This means that the operator will ‘earn’ the $40,000. Going back to the example about, it means that for a $100 wagered on the game, the slot game will give back $96.60, and the remaining $3.40 will serve as the earnings of the casino.
Slot machines have come a long way, in terms of design, features and the amount of jackpots that can be won. Although the classic slot machines are still found in brick and mortar casinos, the slots market is now dominated by the video slots and 3D slots, thanks primarily to the use of modern and advanced graphics and sound effects. The current generation of video slots are now available in different reel configuration and often based on a number of themes and storylines. Although the looks, the features and the contents of the slot machines may have changed through the years, the basic principle remains the same. All slot machines deliver the entertainment that player needs, and it operates through a random technology using a Random Number Generator that ensures that all outcomes are at random, all the time.