Slot machines have long been a popular feature of casinos, with players enjoying their simple rules and instant feedback. As gambling shifted online, slot machines came with it, and here they enjoyed a surge in popularity beyond anything we could have expected.
These days, online slot machines are big business, attracting millions of players from across the world. However, they are far more complicated than their traditional counterparts, so players must learn how they operate if they want to make the most out of them. Check out this guide to understand the rules of online slot machines.
How Do Online Slot Machines Work?
The core function of a slot machine is extremely simple, which has been a driving factor behind the popularity of these machines. From the one-armed bandits of old to the slot machines of today, the basic function remains essentially the same.
After entering a wager, the player pulls a lever or presses a button which sets the reels of the slot spinning. The reels, of which there are usually three or five, will contain a series of different pictures and symbols. These symbols can be anything and may depend on a slot’s particular theme, but common symbols include card suits, fruit, Bars, red 7s, and bells.
The reels will stop one by one to display a sequence of symbols. Certain combinations will trigger a payout, while others will not. If the player has landed a winning combination, they will be paid out according to the odds noted in the slot’s payout table.
Online slots work in exactly the same way. The only difference is that, instead of a system of gears and wheels operated by a lever, the process is completed digitally. However, early online slot machines were criticised for a lack of fairness and legitimacy, with odds stacked heavily in favour of the house.
Random Number Generators – The Casino’s Key to Randomness
The first slot machines used an almost clock-like mechanism to generate random results on the reels. How have today’s online slot machines been able to recreate this randomness? The answer is through the use of random number generators.
Random number generators are essential to online gambling, they’re used everywhere from online blackjack to the best no account casinos.
Random number generators use an algorithm to generate a random sequence of numbers. These numbers can be used to determine the outcome of any casino game, such as the number on a roulette wheel, the cards dealt in blackjack, or the roll of the dice in a game of craps.
In online slots, each symbol will have a unique value. When the random number generator creates a random sequence, the numbers generated will make the corresponding symbols appear on the reels.
This way, the casinos can ensure the outcomes of the slots are random and fair at all times.
Return to Player
Another term that you’ll come across and one you need to learn about when playing online slots is return to player (RTP). RTP refers to the average return a player can expect when playing an online slot machine.
This value is represented as a percentage and is calculated by evaluating millions of spins in game-testing simulations. While RTP may not accurately reflect your experience if you are only playing for a short period of time, it will average out the longer a session goes on.
To illustrate how RTP works, let’s imagine an online slot machine with an RTP of 95%. If a player was to bet $100 over the course of a session on this slot, they could expect to see a return of $95 according to the slot’s RTP.
Volatility
Finally, slot volatility is something that needs to be taken into account, as it can have a major influence on results. Volatility refers to how often wins are triggered and the size of the wins.
Slot machines can be rated with different degrees of volatility, such as low volatility, medium volatility, high volatility, or a combination such as medium-high volatility.
Low volatility slots will payout wins more often, but the value of these wins will be low. Conversely, high volatility slots won’t pay out very often, but the wins when they do will be big.
However, as with RTP, volatility is an average. This means it may not reflect your experience, especially if you are not playing for an extended period of time.
Conclusion
Online slot machines can seem complicated, but behind their bells and whistles, they are actually relatively simple. By learning the rules and how they work you can make the most out of your online slot experience.
