How Slot Games Actually Work: The Full Guide

Slot games have taken the world by storm. Whether you’re a casual dabbler or a seasoned pro, there’s one question that will cross your mind sooner or later. And that is – how do slot games actually work? Well, that’s where we come in. This guide will troubleshoot all your doubts once and for all.

Though we’re mainly talking about online slot games, keep in mind that modern slot machines in land-based casinos have also started using pretty much the same technologies, such as computer-based random number generators. So, all of this also applies to slot machines by extension.

RNG

The first thing you have to understand about slots is that these are games of pure chance. Compared to almost all table games, slot games have lower odds for the player. They compensate for it by sometimes having lower bet sizes and linked jackpots.

Any game of chance needs true randomness. While it was hard to write algorithms and programs that could generate truly random numbers in the past, it has become quite easy today. Game providers are the companies that make these games or software. They use scientifically proven and provably fair random number generators. The process is called random number generation or RNG.

It’s impossible to imagine any modern online casino without RNG today. The computer program generates a truly random number for each spin. And depending on the paylines, the player wins or loses money.

Paylines

Slot games feature different symbols spread across a grid of rows and columns. A standard 7×7 grid with a bunch of symbols often has millions of possible combinations. As such, the uniqueness of each spin is really remarkable.

You win if you get specific paylines on your spin. The simplest paylines are getting matching symbols in one row, column, or diagonally.

RTP & Volatility

All forms of gambling have a house edge, which means the house wins more often than the player. You’re essentially betting against the house. On average, the baseline return-to-player, or the amount that is won back by all players of a slot game, is 92%. The house, on average, makes an 8% profit.

However, growing competition among game providers and online casinos has opened up the doors of innovation. It’s not rare to find slot games that feature an RTP of 95% or higher. In fact, in many situations, 95% RTP can be considered the new normal.

There’s another variable here – volatility. The volatility, variance, or hit rate of a slot game is the number of times it will hit a winning combination. In a way, this tells you the average payout size.

Features

Online slot games offer a bunch of features that make playing fun. There’s always a solid narrative and amazing 2D graphics, at least in games from leading providers released in the last 3-4 years. Apart from that, they also have:

• Bonuses such as triggers for free spins, respins, and multipliers make you win even more.
• Wild symbols can substitute for any other symbol, making your probability of striking a winning payline even higher. Scatter symbols increase the chances of winning with free spins or other special rounds.
• A lot of slots are linked to progressive jackpots. All instances of the slot game across casinos are linked to it, and a portion of each player’s bet is added to the jackpot. The winner can potentially take home millions.

Wrapping Up

From penny machines that have smaller prizes but more frequent wins to today’s modern online slot games that feature big prizes and more frequent wins with higher RTPs – we’ve sure come a long way. Slot games remain a top form of entertainment for millions around the world.

Hopefully, now you have a clearer idea of how these games actually work under the hood.