How Is Slot Machine Works

Check out these other videos that explain the inner workings of slot machines. The Jackpot Symbol Losses Disguise.
Slot machines don’t become due for a win when they haven’t paid out in a long while, and they also don’t become hot and start paying out more. Every spin is like a single coin toss or a single roll of the dice—the outcome is independent of all the outcomes prior to it. The location of the slot machine in the casino matters.
A progressive slot machine is one that pools all the money from everyone that’s played it since its last jackpot. There are also multi-slot progressive jackpots that pool a few different machines to tempt people with enormous payouts. Keep It Random, Y’All. Random slots obviously look a bit less enticing, as they have a fixed jackpot.

Slot Machine Words
How Is Slot Machine Works Without
Slot Machine Work

Slots are electro-mechanical gambling machines that use randomized numbers and produce probable results.

Payout table

Of course, a real slot machine pay table would have more than three possible prizes, and at least one of those prizes would be large. The average slot machine has a 1000 for 1 jackpot for its top prize. How Do Bonus Games and Other Slot Machine Features Work? Modern slot machines have a staggering array of special features, too.

The pay table shows the player what combinations pay out and how much.

Winning lines

Most machines have multiple winning lines on the reels, so options are given for how many lines the player wants to bet. Each line is equal to one bet, so on a five-cent machine, betting on five lines would equate to betting 25 cents.

Coin bin

Though many machines print redeemable tickets, machines that pay out in coins have a large bin to catch them.

Credit meter

A credit meter keeps track of how much credit the player currently has as well as winnings when the reels are spun.

Credits are often used instead of showing actual cash amounts because, to the player, losing credits may not seem as negative as losing money.

Arm or button

Once the player has selected how many lines they want to bet, pulling the arm or pressing the bet button locks the settings, selects a random number, and spins the reels.

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RNG

The RNG continuously generates thousands of numbers per second while the machine is on.

Some RNGs may use a device that collects thermal noise and converts it into electrical signals to help generate the numbers, as computers alone are only able to generate pseudo-random numbers.

EPROM

The EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory) controls the weighting of the machine to make sure the desired payout percentage is reached.

(See “Odds & Weighting' section below).

Bet button

When the bet button is pressed, the number generated by the RNG at that exact moment is selected and used.

Reels

Reels are for show, and by the time they’re spinning the machine already knows what the outcome will be. Spinning and stopping reels in sequence helps build suspense and excitement for the player, keeping them more interested.

Stops

Each reel usually includes 20 to 30 stops, which are the symbols and blank spaces on the reel.

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Odds & Weighting

Over many random play sessions, odds are predictable. By adjusting payouts for winning spins, casinos observe legal requirements while delivering an entertaining experience.

Payouts

Odds are predictable over time,

so adjusting payouts per possible winning spins

yields predictable results over many random play sessions

Required legal payout percentage

Many states have laws that require certain payout percentages. For example, a machine that returns 85 or 90% of the cash it receives over time would still give the casino a 10% - 15% cut.

Slot Machine Words

Weighting

The programmable EPROM allows weighting to fine-tune the play experience.

For example, if a reel has 10 blank spots, as long as that quota is met, it doesn't matter which blank spots are used. The machine could be programmed to land on blank spots around jackpots to give the player the impression of a 'near win.'

Stacking the odds:
multi-reel machines

On a multi-reel machine, the odds of winning decrease exponentially. For example, taking the single reel example from above and multiplying it to 3 reels (all with identical symbols as the first), the chances of a winning combination (3 of the jackpot symbol instead of 1) drop from 1/20 chance to 1/8000 chance.

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Anti-tamper

Slot machines are designed to be tamper proof to both the players and the casino.

Cabinet & screen

The cabinet and screen act as a faraday cage to disperse electricity and ground electrical signals, preventing outside electrical signals from interfering with the machine’s processes. The screen is coated in a clear, electrically conductive chemical, and connects to the metal cabinet to allow conductivity between the two.

Coin comparator

The coin comparator accepts or rejects coins that are put into the machine. It compares incoming coins against a coin previously placed in the comparator (e.g. if a nickel is in the comparator, then the machine would only accept nickels).

EPROM

The EPROM is programmed and tested in factory, then placed in the machine with a tamper evident sticker over it. This style of chip is reprogrammable using ultraviolet light and must be removed from the machine to do so, which is allowed only when a gaming authority is present.

Coin dispenser

Coin dispensers use a light sensor to count the number of coins dispensed.

Reels

Reels have sensors that detect extra movement, so trying to move reels manually causes an error to display on the LCD screen and any winnings are negated.

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