Online slot machines and "real" slot machines – how do they work?
How Did it all Begin?
The predecessor of the slot machine as we know it today was a machine produced in the late 1800s by Charles Fey called "The Liberty Bell". The machine featured three reels with various symbols, including a cracked Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell operated on an entirely manual basis and was very easy to manipulate and cheat. Slot machines proved extremely popular with players and continued to improve and develop over the years. In 1964 the first electronic slot machine was produced, which was more secure and difficult to cheat. In the 1970s slot machines started to use microchips and random number generators (RNGs) to determine the outcome of the spin. Today, slot machines are the most popular casino game and account for between 70% and 80% of casino revenues. In 1996 with the advent of the online casino industry, online slot machines became available to players.
What is a Random Number Generator?
A random number generator (RNG) is a chip which is embedded in the computer and randomly generates whole numbers in a particular range, on a continuous basis, at a rate of hundreds per second. Once a slot machine is turned on, even if it is not being played, the RNG continues generating numbers randomly. As soon as you put money in the slot machine and press the play button, the number that has been generated by the RNG at that exact moment is sent to the mechanism that controls the reels. The result of the spin is therefore entirely random and determined by the exact moment at which the play button was pressed. Although slot machines are programmed to pay out a particular percentage of the money bet, which is the same as the house edge at a table game, it makes no difference how long it has been since the jackpot was last won on a certain machine or how much the machine has been played, every spin has exactly the same shot at winning the jackpot.
How Online Slot Machines Work
Online slot machines work on very much the same basis as "real" slot machines, using a RNG to determine the outcome of each play. The main difference in online slot machine games is that you will usually be offered sign-up casino bonuses and other types of promotions at online casinos, plus you can enjoy the games from the comfort of your home.
Types of Slot Machine Games
Most slots games, whether at online slot machines or "real" machines are variations on the classic three-reel game with added features such as bonuses and multiple pay lines. Progressive slots are slot machine games which are connected to a network of machines that takes a portion of each amount played on every machine in the network and adds it to a single jackpot resulting in very large jackpots. The possibility of winning these huge jackpots for just a small bet is one of the attractions which keeps players coming back for more.
Final Word
While the odds of winning big from a slot machine game are pretty low, it is possible. It’s all random and every player has just as good a chance as the next of hitting that jackpot. So have fun and you never know!
