How online slot machines work

How online slot machines work

17:29 21 July 2021

Most online slots have flashy graphics and exciting bonus features, but there’s also a lot of math behind the scenes. So what determines whether you win or lose when you place a bet on a slot machine? Keep reading to find out.

 

Are slot machines rigged?

If you are a slots player, you probably know how volatile slot machines can be. Sometimes you keep winning no matter which game you play, but other times you can’t even get a single bonus and lose your balance in a matter of minutes. It can be easy to think that slot machines are “rigged” or “fixed”, especially when you can’t seem to win anything at all.

 

However, online slot machines are not rigged in any way. Instead, they are based on something called a Random Number Generator - an algorithm that ensures that each game round is completely random. This means that every time you press the spin button, you get a completely random result. All spins are also played independently of each other, no matter if you have won or lost in the previous rounds.

 

But how can you know this algorithm is actually in place and doing its job? The answer is that the companies that make online slots are licensed and heavily regulated. All the games have to be tested by an independent third-party before they are released to the public. Because of this, you can rest assured that you don’t play a fixed game - at least as long as you play at a reputable casino.

 

Return percentage and volatility

RNG is just one part of slot machines. There are two more things you should know about: RTP and volatility. These factors have a huge impact on a slot’s payout structure. The RTP is the game’s payout percentage and is set by the developer. Most online slots have a payout percentage of around 95%, but this varies from game to game.

 

In recent years, more and more slot developers have started producing games with variable RTP, allowing casinos to choose the payout percentage themselves. This means that on one site you can play a slot with 96%, but a different site may have the same game with an RTP of just 92%. It is a good idea to always check the payout percentage when possible so that you don’t get stuck on playing slots with very low RTPs.

 

The second element is volatility, also known as variance. The more volatile a game is, the bigger you can win, but you will also win less frequently. Games such as Dead or Alive 2 offer a max win of over 100,000 times your bet, but it will take millions of spins on average to get it. On the other side of the scale are games that offer smaller payouts, but pay out more often.

 

In conclusion, online slots are not rigged and are based on random number generation. However, RTP and volatility play an important role and can have a huge effect on your results - both in the short and long term.