One of the first questions you may ask when playing slot games are whether the payouts are truly random. These are games of luck and you do not need any special skills or strategies to be a successful slot player. However, you do have to understand how payouts are generated.
The slot machines you find in casinos today are modern machines and they all make use of a random number generator. This is a piece of software that is developed by the provider and used to control all outcomes of the game. With a random number generator in use, all game payouts are completely random, providing a fair chance for you to win when you spin the reels.
A Closer Look at Random Number Generators
The technology that is used with slot games today is much more enhanced and provides you with a better gaming experience and fair chances at winning. Older slot games were mechanical machines, where physical reels were used. Today, slots make use of computers and microchips to create winning combinations. All symbols that are used on a slot will appear at random in various positions on the reels. This is the result of the random number generator.
The random number generator is at work even when the machine is not being played, creating thousands, even millions of random combinations. When you do play the game, the result will be a random offering of symbols based on the latest numbers that are generated.
This microprocessor is actually the brains of the slot and no matter what you do while you are playing, you will never be able to alter the outcome of any spin or predict when a game is about to hit. Every spin result is predetermined by this random number generator.
Slot Hit Frequency
Slot games are all programmed to offer a different hit frequency and return to player percentages. When you are choosing a slot, you should be aware of how these both work as they can play a key role in which game you choose to play at the casino.
In addition to the use of a random number generator, slot machines also rely on hit frequencies. These will let you known how often a game will offer a winning combination. For example, if a slot has a hit frequency of 7%, it will offer a winning combination on 7% of the spins that are okayed. If you want to enjoy better chances of winning, try to play games that have multiple paylines as you can create more than one winning combination from a single spin.
Games that are known to have a low hit frequency are often considered tight games, however, these games can offer larger payouts. Just as with any slot or casino games you find, the results will be controlled by the random number generators, so there is no way to tell when one of these larger wins will be offered.
Hit frequency simply refers to the average times a winning combination will appear on the reels. It is something you should consider when choosing a slot game. Try to find those with a higher hit frequency. While this will offer lower payouts, you will win more often and be able to extend your gambling session.
Return to Player Percentages
The RTP is one of the main things you should look for when you are choosing to play any slot game. If you are playing online, you will find that the best casino sites will routinely audit their games and will provide you with a verified RTP. While games still offer random results, a slot with a higher RTP will offer more rewards over time. The Return to Player is a number that is used to represent the percentage of money that will be paid back.
Let’s say you choose a game with a 97% RTP. This means that for every $100 bet, the game will pay $97 in payouts. These returns will not all come at the same time. Even if you sit there are feed $100 into the machine, you are not guaranteed to walk away with $97. These percentages represent payout over a long period of time and they are an average based on how much has been wagered.
Play for Fun and Enjoy the Random Payouts
There is no way to plan a gambling session and expect wins when you are playing any slot game. Both land and online casinos make use of random number generators to ensure the randomness of each and every spin that is played. While you can make educated decisions in regards to which games to play by comparing hit frequencies and RTPs, you will never be able to predict a winning machine.
By keeping slots completely random, you always shave equal chances at winning. You may find that some slots offer multiple payouts in a row while others seem to eat your money. The end result will be the same no matter how a machine is performing at a given time. The RTP will not change and the random number generator cannot be altered, so regardless of what game you are playing, you will have the same chances of winning as the next player.
