Being the most sought-after game in both online and land-based casinos, slots attract millions of players with the promise of hefty prizes in just a few spins. This is even more so when we consider that many slot titles offer progressive jackpots capable of truly changing the lives of the lucky players who land the winning combination that triggers the colossal prize. Unfortunately, many players, particularly those who lack experience, tend to forget that, when it comes to slots, winning is based solely on luck.
Many superstitious players go through their own little rituals before hitting the Spin button in online slots or pulling the lever that sets the reels in motion on land-based casino machines. Some kiss their hands before pressing the button; others hope to invoke Lady Luck by holding objects that supposedly bring them fortune. The truth of the matter is that such practices are ludicrous and have no effect on the outcome of the spins. Why? The answer is simple – the result of each spin of the reels is completely random and is determined by programmes called Random Number Generators, or RNGs.
How Random Number Generators (RNG) Work in Online Slots
Random Number Generators, or RNGs, are used to determine the outcome of all online casino games, not just slots. An RNG is a microprocessor, similar to those found in desktop computers, whose main purpose is to select numbers within a particular range. Typically, the RNG produces and selects numbers between zero and several billion. The programme generates long sequences of random numbers several thousand times per second by means of a predetermined formula. In fact, the RNGs used in slots are programmed in such a way as to generate up to four billion numbers for every single spin. These long random numbers correspond to the stops on the slot’s reels.
It is precisely these numbers that determine the outcome of each spin of the reels. The RNG always begins with a starting number, referred to as a “seed number”. The programme then uses the seed number to generate a new random number on the basis of a rather complicated algorithm. This new number itself becomes a seed that creates yet another random number, and the process repeats incessantly. Remember that there is no way for anyone to predict what the next number will be unless they know what the initial seed number was.
Also, it is important to mention that these random numbers are rather imposing in size and often contain more than 200,000 digits. When you place your bet and press the Spin button, the outcome of the spin is determined by the number the RNG produced at the exact millisecond you clicked the button. The reels are then set in motion, creating the impression that the outcome is yet to be decided when, in fact, it was settled the very instant you pressed that button.
Please note that the RNG is hard at work at all times and never stops producing its long sequences of numbers. In fact, it continues to do so even when no one is playing that particular slot, because the game is still running internally even when there is no one to press the Spin button. Thousands of winning and losing combinations are tirelessly generated by the RNG during the few seconds you pause to scratch your head or yawn.
In conclusion, players should remember that the outcomes of the reel spins are not sequential but purely random. Thus, no online slot is ever “due” to pay out, regardless of how long it has been since the jackpot was last won. The RNG cares about nothing but numbers and is indifferent to the amount you have at stake. Whether or not you play with bonus credits is also irrelevant to the programme. The RNG is employed in the interest of fair play and ensures all players have an equal chance of landing a winning combination.
The Relation Between RNG and Payout Percentages
When playing online, slot fans are likely to encounter the term Return to Player percentage, or RTP. This term refers to the theoretical payout percentage of the games – that is, what proportion of all wagered money will be paid back to players over time. The RTP and the house edge are closely related.
For instance, if a given slot is said to have an RTP of 96.60%, this means that out of every £100 wagered, players can expect to receive £96.60 back in winnings, while the remaining £3.40 will be retained by the casino. However, this return percentage, though accurate, is achievable only over extended periods in which thousands of spins are involved. The house edge for such a slot would therefore be 3.40%.
If all slots that run on RNGs were created with the same number of stops, they would share exactly the same Return to Player percentage, at least in theory. Yet, if you glance at the payout tables that online casinos publish regularly, you will notice that slots’ return percentages can vary greatly from one title to another. You may even observe that the return percentage of a given slot can differ from one online casino to another.
The reason for these discrepancies lies in the fact that the programmers or mathematicians who created the RNG may choose to weight the individual stops on the reels. For example, they might assign ten possible random number combinations to the lemon symbol stop, while the non-winning space above the lemon could be assigned a hundred random number combinations. Because of this, the return percentages of slots differ.
However, gambling regulatory bodies have set out specific rules that web-based casino operators and developers of online casino games are expected to follow. These regulations impose restrictions that limit the extent to which certain slot stops can be weighted.
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High and Low Variance Online Slots
The term “variance” is often used in reference to slots, but less experienced players may wonder what it means. It denotes how often, and how much, players can expect to win on a given online slot during their gaming session.
We can distinguish between two main categories of slots – those with low variance and those with higher variance. If you play low-variance slots, you will notice they pay out more frequently, although the prizes are modest in size. Such slots are typically called “loose”. Low-variance slots are more suitable for players looking to meet wagering requirements after claiming a casino bonus. Games in this category are also recommended to players with more modest bankrolls, as they do not exhaust funds as quickly as their high-variance counterparts and therefore enable players to maximise their playing time.
If you play higher-variance slots, your chances of collecting a large prize or hitting a lucrative multiplier are greater. However, smaller wins on high-variance slots occur less frequently. Because of this, high-variance games are recommended to players who are not averse to taking risks and to those who have larger bankrolls.
Seasoned slot players typically wager smaller amounts per spin on high-variance slots and place larger bets on games with low variance. This approach enables them to extend their gaming session, minimise the risk involved, and maximise their playtime.
Slot Myths Dispelled by the Use of RNGs
Many slot fans fall prey to the so-called Gambler’s Fallacy, believing that the outcome of previous spins affects that of the spins that follow. Such players often think that if they have not landed a winning combination on the last eight or nine spins, the winning symbols are “due” to appear on the tenth spin. This is one of the biggest myths with regard to slots and is often accompanied by larger bets. Yet there is absolutely no logic to support it, because the outcome of each spin is random and depends solely on the RNG. Each spin is a completely independent event.
Another misconception is that slot players who bet using bonus credits or Comp Points have a smaller chance of hitting a winning combination. The “logic” behind such claims is that casino operators attempt to compensate for the perks and bonuses they grant their patrons. However, the RNG has no way of knowing whether the player is using bonus credits or their own money; it simply produces sequences of long numbers to ensure the outcome is random at all times.
Some players assume that they should stick to the same slot because, if they leave after they have “fed” it by playing with real money, the next person who joins will collect greater payouts or even walk away with “their” jackpot. In reality, no such thing happens. Believe it or not, when you quit the game, the RNG continues to determine the outcome of spins at random and will not “favour” another player over you. Moreover, the RNG keeps working even when there is no one playing that particular slot.
Finally, some players assume that there are hot and cold streaks in slots because the games’ payouts are based on cycles. Yet this is practically impossible, as RNGs are so efficient at ensuring randomness that, even if cycles did exist, it would be impossible for players to detect and exploit them. In short, there are no hot or cold streaks when it comes to slots. If you experience more frequent wins on a given slot, this simply indicates that you are playing a game with lower variance.