The Odds of Winning at Slots
Whether you win or lose on a slot machine may seem like nothing but luck, but many things are going on inside the machine that determine just how, and how often, the machine will be a winner. Each spin of a slot machine is random, yet the casinos can still be sure the odds are always in their favor. How they do it is both interesting and effective.
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The RNG
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Every spin of a slot machine is random, so it is not related to any other spin. This is thanks to the Random Number Generator, or RNG. The RNG is a program inside the slot machine that picks very large numbers at random. These numbers are created and discarded several thousand times a second while the slot machine is turned on. A number is picked at the exact moment you place a bet. This number will eventually determine if the spin is a winner or a loser.
Virtual Reels
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The number chosen by the RNG when you make your bet will be sent to the machine's virtual reels to determine what combination of symbols you will receive. The reels you see are only there so you can view the outcome, but they don't determine if you win. The virtual reels, on the other hand, are housed within the mind of the slot machine computer, and they contain all the same symbols you see on the actual reels. The big difference is that the virtual reels contain symbols in amounts and combinations specifically suited to provide the amount of payback the casino desires.
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The Paytable
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Using the paytable, which is a listing of all combinations and how much they pay, the machine checks each combination you receive to see if you have a winner. If the combination chosen does not exist as a winning combination in the machine's paytable, you lose. If the combination is on the paytable, you win the amount listed for your combination, based on how much you bet. Typically you win more if you bet more.
Payback Percentage
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How often a winning combination is chosen and how much each combination pays in relation to how often they appear determines the overall payback of the machine. Most slot machines have a payback range from 80 to 98 percent, with lower denominations typically having lower payback percentages. Payback is calculated over the life of the machine, not for individual bets or sessions, so a 93 percent machine is expected to pay back 93 percent of the money it takes in over its entire life.
Expert Insight
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The higher the denomination, the better your odds---up to a point. Penny and nickel machines usually have paybacks in the low 80 percent range, while $1 or $5 machines have odds closer to 95 percent. Anything above a $5 denomination does not increase your payback by any appreciable amount. Video poker games have the best odds of any slot machine in the casino, usually around 94 to 98 percent. Progressive games usually have odds that are comparable to nonprogressives, unless the progressive game has a jackpot in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, in which case the odds will typically be far worse.
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