What Controls a Computer's Slot Machine Payout?
Slot Machines tend to be some of the most regulated machines in the United States. While the specific guidelines on payouts vary from state to state, all slot machines essentially work the same way, whether they are located in a large casino in Las Vegas or a small gaming room on an Indian Reservation in Arizona.
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Predetermined Payouts
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The payout on all modern slot machines is predetermined by the setting of a computer chip or memory device installed in each individual machine. The casino cannot change the payout rate without physically changing the chip, which would involve shutting down the machine. While casinos don't disclose the payout rates of their slot machines, many casino experts argue that playing a slot machine offers customers the worst odds of any the games you'll find in an average casino.
It's All About Math
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Each slot machine is set to randomly pay out a percentage of the money put into it. But if the chip is set to payout at a rate of 90 percent, that means the machine would pay out 90 percent over its lifetime. That doesn't mean that if you put in $100, you should theoretically get back $95. The payout is also random. So is there is no such thing as a slot machine being "due." Each play is mathematically as likely to be a winner as any other play.
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Progressive jackpots
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Most slot machines pay out based solely on that individual machine's actions. But some slot machines are linked together and have a display that show's the winning jackpot amount increasing every time the machine is played. These are called "progressive" machines and a part of every bet is put towards a jackpot that can be won by someone playing at any machine in the network. The advantage is that because hundreds, or even thousands, of slot machines are locked together, the big jackpot amount can reach into the millions. The downside is that smaller wins on the machine will be smaller than on a stand-alone slot machine.
Cheating
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Before the advent of electronic slot machines, a skilled crook was sometimes able to trick the slot machine into paying out using a variety of methods. Those included magnets and using slugs or coins with strings attached on one end. Those methods are useless on any machine made in the modern era, typically after 1960.
Malfunctions
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While it is not common, there are times when a slot machine malfunctions. Either it stops working in the middle of a bet, or the winning amount displayed on the machine doesn't match the money received by the player. While the exact method varies from state to state, casinos generally have the option of checking the log of the slot machine before paying out disputed amounts. In the case of a discrepancy, the amount shown in the log is what the casino is obligated to pay out.
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