From how they look, to how they play and, most importantly, how they pay out, slot machines come in many different shapes and sizes. But regardless of their appearance, all slots work on the same principle: A random number generator decides whether a spin will end up with a winning combination of symbols.
When you press a button to spin a slot, the computer controls the reels by sending short digital pulses to the motor. These pulses move the motor a set increment, or step, with great precision. This is because modern computer systems use step motors, which are powered by digital rather than fluctuating electrical current.
Symbols vary across different slot games but classic symbols include fruit, bells and stylized lucky sevens. Each slot has a theme and pays out credits based on the machine’s paytable when a winning combination lines up. Some slot games have a progressive jackpot, which increases each time you play until the machine pays out.
Video slots work in a similar way to traditional machines but use a video image of the reels instead of real ones. When these first came out, players were distrustful because without spinning reels it seemed like they weren’t fair. But in truth, the reels and handles serve no functional purpose other than to give the player a sense of control over the game.
The computer system is what makes a slot machine fair. The Random Number Generator (RNG) generates random numbers that determine where the symbols land on the screen and how much you win. Some people believe that a slot is “due” to pay out but this is untrue, as payouts are completely random and determined by the RNG.