Slot machines are a relatively new arrival compared to classic casino games like Roulette and Blackjack. But they’ve still become one of the most commonly played casino games, both online and in land-based casinos.
Behind the animations and graphics, how do online Slots actually work? Let’s take a closer look at just how the online format of Slots functions.
The basics of slot machines
The core of any slot game is its spinning reels, which feature a variety of symbols arranged along them in vertical columns. When players initiate a spin, they’re looking for symbols to line up to form matching combinations, resulting in a payout.
Where classic slot machines used physical reels and mechanical workings, most modern Slots are entirely digital inside. Online Slots have a lot in common with the slot games found in land-based casinos, minus the physical game cabinets.
Digital Slots display their reels on a screen, using random number generators (RNGs) to determine the outcome of a spin rather than any physical spinning forces.
The random number generator
RNGs are at the heart of modern slot games. These computer algorithms are what determine the outcome of a spin and ensure that any spin is completely random, with no way of predicting what symbols will land.
In any given second, an RNG will generate strings of thousands of random numbers, even when the game isn’t in active play. These numbers have no discernible pattern, making it impossible for anyone to predict what numbers will come next.
When a player initiates the spin the current set of generated numbers will lock in. Each number is mapped to a symbol on one of the reels, with the sequence allowing the game software to know which symbols the reels will land on.
The animation of the reels will play out, eventually stopping on the symbols set out by the RNGs results.
Before any RNG can go into use, it is rigorously tested to ensure that it produces random and unbiased results. This means that players can rest assured that the outcome of any given spin is completely unpredictable and random, giving them the same odds as any other player.
The key components of a slot game
Reels are the most central component of Slots, forming the core of the gameplay. How many reels a slot game has varies, with classic Slots only using three reels and some designs using as many as seven reels. Five reels are the most common number.
Paylines are the lines on which symbols need to land to form a matching combination. Just like reels, the number of paylines in a game varies between Slots. In some games, players have the option to activate hundreds of potential paylines.
But while every slot game has reels, they don’t all use paylines. Some Slots use different methods to determine matching combinations, such as clusters. These count when symbols appear adjacent to each other on the reels, with a set number counting as a combination.
One type of symbol that many slot games feature is the wild, which can substitute for other standard symbols in a combination. These allow for matching combinations to still count even if one symbol is not present, as long as its place is taken by a wild.
Online Slots are driven by RNGs, in combination with animations and graphics that show the reels spinning. There are far too many different themes to count here, with different Slots designed to suit any preference.
