How Slot Machines Work

It's pretty amazing to think that slot machines were originally invented as a bit of a diversion, something for the non gamblers to do without the need of any gambling knowledge whatsoever, while the real gamblers got on with the business of playing the tables in the casino. How wrong they were. Pretty soon the slot machines became the most profitable of all the games, and brought in more than 60 per cent of the gaming profits in the casinos of the United States.

Although the technology has changed a lot over the years, the principle has not, you put your money in, you pull the handle or press a button and the reels start spinning, stopping one at a time and if you end up with a winning line - kerching, bingo (sorry, that's a different game) the cash starts falling like pennies from heaven.

How Classic Slot Machines Work

The classic slot machines were an elaborate configuration made up of gears and levers. When you put your coin in the slot, a sensor unlocks a brake on the handle so that it can move, there were generally three reels which were all mounted on a central shaft, which also supported 3 notched disks all connected to the reels, another shaft placed below the central shaft has a kicker, basically a piece of metal which comprises of 3 paddles, which are lined up so that they can push the notches. There are also stoppers on the second shaft, which are teeth which lock into the disc notches. If it sounds complicated there's really no reason to worry about it, all you have to do is pull the handle and set the reels in motion.

How Computerized Slot Machines Work

Many of the newest and most modern slot machines are still designed to look like the old originals, but don't be fooled, they work in a very different way. For one thing, the outcome of each pull is determined by a computer, not a series of gears, levers, discs, paddles and stoppers. The computer does tell each reel where to stop, but contrary to popular belief, they are not pre-programmed to follow a pattern or pay out a set amount at a particular time. They each have a random number generator which makes it impossible to predict what will happen next. They do insist that each and every time you pull the handle you have the same shot of hitting the jackpot as the one before or after.

Beating The Slots

Slot machines are programmed to pay out a percentage of the money they take, so for example if a payback percentage was 90, then 90% of all money taken by the machine would be paid out in winnings, with 10% being retained by the casino. Although it is not possible for a casino to quickly and easily tighten up a machine, neither is it true that the longer you play the better chance you have of winning. As I've said before, you have an equal chance of hitting the jackpot each and every time you pull the handle.