Understanding how slots work is important in maximizing your gains and dispelling some common myths that have grown up around slots. Once you know how slot machines work you will avoid the common pitfalls made by uninformed players.

The Random Number Generator

All Slot machines contain a "random number generator" (RNG) is a microchip that constantly (even while the machine is standing idle) generates combinations of numbers at a rate of around a hundred a second. These random numbers correspond to positions on each of the reels in the machine. When you play, you aren't really initiating anything except the spinning of the reels, which is just for entertainment. You are really just telling the machine to display the reel positions that correspond to the last set of random numbers that the computer has generated for the slot machine at the time you press the key.

Now you know how the RNG works, here are some specific things not do when playing slot machines.

Don't Use a Slot Machine System

People who believe you can beat slot machines with a system cant. The RNG makes the game one of pure chance, which has no skill whatsoever. All the spins are totally independent of each other. Winning comes down to the precise moment that you play and this dictates which set of random numbers your play uses. Just like the unscrupulous salesman who sells systems in roulette (another game of chance) mathematical formulas cannot be applied, as there is no data to base the formula on in the first place!

Don't Assume a Slot Machine Is Due a Payback

A machine is never due to payout at a certain time as the payback percentage and payout frequency are calculated longer term. In fact, there is no reason it can't have two or more payouts in a short time period or not pay out at all for a long time.

Don't Play Fast

Playing faster will not increase your chances of winning more paybacks, or a jackpot. The RNG will generate hundreds of numbers between the spins of even the fastest player, so you can x relax, take your time and enjoy the experience.

Don't Feel Bad

If you come off a slot machine and someone wins the jackpot straight after you. Don't feel bad, because you probably would not have won it anyway. Why? Quite simply the speed of the random number generator would mean you would both have had to have played at the exact same micro second (and keep in mind here that there are 100 calculations a second), and the odds of both players hitting the play button at the same time are miniscule.

So How Can You Maximize Your Chances Of Winning?

Now you know how the RNG works you can see some of the myths that have grown up around slot machines, avoid them and enjoy the experience of playing more. You can also save money, if you were thinking of buying a slot system! However, although slots are a game of pure chance, you can put the odds a little in your favour by knowing the best number of coins, and machines to play.