Online Slot Machines And How They Work?

Slot machines are very popular in both brick and mortar and online casinos. They are loved by gamblers mainly because of their many variations, easy gameplay, attractive return to player (RTP) and amazing jackpots.

Slot machines were ingeniously birthed by Charles Fey who invented the first traditional slot machine called Liberty Bell in 1875. This revolutionary machine paved way for the first generation of slot machines. The said first generation of slot machines were purely mechanical and were controlled using gears and springs. However over the years, the slots gaming industry became more developed with admirable evolutions in technology. Such breakthrough in the tech world gave rise to electromechanical slots and eventually, online slots.

The advent of online casinos in the 1990s led to the creation and transition of casino plkayers to online casino games and online slots were on aggressive burst . Online slots share some similar characteristics with traditional slots but they have more embellished graphics, improved bonus rounds and a pile of extra benefits than the traditional slots. Before you start playing online slots, it is important to know how they work and this has been covered below.

How Online slots Work

Online slot machines feature a number of reels and paylines, with most online slots having five reels and 9 to 50 different paylines. However some online slots are known to more than 100 paylines. Players are given the opportunity to bet on any of these paylines and spin with the buttons displayed on the screen of the online slot machines. Some online slot machines have autoplay function enabled which let the reels spin itself for a number of times preset by the player.

Unlike popular myth and conceptions that stipulate online slots wins are determined by the casino, it is succinct  to note that payout or winning streak of an online slot is not controlled or set by the casino. Rather such is more dependent on the return to player (RTP)  preset by the slot machine's developer as well as the random number generator.

Random Number Generator (RNG)

All online slots and its variations are inbuilt with a computer component called random number generator. The core purpose of the RNG is to create random sequences in milliseconds every time the online slot machine is played. The random number generator comes up with unique series of numbers whenever a player clicks the spin or stake buttons displayed on the slot's interface.

The RNG software is based on a set of algorithms that determines the result of your spins and bets. However since the RNG generates new and different numbers in milliseconds, the outcome of the previous spins does not affect the result of new spins. The consequence is that if a player wins a jackpot, the next player that plays that slot can hit a jackpot too – outcomes are completely mutually exclusive and independent.

Online slots or the RNG have no memory or database to record previous wins, losses, or the number of times you have played in a day. They are not preset to yield certain winnings at certain points in time. All the RNG has been programmed to do is to create numbers in the most overwhelming randomness.

Your fortune is decided by mathematical equations and the number the RNG displayed the second you click the spin button. The numbers that the RNG creates, determines the symbols you will land which may give you a winning combination or not.

Types of Online slot machines

There are several variations of online slots. Definitely, each has its own special benefits and drawbacks but all serving to make the slot game more interesting for players.  The common slot types include:

Three reel slot machines

3 reel online slots are often referred to as classic slots because they are designed with the layout of the first traditional slots. They have three turning reels across a layout of 3 rows and columns and they can have one to three paylines. They have basic graphics, with low betting limits and low jackpots. These slots are simple and easy to play.

Five reel slot machines

Five real slots are also called video slots and majority of online slots that are being developed nowadays belong to this category. Unlike 3 reel slots, 5 reel slots use 9 to 50 paylines, although some can offer more than 100. Bet per hand is pricier and players can bet on any number of paylines.  

These slots offer special features and bonuses like Wild and Scatter symbols giving players more chances of winning. A 5 reel slot's jackpot could run into thousands, sometimes millions depending on the slot machine.

3D slots

3D slots share the same layout with video slots but they are more interesting and entertaining because of their 3D animations and characters which are featured in the slot. The graphics or theme of a 3D slot could be based on a movie or book and they usually have soundtracks and short videos in the slot to explain the slot's storyline.

Progressive Slots

Progressive slots are the most rewarding slots of all online slots in the market. Although they usually have the same layout like video slots, what distinguish them from other slots is their progressive jackpots.

These jackpots increases as people play the slot which explains the massive amount of money a player could win from this kind of online slot machines. Progressive slots can be crazily lucrative since the slots could give millions of dollars in one progressive jackpot payout. Whenever a player wins the progressive jackpot, it automatically resets and starts increasing.

Progressive slots however have other jackpots that players can win even if they did not qualify for the progressive jackpot.

Other common online slot machines are : Fruit machines, Nine reel slots, Seven reel slots, Feature slots, Mobile slots,  Multipliers slots and i-slots.

In Conclusion, Let Us Look At Online slot machines Software Providers

There are several software developers in the business of making and developing online slot machines. And amongst these numerous developers, there are a proven few with a track record of developing  quality slots with amazing graphics and they have popular slots to their name. Notable among these slots include:  IGT, NetEnt, Microgaming, PlaynGo, Novomatic, Realtime Gaming as Amaya.

Here comes our insightful journey through online slot machines and how they work. We sincerely you have become more acquainted with the secrets behind the wonder of online slot machines.