How Do Slot Machines Work?
November 29, 2023
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As you spin the reels of a slot machine, your hope is for some combination of symbols to form winning combinations - and the more likely these combinations appear, the higher will be their payout. But just how do these machines operate and how does their random number generator determine each spin's outcome? Modern slot machines use computers to perform their functions, with random number generators (RNGs) acting as their controllers and determining the outcome of spins instead of mechanical reels. RNGs constantly generate sequences of simulated random numbers at hundreds or even thousands per second, and when any signal (pressing of button or pulling handle) occurs on a machine the RNG selects one from this series before setting its reels to stop on an unlikely combination of symbols. Electromechanical machines offered poor odds for hitting the jackpot because there were only 11 blank spaces per physical reel, but with microprocessor-equipped slot machines manufacturers could program slots to weight each…