Slot Machines - The Basics

Slot machines are by far the easiest - and one of the most fun - games in the casino to play. Simply insert your coin and pull the handle. One of the oldest jokes in the world is to call slot machines "one armed bandits" because - with some of the highest odds against you in the casino, that is exactly what they were - and still are! However, it's now more appropriate to simply call them bandits, because you don't have to pull the handle anymore - just push a button. Electrical motors and computer chips do everything else.

HOW SLOT MACHINES WORK

Decades ago, when slot machines were young, they were basically mechanical devices. The force of the handle being pulled down turned the metal gears that turned the wheels on the machine.

Later on, electrical motors were added to turn the wheels and the force of the handle being pulled no longer had any bearing on the results. In fact, you no longer had to pull the handle, since the wheels were electrical. All you had to do was push the "play" button to start the wheels. The odds were controlled by how many winning symbols were on each wheel.

More recently, most casinos have are converting to computerized slot machines that no longer have wheels at all - just a computer screen that plays a video simulating spinning wheels. A computer "random number generator" determines the results. As soon as you put your coins in, the result is predetermined.

Whether you pull the handle slow or fast, whether you use the handle or the play button, whether a jackpot has recently been paid on that machine or not, none of these has any bearing on the result. It's randomly determined each time by the computer. The casino can set the payout high or low simply by changing the computer program, although they are carefully regulated by the state to ensure the numbers are truly randomly generated and that the overall payout percentage is what the casino says it is.

Since the results are completely random with each play, the fact that a machine hasn't paid a jackpot for a long time doesn't mean that it's "ready" to pay. Conversely, a machine can pay several jackpots in a row. It's simply impossible to tell if a machine is ready to pay a jackpot.

As the saying goes, "You pays your money and you takes your chances."

Good luck!

Tom is the webmaster at http://www.blackjack-for-everyone.com, which is a website dedicated to making the beginning Blackjack player a serious recreational player.

---

Viva Las Vegas Buffets

Please correct me if I am wrong but aren't Las... Read More

The Secret of Protecting Your Pass Line Bet

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of protecting... Read More

The Secrets of Remembering True Odds

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret to remembering... Read More

The Secrets of Cold Tables

The CrapshooterThe Secrets of Cold TablesPssst...! Wanna know a secret?How... Read More

The Secrets of the Hard Ways

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secrets of hard... Read More

John Ascuaga?s Nugget Casino Reviewed by Thehooks

The Club Cal Neva sports book is located on the... Read More

Gambling Stories 101

A win at a gambling table can be fun narrating.... Read More

Party Poker Room Review

Party Poker is one of the world's largest online poker... Read More

Always Win in the Casino Like James Bond

In the Bond film 'Diamonds Are Forever' we see James... Read More

The Secrets of Laying the Fives and Nines

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of laying... Read More

Is Online Gambling Legal?

According to the Wire Act, one is not permitted to... Read More

Virtual Casino Games

Looking to find out what kind of games can be... Read More

Halftime Wagering Part 2

Examples of pre-game research are to see how the teams... Read More

My Casino Blackjack Variation Game

I have played millions of hands of blackjack. I started... Read More

Las Vegas Entertainment and Business Meetings

When arriving in one of the most exciting cities on... Read More

The History of Poker Chips

Gaming chips have been made from a wide range of... Read More

Casinos Popping Up Leads To Negative Impact on Economy

Casinos and other forms of gambling are popping up in... Read More

Helpful Stop Gambling Links & Information For The Compulsive Gambler, Family & Friends Of A Gambler

Over the past few years stop gambling websites have helped... Read More

2005 NFC West Football preview

OVERVIEW: NFC WestThe Arizona Cardinals have posted a mark of... Read More

Online Casinos Give You The Gambling Without the Travel Costs

Although the majority of gamblers would appreciate a trip to... Read More

How To Improve Poker Skills With Free Online Games

When I learned to play poker I did it the... Read More

Video Poker - Best Strategy

The table below gives a basic drawing strategy for a... Read More

Handicapping the NFL Pre-season

It never ceases to amaze me just how many sports... Read More

Video Poker Variations

Unlike many other more "social" casino games, video poker is... Read More

Casino Entertainment Basics

Casinos have recently been popular as locations for movies like... Read More

The Eternal Allure of Gambling

I just spent three days in the land of milk... Read More

Blackjack - Increase Your Odds With Basic Strategy Plus

Blackjack Basic Strategy, played perfectly in a game with favorable... Read More

MTT Poker Win Frequency

Multi Table Tournaments (MTT) are currently very popular due in... Read More

Shorthanded Poker, an Untapped Gold Mine

Feuled by seemingly nonstop television coverage and internet access in... Read More

The Secret of Betting Dont

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of Betting... Read More

The Day I Decided To Stop Gambling With Gamblers Anonymous

Everything was going perfect for me in life. Good job,... Read More

Multi-Player Slots - Why They Look Set for Huge Growth!

Slots are exciting and fun, but are a solitary playing... Read More

Online Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most loved casino games out... Read More