How does a slot machine work and what makes it so attractive?

The online slot machine is the modern version of the classic one-armed bandit. Today it can be managed not only in the arcade but also at home or on the road with the best online casinos in Malaysia. Moreover, it is pimped with numerous features that considerably increase the chances of winning big. In the following sections, we will show you what you can expect from a modern slot machine.

What is an online slot machine: simply explained

Online slot machines have experienced a real boom in recent years. Anyone visiting an online casino will notice that slot games rank highest on the popularity scale. Online slots are much more numerous compared to other casino games. Some top casino providers have over 1,000 different slot machines to choose from so that just no player misses out.

If we take a closer look at an online slot machine, we will notice that it hasn’t really changed much in its appearance compared to its brother in the arcade. It is still the reels that start moving at the push of a button and give payouts on a pay line. As before, the reels are decorated with paying symbols.

Nevertheless, there are huge differences between a modern and a classic slot machine. Online slots have numerous features, such as the provision of multipliers. Moreover, scatter symbols unlock bonus rounds and wilds replace all other symbols on the reels to form a winning line. Thanks to all these features and other characteristics, we have much more chances to land big wins today.

Every online slot machine has its own design, which distinguishes it from other slots. With attractive bonus features, game manufacturers try to make their video slots stand out from others. However, not everyone is successful in their endeavors. In this article we will show you the most important aspects of a slot machine in detail. After that, the question: How does a slot machine work?

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All 10 online slots have decent payout odds, which are significantly higher than the odds of the slot machines in the casinos. But before you decide to play slots with the best odds, you can try out the demo version on our review page without registration and betting. Thanks to the great performance of the software providers, the slots also run on a mobile device without any problems.

This is how slot machines work: Structure and system

The heart of every slot machine are the pay lines. They show you not only that you have won, but also how big your winnings will be. The first slot machines were quite sparse with only one pay line. Modern slot machines actually work with up to 50 pay lines and 1,023 ways to win.

On average, an online slot machine has 25 pay lines that run diagonally and in zigzag patterns from left to right (or right to left). To land a win, identical symbols don’t even have to appear next to each other. It is enough if identical symbols land on one or more activated paylines.

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The function of the reels

Most slot machines have three to five reels with different symbols, which form a combination after a spin. To set the reels in motion in the game, you need to bet coins. Only after setting the coin value, the machine allows you to press the spin button. By activating the auto-spin function, the reels will spin automatically. Here you can find more info about slot machines without restriction.

Some slot games have falling avalanche reels or colossal reels that are based on two different sets of reels, creating much more paylines. Other games come with fun features like Shifting Reels, where one reel completely disappears and is replaced by a new one to provide even more wins.

Value and function of individual symbols

If you’ve played a slot machine more than once, you’ll know all too well the meaning of the symbols on the reels. For everyone else out there, we have compiled a detailed overview of the various symbols with their different functions, values and properties in the following sections.

How does a slot machine standard symbol work?

The standard symbol is the basic symbol in the game and can be seen most often on the reels. The slot machine images or patterns of the reel symbols are authentic with the theme of a slot machine. So, don’t expect car rims on a fruit slot. Moreover, they differ in their value. Some standard symbols provide decent wins, while others give rather little.

If at least three identical standard symbols land on a payline, you will get a corresponding win for them. The old-school slot machines were mainly limited to fruit, card, diamond, BAR, bell, dollar, and Lucky 7 symbols. Wilds and scatter symbols, which activate bonus rounds today, or cats, pyramids, books, tennis rackets, and decorated watering cans did not exist on the reels back then.

How does a slot machine wild symbol work?

The wild symbol is one of the most popular symbols on the reels. It substitutes for almost any symbol on a payline to increase the balance in your player account. If you have only two matching symbols on a payline, the wild on that line will transform into the missing third symbol, thus earning you a win.

The wild has other interesting properties as well. For example, a Sticky Wild sticks to the reel of the slot during the following spin and stays in position to provide even more winning combinations. Stacked Wilds come stacked and cover an entire reel. And the crazy Walking Wilds run across the screen to a place where they can drop wins.

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How does a slot machine scatter symbol work?

Scatter symbols are the most important and valuable symbols on the reels during the main game. Depending on the slot machine, they perform different functions. One of them is the activation of bonus rounds with free spins. Unlike the wild symbol, most slots require a minimum of three scatters on the reels before the gate to the bonus round opens.

The scatter symbol cannot be replaced by a wild. If more scatters land on the reels during a free spins round, it can cause the free spins to multiply in some online slots. Unlike the other symbols, scatters do not necessarily have to land on an active payline to unlock the free spins round or other extras.

See also: Manipulation of slot machines

The Random Number Generator

The appearance of certain symbols on the reels depends on the combinations generated by the Random Number Generator or RNG for short. The algorithm generates a combination of numbers before the player presses the spin button and sets the reels in motion. If the numbers associated with certain symbols cannot be predicted by the generator, they are considered random.

In a five reel slot machine, each symbol on the reels is assigned a value. If a reel has 12 different symbols, the random number generator will generate a value from 1 – 12 for each of the five reels. The result would be five different symbols. And should these five random symbols form a winning combination, you will land a real money win according to your bet and the paytable.

The Payout Ratio

To the question “How does a slot machine with a 95% payout ratio work?” we have a simple explanation: a slot machine with an RTP (Return to Player) value of 95% pays €0.05 to the casino and €0.95 to the player for every euro played. This is an average value, measured by the number of spins and the lifetime of the slot machine.

If you make a profit on an online slot machine, it’s because another player lost before and the casino got its 5% share. This also means that casinos never lose.

The volatility

Volatility is a fixed concept in gambling. It defines the behavior of an online slot machine and refers to the frequency and amount of payouts and the level of risk. Experienced casino players know that some games basically payout winnings more frequently than others and that it is not luck or bad luck that is the determining factor in this, but the volatility of a slot machine.

For the question “How does a slot machine with high volatility work?” there is only one appropriate answer: a game with high volatility rarely throws off big winnings, but it does. Progressive jackpot slots are a perfect example of this. So, if you can be patient while playing and calculate with more modest stakes per spin, you will have a lot of fun with High Volatility Slots.

Low volatility slots are the exact opposite. They give you relatively frequent winnings, but are comparatively smaller than a high volatility slot. Low volatility slots rarely have large jackpots and due to the smaller win amounts, the player is almost forced to place high bets before each reel spin.

The special features of an online slot machine

With the ever-growing number of online casino providers and with them the modern slot machines, the world of gambling is wide open for passionate players. It has never been so easy to make big real money winnings with slot machines. And that too at any time and any place. One reason for this is the numerous features of the new digital slots.

How does a slot machine with multipliers work?

A multiplier is there to multiply your winnings. If you land a multiplier on a certain pay line, your winning amount will be multiplied by the given number. Multipliers can also be added to your winnings automatically, depending on the slot machine. It is not uncommon to find x10 multipliers and beyond in the game.

How does a slot machine with free spins work?

Most online casinos have top slot bonus offers, whereas most video slots convince with in-game bonus rounds and free spins. Usually, it takes at least three scatters to trigger the free spins round. During this round, you spin the reels without betting and thus without risk. If more scatters or higher value symbols land on the reels, the free spins increase.

Other Slots Bonus Feature

Every game manufacturer has their own ideas and notions about which special features in a slot machine increase the fun factor and the chances of winning. Besides the free spins round, there are other attractive bonus rounds to unlock. The wheel of fortune, the risk ladder, and the famous card game, where the winnings increase with each correctly revealed card, are especially attractive. Only a few slots have no bonus round at all.

Conclusion: Modern slot machines bring excitement, enjoyment, and high payout ratios

The casino player of today has the advantage that, compared to their predecessors, modern slots are available in all variations, have attractive bonus features, and payout significantly more. The most famous feature of a video slot is the free spins of the bonus rounds. They are considered a staple of a paying slot and are rarely less than 10 in number.

Now that you have a better idea of how a slot machine works and you can better relate elementary terms like random number generator, paylines, and volatility, choosing the slot machine that suits you will be easier. If you are ready to challenge your luck on the reels, make sure that you always play wisely and responsibly.

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