Slot machine hits and payouts are heavily debated by casino patrons. There are many accounts, most of which have not been verified, about what triggered a win or jackpot.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at what causes slot machines to hit and pay out jackpots to players.
WHEN A SLOT MACHINE HITS THE JACKPOT
To provide a satisfactory answer to the question of when a slot machine hits the jackpot, we will invoke the RNG algorithm present in all digital titles at physical and online casinos. The random number generator (RNG) algorithm determines which symbols will appear on the reels after each spin. Thanks to the RNG, slot machines have broken out of the mechanical confines of 3 reels, adding more reels, game mechanics, jackpot payouts and other innovative features.
No online slots as well as digital slots use the simple RNG feature to come up with their results. These random functions, which are present in any programming language or scientific calculators, provide “simulated randomness.” To achieve “semi-authentic randomness” or “acceptable randomness” that meets the requirements of the regulatory authority, software providers use PRNGs for their games.
Pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs) create results based on an initial or seed value. Note that the PRNG process is not “random” because the results must be replicated. Instead, seed generation adds a “semi-authentic randomness” factor because it is taken from objects affected by the physical world. An example of a seed generator is a system clock, in which the nanoseconds between each second are used to create that initial value.
The slot machine hits when the PRNG algorithm uses the favorable seed with the highest possible payout. Note that there are no other external factors that can generate a specific seed, such as the time of day (or night) or the amount of money spent on the slot machine. Nor do operators or other casino employees have the ability to force a slot machine to generate a high payout.
Rumors that a slot machine pays out at a certain time are true if it uses the system clock as a seed generator. However, this does not mean that the slot machine will give out good seeds in the evening or at a certain hour of the day. In just one minute, a slot machine can receive more than 1,000 results. Finding the right time or moment to spin the reels and get a high-paying seed is virtually impossible. In addition, different slot machines have different seed generators, in addition to just their system clock.
HOW RTP AND VARIANCE DETERMINE WHEN A SLOT MACHINE HITS THE JACKPOT
RTP and slot variance are two factors that can affect a slot machine’s payout. Return-to-player (RTP) is a statistical measure of how much you get back. If you spend $100 on a slot machine with a 95% RTP, you can expect to get back $95. In terms of RTP, a hit from a slot machine is often found among games with a higher RTP.
The variance of a slot machine is a measure of the game’s variability. Games with high variance are at the riskier end of the scale, where there are very low wins that have higher payouts. Low variance games are the opposite, which often produce wins with small payouts. Medium variance are the most balanced slots that offer equal wins and payouts. There are also medium and medium-high variances, which lean toward both ends of the risk spectrum with their respective risk-reward ratios.
As you can see from the variance ratios, riskier titles tend to get fewer hits from slot machines. Titles with low variance can be expected to have more slot hits, but with lower returns.
You can use RTP and slot variance data to get a clear picture of how often you can get hits from slots. For example, slots with high RTP and low variance are likely to get us a lot of hits after the reels are spun a few times. Slots with low RTP and high variance are the opposite, where you can expect fewer winning slots after a few spins.
CAN A BIG PAYOUT CHANGE AFTER A SLOT MACHINE HITS?
Payouts cannot affect a slot machine’s PRNG algorithm, including progressive jackpot prizes. If a lucky player happens to win the biggest possible slot machine payout, he or she has the same chance of winning the same biggest prize on the same slot machine or digital game. The probability of hitting a slot machine will remain the same regardless of how much was spent or won from the game.
With large payouts that don’t directly affect the PRNG, it can still indirectly affect a slot machine hit. Some casino programs allow operators to adjust the RNG of their slot games, which is a reasonable response when a machine is losing money and not generating revenue. There is a chance that low slot machine hits will occur among the titles that gave big payouts. However, this only happens among a handful of casino platforms, and operators are at risk of losing paying customers if they were found to be manipulating their slots to pay out less.
There is no period when the slot machine will hit, as it uses the PRNG algorithm to determine what symbols will land on the reels. However, you can get a clear picture of how often a slot machine hits, based on its RTP and variance.