SLOT MACHINES: A SIMPLE GUIDE TO THE BASICS

Slot machines are not the main attraction in casinos instead they are just used as a diversion, especially to those who were just wandering around. It became popular because it requires no betting skills nor knowledge which makes it a chance-based game. In this game, everyone has an equal chance to win. The amount of take-home prizes is dependent on the amount being waged. The only way for players to increase the odds is to know the mechanics of the slot machines.

Probability and Odds

            First, one must know the difference between probability and odds since most of the games are expressed this way. Probability depicts the winning or losing percent chance of a bet in a game. It is calculated by dividing the winning chance by the total number of available chances. Whereas the odds, it refers to the ratio of the player’s losing chance to the winning chances. If the odds is 1:1 (50%), the payout is called an “even money”.

2 Types of Slot Machines

            There are two types of slot machines: mechanical and computer-generated. Both have the same gaming mechanisms and display parts, but they differ on the system that runs it. The mechanical slots are operated by a mechanical lever and reels which displays the winning combinations, whereas the computerized slots are run by an algorithm called random network generator (RNG). The winning chance in computer-operated slots are higher compared to the mechanical ones due to the employed system.

Paylines

            Paylines refer to three or more symbols that are sequentially aligned to form various winning combinations. These alignments are usually in horizontal straight lines, diagonals, or even zigzag fitted in a display screen. The standard display screen of slots is 3 rows by 5 reels.

The paylines have 5 payout orientations: left to right, right to left, both ways, all ways, and cluster pays. Left-to-right refers to the sequence of three or more symbols that starts with the leftmost part and ends to the right, whereas the right-to-left payout refers to the opposite of the prior orientation. Another orientation is “both ways” which refer to giving payouts regardless of the direction of the sequence. Moreover, the paylines can be fixed or adjusted depending on the operator’s choice and gaming setup requirement. Fixed means that the bet covers all paylines, whereas the adjusted one gives the bettor the freedom to choose which among the paylines are covered by its bet.

Pay Table

            The figurative counterpart of the paylines is the pay table which shows the corresponding prizes for each combination and also the value for each winning symbol. Since slot machines employ an all-ways-win system, the number of probable ways to win combinations is x^m where x is the number of rows and m is the number of reels. So if the slot has 3 rows with 5 reels, its possible winning combinations is 3⁵ = 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x3 = 243. Therefore, the more reels are employed, the greater the winning chances  which is similar to Jili slot.