How Slots Work
How Slots Work
The modern token operated slot machine or its electronic cousins, the
multigame machine or video poker, is a fairly simple, robust electronic machine.
All functions of the slot machine are governed by a motherboard resident in the
machine, just like the computer you are sitting at. All functions of the slot
machine, including the payout percentage, are controlled by this plug-in board.
This board is installed at the factory, according to specifications ordered by
the customer. Every aspect of design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance
of slot and electronic machines is regulated and monitored by state gaming
boards. The gaming boards only allow boards to be swapped out under their
supervision. In other words, the machine on the floor is the same one that
passed their inspection upon design, assembly, and installation. Any subsequent
alteration, by the casino, must also pass muster. Generally, Indian casinos are
not regulated by these state boards.
The central processing unit (chip), and the board it is attached to, tell the
machine what to do. According to the program installed at the factory, it
dictates: when to spin the reels, when to stop the reels, whether to credit or
debit the player from the credits already fed into the machine and how much and
when to pay on a jackpot. If the player is using a slot club card, another line
of communication runs to the slot club computer, detailing how much is being
played, how much is lost, and how much is won. This slot club record has no
affect on the outcome of the slot pull.
As stated, the slot machine functions according to the set of instructions
issued by the motherboard. Contained on this motherboard is a random number
generator (RNG). This program is installed at the factory and determines when
jackpots occur according to the payout percentage on that particular machine
that was installed at the factory. For example, a machine programmed to return
85% will return very close to $85,000 for every $100,000 bet. Casinos expect
machines to return their theoretical payback only over a very large (hundreds of
thousands) number of pulls. The function of the RNG is to "seed" the program
with a "random" pull when you push the "play" button. This is a game of chance,
after all, and the RNG assures all concerned that it remains so.
