The slot machine, also known as a fruit machine, pokies, puggies or one-armed bandit, is the world’s most popular casino game. Its simple rules and fast pace make it a great choice for people of all ages.
Players insert cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, paper tickets with a barcode into a designated slot on the machine. Then, they activate the reels by pressing a button (either physical or on a touchscreen). As the reels spin, symbols match up along what is called a payline. When a winning combination is made, the player earns credits based on the payout table. The symbols vary, but classic examples include fruits, bells and stylized lucky sevens.
The odds of a particular spin are determined by the random number generator (RNG) chip in the slot’s computer. The RNG generates numbers in a massive spectrum and then decides which symbol will appear on the reels for that spin. The computer then uses an internal sequence table to map the three numbers to a stop on a specific reel. The RNG is the only thing that determines a slot’s outcome; stopping or starting the reels or doing anything else will not change the result.
