Slot machines are the most popular casino game in the world, both at land-based casinos and on Internet gambling sites. This article reveals some little-known facts about online slot machines.
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Generally, slot machines account for about 70% of an online casino's income.
The main categories of online slot machines include classic 3-reel slots, video slots, fruit machines, and progressive slots.
Classic 3-reel slots are computerized versions of the slot machines that were invented by Charles Fey in 1887.
Classic 3-reel slots are perfect games for the beginning slots player because of their easy and straightforward format.
Video slots are modern 5-reel slot machines. Many of the newer video slots games have bonus features, such as free spins.
Fruit machines, also known as Amusement with Prizes games, are UK-style slot machines. They are very common in British pubs.
Online progressive slots accumulate deposits from their players from a number of online casinos to create jackpots that grow by the minute.
Online progressive slots can be 3-reel or 5-reel, have bonus features, and have multiple pay-lines. For example, Major Millions was a 3-reel, 3 pay-line slot game when it was first launched. Now there is also a 5-reel, 15 pay-line version.
Cash Splash was the first online progressive jackpot. It was launched in 1998 by Microgaming software.
Mega Millions, a Microgaming progressive slot machine, is the only progressive jackpot that has ever paid out jackpots exceeding $1,000,000.
There are now over 150 companies that provide software solutions for online gambling casinos.
The major software providers for the online gambling industry include Microgaming, Playtech, Realtime Gaming, Boss Media, Rival, Vegas Technology, Parlay, and Cryptologic.
Microgaming developed the first "genuine" online casino software in 1994. Cryptologic and Boss Media were established in 1996, Parlay and Realtime Gaming were launched in 1998, Playtech was founded in 1999, Vegas Technology was established in 2005, and Rival was launched in 2006.
The majority of online slot machines have a unique theme, such as success and old money, secret potions and jewels, Indians and squaws, bees and honey, pirates and ships, hillbillies, American diners, science fiction, chocolate, Las Vegas showgirls, witches, romance, mythology, and Christmas.
It is estimated that Microgaming casinos account for about 70% of online gambling revenue.
Pay-lines at online slot machines range from 1 to 100. Single pay-line slots have been around since slot machines were invented back in 1887. Microgaming introduced Cashapillar, its first 100 pay-line slot machine, in May, 2008.
The average payout percentage is defined as the percentage of winnings to wagered amounts. For example, if there are $97.69 in winnings for every $100 wagered, the payout percentage is 97.69%. Likewise, if there are $93.45 in winnings for every $100 wagered, the payout percentage is 93.45%. Payout percentages for online slots range from 89% to 99.5%.
Online slots come in both download and no download versions. The download versions are more popular because there is a wider selection of games to choose from.
Online slots games have Allbetasia better odds than those at land-based casinos.
Tomb Raider is probably the most successful online slot machine game to date. Tomb Raider's success is partly due to its association with the popular computer game, The Tomb Raider Series. A sequel to the game, Tomb Raider - Secret of the Sword, was introduced April, 2008.
So there you have it, 20 little-known facts about online slot machines. Whether you play slots online or at a land-based casino, remember to gamble only with the money you can afford to lose. Decide beforehand how much you wish to spend, and don't exceed your spending limit should you lose. Finally, have fun and quit while you are ahead.
When you play slots at a casino online, you are relying on the results of a random number generator, or RNG. It is a myth that slot machines run on some sort of "cycle" that can be analyzed to see when it is "due" for a jackpot. Anyone who purports to have some sort of system for figuring out when slots are due for a jackpot is only trying to separate you from your money, so beware.
Slot machines in online casinos contain microprocessors running special programs that randomly generate numbers corresponding to the symbols on each reel. It is constantly running as long as the machine remains powered, and new random numbers are generated every millisecond (1/1000 of a second). The random number programs generate values from 0 to 4,000,000,000 that are translated to specific numbers corresponding to the combination of symbols on the slot machine's reels. The outcome of the spin is determined solely by the number chosen by the RNG, and is selected as soon as the user clicks on "Spin."
The specific algorithm, or mathematical formula used to generate random numbers must have its accuracy confirmed by auditing agencies to ensure that the numbers generated truly are random. This ensures that players are not being cheated by the casino.
To give you some idea about how the RNGs in "reel" type electronic slot machines work, consider the following. Each reel contains 22 stops. In a three reel machine, there are 22 times 22 times 22, or 10,648 different combinations. So the probability of your winning the top jackpot on a three-reel machine is 1 in 10,648. But keep in mind that previous spins do not affect future spins, so it does not mean that there's definitely a jackpot once in every 10,648 spins. There is no cycle of winning and losing on slots.
The RNG selects the combinations of numbers a thousand times each second, so there is no way to time your spin so that it selects anything other than a random combination of random numbers. Hence, the game is purely one of chance.
To make sure that the random numbers behind your favorite casino online slots games are really random, independent analysts will subject it to rigorous testing. One testing system used in the testing of the RNGs behind online slots is known as FIPS 140-2, and is a US government standard for hardware or software that encrypts and decrypts data. FIPS 140-2 specifies the security requirements that have to be satisfied by cryptographic modules, and is used to test that RNG output streams are genuinely random.
Online slots not only have higher payout percentages than do bricks-and-mortar casino slot machines (due to lower overhead), they also have some great bonuses. When you choose an online casino for slots, look for one that gives regular bonuses. You can find web casinos that offer daily and weekly bonuses, weekend bonuses, and VIP bonuses if you're a big spender. You can be eligible for up to 400% in bonuses if you spend anything up to $2,000 as a regular online slots player, and far more if you're a bigger spender. Big bonuses plus regularly audited RNGs and payout reports are what you should look for when you choose a place to play slots online.