How do online slot machines work?

From the early days of commercial, mechanical slot machines in pubs, gambling halls and arcades, video slots have now won out over their mechanical cousins in many places. And because video slots are already built on a digital platform, the progression to play on tablets and smartphones is of course only a small step away. Meanwhile, at cozino.com/de and other online casinos almost every type of gambling such as roulette, blackjack, poker and video slots also play mobile.

But what do you really get involved in when playing online slot machines? Can they be trusted? We try to find answers to these questions in the following.

The player fallacy

First, it’s important to understand why many people instinctively don’t trust slot machines, whether played online or in traditional casinos. In the long run, slot machines are programmed to give the advantage of probability to the casino or operator. This essentially serves to make gambling itself possible in the first place. On the one hand, in order for attractive winnings to be paid out, these sums must, generally speaking, be wagered and lost by players. Casinos do not give away money. On the other hand, it is important for operators to cover operating costs and provide a service that makes commercial sense for them. Uncertainty about how much of wagers will ultimately end up in the pockets of operators makes players suspicious. So-called “RTP” or “Return To Player” rates, however, provide guidance as to what percentage of one’s stake a player can expect to get back in very, very, very long term play. Whereby, of course, in short-term play nothing is guaranteed and wins and losses can occur at any time.

How do online slot machines work

The main cause of distrust, however, is the so-called player fallacy. This is the erroneous assumption that a sequence of game results, such as e.B. a series of losing games makes a win in the next round more likely. But this is not the case. Think, for example, of flipping a coin: On each new toss, the result will be either heads or tails. Whether in the previous rounds may have won two, five or ten heads in a row, has absolutely no impact on behavior of the coin in the current round. In slot machines, a random number generator is at work, and despite long-term favoritism of the casino, in principle, each round of play can yield a profit and even a jackpot. And yet, many players are instinctively convinced that after a series of losses, the next game simply has to produce a win!

Random number generators

Every slot game is built on a random number generator. Every second, this generator produces thousands of numbers, and when a player sets the reels in motion a completely unpredictable result appears on the playing field. From a purely technical point of view, a machine cannot, strictly speaking, create truly random numbers, but the principle of operation of the generators is such that it comes as close as possible to absolute unpredictability. Random number generators ensure that all online slot games really give all players the same chances to win in every game round. And regardless of the glitz and glamour of each slot machine, thanks to the random number generators in all online slots, every game can be reduced to the simple, fair principle: New game, new luck.

Debunked slot game rumors

“Casinos can actively manipulate odds” – There is a fear among many that when it comes to digital gambling, online casinos can turn the algorithms with ease and regulate the playing behavior of a machine depending on the gaming situation. According to the guidelines of gambling licenses, this is not allowed, and violating it would mean severe consequences for any casino caught manipulating it.

“Slots with progressive jackpots are the best” – Many people’s eyes glaze over at the sight of the high jackpots that can be won on progressive slots. High winnings make the game much more lucrative, don’t you think?? However, it must be remembered that the jackpots must be financed, and therefore progressive jackpots swallow a proportionally larger share of the stakes than would be the case with games without progressive jackpots. If a high prize attracts, it often means that winnings in the lower or medium amount occur less frequently. Usually, the majority of the bet is reserved for paying out smaller winnings. As long as you are aware of this, however, you should not miss out on the joy of the thrill of grabbing the really big jackpot!