Slot Machines

Casino Slot Machines and Online Slot Games

Slot machines are by far the most popular casino game today with land based casinos and online casinos giving slots plenty of 'floor space.' The variety and selection available ensures that there is a game for every player. Slots is probably the most popular game at the online casinos. These casinos have some of the best online slot games - InterCasino, Hampton Casino, Casino Miami Beach, Portofino Casino, William Hill Casino, or Sci-Fi Casino.

History
Slot machines were invented in the late 1800's by a man named Charles Fey. Fey's slot machine had three spinning reels, with diamonds, spades, hearts and one cracked Liberty Bell painted around each reel. Three bells in a row produced the biggest payoff, a grand total of fifty cents or ten nickels.

Slot machines did not become popular until Bugsy Siegel installed them in his Flamingo Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Casino slot machines owe a lot of their popularity to the fact that they can be played at the player's own pace with no skill required. They have evolved over the years from simple three reel machines, with each reel containing 20 symbols, to the random number generated machines in today's casinos with each reel sometimes containing hundreds of symbols. Sometimes groups of slot machines are linked together to pay progressive slot jackpots.

Random Number Generator
Although they may look different all modern casino slot machines work the same way. All slot machines including single pay line, multiple pay line, video slots and even slot machines on the Internet share the same basic computer program. In every slot machine is a computer chip that generates random numbers. A random number generator or "R.N.G." When you press the play button, pull the handle, or click your mouse, a random number is generated and this number is then converted by the machine to show you either a winning combination or a losing one. The final outcome of each and every spin is decided the moment you start the reels spinning.

Every spin is in no way related to the last spin or the next spin. Every time you set the reels spinning a new random number is generated. It is for this reason that it is very possible to hit two big winning combinations in a row. It is also worth noting that although every spin is random not every combination has the same chance of being hit. The lower wins will be hit many more times than the top prize.

Payout Percentages
Slot machines are often advertised as paying out a certain percentage. This is one of the most misunderstood slot machine facts. A slot machine may, for example, advertise Payout Percentage 96% - this means that over time the slot machine will pay out 96% of all the money played through it. It does not mean that if you put $100 in you get $96 out. You could get less or much more depending on your luck. Just remember that the stated payout percentage really means the percentage of the total wagered by all players over time.