The slot game has come along way from the days of the first slot machine, the Liberty Bell. The original slot game was a three reel ‘one armed bandits’ but today the typical slot machine has become more sophisticated, exciting and entertaining – click to play slot games.
Progressive or Non Progressive?
There are two types of jackpot slots, a non progressive or fixed slot or a progressive slot.
A non progressive fixed slot can be won by landing on specific symbols, they are more of a traditional slot machine and can be viewed as safer to play. There is little strategy required, however, as the risk is lower the pay out won’t be as lucrative as a progressive slot machine.
A progressive slot machine guarantees more of an adrenaline rush and although there is no guarantee of a pay out it can require a little strategy to win. As the name suggests a progressive slot machine progressively grows the jackpot the more people who play. With more bets and spins there is more money added to the jackpot, however, there is less chance of winning then on a non progressive fixed slot machine but when the pay out does come through it can be a very rewarding pay out.
Once the jackpot is won and the pay out has happened the progressive slot machine resets itself to its minimum amount but bear in mind that this could still be thousands or even millions of pounds. Typically a progressive slot machine win occurs between three and six months and this is where the player can adapt their strategy and monitor the game to the point where it may be close to paying out again.
As always the higher the jackpot pay out on any slot machines, non progressive fixed or progressive, the lower the pay out.
On a non progressive fixed regular slot machine the player could win 500 x their bet regardless of the amount they have placed, however, progressive jackpots are the slot machines to play if you want to potentially walk away with millions. That said the non progressive fixed regular slot machines are less of a risk, safer to play and won’t let you down. You’ll have a much better chance of winning too.
In summary, if you are a beginner then perhaps stick to the non progressive fixed slot machines where you can literally play and win without a huge gamble and risk but less of an adrenaline rush, of course, which may not suit the player, however, this is a good starter until the player is a little more confident and has worked out a strategy. If, however, you have played before and are a bit of an expert playing slot machines then head for the progressive version of a slot machine and monitor it and strategise in order to get that big win remembering at all times it could be worth millions.
Random Number Generator
The random number generator, which is available on most slot machines, plays a pivotal role. Its main purpose is to ensure that the odds of each spin are entirely independent so the longer the player plays the slot machine it won’t necessarily increase their chances of winning and vice versa.
The random number generator, the RNG, is a device that generates a sequence of numbers or symbols that can only be predicted by random chance and not by any other means. A dice, for example, is a manual random number generator, the dice is rolled and a random number from one to six appears. Rolling the dice in a particular way will not change the outcome of the number it gives.
Random number generators can often be deemed as the brains of the slot machine. Most players appreciate that there is a computer chip within the slot machine responsible for picking the numbers, however, not everyone knows how it works and understands it fully which can lead to misconceptions of the device. Similar to that of a progressive jackpot slot machine some people believe that the RNG is ran on a cycle and eventually will hit just as a progressive jackpot slot will eventually hit and pay out. Unfortunately a random number generator does not work like that. It is only there to generate, as it is called, random numbers. It does this regardless of whether the machine is being played or not and it keeps repeating the process of generating random numbers several billions of hundreds times per second.
There is a level of confusion associated with Random Number Generators and slot machines and just how they work together. The misunderstanding is when players believe that they can just pull the handle of the slot machine and the machine will then generate random numbers and that then determines whether the player wins or not, however, in reality the random number generator supplies the machine with whatever set of random numbers it has last generated as it doesn’t stop generating random numbers regardless of if a player is playing the machine or not, the RNG will carry on creating numbers.
Bonus Games
Another common feature is the bonus game. Most slot games now offer the player the opportunity to move onto a next level and play a bonus game. It might be in the way of free spins, wild symbols which can lead to bigger wins as it can override any other symbol making a winning combination easier to get or even a scatter symbol, the be all and end all of the symbols in a slot machine. All of the bonus games offers added extras.
Summary
The slot machine has changed hugely over the years and these days the games are more advanced, strategic, exciting and more lucrative. Have the patience for a progressive jackpot and it could change your life. Give up thinking the RNG can be fixed and again you’re on to a winner and take the bonus features on any slot as exactly what it says on the tin!