Slot Machines and Random Number Generators

Today's video slot machines are quite different from our old slot and reel based machines. With our new slot machines we have what is called a virtual reel. There are no physical reels that spin inside today's slot machines. We all know that a computer chip is brain behind all this in today's slot machines.

So how does a computer chip-based slot machine pick out the winning combinations in today's slot machine? The answer lies in a little program called a random number generator. Is this technology new or has it been used in other programs beside the ones in slot machines?

A random number generator is a program that simulates picking a random number (or numbers) from a set of numbers. In the case of slot machines, it simulates a random selection of symbols from a given set. Other than today's slot machine, random number generators are also present in other games of chance like video poker and computer/online backgammon.

There have been claims that there is a secret formula to tell when a slot machine (or the random number generator to be exact) will give a winning combination. You can be very sure that that is indeed a bogus claim. Random number generators run using algorithms (e.g. mathematical formulas) to create a list of random numbers or symbols. There is just no way to know what number will turn up, unless you hack into the slot machine or something like that.

A random number generator can create a list of random numbers for a slot machine and translate that into corresponding symbols used by that machine to create what comes up on the machine's display. The random set of symbols is displayed after hitting the spin or deposit button. There is just no way to tell which symbols will turn up on a slot machine.

You can be sure that slot machines are not programmed to cheat players. Random number generators are checked with regard to accuracy before it is used on a slot machine. Testing laboratories and the Casino Control Board (or some other government agency responsible for regulating the activities of a casino) will perform tests to ensure that the public isn't being cheated of its money.

In spite of all that effort to make sure that a random number generator on a slot machine is fair, we still hear rumors and skepticism about random number generators used on slot machines. It seems that that will always be present, in spite of the best efforts put in.

Next time you play on the newer slot machines in a casino, remember that the random number generators used are fair and have been tested. Because of this technology we are able to create more games for the good old slot machines.