If you enjoy playing online slots in the UK, you’ve probably found yourself wondering how they work behind the scenes. What are the odds of winning a particular slot game, and is there any way to predict which games could result in a win?
The short answer to these questions is 1) there are a variety of factors that affect your odds of winning, but in the end it all comes down to luck, and 2) it’s impossible to predict wins in online slots, but some games may offer a better return to player (don’t panic if you haven’t heard this term before – all will become clear below!).
In this article, we explore slot game mathematics – don’t worry, it won’t be like maths lessons at school!
Important Terms to Know
To help you understand slot machine odds, there are a few terms you’ll need to learn about. Check out our summaries below:
Return to Player (RTP)
RTP is short for Return to Player, and is usually expressed as a percentage. Percentage return to player (% RTP) is the theoretical payback percentage of a game, over millions of spins.
For example, if a hundred £1 bets were made on a slot machine with an RTP of 95%, the machine would theoretically pay out about £95 in total, over a long period of time. This total will be split between players randomly - some will win big, others will achieve small wins, and others will not win at all. The remaining 5% of funds goes to the casino, and is known as the house edge (more on that in the next section).
Each online slot game has its own RTP, and this information is made readily available by the casinos. Many players are interested in finding high RTP slots, since these are the games that theoretically pay out the most amount of money over time.
However, it’s important to remember that the RTP does not indicate your personal win rate, i.e., playing a game with an RTP of 95% does not mean you will win 95% of the time. Playing a game with a high RTP is also no guarantee of a win. All outcomes in slots are down to luck, and that’s part of the fun of it!
House Edge
The house edge is the casino’s advantage over its players. In relation to RTP, the house edge is the remaining percentage that does not go to the players (as we discussed in the previous section). Although the remaining percentage may sound small – often between 4% and 6% – remember that casinos have thousands of games, and thousands of players. In the end the house (or the casino) always wins, because if it didn’t the casino would go out of business. Even though some players occasionally scoop big wins, over a long period of time the casino always remains on top.
Volatility
Volatility refers to the level of risk the game has. Games are often categorised as high volatility, low volatility, or medium volatility. High volatility casino games are those with a higher risk, but bigger potential rewards. These types of games tend to pay out less frequently – but the prizes tend to be bigger when they do pay out.
Low volatility games present a smaller risk, but the potential prizes are also smaller. These games tend to pay out more frequently, but with smaller prizes.
As you may have guessed, medium volatility games fall somewhere in between. They present a medium-sized risk and are likely to pay out prizes that are bigger than low volatility games, but smaller than high volatility games.
Remember that just because you’re playing a low-volatility game it doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed lots of small wins. And conversely, there are no big wins guaranteed in high-volatility slots.
Hit Frequency
Hit frequency is closely related to volatility. It refers to the likelihood of a slot hitting a payout combination as opposed to landing nothing. Slot games are always designed so that the chances of losing are higher than the chances of winning, otherwise they wouldn’t be profitable for the casino.
Casinos do not usually reveal information about the hit frequency of their games, and even if players did have this information it wouldn’t mean they would definitely win on games with a higher hit frequency. We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: all outcomes in online slots are down to chance.
Triggering a Bonus Round
Bonus rounds like extra spins, picking games and mini games are often the most enjoyable or appealing elements of slot games. But how are they triggered behind the scenes?
The truth is that the frequency with which a bonus round is triggered is built into each slot game’s programming - just like its RTP, volatility and frequency. Although it’s impossible to predict when a bonus will be triggered because they are programmed to occur randomly, it’s useful to know that this information has already been inputted into the game. There is nothing you can do to ‘make a bonus happen’ - you just have to be lucky!
Random Number Generators (RNGs)
RNGs are pieces of software that are used to ensure the randomness of outcomes. They are commonly used in online casinos to generate outcomes (for example, the result of a spin on a slot machine), and use complex algorithms to ensure that wins or losses are completely down to chance.
The outcome of RNGs cannot be predicted, and all licensed casinos (like Spin Genie) have their RNGs regularly audited by a third party to ensure that they are fair, and that outcomes are truly random.
Paylines
Paylines are another crucial element of how slot machines work behind the scenes. Most slot games (except some games, such as cluster pays slots) have paylines. Sometimes they’re called ‘ways to win’, but essentially they can be thought of as invisible lines sitting behind the reels. If the correct combination of symbols appears on a payline from left to right, you will win a cash prize.
Each slot will have a different number of paylines, and in some games you will be able to determine the number of paylines you would like to play with. In these games, the more paylines that are in play, the greater your chances of winning. However, this also means that your bet per spin will increase.
There are also some slots that pay right to left (as well as left to right), and others where more paylines may become available as the game progresses. It’s important to read the rules of each game you play before you begin, so that you can understand how they work. To learn more, read our article on slot paylines explained.
Image: Unsplash
How to Win at Slots
If you’re reading this, you might be curious about how to win at slots. Hopefully the information above will help you to understand that there is no way to predict whether you will win or lose on certain slot games. All outcomes are determined by RNGs, and part of the fun of online slots is their unpredictable nature.
However, there are a few things you can do to make the most of your gaming experience:
Choose Games with a High RTP
As we mentioned above, many players like to choose games with a high RTP because theoretically these are the games that pay out the most over time. Although there are certainly no guarantees that playing a certain slot game will achieve a certain outcome, your chances are theoretically better with a high RTP game than a low RTP one.
Responsible Gambling
In any conversation about slot machines and online gaming, responsible gambling is one of the most important things to remember. There are lots of different ways to gamble responsibly, but perhaps the most important is to set limits and stick to them. Before you start playing, decide how much money and time you will spend.
Remember that online gambling is for fun, and you should never see it as a way to make money. By following tips like these, you can have a safer gambling experience and make sure that it stays fun.
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