Slot machines came onto the casino scene a lot later than classic table games like Roulette and Blackjack. Even so, they have become a sight that’s entirely synonymous with casinos over the course of the last century.
But do you know everything there is to know about Slots? The chances are that there are still some facts that could surprise you when it comes to slot games.
So, whether you play Slots or not, let’s take a look at seven facts you probably didn’t know about these classic games.
1. The First Slot Machine Was Invented In The Last 19th Century
There’s a little bit of discussion about what should be considered the first slot machine, as similar mechanical games started to pop up throughout the late 19th century. However, most give the title of slot machine inventor to Charles Fey.
The San Franciscan created the Liberty Bell in 1895, which became a major hit across the country and went on to spawn numerous imitators in the following decades. The Liberty Bell featured three spinning reels decorated with five different symbols – horseshoes, hearts, diamonds, spades and the Liberty Bell itself.
2. Random Number Generation Powers Modern Slot Games
All of the oldest slot machine designs were mechanical in nature, with players pulling a lever to set the reels in motion. However, during the course of the 20th century mechanical reels were phased out in favour of fully digital slot games.
Most Slots that you find today are known as video Slots and don’t feature a single physical reel. The digital reels on the screen work with a random number generator (RNG), a smart computer program that makes sure each spin is random and independent.
RNGs generate strings of hundreds of numbers every second, with the current random sequence locked in once the player initiates a spin. Each number corresponds to the position of a symbol on the reels, determining the outcome of the spin.
3. Hot And Cold Slot Machines Are A Myth
A common casino superstition relates to the ‘heat’ of slot machines. Some players believe that how recently a slot game last paid out determines how soon it might pay out again, resulting in machines that are ‘hot’ or ‘cold’.
Thanks to RNG technology, there is simply no such thing, as the result of each spin is determined completely independently of any other. Slot games do not keep track of past results, so they remain just as likely to hit the jackpot or not on any given spin.
4. The Largest Slot Machine Jackpot Won
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the current largest jackpot won in a slot game occurred in Las Vegas. In 2003, a software engineer won a jackpot of $39.7 million USD on a Megabucks slot machine.
To date, nobody has received a higher payout from a slot game, although progressive jackpots continue to grow to large amounts.
5. Japan Has More Slot Games Than The US
Las Vegas is still seen as the world’s casino mecca, but in terms of countries Japan has eclipsed the US in the number of slot machines per person. In Japan there’s one slot machine per 27 people, while in the US there’s only one machine to each 350 people.
6. Online Slots Have A Higher Return To Player Percentage
Compared to slot machines in land-based casinos, online slot games often have a higher return to player (RTP) percentage. This relates to the value of wagers that a game will return to players over the long term, on average.
On average a slot machine in a land-based casino offers a RTP rate of around 85%, while online Slots typically have rates that range between 95-98%.
It’s important to remember that RTP is just a guide and not a guarantee, as it’s worked out over a very long timeframe.
7. Different Slot Games Have Different Volatilities
Like RTP, volatility is another important factor to consider when choosing what slot machine to play. The volatility determines the relative frequency and size of payouts, with low volatility resulting in smaller but more frequent payouts and higher volatility having the potential for large but less frequent payouts.
How many of these facts did you already know? When it comes to choosing a slot game some of these key facts can help determine which game will match your preferences.
