Video Slot Machine FAQ
In this section we cover some of the most popular video slot related questions. Slot machines in general are probably the most misunderstood of all casino games and many players seem to treat them as mythical creatures.
In reality they are just programmed machines to make the casino money in the long run. Of course people do win on the slots every day but you would be hard pressed to find many long term players who are ahead.
The following are the most common question we get asked regarding video slots. If you have a question which is not answered below then please contact us. We aim to answer all questions within 24 hours. We may add your question to the list below so please let us know if you prefer that we do not.
Questions and Answers
- Are slot machine outcomes really random?
- Yes, every spin is totally random and in no way effected by the amount of money you put in, the amount of your bet or the time between jackpot hits.
- Are the symbols weighted like on three reel slots?
- In general no. Because video slots have virtual reels they have no need to weight the individual symbols they just add fewer of the highest paying ones and more of the lowest to the virtual reel which can contain anywhere from 10 to hundreds of symbols.
- Are slots a bad bet?
- A lot of people look at the payout percentages of slots and compare them to other casino games. While slots may have lower RTP's compared to blackjack for instance, gambling is all about entertainment. Playing a game you don't like just because it has a higher RTP doesn't make much sense.
- Is there an advantage to playing the higher denomination machines?
- Yes, this is true for all types of slot machines. The higher the coin size the lower the percentage of the spin that the casino needs to keep. For this reason penny slots tend to have the worst pay out percentages in the casinos.
- Can the casino control room decide who wins?
- No, this is a myth. The people behind the scenes at a casino do not have any way to determine game results. Each spin is random and uses the RNG inside the machine.
- Can the casino change the payout percentages of the games?
- No, Each slot machine comes from the factory set at a specific payout rate. To change the percentage a casino would have to get a new gaming chip from the manufacturer. Note however that for example different machines with the same game can and do have different payout percentages. Generally each game comes in several RTP levels.
- Where can I buy a video slot for my home?
- We cannot recommend any particular company as we have never bought a game for home use. In many states it is illegal to own one. Also See : Buying a video slot
- Is it legal to own a slot machine?
- This varies from country to country and from State to State and laws can and do change. See our Buying a video slot guide for more information.
- Where can I play video slots online?
- Check out our information page regarding Online Slots where we give you information about playing video slot games online. If you want to find out more about online slots then we recommend visiting AllOnlineSlots.com which has what seems to be quite a comprehensive guide including reviews of a large amount of 5 Reel Slots.
- If the machine feels hot does this mean it's near a jackpot?
- No, a hot machine indicates only that the lights inside the machine have heated up the pay table or the metals of the game. It has no relation to anything on the reels.
- Is the gamble feature a good bet?
- It's a great bet. In fact the red or black gamble on many video slots has no house advantage at all, plus it is always a 50/50 bet so your odds of doubling up are natural odds - a rare event with casino games.
- Can you recommend a good slot machine system?
- No. There is no system to beat the modern day slot machine that actually works. There are some people who use techniques to cheat but these are generally illegal and they tend to end up with a mug shot on the Nevada Gaming Commission web site.
- How can you tell the pay out percentages?
- As a player you cannot gauge the pay out percentages by playing. If you are lucky you may get to see the pay out percentage when a technician is working on a game. Knowing the pay out percentage won't really help you win.
- I've seen casinos advertising slots at 100% payout. How can this be?
- The problem with these advertisements is that they usually just point you to a bank of slot machines where one may be set at 100%. Chances are you will never find it and even if you did there is no guarantee that you would win in the short term.
- Are games with bonuses triggered left to right harder to win on?
- In general the bonus feature triggers tend to be similar no matter how the features are triggered. Games where for example you need three scatters left to right may have more scatters on the earlier reels compared to other games.
- Is it legal to film my slot machine play at a casino?
- There are no specific laws against this but almost all casinos have a policy of not allowing video recording on their property due to privacy concerns. We recommend asking before filming.
- Do slots pay out more at night?
- No, the games work exactly the same way at all times and the RNG does not change based on time of day. If this were the case it would be possible for players to only play when there was an advantage.
- Does it matter if I stop the reels or let them spin?
- It make no difference to the outcome as the result of each spin is decided as soon as you hit the spin button. The rest is just animation to make things more exciting.
- Is it possible to tell when a jackpot will hit?
- No. There is no way to determine when a jackpot will hit by looking a slot machine, by looking at previous spin or anything else.
- Is there a trick to winning on video slots?
- No. There are no tricks, cheats or special skills that can be used to win on slot machines. There is nothing you as a player can do to alter the outcome of any spin - every spin is random. There are websites claiming to have some sort of secret to winning but these are all scams.
- Can I use credits that have been left in a slot machine?
- We strongly recommend to never play a machine with what are known as abandoned credits. Laws on this vary from country to country and there have been prosecutions of players who played with money that was left on machines.
