Slot machines may seem like totally random games. But understanding slots payback makes knowing your chances of winning far easier.
Let’s discuss the 3 most-important aspects surrounding this concept below.
1. Return to Player
This is the sexiest of the topics we’re going to cover here. Return to player (a.k.a. RTP) shows what payback percentage you can expect from a slot machine over the long term.
Here’s an example: if a game has 95% payback, then you can expect to win back $0.95 for every dollar you bet. Another way of putting this is that the house has a 5% advantage.
Will you really win back exactly 95% of your money?
Not likely. You’re either going to win more or less because it can take hundreds of thousands of spins to reach a game’s RTP.
But it’s still good to know this figure to understand your long-term odds of winning.
2. Random Number Generator
Some slots players mistakenly think that spin results are determined by the RTP. But in reality, it’s the random number generator (RNG) that determines this.
The RNG is an algorithm that cycles through millions of number combinations. This means that any spin you make will be completely randomly.
Moreover, this totally kills the myth that somebody can steal your jackpot by sitting down at your slot machine. After all, there’s no way that you and they could push the spin button at the exact same millisecond.
In a licensed casino market, gaming control agencies check slot machine RNG’s to ensure that everything is working properly and fairly.
3. Hit Rate
The hit rate (a.k.a. hit frequency) determines your chances of winning on any given spin.
Hit frequency assumes that you use every active payline during a spin.
If a machine’s hit rate is 25%, this means that you have a 25% of winning any prize during the round.
It’s best to play slot machines with a high hit rate when you have a small bankroll and/or want to extend your play to the fullest.