Technology behind Slots: RNGs explained
If you’ve ever spun the reels of a slot game, whether it be a land-based machine or online, there’s no doubt you’ve wondered how they work.
There are a couple of factors that can help you improve your winning when you have fun playing casino slot games with Griffon Casino – which we will cover – but ultimately, the games of chance use one important piece of computer software: a Random Number Generator (RNG).
Read on to discover more…
How RNGs came about
In 1694, the first fully electromechanical slot was released. This was the first game with a bottomless hopper, meaning it could make automated payouts of up to 500 coins.
This marked the start of the electric-powered Slots. Prior to this, the machines were operated using a spring and lever system.
In 1976, the first true video slot was developed. It used a modified 19-inch Sony TV for the display, and made its debut in Las Vegas.
The technology behind keeping these games, fair and unpredictable was – you guessed it – a RNG.
What is an RNG?
Further technological advancements allowed the first online casino to open its virtual doors in 1996, and it didn’t take long for Slots to hop on board.
RNGs had already been developed, and this enabled even more new and uniquely themed games to take to the stage.
So, if you take a look behind-the-scenes of slot machines, you’ll find the computer software creating unpredictable combinations of numbers every single second. As icons changed to suit different themed-games, these would be what the RNG is randomising instead.
The idea works similar to that of an Automatic Card Shuffler (ACS), except is built into each game. RNGs have no memory, and simply create different combinations, constantly.
The second you press ‘spin’, the second your game’s outcome is decided.
Picking the best slot game
As mentioned above, there are other elements to slot games that can help you weigh up your chances of the RNG picking the numbers or symbols you need in order to land a winning combination.
You can do this by checking out your chosen game’s volatility and Return to Player (RTP) rate.
- Volatility
A casino game’s volatility (also known as variance) is essentially how likely a payout is going to occur, and how big this payout might be.
For example, a slot with high volatility rarely pays out. But, when it does, the payout will be a larger sum. Slots with low volatility tend to pay out more frequently, but with small amounts, and medium volatility Slots sit somewhere in the middle.
- RTP rate
A game’s RTP rate is calculated over a period of time by calculating the percentage of total bets paid back to players.
By weighing up each of these factors, you’ll be able to select the Slots that are best suited to your preferred style of gameplay. This will help you with bankroll management, so you can sit back and relax as the RNG gets to work!
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