Posts Tagged ‘online slot machines’

Clarifying The Myths And Misconceptions Of An Online Slot Machine

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

online slot machine

Slot machines are the most popular casino game in the world, for brick and mortar, land based casinos, as well as for the increasingly popular internet casino. No other segment of the gaming industry has benefited more from the technology revolution that the slot machine. At one time, casinos placed slot machines on the floor to keep the spouses of table players busy. Most have probably played the more traditional coin operated slot machines, but the online slot machine has become increasingly popular and generates about 70% of an online casino’s revenue.

A privately owned company called Microgaming was the first to manufacture “genuine” casino software; however, with the increased popularity of internet casinos and games, there are now over 150 companies that also provide different software and solutions. Of course, no two slot games are exactly the same. Even though they all have a slot for the coins, flashing lights and a handle, they are far from alike. Experts also tell us to be wary of those mail order systems that guarantee slot wins. Of course, if you are looking for a game that you do have a better chance of winning by using a “system,” then check out video poker that seems to work, at least part of the time, both in the traditional and virtual casinos.

Amazingly, less than twenty years ago the slot machine accounted for about 30% of a casino’s profit. Today, that profit is over 70%. And the online slot machine is responsible for a great deal of that profit. Thanks to computer technology, it is possible to offer some life-changing, mind-blowing jackpots for online slots. Along with this technology, there are also myths and misconceptions surrounding the slot machine.

If someone hits a jackpot on a machine that you just left, then would you have gotten it if you had stayed? No, because they have a computer chip that runs the random number generator (RNG), which continuously cycles through numbers even when the slot games are not being played. In other words, in the amount of time it takes to get a sip of your drink, the RNG has already cycled through thousands of combinations, so it is doubtful that you would have stopped the machine at the exact nano-second that the winning player just did.

Some believe that you can predict the odds of winning when playing online slot machines by counting the symbols on each wheel. That is also false because the RNG generates a number for each spin and the number corresponds to the symbols on the reel. There may be literally hundreds of virtual stops on each wheel, even though you may only see a few symbols.

For example, if you see 20 symbols on each wheel of a three reel machine, then you figure 20 times 3 equals 8,000 combinations, so your chances of hitting the jackpot is one in 8,000. In reality, the casino software may program 256 stops for each wheel, which changes the odds to 256 times 3, equaling 16,777,216 combinations. Being able to generate millions of different combinations is one reason why slots can offer large payouts.

Of course, there are other misconceptions and myths, such as the casinos loosening or tightening an online slot machine with a flip of a switch. That is false because the machines have a computer chip in them that determines the pay back percentage and the manufacturer presets them. In order to change the setting, the casinos have to change the chip. Even in a virtual casino, many of them require paperwork to be filled out and submitted to the casino control commission, which is expensive and time consuming.

Are Online Casinos A Safe Bet?

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

online slot machines

If you are into gaming or gambling at all, then you have probably heard of the alternative to brick and mortar casinos. They are the virtual or online casinos. And if you enjoy gambling, then you are probably glad that you no longer have to drive or fly somewhere to enjoy it. Most of the online gaming companies say that their percentages and payouts are comparable to the more traditional casinos, while others claim that their percentages are actually higher than a regular casino.

Trust issues and reliability are commonplace and often questioned when it comes to gaming online. Most of the companies either lease or buy their casino software from some of the better-known companies. Many times, they do this in order to “piggyback” the good reputation of some of those companies and hopefully bring more people to their site because of this. Additionally, the software companies use, or at least claim to use, random number generators to ensure that the cards, dice or numbers appear randomly.

Back in the 1920s, gambling was banned in the United States and this did nothing more than increase its allure. Now of course, with the ever-growing number of online casinos, it is much easier to get your gambling fix of instant gratification. If you have a computer with an internet connection and a debit or credit card, then you have everything you need to claim your part of a jackpot that may be equivalent to your yearly salary.

Experts say that since gambling from home is so much easier, most people don’t think about playing online slot machines in the same way as playing a casino slot machine. They say that you need to follow the same precautions you would at any other time. Gamble with money that you have and do not borrow from friends. As difficult as it may be to believe, controlled studies have shown that a gambling addiction makes the brain react in the same way as an addiction to food or drugs.

The game of choice for most gamblers is online slots and they know that there are many bona fide, ethical gaming sites in these online casinos. Many companies specialize in this type of entertainment and diversion and claim that an internet casino offers exceptionally high winning odds, when compared to a land-based casino game. Of course, this draws many gamblers to their sites and that increases revenue.