It is a common misconception that ‘recreational’ gamblers don’t need to understand gambling math. Even if they don’t need predictive algorithms like sports bettors or horse handicappers, it’s crucial to at least grasp the mathematical basics of gambling before you start playing a game. This even applies to probably the simplest of all casino games, the slot machine. You will win more often – or more accurately, lose less – if you understand the basic concepts of how slot machines work.
Another misconception is that many gambling theories and strategies assume that ‘recreational’ gamblers are okay with losing. This is simply not true – it doesn’t matter if you’re a top poker pro or a pensioner playing slots. Winning money in the casino is simply a lot more fun than losing money. Therefore, it’s important that you at least understand the basics of the games you’re playing – no matter how good you are. If you want to become a high-level gambler – no matter the game – the motivation is undeniable. The better you understand the math of your chosen game, the more successful you will be.
THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR
The random number generator (RNG) is crucial to a slot machine. In the past, slot machines relied on mechanical principles to generate randomness, which is inherently limited. The entire random number generation process has been digitized in recent decades. Everything is now done on a single computer chip, and a similar process controls not only slot machines, but also video poker machines, keno machines and so on.
This is how it works – as the name suggests, the RNG has only one function and that is obviously ‘random number generation’. It generates a new set of random numbers in a fraction of a second and repeats the process constantly. Whether the slot machine is played or not is irrelevant.
It is a subtle, yet essential difference that helps a player to understand exactly how a slot machine (or video poker) works. The superstition is that when a player pulls the handle, the slot machine ‘generates some random numbers’ and these determine whether a player wins or loses. The RNG actually provides the slot machine with a series of random numbers that it generates non-stop around the clock – as we have just learned.
This means that the random number generation process is completely separate from the actual game. The game receives a random number from the RNG, which it presents in a specific format, be it as Keno numbers, poker cards or slot machine symbols. This also means that the game is completely random. The casino uses mathematics to its advantage and does not need to ‘rig’ the game to win. If you play in a well-regulated gambling jurisdiction or a reputable online casino, you can be pretty sure that everything is fair. No casino will put its customers or licenses at risk to gain an advantage by cheating when it is already getting the best for itself.
What it means for the player at the slot machines
For the player, this also means that the game does not react to how much you have already won (or lost). It doesn’t know that you only have a few credits left or whether you’ve just bought yourself back in. The random number generator that powers the slot machine knows none of this and doesn’t care. As the name on the packaging suggests, everything is “random”. If you want to learn more about chance and how it affects your chances of winning a game, you should read the video poker strategy articles on this page. In this respect, video poker is easier to handle, as the number of playing cards in a deck is finite. This makes it easier to calculate odds and payback percentages.
Another key point that you should already understand since you are familiar with the RNG process in relation to slot machines: many traditional superstitions are complete nonsense. It doesn’t matter if you’re using hot (or cold) coins, if the game you’re playing has recently won a jackpot (or one that hasn’t won a jackpot in a long time), or if you’re holding your lucky rabbit’s foot in your right hand and pulling with your left. It doesn’t matter at all. Once you realize what is unimportant, you can learn how to deal with the important things – and that’s when you become a better player.
