Slots were first created as a way to keep the casual gamblers(usually wives) busy while the heavy gamblers were off playing the casino table games. Slot Machines, Slots or One Armed Bandits as they are commonly known, require very little knowledge, experience or skill to play and can be played for a very small wager, often as small as one cent. The above game is a FREE SLOTS GAME.
Slot Machines inside workings have changed a lot over the years. However, the way the Slots are played and won remains the same. The old Slot Machines were run by an elaborate set of gears, levers and reels. Old time slot machines gears and levers would really spin the reels and if you were lucky the same pictures lined up on the single pay line.
Todays modern Slot Machines are entirely controlled by computer software and random number generators. The new types of Slot Machines are designed to play, appear and "feel" like the classic mechanical Slots of old.
The odds of winning the Slots are set by the computer software, depending on how "Lose" or "Tight" the Casino or Slot Machine owner wants to have the payouts set.
In modern Slot Machines the random number generator is constantly spitting out randomly generated numbers, when a player pulls the handle or clicks on the "Spin" button the computer immediately takes the next few randomly generated numbers and uses them for the calculation to determine what pictures will line up on the pay line.
Slot machine software is carefully tested and then tested again to achieve a certain Payback Percentage. The Payback Percentage is the percent of money that is paid back to players over time. If the Slot Machine's Payback Percentage were set at 95 percent(95%) the Slot Machine would payout 95% of all the money it took in back to Slot Machine players, the casino would keep 5%, so over time the casino will make money.
Most laws and regulations that govern land based Casinos require that the Payback Percentage be set at 75% or higher, most Internet Slots set their Payback Percentage much higher, it is not unusual to find online slot machines that have a 95% to 97% Payback.