The Hidden Technology Behind Online Slot Machines
Slot machines are becoming more and more popular today, thanks to the rise of mobile devices and increased internet access creating an all-new online market for slot machines. These online slot machines are a staple of many online casinos now and are a great way to pass time while also making money. One of the ways these online slots are so engaging is through their use of technology, with several innovations making the modern slot machine what it is today.
Understanding Online Slot Machines
It’s almost guaranteed you’ll see one of the staples of gambling culture nearby when you walk into any local casino: The slot machine.
These arcade-like gambling machines have been around for well over 100 years, with 1894 being the first time a slot machine was recorded as being used. Since then, due to the possibility of hitting a big jackpot with a small bet, the machines have grown in popularity. Add to this their fun, engaging style of play, and it’s no wonder slot machines have become a mainstay of casinos around the world.
With the online gambling industry growing in recent years, online slot machines are becoming more and more popular to play. Thanks to a range of different technology functioning in the background, these online replicas provide the same experience of pulling the handle on a real life slot machine, all from the comfort of the home.
Online Slots: Leveraging Technology to Drive Engagement
There are many different ways online slot machines leverage technology and none more so than for engagement.
Sit down and play any online slot machine, and the first thing you’ll notice is just how engaging the gameplay itself is. Despite your initial reasons for sitting down to play, inevitably the high quality graphics, sound, animations, and in some cases even 3D and virtual reality effects, lead playing online slots to quickly become about so much more than just winning money.
Online casinos and developers have used technology in such a way that now playing slot machines online is a form of entertainment in itself. With so many different online slots available to be played now, smart gamblers are using a slot tracking tool in order to understand which of the many online slots have the highest return to player percentages.
The Nitty Gritty of Technology in Slot Machines
While technology may be used for engagement in online slots in a very obvious way, the real innovation happens where no one can see it.
Two hidden technologies are critical to any online slot machine: The random number generator, and return-to-player volatility. The first of these is how slot machines remain unpredictable yet fair—of the 25 or so different symbols that appear on each of the 3-5 different reels on a slot machine, all appear at any given time based on a random number generator. There is no pattern or consistency outside of this overarching formula, which adds to the fun of playing an online slot.
Combined with this, is the technology that balances out the random nature of slot machines. This is known as the return-to-player volatility. Each slot machine has its random number generation programmed in such a way that over a given period of time, a certain percentage of the machine’s intake will be paid out to the player.
Understanding this return-to-player volatility, and using it to your advantage, is what can make the difference between a successful trip to Las Vegas, and an unfruitful one.
