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Frequently Asked Questions About Slots

FAQ - Who invented the slot machine?

Charles Fey is credited with inventing the first slot machine. He was an automotive mechanic from San Francisco, California.

FAQ - When was the first slot machine invented?

In 1897, when Fey introduced the slot machine nicknamed "Liberty Bell."

FAQ - Why is a slot machine called "the one-armed bandit"?

Slot machines are called one-armed bandits for two reasons. One: they look as though they have only one arm - the handle or lever. Two: they can easily strip a player of his/her bankroll if the player isn't careful.

FAQ - How can I tell when a jackpot is about to occur?

You can't. Many people assume that slot machines are programmed to "give" a jackpot within a certain time frame or playing cycle. When this time limit or cycle is reached, a slot machine is supposed to pay out. This isn't so. Slot spins are totally independent of one another and the machine has no way of "remembering" its past spins to decide what the next one will be.

Instead, the chance of a jackpot or any combination hitting is set into each spin by the way the slot machine is configured. If there are twenty cherry symbols on a reel but only one jackpot symbol, then the chances of the jackpot occurring on ANY spin are low, whereas the cherry will appear more often because its symbols are more numerous. The more times a symbol is represented, the more likely it will be "chosen" (at random) by the machine. That's the law of probability and no "rigging" taking place.

FAQ - Is it true that the jackpot is more likely to hit when the casinos are full than when they aren't?

Yes, but this isn't because of the "total playing time" or action that the slots are getting. It's just that on busy nights (or days), the spin button is hit more often and there's a greater likelihood of somebody chancing on the jackpot just as it's being made by the random number generator.

FAQ - What is the random number generator?

It is the computer chip in modern slot machines that randomly "choose" which symbols stop on the payline. Its function is totally random and there is no way it can be predicted. A random number generator creates results even when the slot machine is NOT spinning. When you press the spin button, you are only "catching" the result already in effect at that exact moment.

FAQ - Is it true that higher denomination slot machines are looser?

Yes. They make more money per spin so the casinos don't mind loosening them up. On the other hand, penny slots earn so little money on each spin that they must be tightened.

Does this mean you save money playing dollar machines? No, because you risk more per spin. It's really about the same.

FAQ - What can I do to win in slot machines?

Well, you shouldn't play slots to win. Play slots to have fun. The casinos will always win over players in the long run. The only exception is if you're lucky enough to win a big prize. The best you can do is to manage your bankroll wisely and enjoy yourself. That's what a real winner does with slots.

That said, you can minimize your losses by playing the loosest slots. Loose slots pay out often. Play online slots in the best, most reliable casinos online since they have looser slots than those in land-based casinos.