Are Slot Machines Honest

Every online casino player knows the excitement of playing slots. It's no surprise that slots are the most popular casino game in US onlinecasinos.

• How To Pick A Winning Slot Machine
• Are Indian Casino Slots Fixed

• Are Slot Machines Honest? By Steve Bourie Learn more about the author read more ». All of the stories in this book relating to slot machines and video poker are based on the assumption that those machines act in a random manner. This means we're assuming that those games aren't programmed to avoid giving a player a winning slot.
• To learn how to beat slot machines, you need to first know how they work. Slots are amongst the most popular casino games throughout the world, both in land-based and online casinos.

The top criteria we always take into consideration when analyzing an online casino are: 🎰Honesty of the Casino Software. Online casinos use RNGs (Random Number Generators) to achieve the results in.

The simplicity of the rules, the variety of games, and the flexibility of playing on any type of budget are what make it a game for every type of casino player.

Whether you're looking for free spins, bonuses, jackpots, free games, or just want to know how slotswork, you're about to learn all you need to know about playing online slots to win.

Here is everything you will find below in our slots guide.

• Why Play Slots Online
• Different Types of Slots
• Land-Based Slot Machines

Discover the Latest Online Slots

Free Spins at Hard Rock

Hard Rock is offering 50 free spins just for signing up for their casino. They have a great selection of slots, including the only live slots! That is: real slot machine, realoperator, real money to win!

Golden Nugget - New Jersey

GoldenNuggetCasino.com offers players one of the biggest online slot libraries in New Jersey! The site features popular slots like Cleopatra and Starburst, along withnumerous jackpot slots.

There are also exclusive games available to players like slots and video poker.

Other slot games you'll find at Golden Nugget include:

• Opal Fruits (exclusive slot)
• Extra Chilli
• 88 Fortunes
• Blood Suckers

SugarHouse - New Jersey

PlaySugarHouse.com features a slot library with over 500 titles for you to choose from. These vary between the classics and new titles you won't find anywhere else.

At PlaySugarhouse, you have three jackpot slots to choose from including the famous Divine Fortune, Butterfly Staxx 2, and Jumpin Jalapenos.

Some of the more popular titles available at PlaySugarHouse.com include:

• Merlins Millions
• Family Guy
• China Shores
• Monopoly Mega Movers

888 Casino - New Jersey

888Casino.com's slot library stands out from many other platforms because of the number of exclusive titles they are able to offer you. Slot titles designed by 888 includes:

• Cash Pigs
• Pirates Millions
• Diamonds Delight
• Cafe de Paris (jackpot slot)
• Snack Time
• Under Construction (progressive slot)

Altogether, 888 has over 230 slot titles exclusive to their online casino and 17 jackpot slots. Find these titles and more by clicking the link below!

What are Online Slots?

Online slots are the virtual version of your typical slot machine and are the most popular online casino game on the web. These gambling machines have three or more spinning reels that displaysymbols.

The goal is to spin the reels and have the symbols match up to form winning combinations. In order to play, you would place a bet, spin the reels, and hope for the best possible winningcombination.

Over the years these machines have evolved and modern slots are more exciting than ever. The majority of slots are played online through online casinos.

The best online casinos offer hundreds of slots titles to choose from, and these modern online slots can offer up to millions of dollars in rewards. This depends on the type of slotyou choose, which we explain further down.

Online slots are legal and regulated at a federal level in the United States. Right now you can play at an online casino legally in either New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Random Number Generators

Modern-day slots are controlled by a random number generator (RNG) which is used to generate completely random number combinations. This controls the payback percentage for each slotmachine.

The RNG is programmed to have a specific payback percentage for its respective slot game. Usually, the more money the machine requires per bet, the higher the payback percentage will be.

These payback percentages are rarely ever changed due to the amount of work it requires to make these revisions.

Why Play Online Slots?

85% of online casino gamblers play slots nearly exclusively. Slots players are in luck when it comes to online slots. This is because:

• Much better RTP on online slots (with many games at 98%!)
• Generally higher jackpot payouts
• Big bonuses available to claim
• No need to wait for a machine
• Huge variety of games

Now with new casino technology, slots can provide even more entertainment for players and a much greater abundance of games with exciting graphics and special features.

Modern slots are the biggest draw toward US online casinos.

Bonuses and Promotions

Oftentimes, online casinos will advertise their game selections by offering free play bonuses and free spins bonuses.

These casino bonuses allow you to try out online casino games before registering with a casino or depositing your own money.

Free play and free spins bonuses are a great way for online casinos to reel in new customers. There are so many casino options on the market, it can be tough competition for casinos.

You can use the free play and spins to rack up some big cash prizes on different online slots games. It's risk-free and any money won from the bonus can be withdrawn as soon as thewagering requirements have been met.

The more you play, the more free spins you have a chance at collecting!

How to Play Online Slots

The first step in spinning those internet reels is finding an online casino or a selection of online casino games that look promising to you.

You can start by reading our online casino reviews to see which ones suit your personal gambling preferences.

Online casinos are constantly trying to keep up with their competitors by having the best software, best game selections, and of course, the best offers.

If you are interested in playing online slots, it would be wise to look for those offers.

1. Find a casino with a bonus that scores you all kinds of free play on slots and other online casino games. The most common type of no-deposit bonus is freespins bonuses.
2. Register with the casino and start playing - no download or deposit necessary!
3. Scroll the library to find a slot game that catches your eye. Below, you can read about how to find the best online slot to play.
4. Place your wager amount per spin. You can set up auto-play for anywhere between 10 to 100 spins at a time.
5. Once the reels have stopped spinning, you will see a combination of symbols on one or more 'paylines.' Depending on the combinations, you could be rewarded on the slot's credit meter.
6. Your winnings will go into your account automatically while you play. Depending on the slot you have chosen, this could mean entering mini bonus games, or collecting free spins.
7. When you're finished, you can choose to withdrawal or exit the game instantly. You will not lose your winnings if you leave the game.

How to Win at Online Slots

Slot machines are much less intimidating compared to table games. There is not a huge deal of strategy involved. If you want to win the slot machine jackpot, you have to betsome money and for the most part, hope for the best.

However, there are some slot machine tips that can increase your winning odds and help guide you to the best slot machines to play.

1. High RTP percentage: It is very important to familiarize yourself with the slots you choose to play. Different titles have different return-to-player (RTP)rates. One important aspect of winning at online slots is finding a game that lets you win most. Look for slots with a high RTP percentage.
2. Bonuses: Another important aspect of coming out a winner in slots is through bonuses, promotions, and perks that the casino gives. Features in a slot game like bonus roundsand free spins can do wonders for your bank account if you're lucky enough!
3. Manage your money! Like all casino games, don't go chasing your losses. Look for slots with minimum bets that fit in your budget and set limitations for yourself.

So how much are you willing to gamble? Knowing how much risk you are willing to take is an indicator of how much money you could walk away with.

What kind of slots player are you? Are you someone who likes to go in big and take your chances at the progressive jackpot slots who are you okay will going in small and walking away with a bitat a time?

Once you have made this determination, then choose your slots accordingly.

RTP & Volatility

Each game offers different payout structures and different volatility. These factors affect how much you could end up taking away with you from each slot game.

Learning about the volatility of the particular slots titles will show you how frequently you can expect the slot to payout.

It's also important to pay attention to each slot's RTP percentages.

What is RTP

RTP refers to the funds a player is expected to win back from a certain game over a predetermined amount of time.

This percentage is a theoretical number usually used as a reference. The average RTP rate for online slots is 96% however, some online slots have extremely high RTP rates.

What is volatility

A game's volatility refers to how much risk is involved with that game title.

If you are aware of the volatility of the particular slots you wish to play, you will have an idea of ​​how frequently you can expect the slot to pay out and how to win on slot machines.

Low volatility slots will hit frequently but have lower payouts, while high volatility slots will hit less frequently, however, will payout in much higher amounts.

Volatility refers to the risk involved with that particular game. Low volatility slots will hit frequently and have lower payouts, while high volatility slots will hit less frequently, however,they will payout in much higher amounts.

Different Types of Slots

Video slots

What are Video Slots?

5-reel slots are also known as video slots and can offer a large number of paylines. Video slots offer many additional opportunities for winning combinations, making these games more excitingthan the classic online slots.

How do online video slots work?

In the same way as 3-reel slots, the paylines in video slots can be formed in a horizontal fashion as well as diagonally, along with additional formations on the screen.

More extra features in 5-reel slots can include free spins, scatter symbols, multipliers, and bonus rounds. Extra features can potentially increase your winnings or at least earn you moreopportunities to increase your winnings.

Best video slots

Game provider IGT is known for supplying some of the best online video slots. Wheel of Fortune is one of the most popular video slots in the market now and features two bonus rounds thatregularly see good wins, as well as a bonus wheel.

Triple Diamond also offers good payouts to players and features many multipliers, leading to big wins. Both of these games can be found at the majority of online casinos in the UnitedStates.

Progressives slots

What are progressive slots

The best slot machines to play are arguably the progressive slots. These slot machine jackpots titles can pay upwards of $1 million. However, the odds of actually winning areextremely slim.

Progressive slots build up until a lucky winner hits the jackpot and then the figure resorts back to the base. They come in all kinds of different shapes and forms, and can also includespecial features like free spins, multipliers, and wilds.

For example, the Big Series at Borgata NJ online casino has exceeded $2 million!

How do progressive slots work

The progressive jackpot slots are made from a percentage of the money played in the slot titles included. As more and more players put money into the progressive jackpot, the totalgrows until one lucky winner gets the winning combination.

The payback percentage on the other winning symbols will pay out less and not all progressive slots will payout the same.

It is a good idea to learn as much as you can about the types of slots you wish to play, so you can know what to expect from them.

Best progressive slots

Borgata Casino offers five different jackpots in their Borgata Big One Series, with over $2.8 million dollars to be won. These titles are:

• Biker Pigs
• Loot'EnKhamun
• Going Nuts
• Melon Madness
• Luck ‘O The Jackpot

Classic slots

What are classic slots?

3-reel slots are also known as classic slots and are very similar to the earlier forms of slot machines. These classic forms of online slots are not as common anymore now that they've beenreplaced with modern games offering more paylines and special features.

Tech companies are still creating modern classic slots, however, for those players who still enjoy playing 3-reel slots.

How do classic slots work?

3-reel slots range from one to five paylines meaning there can be up to five different ways for the symbols to line up to form a winning combination.

Best classic slots

One of our favorite classic slots is 88 Fortunes, which features five reels, free spins, a jackpot round, and over 200 ways to win. You can find 88 Fortunes at 888 Casino or Unibet.

Megaways Slots

What are Megaways?

Megaways slots come with a bit of a twist. Basically, these slot games give you hundreds of thousands of different ways to win by randomizing the outcome of every spin.

How do Megaways work?

Megaways slots feature six reels, with a maximum of seven symbols per reel. At random, the number of symbols changes every spin which creates multiple different ways to win every time youspin.

Best Megaways slots

Some of the best Megaways slots can be found at the following New Jersey online casinos:

• Golden Nugget
• 888
• Virgin
• BetMGM

88 Fortunes and Monopoly Megaways are a couple of popular Megaways slots, both offering multiple bonus rounds and over 100,000 ways to win each time you spin.

How to Choose which Online Slot to Play

Because of the wide variety of online slots to choose from, it may seem difficult to find a game that suits you best.

For players who are looking to be entertained rather than seeking a big win, try looking at featured video slots that offer small but more frequent payouts than the jackpot slots.

Progressive slots are great for those players who only care about the money. Playing a high stake game means there's a small chance you could see a pot in the millions!

If you're someone in the middle where you want to win a lot of money but are not ready to risk too much to do so, try and find slot games that feature plenty of bonus rounds and wilds.

Bonus rounds usually result in some big wins, and all you need to wager to start is the minimum bet of 0.20 cents a spin!

Online Slots Providers

What is a slot provider?

Slot providers supply online slot games to the operators of the online casino. These companies are responsible for the software, theme, and design of the online slot, including the RNG.

Best slots providers

NeEnt and IGT are both powerhouses in the iGaming world when it comes to game providers. NetEnt is known for releasing slots with very high RTP's and IGT has designed some of the best videoslots in the market.

What Online Slots payout best

Typically the slot titles with a high RTP, are the games expected to pay out to players the best.

• Mega Joker by NetEnt, with an RTP of 99.0%
• Jackpot 6000 by NetEnt with an RTP of 98.9%
• Pixies of the Forest 2 by IGT, with an RTP of 98.83%
• Blood Suckers by NetEnt, with an RTP OF 98.0%

How to Play Slots for Free

Online casino registration bonuses will give you free money to try online slots games. You can keep what you win, however, you will be required to meet wager requirements before cashingout.

You can play slots with no charge in demo mode but will not be eligible to win any real money during this time. However, it is a great way to learn slots and practice them!

Note: If you wish to play for real money, please make sure that you meet all legal, regulatory requirements before gambling in an online casino.

1. Find a legal online casino in your state that you trust.
2. Sign-up! Registration bonuses will generally give you a certain number of free spins and bonus money to play free games online. These can be used to experiment with different games beforerisking your own money on them. Free slots bonuses often come with bonus rounds which can lead to even more real money rewards and even more free spins!
3. Once you have registered with some of your favorite online casinos, you will want to start racking up your loyalty points. Online casino loyalty points will earn you even more bonuses toplay free games online.

While many slots players focus on offers for free spins, bear in mind that you can often get more free spins with bonus dollars.

Free spin offers only give you a certain number of free spins at a given wager value, and they also often limit the games you can play.

If you are using bonus dollars from an online casino promotion, you can play with smaller wager amounts on the game of your choice.

While no deposit bonus dollars aren't advertised as free spins, you can certainly use them for hundreds of free spins on slots games!

Where to find free slots

Ultimately, all online casinos will offer a demo mode to their game library but some might require you to have an account first before accessing the library. You can browse through thesecasinos by visiting our online casino reviews!

What are the best free online slots?

There are a number of slots offered by online casinos that allow you to play completely free! All of these slots can be played from your desktop or mobile device.

Below is a list of some of the best free online slots available in America:

Family Guy by IGT

The Family Guy slot game is designed after the popular TV show and features all the graphics and animations you'd expect to see in any Family Guy episode.

Each character has their own features, like Stewie unlocking three wilds, and multiple bonus rounds to play through.

How To Pick A Winning Slot Machine

Wheel of Fortune by IGT

Based on one of the most popular tv shows in history, Wheel of Fortune is a classic slot game that can be found at many online casinos in the United States to play for real money or for free.

You will find different variations of this slot title in the US market, but most will remain a 3 reel game.

China Shores by Konami

China Shores features five reels and is best played on your mobile device. It's easy to play and remains a player favorite in America.

Online Slots Terminology

• Paylines
• Reels
• Jackpot
• Free Spins
• Symbols
• Scatter
• Reels
• AutoPlay
• Multiplier
• Max Bet
• Min Bet

Paylines

These lines appear on the screen, showing a payout based on the winning combinations. Different slots games have different numbers of paylines which usually run from left to right.

In order to win, the player must match the symbols along an active pay line.

Jackpot

Many online slots are linked to particular jackpots. Jackpots accrue over time and can eventually pay out millions.

Free Spins

Players can earn free spins during bonus rounds, giving them additional opportunities to win and increasing their winning odds. A multiplier is sometimes added to any wins accrued during theextra spins.

Symbols

Typically, a slot game will feature between 10 to 12 symbols and decide your paylines based on the combinations they make.

Besides the standard symbol, you will also see bonus, scatter, and wild symbols. Different symbols result in different payouts.

Scatter

These lucky symbols pay out big bonus rewards or activate bonus rounds which can lead to free spins or other rewards.

Different games have different rules however, for the most part, scatter symbols must appear in double or more across the reels.

Reels

Reels are a very important part of every slot game online. They are the vertical lines of the slot and determine the outcome of the game. Like symbols, different reels will offer differenttypes of payouts.

AutoPlay

All online slot games have the option to enable autoplay. You can choose to activate 10, 20, 50, 100, or more spins, by the click of a button.

Wilds

These symbols are found in slots games. They can be used in order to create winning combinations. Wilds come in different forms including:

• Expanded wilds, which cover an entire reel.
• Walking wilds that move around from reel to reel while the player spins.
• Sticky wilds, which stay still and remain on the reels for a certain number of spins.

Multiplier

These bonus features are found in certain games. Multipliers increase your winnings, multiplying them by a specified number. (x2, x5, x10, etc.)

Max Bet

The maximum bet is the highest amount of money you can wager on a single spin in slots. These can vary depending on the online slot game and casino.

Min Bet

The minimum bet is the lowest amount of money you can wager on a single spin in slots. Like maximum bets, these can also vary depending on the platform you are playing on.

Land-Based Slot Machines

Just like online, slots dominate the floor at every land-based casino. The experience you get playing at a slot machine versus online, are completely opposite.

There are a number of luxurious casino resorts across the United States which have hundreds of slot machines to choose from, built using the newest technology in the industry. Thisincludes flashing lights, big chairs, high-quality sounds, and graphics.

Payouts are instant, including for progressive slot machines where you could end up with a $1 million dollar check in your hand!

Slot machines might seem like an easy game, but there's a lot more than what meets the eye. To be successful at a slot machine, it's to your advantage to know all about the game you'reabout to wager on.

Dominic, the host of the All AmericanCasino Guide, breaks down exactly how a slot machine works and what you should keep an eye out for when choosing your machine. Watch in our video below!

Watch our Beginners Guide to Slot Machines below!

Follow Dominic from the All American Casino Guide as he goes over how to use a slot machine, and shows you how to win! Learn about your odds,unlocking the bonus games, how to win the jackpot, and more, below.

Slot Podcasts

We have compiled a comprehensiveselection of YouTube videos, and podcasts about slot machines and how to win the slot machine jackpot!Learn how to play slot machines and how these complex machines work.

Findout how to win on slot machines by hearing these unique strategies from slot experts.Read and listen to interviews with the experts to learn slot machine tips and adviceon the best slot machines to play.

Click the links below to watch thevideos and hear the podcasts. Watch as casino expert and author Steve Bourie, with other slot experts, answer the most common questions about slotmachines.

• VideoPodcast-Slot Machines - When to Bet Maximum Coinswith SteveBourie
• VideoPodcast- Answers to Common Slot MachineQuestionswith John Grochowski
• VideoPodcast- How to Win on SlotMachineswith slot expert Frank Legatoi
• VideoPodcast-Slot Machines how they work and how towinwith Steve Bourie
• AudioPodcast-Everything you ever wanted to know about slotmachineswith slot expert Frank Legato
• AudioPodcast-Winning on Slot machines withslotsexpert Frank Legato
• AudioPodcast-Slot machinemythswith slots expert John Robison
• AudioPodcast-Slot machines with John Growchowski

Conclusion

Online slots continue to rule casino libraries and remain a favorite for players all over the world. With so many variations of the game, players should have no problem ever finding a slotgame that suits them.

Check back here to stay up to date on the latest online slots launching this year!

One of the most common questions you'll see about anything in the casino gambling industry relates to 'honesty'. You'll see this question asked about every casino game under the sun. You'll also see it asked about every casino, especially the online gambling sites.

In this post, I want to address this specific question:

Are slot machines honest?

How Do You Define Honest?

When I use Google to look for a definition of honesty, I see some of the following definitions listed:

• 'Free of deceit and untruthfulness'
• 'Sincere'
• 'Morally correct or virtuous'
• 'Fairly earned, through hard work'

I think most people are thinking of the first definition when they ask whether slots games are honest. They want to make sure they're not being cheated. In this context, the answer is yes, slot machines are honest. I'll explain why in detail in the rest of this post.

In the second context, where 'honest' means 'sincere'—I'm less sure. Are the casinos sincere when they want you to think you're able to win money? I think so, but they know in the long run, anyone who plays slots long enough will lose all their money.

In the third and fourth contexts, I'd have to say that slot machines are NOT honest. Slot machines are closer to morally neutral than they are to sinful, but you might have a different belief system about such things. It's hard to say that slots don't appeal to one of the seven deadly sins, though (greed).

I'm not sure anyone could (or would) consider money won on a slot machine 'earned' or to have anything to do with 'hard work'. It's a game of luck. If you win, then you got lucky—it has nothing to do with working hard or being smart.

I'll explain more about that later in this post, too.

How a Slot Machine Works Mathematically

Answering the question 'are slot machines honest?' begins with learning how the games work mathematically. The math behind the games is easier to understand than most people probably think.

The first concept to understand is basic probability. When someone says 'probability', they're talking about the mathematical likelihood that something is going to happen. That 'something' is called an event.

The probability of an event is always represented as a number between 0 and 1. An event that will always occur no matter what has a probability of 1. An event that will never occur has a probability of 0. An event that will occur half the time has a probability of 0.5.

For simplicity's sake, and to make understanding the concept easier, I just used whole numbers and decimals in the previous paragraph. But probabilities are almost always expressed as percentages or fractions.

How to Express Probability as a Percentage

You're watching the evening news, and the meteorologist says there's a 50% chance of rain tomorrow.

That means it's just about as likely to rain as it is to not rain.

Here's another example:

You flip a coin. You have a 50% chance of it landing on heads. You also have a 50% chance of it landing on tails.

If you add the probabilities of all possible events together, you always get a total of 1 (or 100%).

Probability is the mathematical engine that makes gambling games possible.

How to Calculate a Probability

Here's how you calculate a probability:

You take the number of ways an event can happen. You divide that by all the total events possible (including what can happen and what happens if it doesn't.)

You're rolling a single six-sided die. You want to know the probability of getting a 6.

There are 6 possible outcomes. Only one of them is a 6.

The probability of getting a 6 is 1/6.

Another way to express that is using odds, which can be useful when calculating whether a bet is expected to be mathematically profitable or not.

Odds expresses the number of ways something can't happen versus the number of ways it can happen.

In the six-sided die example, the odds of getting a 6 are 5 to 1. You have 5 ways of NOT rolling a 1, and only 1 way of rolling a 1.

If you want to calculate a probability that includes the word 'or', you add the probabilities of the events together.

If you want to calculate a probability that includes the word 'and', you multiply the probabilities by each other.

You want to know the probability of getting a 1 or a 2 on a roll of a six-sided die. The probability of each is 1/6.

1/6 + 1/6 = 2/6

You can reduce that to 1/3.

Here's another example:

You roll 2 dice. You want to know the probability of getting a 6 on both dice. The probability of each is 1/6.

1/6 X 1/6 = 1/36

Applying Probability to a Simple Hypothetical Slot Machine Game

But how does all this apply to the honesty of slot machines?

I'll use a super simple hypothetical slot machine game to explain how this probability affects the integrity of the game.

This super simple game has 3 symbols on each reel—an orange, a lemon, and a cherry.

The probability of getting a lemon on the first reel is 1/3.

The probability of getting a lemon on the second reel is also 1/3.

In fact, it's the same on each reel.

But the game only pays off if you get 3 of the same symbol on each reel.

The probability of that is 1/3 X 1/3 X 1/3, or 1/9.

Let's suppose the payoff for getting 3 lemons is 4 for 1.

And let's suppose the payoff for getting 3 cherries is 3 for 1.

Finally, we'll suppose the payoff for getting 3 oranges is even money.

• The probability of winning 4 coins is 1/9.
• The probability of winning 3 coins is also 1/9.
• The probability of winning 1 coin is also 1/9.
• The probability of winning nothing is 6/9, or 2/3.

Now let's suppose you're putting $1 in on every spin, and you play 9 spins, getting every possible result once.

You win 4 coins once. You win 3 coins once. You win 1 coin once. That's a total of 8 coins you've won.

But you've inserted 9 coins into the game.

Where did the extra coin go?

In the pockets of the casino, that's where.

By setting up the payoffs so that they're lower than the odds of winning, the casino sets up a situation where it's guaranteed a mathematical profit over the long run.

Of course, most modern slot machines aren't quite this simple. They have more symbols on each reel, for one thing. For another, the probability of getting a particular symbol might be different from the probability of getting another symbol.

For example, you might have a 2/3 probability of getting a pear, and only a 1/24 probability of getting a cherry.

What Happens in the Long Run vs. the Short Term?

By manipulating the payoffs and the probabilities of the symbols, the casino can guarantee that over a long period and many spins, they'll profit.

But in the short run, a player might win a big jackpot or lose several times in a row.

That's the nature of random events. In the short run, anything can happen. In the long run, the numbers get closer to the theoretical probability.

This is obvious when you look at it with an extreme example.

On an infinite number of spins, your average loss per spin will mirror the mathematical expectation.

The closer you get to an infinite number of spins, the closer you'll get to the mathematical expectation.

Do Slot Machines Cheat?

The casinos don't need to cheat to make a healthy profit.

The slot machine designers and manufacturers don't need to cheat to make a healthy profit.

In fact, in well-regulated jurisdictions (like Nevada), games are thoroughly audited for fairness. When they're auditing a game for fairness, one of the things they check is whether a game has a jackpot that's impossible to win.

That's the main concern many players have when they ask if slot machines cheat.

Does the game have jackpots that are impossible to win?

The short answer in almost every case is no, they don't.

But you have no way of knowing what the probability of winning that jackpot is. Slot machine games have opaque odds and probabilities. The results are generated by a computer program called a random number generator (RNG).

The only people who know the exact settings for that RNG are the designers and the casino managers.

In fact, you could be playing two identical slot machines located right next to each on the casino floor and have different odds of winning. Not only is this legal, it's common.

Does that sound like cheating?

By the strict letter of the law, it's not.

Is it honest?

I'd say yes. Having two games next to each other offering different odds is intentionally misleading. It's legal, but it's not sincere in any way.

Online slot machines are no different, except that in some cases, these games HAVE been known to cheat. But not reputable casinos and not reputable software providers.

How do they cheat? Free casino slots games online com no downloads.

They set up games which are impossible to win.

The reasons baffle me. You stand to make far more money in the long run if you offer an honest game.

Even an idiot can tell after a while that he's never going to win a rigged casino game on the Internet.

But otherwise smart people will continue to deposit money and wager it at a breakneck pace if they're winning something every now and then, even if they're showing a net loss over time.

That's how gambling works.

What About Video Poker Games?

Are Indian Casino Slots Fixed

You need to understand immediately that video poker games are NOT the same thing as slot machine games. They look similar on the surface, but the math and the gameplay couldn't be more different. And the philosophy behind these games is different, too.

Here's why:

A video poker machine uses a random number generator that duplicates the odds found in a 52-card deck of cards. You know the probability of getting a specific symbol. Any specific card has a 1/52 probability of appearing.

A card of a specific suit has a ¼ probability of appearing. A card of a specific rank has a 1/13 probability of appearing.

Payback Percentages and the House Edge

Knowing this enables mathematicians and computer programs to calculate the actual payback percentage for these games.

What's a payback percentage?

It's the percentage of each bet that's paid back to the player on average in the long run. It's the opposite of the house edge.

On a slot machine, you have no way of calculating a game's payback percentage. It's impossible, because you have no way of knowing the probability of getting a specific symbol.

But on a video poker game, you can calculate all the possibilities. And since you know how much the game pays out for various combinations, you can add the expected value of each to get an overall payback percentage for the game.

And you know what's even better than this?

The payback percentages for video poker games are significantly higher than the payback percentages on slot machines in almost every case.

Even the worst video poker game usually has a payback percentage of 95% or so. But the better games offer payback percentages in the 98%+ range. Some (rare) games have pay tables which offer a slightly positive game for the player, like 100.2%. But those numbers assume perfect strategy on your part.

But even the best slot machine games usually have a payback percentage in the 95% range. The more common games slip down into the lower 92% or so range.

Expected Hourly Loss Rates in Slot Machine Games vs. Video Poker Games

What does this mean to your bankroll?

Let's look at how much money you can mathematically expect to lose playing 2 different games:

We'll start with an average slot machine game with a 94% payback percentage. You're playing for $1 per spin, and you're making 600 spins per hour. You expect to win 94% of each bet back, which means you expect to lose 6% of each bet.

6% of $600 is $36, which is the amount the casino expects you to lose on this game on average over time.

Then we'll consider a 9/6 Jacks or Better game which you're playing with perfect strategy. The payback percentage for this game is 99.54%, which means the house edge is 0.46%.

We'll assume you're playing a quarter machine and betting 5 coins per hand. You're putting a little more money into action on each bet–$1.25. Most video poker players are as fast as slot machine players; they play 600 hands per hour. That's $750/hour in action.

But with a house edge of 0.54%, your expected loss on that kind of action is only $3.77.

That's right.

Playing slots costs you 10 times as much as playing video poker.

Video poker offers other advantages over slots, too. One of these is the skill element. You might not want to think about what you're doing when you're gambling.

But if you're anything like me, you want to be able to at least exert a little bit of control over your destiny.

In video poker, you get to do that. The decisions you make playing each hand have a direct effect on your bottom line.

Play your hands well, and you'll be playing one of the best gambling games in the house.

Should You Play Slot Machines at All?

This is a legitimate question. Should you play slot machines at all?

Here are some pros and cons of playing slots:

Pros:

• You can win bigger jackpots on slot machine games than any other gambling game except maybe keno. If you're looking for a life-changing jackpot, like you'd see if you won a lotto drawing, slots are the way to go.
• They require little in the way of attention or effort on the part of the player. This suits some temperaments just fine. Relaxing in front of the spinning reels seems like a good deal for a lot of people.
• They're available in an endless variety. You can find a slot machine game with any theme you can imagine. Love Elvis Presley? You'll find a slot machine for it. Play Dungeons & Dragons when you were 12? There's a slot for that, too. The themes and games are almost endless.

Cons:

• They offer some of the worst odds in the house. The house edge for slot machines vary widely. Some of them might offer good odds, but most of them have a house edge of between 5% and 10%. This isn't awful. After all, roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. The problem is that slots play so fast that you can easily put more money into an action than you thought you could.
• You can't figure out what the odds are. I have a philosophical problem with slot machine games. No other casino game is opaque about your odds. You can calculate the house edge for any table game in the casino. You can calculate it for video poker, too. But you're never given the information you need to figure out the house edge on a slot machine. This is unacceptable to me.
• They're designed to be addictive. Slot machine manufacturers spend millions doing research into what kinds of stimuli are going to put most people into the 'flow' state. Flow is great if you're interested in personal productivity at work, but if you're playing a gambling game, it's awful. No other casino game is as addictive as a slot machine.

Conclusion

Yes, slot machines are honest—in a manner of speaking, anyway. Casinos don't make claims about slot machines that are blatantly untrue. If a game has a maximum jackpot of $1 million, you do have a chance of winning that much money.

What you don't know is how likely or unlikely it is to win that amount.

Is this disingenuous on the part of the casinos?

I think it is, at least to some extent.

But all casino games have math behind them that puts the odds in the casino's favor. That's just the nature of the games. Slots are no different in that respect.

No matter which casino game you play, if you stick with it long enough, you'll eventually lose all your money.

The only exceptions are certain games that can be played with advantage techniques, but that's another subject entirely.

The only way for you to get an edge against a slot machine game is to cheat.

In most jurisdictions, cheating is blatantly illegal. You're better off learning to play poker at an expert level, or learning how to count cards in blackjack.