Whether we love them or hate them, we hate to love them. There is no doubt that slot machines are one of a kind. Since the 18th century, they have been a part of our lives. Back then, there were no themes, no fancy electronics, and no flashing lights to be seen. Using the famous poker deck, you could make poker for as little as a penny with a drum-powered machine.
In the past two hundred years, pennies were worth much more than they are today. Since then, we have come a long way, and below are some interesting slot machine facts you may not know about.
Fascinating Slot Machine Facts
- 1. Slot machines pay 90% of the funds they collect.
- 2. The hot and cold machines don’t exist.
- 3. Japan has more slot machines than the USA.
- 4. First slot games had five reels.
- 5. The first slot machine was similar to video poker.
- 6. Slot players are the ones who are addicted to gambling.
- 7. RTP percentage is higher in online casinos.
- 8. No strategy can be used in slots.
- 9. More than 80% of the casino revenue comes from slots.
- 10. Slots are a game of luck.
- 11. Slot machines have different names around the world.
- 12. Slot players are the ones who are addicted to gambling.
1. Slot Machines pay 90% of the funds they collect.
Slot machines are responsible for 80% of a casino’s revenue, but it does not mean they aren’t very generous to the players. 90% of the money they gather is indeed paid to them. In other words, it doesn’t mean that nine out of ten people will be able to walk away from the casino with enough money to buy a Rolex, it doesn’t work like that. Initially, players are given small amounts of money, and as time goes on, the rest is accumulated into a succulent jackpot that can be won.
2. The hot and cold machines don’t exist.
Among the many examples of the gambler’s fallacy, one of the most common is the belief that a slot machine game gets hotter or colder as time passes. The idea is that a game that pays out a lot of money is somehow “hot” and will continue to pay out in the future. Alternatively, if you’re playing a slot game that doesn’t pay out much, a game will remain “cold” and have a much lower probability of paying out in the future.
There will always be streaks of luck, either good or bad, in any situation dealing with random results — retrospect only reveals those streaks of luck. Whether you won something on the previous spin or not, you’ll have a one in 1000 chance of winning a jackpot and a 1 in 1000 chance of winning it on the next spin. In terms of probability, a spin of the reels on a slot machine would be considered an “independent trial.” Thus, previous results do not affect future results.
In modern slot machines, the results of the games are determined by a random number generator (RNG). As you can see, the program generates thousands of random numbers per second, each of which is associated with a particular result on the reels in the game. When you press the “spin” button (or pull the lever), the RNG (random number generator) stops.
In a nutshell, it’s impossible to predict which number will land as far as I am concerned. That’s because there are too many numbers being sent through the machine at the same time.
3. Japan has more slot machines than the USA.
It’s natural to think of Las Vegas when you think about gambling, as it is associated with the American culture, movie industry, and whatnot. However, you’ll be surprised to learn that Japan has surpassed the USA in the number of slot machines by a lot. Namely, studies have shown that there is a slot machine for every 27 people in Japan, while in the United States, there is one machine for every 350 people, which is a huge difference. However, there’s an exception with Las Vegas, which has a record of allocating one machine for every eight city residents.
4. First slot games had five reels.
Online and electronic slots are making five reel slot games a resurgence, but until recently, they were only three reels.
Since slot machines were inspired by poker back in the 18th century, five reels were needed when they were invented. However, at some point along the way, the design was simplified to only three.
5. First slot machine was similar to video poker.
Developed in the 19th century, the first poker machine was based on a simple mechanical design. Each drum of the machine had ten cards, and each drum had five rolling drums. A five-card poker hand would randomly appear after the player spins the drums.
The famous inventor Charles Fey, responsible for the invention of the first slot machine at the start of the 20th century, adapted the poker machine and added a “hold” feature. As a result, he named the game “Skill Draw.”
The players could hold some of the cards after the initial spin and re-spin those cards they didn’t hold after the initial spin.
6. Slots with fruit symbols appeared after slot machines were banned in the USA.
The term ‘fruit machines’ is frequently used to describe slot machines. In the early days of slot machines, it was common to feature fruit symbols on the reels, such as cherries, oranges, lemons, and plums. Since then, the nickname has been used to refer to slot machines in general, especially in the UK and Europe.
In 1907, Herbert Mills developed an American slot machine sufficiently different to receive a separate patent from Charles Fey’s monopoly on American slot machines.
Besides the mechanical differences, it’s important to note that he used fruit symbols on the reels instead of the then-customary numbers and suits. Also, it’s worth noting that when slot machine owners were questioned as to the legality of their machines, they replied that they had dispensed gum instead. Fruit symbols represented the flavors of gum that players could win.
7. RTP Percentage is higher in online casinos.
Among interesting facts about online slots is that the slots pay better than their land-based counterparts.
It’s common for land-based slot machines to have a return to a player percentage between the mid-80s and the low 90s. On the other hand, online slots tend to offer a return to player (RTP) percentage between 94% and 98%. Additionally, some Megaways slots have a high RTP in comparison to some classic slot titles.
8. No Strategy can be used in slots.
In the internet world, you will find plenty of snake oil salesmen who claim to be able to tell you how these games work, how you can make more money at them, and how you can win more frequently. However, they are all equally worthless in the end.
When machines are at rest, many like to share the idea that symbols on them can give you a clue about which ones are ready to pay out. It’s called the “zig-zag” system, which doesn’t make sense. The reels only show the results, as the real results are determined by the random number generator inside the machine. In the 1970s, there might have been some relevance to this type of thinking, but modern slot machines don’t have mechanical parts and aren’t subject to this prediction.
In other systems, the gambler’s fallacy predicts which games are hot or cold. For example, John Patrick, the gambling author, attempted to predict whether a machine is hot or cold. And in one of his theories, he believes that you should stop playing a game if you have been playing it for seven spins in a row without any wins.
While these systems and strategies make for exciting ways to pass the time and play, they don’t increase your chances of winning.
9. Slot players are the ones who are addicted to gambling.
There has been a significant increase in slot players attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings and seeking similar help for their gambling addiction since the early 1990s.
10. More than 80% of casino revenue comes from slots.
In the middle of the 1980s, the casino industry underwent a dramatic change. Slot machines were considered to be a distraction for women at the time when they were introduced. Instead, blackjack and craps were the games they played with their boyfriends and husbands. Interestingly, there were no stools in front of the slots back then, and they were placed in the hall or near the elevator to avoid taking up space on the gambling floor.
Only a decade has passed since slot machines started generating twice as much revenue per year as all the table games combined in the industry. Gambling machines generated a total of 85% of the casinos’ revenues by the year 2003.
11. Slots are a game of luck.
You can win at slot games in several ways, but luck will always play a significant part. As I mentioned, if you play slots on a physical machine or online, there’s no solid strategy to be followed to win prizes consistently.
There is a reason for this since the bet is randomly selected through a computerized random number generator. Although, you can still use the RTP (Return to Player) and the slot machine’s payout percentage to get a better chance of winning.
12. Slot machines have different names around the world.
There are a lot of funny names given to slot machines in different parts of the English-speaking world. Each of these names has some fascinating historical significance, and here are a few of the best tales behind them. The names range from cute terms like “puggies” to downright puzzling phrases like “liberty bells.”
Conclusion
Even though slot machines seem simple, they’re a fascinating phenomenon, and going through these slot machine facts will provide you with the necessary knowledge if you haven’t played them before. Through the use of these machines and the people who play on them, companies worldwide generate a great deal of revenue.
No one understands these games better than casino management and game providers. In any case, if you’re a gambler who’s going to play slot machines, then you owe yourself to know as much as possible about them. What you could learn next is how slot tournaments work, so you can participate in them and potentially win money.
Slot machine opponents argue against them in the same way that gun control advocates argue against guns. There is no doubt that some of their arguments are compelling. However, as far as the nature of these games is concerned, they seem to be significantly different from the nature of other games. Therefore, I believe there’s nothing wrong with responsibly playing slot machines.
FAQ
Who invented the slot machine?
The slot machine was invented in the modern sense by Charles August Fey, who built his first coin-operated gambling machine in 1894.
Why is it called a slot machine?
“Slot machine” refers to a machine with slots for inserting and retrieving coins. The term “fruit machine” derives from the traditional fruit images on the spinning reels, such as lemons, plums, and cherries.
What is the oldest slot machine?
One of the very first slot machines that Charles August Frey invented was called the Liberty Bell. Due to the highest payout available from the machine, it was named after three bell symbols.
How do slot machines determine payout?
One of the slot machine facts is that the random number generator is capable of generating thousands of numbers, and each number has a different combination of associated symbols. Random numbers are generated instantly you press “spin,” which determines whether you win or lose. If the number matches a pay line, you win.
When do slot machines reset?
A local area progressive is connected to a group of other slot machines within a casino. Any play on one of those machines increases the jackpot for all those games. All of the machines reset their jackpots when a jackpot is hit on any of them.
January 5, 2024
