The Tech Behind The Slot Machines In Vegas

Posted on Wednesday, October 19 2016 @ 12:24 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Slot machines in the casinos in Vegas are some of the most money making machines there are, and because of this plenty of people are looking at how they can create their own. The modern casino typically earns 70-80% of its revenue from the slots, and with the psychological and technical systems which include reward schedules and tracking systems there is plenty of tech to be found behind them.

Random Number Generators
The way slot machines payout is through random number generators, which means people cannot rig any of the machines to help get them to payout and equally can’t formulate a strategy to try and cheat the system and become a winner more often, like people can in games like blackjack. These are programmed by computers and the randomness comes from atmospheric noise which are even better than the pseudo-random number algorithms that are used in computer programs. This allows the machines to formulate completely random numbers, and in the case of slot machines, a random selection of symbols. Because of this, when playing online especially, the outcome of a spin is known by the machine before the reels stop spinning. These random number generators are one of the fairest forms of gambling, and truly do rely on luck instead of strategy, and allows game makers to control the volatility of a game – and the lights and sounds of the slot machine are simply there to keep the players hooked.

Game Designs & Screens
When it comes to providing the ultimate gaming experience, the slot machines in Vegas do just that. In many casinos, there are a number of video slots that feature 32-inch concave screens like a curved TV, which is said to improve the gameplay by 30-80% when compared to playing a game on the flat screen. This helps to keep the player truly immersed in the games that they are playing meaning they are far more likely to stay where they are rather than continue moving onto a different machine. In addition to this, sometimes a fast-paced game such as the Ladbrokes speed poker game, can really keep players interested as they have to make decisions quickly meaning they are more likely to rush their decision, resulting in a loss for them. This idea is also used with slot machines, with all of the lights and sounds which can become somewhat attractive but at times overbearing to the players.

Vegas baby

Multi-Line Slot Machines
Some of the more intangible slot machines that have grown and grown in popularity is the multi-line slot machines offered now by casinos all over the world, both online and offline. These paylines offer different winning combinations which can trick the player into thinking that they are far more likely to win more often than with fewer paylines. In addition to this, these slot machines tend to correspond this with lights, sounds and celebrations in order to keep the player as hooked as possible with the game, meaning they will likely spend more money. All slot machines rely on the same basic psychological principles, finding the perfect balance between too little reward and too much of a reward. Most multi-line slots rarely play large jackpots and instead pay smaller wins more frequently to keep the player interested and not too frustrated about not winning which can lead them to move on.