When it comes to slot games, there’s a lot to keep track of – symbols, paylines, credits and jackpots. In many cases, this information is displayed in a tab that’s known as the pay table. These tables usually fit in with the game’s theme and display a whole load of detailed info in an easily digestible format.
The premise of a slot machine is simple enough: the player inserts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, paper tickets with barcodes into a designated slot and then activates them by pushing a button (physical or on a touchscreen). The reels then spin and, when a winning combination is made, the player earns credits based on the game’s paytable. Symbols vary depending on the game’s theme and can include classics like fruits, bells and stylized lucky sevens.
When it comes to winning, though, the odds are stacked against players. Whether you win or lose is determined by the random number generator, an algorithm that generates thousands of numbers per second and associates them with different combinations of symbols. Pressing the spin button activates this process, and which images appear on a given pay line determines your success or loss. The probability of hitting the jackpot, for example, is much lower on the third reel than it is on the first two. That’s why it’s so important to read the payout information on a game’s pay table before you start playing. It can save you a whole lot of heartache and disappointment.