How Do Online Slots Pay Out
Online slot machines hosted on licensed online casinos cannot be fixed. Another myth is that casinos can alter payouts and other factors remotely, online casinos have no control over games as they are built, developed and provided by third-party gaming companies. Let’s say one particular online slot has an RTP of 95% and over many years of playing you spend $1 billion playing it. That RTP means that you should expect to receive back roughly $950 million in winnings. The remaining $50 million would be around what that slot machine will take in profit. Casinos are not able to change slot payouts, slot machines come with an already set payout percentage, when a casino places an order for a slot it specifies the long-term payout percentage it wants. Although, depending on the jurisdiction the casino may or may not be.
Higher volatility slots pay out less often, but the high volatile slot machines payouts are bigger. How do you reset slot machines? There is a key that you need to insert and turn (in the reset key slot). That should reset the machine. However, the process may be different from machine to machine. When choosing where to do your slot gambling, you may want to keep in mind the following slot payback percentages for Nevada's fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, and ending June 30, 2019: 1¢ Slot Machines The Strip - 88.33% Downtown - 88.96% Boulder Strip - 90.53% N. Las Vegas - 90.79%. 5¢ Slot Machines The Strip - 91.96% Downtown - 93.32%.
It’s impossible to predict if a slot machine will pay out at a specific moment; anyone claiming otherwise either doesn’t understand how slot machines work or they work as a casino promoter.
If it were possible to identify precisely when a slot machine is about to pay, then the casinos would lose money, and we are all aware of the fact that it usually doesn’t happen. Internet gaming establishments are well-oiled machines built to provide you with entertainment in exchange for money.
However, don’t close this article just yet. The fact that there is no foolproof way to win money on slot machines every time doesn’t mean that it is impossible.
As you probably already know, the odds included in slot machine games are based on the mathematical probability. So, if you learn how those odds work, you might be able to use these findings to your advantage and make some profit.
What we’re actually saying here is that with a good strategy in play and a decent understanding of how to recognize (or at least assume) when a particular slot is about to pay out, you can increase your chances of winning.
We’ve done our homework and poured over countless slot machine tips and tricks in order to learn how to recognize the moment when a slot machine is about to pay out. After a lot of digging, we were able to create a list that shows the most effective strategies you can implement to overcome the ‘randomness’ of slot machines.
Best Online Casino Slot Payouts
Play Only Slots With the Biggest Payouts
This piece of advice seems rather obvious but bare with us for a moment. Everyone who has played in either a brick-and-mortar or an online casino is familiar with the phrase ‘house edge’. For those who have heard about this term but aren’t quite sure what it means, we’ll try to clear things up a bit.
The term ‘house edge’ refers to the mathematical advantage that the gaming establishment has over players. This advantage results in a guaranteed percentage that is returned to the online casino over time. In other words, casinos always beat the players in the long run since the odds are stacked in their favor. You must have heard about the phrase ‘the house always wins’? Well, the house in this phrase is a casino, and you can see for yourself why it always wins.
However, don’t fall into despair yet as all is not lost.
Although the odds are stacked against players, it’s still possible to win. In fact, every slot machine has a theoretical return to player based on statistics which is called the RTP (Return to Player).
The average RTP for most slot games is somewhere between 90–96 percent. Therefore, every slot game that has the RTP over 96% is always a good option. A couple of percentage points difference may seem meaningless, but trust us — it makes a lot of difference over thousands of spins. For those reasons, it’s always a good idea to do a little digging before you start spinning the reels.
How to Find the RTP of a Slot Game?
Finding out the RTP of a particular slot game is quite easy. There are plenty of websites which review online casinos and write about their game selection, as well as their respective RTP’s.
Simply put, you stand a better chance with the higher RTP slot games. This particularly is the case when you’re playing through bonus spins.
Entertainment vs Big Wins?
This factor is almost as important as the RTP when it comes to choosing an online slot game. Volatility, sometimes called variance, in slot games measures how often and how much you can expect to win during your playing sessions.
Higher volatility slots usually feature long dry strakes with occasional big wins. Since the payouts are substantially higher with high volatility slots, you might sometimes end up clicking the Spin button relentlessly, only to watch your bankroll dwindle. However, when everything lines up perfectly… boom! You’ve hit the jackpot that made the long dry spell worth it! One of the best high volatility slot games is the Book of Ra, created by Novomatic.
On the opposite side of the coin are the low volatility games where payouts are much more frequent but more much smaller. We are not saying that large wins are impossible with these games — far from it. It’s just when they do happen, they are not on the same scale as the ones available with the high volatility games.
It’s really up to the player and his preferences — if you prefer playing games where little wins pop up every couple of spins, then go for the low volatility games. On the other hand, if you are hoping for making the big bucks and are willing to take necessary risks, then we recommend high volatility games.
Online casino platforms aren’t quite eager to hand out the information about the game’s volatility, but it becomes obvious after playing it for a certain time. There isn’t such a thing as a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ volatility — it’s just a question of gambling style and personal preference.
Use the Bonuses in Your Favor
One way to put up a fight against the house edge is by taking advantage of the bonuses. As most of you probably already know, the majority of casino sites offer free spins/free money/ bonuses as incentives to lure new customers. Those bonuses can prove beneficial and turn the odds in your favor.
Of course, don’t expect that the bonuses will last forever. But while they last, you can definitely make the most out of them and clean up some easy cash. On that note, there is no reason why you shouldn’t search around and take advantage of different promotions.
Slot Machines FAQ
Below we’ve answered some of the most frequent slot-related questions. We know that slot machines pose a mystery, and we’ll help you unravel it.
Is gambling on a slot machine really random?
Yes, it is. All slot machines in all online casinos operate by using the RNG, a computer-run program that randomly chooses numbers. A reliable RNG generates numbers that are not related to each other in any way, thus ensuring that your games are fair and random. All types of bonus rounds are predetermined by algorithms, regardless of which slot game you play.
Are slot machines really streaky?
Yes, slot machines are streaky, and they tend to get cold and/or hot. But it’s all the same for you as you have no way of predicting when a slot machine will become hot or cold. These patterns that happen from time to time look like streaks of bad luck or good luck, but they are not based on anything — that’s just the nature of random events.
How can I find a slot machine that suits my gambling style?
Slot Payouts By Casino
It depends on your preferences — if you’re up for cheap entertainment, you should find games that allow a cheap max bet.
If you’re looking to win a massive jackpot, you should concentrate on progressive games and games that feature lots of bonus rounds. These games have high volatility, which means that payouts don’t happen very often, but when they do, they are substantially bigger.
If you just want to have a good time and money isn’t an issue, look for the latest developments. These games feature plots and characters from popular TV shows, movies, sports, and so on, and offer bonus rounds and other fun extras.
Is there a strategy I could implement to increase my chances of hitting the jackpot?
Unfortunately, there isn’t. All possible outcomes are controlled by a Random Number Generator and there is no betting amount or a specific strategy that will make it more or less likely for you to hit the jackpot. However, have in mind that in most online casinos (and land-based for that matter) you have to bet max in order to qualify for the slot jackpot payouts.
What’s a good strategy for playing slot machines?
Before you start spinning the reels, find out the payout percentage of the selected slot machine — don’t play anything that has the RTP below 95 percent. If you are a high roller, go for the high volatile games and chase the main jackpot. Make the most out of the available casino bonuses — they can increase your winning chances by providing extra spins. Avoid the latest licensed slots if possible because, according to various sources, they are more likely to feature fewer payouts.
The fact that matters is that you can’t use some special skill to outsmart a slot machine and change the payout percentage of it. But you can try certain strategies that can maximize your chances of winning.
Anyone that is new to online slots and is a little suspicious about how they payout, you’re certainly not alone as we have all been there in the past with the same thoughts.
Most of us would have wondered how do online slots payout and is the software that decides when it does payout, to be trusted.
Many of you might be used to the land-based slots that you have seen in the many bars, clubs and casinos.
Well, these are actually run by software as well, yet the physical aspect of these machines often leads to people forgetting that on the inside is hardware and software.
So actually, there is not much difference between playing a slot whether it is online or offline, as it is all controlled by similar RNG (random number generator) software that determines the machines randomness.
Random Number Generators
Each and every online slot will have what is known as an RNG or random number generator.
This is a piece of software which is used to create completely random sequences in millisecond intervals.
When you as a player clicks spin on an online slot, the RNG will come up with a completely different series of numbers.
This RNG software is used at each and every online casino for each and every online slot that they provide.
Simply put, the RNG software is what determines the result of each spin and that each spin is completely random.
No spin whether it was before or after your current spin will be irrelevant to the outcome of your current spin.
How RNG Actually Works
What you first have to realise about RNG is that it has no idea of what went before it, it has no idea whether you just won or lost on a spin and it has no idea that you have either won absolutely nothing all day or just a few spins earlier hit the jackpot.
Simply put, much like a goldfish, RNG has no memory.
As we mentioned earlier, RNG software is constantly throwing out random series of numbers at the speed of a millisecond for each one.
The very moment you hit that spin button, whatever series of numbers was just generated is what is going to determine your result.
While it is always a little difficult to trust software, especially when it’s for an online casino that is there to try and win your money, it is completely random and there has never been any pre-programming to determine the result in either direction.
The only aspect of what you do that determines how the result will be is the millisecond that you click the spin button.
As you do not know which millisecond is one that will be a winner for you, it makes no difference what second you press it.
It all comes down to chance and luck as to when you click that button.
Are RNG’s Regulated?
This is where any doubt that RNG software for online casinos is ever manipulated by the trusted online casinos.
Each casino will have to obtain licenses from regulatory authorities to be able to operate under certain jurisdictions and offer their products and random testing of RNGs is a major part of the regulations they will have to adhere to.
If we were to use the UK Gambling Commission as an example, they will not issue a license to any online casino that does not agree to have their RNG software tested and regulated to ensure that it is completely fair and random.
Any casino that is found to be advertising online slots that have a return-to-player percentage that is not found to be correct from the RNG testing, is susceptible to having their gaming license suspended or revoked completely.
There is far too much at stake for an online casino to even consider messing around with the RNGs.
Who Handles the RNG Testing?
To ensure that there is no chance of any kind of corruption, the Regulatory authorities do not actually handle the testing of RNGs themselves.
They usually send in a request to associations such as eCogra, who will be able to have a third-party RNG testing house perform the tests.
eCogra is a testing agency from London that has always worked incredibly hard to ensure that online gambling is completely fair for the players that enjoy it.
They are so renowned for what they do that they are something of a seal of approval for online casinos.
If an online casino is eCogra approved, you can are guaranteed that the RNG and all other aspects of fair play at your choice of online casino are adhering to all regulations.
What Is Return-to-Player Percentage?
Working alongside the RNG of an online slot machine is something called RTP or the return-to-player percentage.
This is essentially how much a slot will pay out for a set amount of money it has taken from however many players in a period of time.
You will generally see slot machines with an advertised RTP of between 90 to 99%.
This essentially means that for every $100 that the online slot has taken, it will pay out its RTP percentage on average.
The rest goes to the house as essentially, this is the house edge, which is expected at all online casinos as they are there to make money from the service that they are providing you.
Some slots have a higher house edge than others.
Let’s use Starburst as an example, easily one of the most popular online slots at the moment.
This has an RTP of 96.1% which could be worse but could also be better.
Of the $100 that has been put into it by various players over time, it should be paying back out (on average) $96.10.
Where chance and luck and RNG comes into it, however, is that the $96.10 is spread out among the players that were putting the money in.
So, some players might not have won anything, others might have got small payouts and some will have got lucky and would have taken in some bigger wins.
Ever Heard Of Hit Frequency?
So we know what random number generators are and what a return-to-player percentage is, but did you know that hit frequency is another statistic that can be used for each and every online slot out there.
The hit frequency is basically the percentage of how often it is likely to bring a win of some kind.
Others label this hit frequency as variance or volatility of an online slot and the higher the variance, volatility or hit frequency, the more often this online slot will deliver you a win.
Now, while this might sound great if you find a hit variance slot of let’s say 70%, it means that seven out of ten of your spins are going to bring you wins.
However, on a high variance slot, these wins are going to be smaller on most occasions to balance things out.
On the other hand, an online slot with just a 10% hit frequency is going to bring you one win out of every ten spins on average.
While it is still possible that this win could be small, there is at least a much higher chance of it being substantially bigger.
Experienced players will all have their preference on what sort of hit frequency they prefer, whether its a high frequency with lower average pays, a much lower frequency with the chance of bigger payouts or somewhere in the middle of the two.
Generally, those with patience and a large enough bankroll will often go for the low variance slots that could just bring in some good payouts.
Choosing an online slot to play should be down to a mix of the RTP and the hit frequency of the game.
In our opinion, a higher RTP is the more important number but the hit frequency should also be considered depending on your playstyle.
Just remember that RTP is not a guarantee of how much YOU will get back, its guarantee on how much the slot will payout across all players from its takings.
Which player gets what is completely random.
Five Slots With High RTP
All online casinos have to make money from their online slots right?
However, while a slot with 99% RTP is still making that 1% markup over time, it is hardly as much as you would imagine they would want to be making from their games.
Well, there are actually only a very small amount of online slots that offer such a high RTP, with the rest being anywhere between 90 – 98%.
Even that is quite a small margin when compared to bricks and mortar casinos that offer their slot machines at far lower RTPs that would be lucky to reach any higher than 80%.
Online casinos have that edge over land-based casinos simply because they do not have the obvious overheads that a land-based casino does.
The many different dealers, croupiers and all other staff in the casino need to be paid and you then have the huge utility bills that would obviously be created.
An online casino barely needs much more than a server, some software, a small support team and you’re pretty much good to go.
Anyhow, we have found a few online slots that have broken that 99% RTP barrier and are therefore the most likely to give you most of your investment back on average.
You will be able to find these online slots at dozens if not hundreds of online casinos on the internet and if you like to be tight with your RTP, you should be checking them out.
1. Nemo’s Voyage
The first 99% RTP slot that we would like to recommend.
Containing 5-reels, 40-pay lines and allowing bets between 0.40 and 200.00 per spin, this entertaining slot by WMS comes packed with lucrative bonuses and features.
2. Tropic Reels
The next slot on our 99% list and the Playtech title is a highly entertaining one that could just pay out a jackpot of 2,500x your original stake.
Using a max bet of 500.00, you can just imagine what doing the math is going to do for your adrenaline levels.
3. Mega Joker Jackpot
NetEnt is one of the biggest names in the gambling industry so it is no surprise that we have one of their titles on this list.
Mega Joker Jackpot is one of their most popular progressive jackpot slots and we can see why with that excellent RTP of 99%.
4. Goblin’s Cave
Playtech has featured once again but this time with an online slot that has the highest RTP we have ever seen.
Goblin’s Cave actually has a return-to-player percentage of 99.3%.
Even better is the fact that this is a classic slot that does not confuse things with too many bonus features.
5. Ooh Aah Dracula
Ooh Aah Dracula is the 99% RTP slot to finish off this list and the Barcrest title is another great little slot for you to enjoy.
5-reels, 10-pay lines and a wide betting range, you could also unlock a lucrative free spins round.
Conclusion
Each of those titles has always been popular at the online casinos and we have a slight feeling that their RTP’s might be a large reason for that.
Do you blame the players though?
Slot Machine Payout Chart
Of course, a player is always going to be looking at any advantage they might be able to claw back from the house.
Despite this lower house edge, however, the casino always wins and you should always be aware of that.
This is why it is important to always gamble responsibly and to not go chasing any losses with money you should not be gambling with.
So anyway, hopefully, we have answered your question on “How do online slots payout?” in as detailed a way as possible.
Online Slot Payouts
You should now be armed with the knowledge to know that all is above board and how RNG, RTP and hit percentages are what determines your chances at the online casinos.