Slot Machine Technology and Payouts
It is common belief that the chances of getting a certain symbol is based on the amount of each symbol that appears on each reel. While this was true back in the days of mechanical and electromechanical slot machines this is no longer so. The truth is that the reels and the levers that are still seen on slot machines are basically there for historical purposes and are placed mainly for old time's sake. Now that everything has turned digital and technology has everything computerized, there is special software called a Random Number Generator or RNG that programs the odds of each slot machine. This software constantly generates random numbers at an incredibly face pace counting something like hundreds or even thousands of numbers per second and therefore each winning combination is determined by the numbers that were picked the second before the button was pushed. This means that an outcome can change by hitting the button a fraction of a second before or after it was hit. Payout percentages are also determined technologically and come individually programmed into each machine. The payout percentage is determined over the long run and is not a number that is given out daily by no means. This amount can vary anywhere from 75% to 99% depending on the jurisdiction of the slot machine and what each city's gambling commission decides to set as a minimum. For example, in Vegas the minimum is 75% where as in Jersey its 83%. It just depends.