Slot machine enthusiasts are often searching for a machine that is about to give a substantial jackpot, referring to the game as ‘hot’. In a brick-and-mortar casino, they would look for a device that many players have spun without success or one that an attendant serviced recently. To them, these are signs that the machine is about to pay out. However, are these so-called strategies real, and how do you apply them in an online casino?
The truth about hot slot machines
Most casino experts will tell you that there is no such thing as a hot or cold slot machine. Indeed, players have no way of knowing when a machine will hit a jackpot. Online slots are no different, and it is impossible to calculate when and how much they will pay out.
All slot machines, physical and online, use RNG (random number generation) software. It is an algorithm that makes the combination a slot machine stops on entirely arbitrary. There is no way to beat or alter an RNG algorithm. A machine could allocate two significant wins, one spin after the other, and then not pay anything out for the next thousand spins.
The only hot slot
Slots players can determine which games offer them a better chance of winning by examining their RTP (return to player) rate. It measures the payback you can expect after playing a game for a set period. An RTP rate is calculated using averages and is not intended to serve as a guarantee. Therefore, players could win above the RTP rate or below it.
Ultimately, a casino has making a profit as one of its primary business goals. This would be impossible if it paid out more money than it accepts from players. That is not to say that an operator can cheat a slots game either. The RNG system protects both casinos and players alike from having the game skewed in any way.
Get a bang for your buck
Another way to view a hot slot situation is by examining its jackpot system. Progressive jackpots offer higher payouts, although the RNG ensures that even if you believe in luck, it might not be yours to have.
Slot tournaments also offer more opportunities to win significant cash prizes. The machines are spun so often that there is a somewhat increased chance that the RNG algorithm could work in your favor.
