Are Slots Based Entirely on Luck?

Ever since the invention of the first Liberty Bell slot machine by Charles Fey in 1895, slots have become hugely popular all across the globe and even today, they still provide the backbone of the entire gambling industry. There’s something about the simple rules of engagement, the bright colors of the reels and the possibility of striking it lucky that keeps people coming back for more.

But is that what this universally loved game really boils down to: luck alone? Is it merely a game of chance, or could there positively be an element of strategy to succeeding at slots? And has the transition of gambling into an online sphere affected how the game functions and how it is played today? Here’s a brief exploration of all those questions and more.

The online revolution

Over the last couple of decades, the rise and rise of the online casino industry has revolutionized how people gamble. From visiting high-class brick-and-mortar establishment in such gambling meccas as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the experience can now be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s own home – and even in one’s pajamas!

As well as being infinitely more convenient, the rise of online gambling has also had a more tangible effect on the gameplay of slots, too. Nowadays, online slots are themed on a variety of tropes and subjects, while there is greater variation in the number of ways a gamer can win. The arrival of new pay-lines and additional bonus features and side missions introduces more skill than ever before, allowing a player to influence their fate more directly than was previously possible.

RTP and RNG

Indeed, the exact science behind slot games has even been boiled down into a mathematical equation, known as the return-to-player (or RTP) of the game in question. In layman’s terms, this acronym refers to the percentage of money invested that you could expect to win back over a lengthy period of playing. For a slot with a 95% RTP, then, you can realistically expect to retain $0.95 from every dollar spent. However, it should be emphasized that this figure is only arrived at across a significant sample size encompassing thousands and thousands of spins of the wheel; you should not expect to see the same RTP every time you play.

Another acronym which goes some way to explaining the relationship between luck and skill in online slot games is the random number generator, known colloquially as the RNG. This tool selects the winning reels at random using complex mathematical equations and is the reason why which you can rest assured that the odds are not stacked against you. All reputable casinos will use RNGs to determine the outcome of the slots on their site, which guarantees that you can bet safely and securely.

As they have always done, slots do depend on a significant slice of luck for the determination of their outcome. However, the rise of online casinos has resulted in more opportunities for gamblers to influence the outcome of their game, as well as ensuring that the odds are never stacked unfairly against them.