Slot Machines - The Basics

Slot machines are by far the easiest - and one of the most fun - games in the casino to play. Simply insert your coin and pull the handle. One of the oldest jokes in the world is to call slot machines "one armed bandits" because - with some of the highest odds against you in the casino, that is exactly what they were - and still are! However, it's now more appropriate to simply call them bandits, because you don't have to pull the handle anymore - just push a button. Electrical motors and computer chips do everything else.

HOW SLOT MACHINES WORK

Decades ago, when slot machines were young, they were basically mechanical devices. The force of the handle being pulled down turned the metal gears that turned the wheels on the machine.

Later on, electrical motors were added to turn the wheels and the force of the handle being pulled no longer had any bearing on the results. In fact, you no longer had to pull the handle, since the wheels were electrical. All you had to do was push the "play" button to start the wheels. The odds were controlled by how many winning symbols were on each wheel.

More recently, most casinos have are converting to computerized slot machines that no longer have wheels at all - just a computer screen that plays a video simulating spinning wheels. A computer "random number generator" determines the results. As soon as you put your coins in, the result is predetermined.

Whether you pull the handle slow or fast, whether you use the handle or the play button, whether a jackpot has recently been paid on that machine or not, none of these has any bearing on the result. It's randomly determined each time by the computer. The casino can set the payout high or low simply by changing the computer program, although they are carefully regulated by the state to ensure the numbers are truly randomly generated and that the overall payout percentage is what the casino says it is.

Since the results are completely random with each play, the fact that a machine hasn't paid a jackpot for a long time doesn't mean that it's "ready" to pay. Conversely, a machine can pay several jackpots in a row. It's simply impossible to tell if a machine is ready to pay a jackpot.

As the saying goes, "You pays your money and you takes your chances."

Good luck!

Tom is the webmaster at http://www.blackjack-for-everyone.com, which is a website dedicated to making the beginning Blackjack player a serious recreational player.

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/beaches/story/720319.htmlcid=1256255444ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNG87F_EyX_JhgoEK_VNf70WO5BC5AMiami Beach commission approves resolution opposing bcasino gambling/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMiamiHerald.com,nbsp;FLnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1BY TANIA VALDEMORO While the prospect of bcasino gambling/b at one of the city#39;s storied hotels is far from certain, beach leaders Tuesday approved a b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/northeast/story/720313.htmlcid=1256255444ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNF0rH0XMjGQUh4rHlwebxRfD5O-RQMixed messages on bgambling/b at proposed Miami complex/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMiamiHerald.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256255444hl=ennobrall 2 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.eog.com/news/industry.aspx%3Fid%3D40512cid=1255776801ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNFprEfYbgMPVjdCuCqTAWXDEIdHXgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=2Ttxb-MD3xcJimgurl=www.eog.com/uploadedImages/images/MISC/lasvegasrecession.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2EOG.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601103%26sid%3Da2LEH5Dcpudg%26refer%3Duscid=1255776801ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNGKsNYW_tcnyjLuyZop7XMes5aKjALas Vegas Strip bCasino/b Revenue Falls for Eighth Month (Update1)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBloombergnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Beth Jinks Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Las Vegas Strip bcasino gambling/b revenue fell for the eighth straight month in August as cash- strapped US consumers b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10677906cid=1255776801ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNE1s_1PlPIH9uPGVJySDGcAWmkfaQNevada bcasino/b win down 8.1 percent in August/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSan Jose Mercury News/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7847556cid=1255776801ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNEe2AdFHAn4WOkHOQxywCkde-HhywNevada#39;s August bgambling/b revenue falls 8.1 percent/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrguardian.co.uk/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bnn.ca/blog/4044.htmlcid=1255776801ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNEFDlR2l1CCtuFvIJcr6cISe2FfYwThe Strip feels the pinch/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBusiness News Network/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.online-casinos.com/news/news7666.aspcid=1255776801ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNEDVE-7BjpqU6V8pyPeLomg_cff3AnobrOnline-Casinos.com/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10681395cid=1255776801ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNGs3GiLhjbGBw8kZSWuh6afpVNyQgnobrSan Jose Mercury News/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255776801hl=ennobrall 72 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008252014_apwarossispokanetribe3rdldwritethru.htmlcid=1255908977ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNEBd_GYiF5okLxoM17vxMnVudzhagSpokane Tribe upset about bcasino/b ads/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSeattle Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b governor candidate Dino Rossi over television commercials that suggest the tribe and the state struck an improper deal to expand bcasino gambling/b. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://catholickey.org/index.php3%3Fgif%3Dnews.gif%26mode%3Dview%26issue%3D20081010%26article_id%3D5305cid=1256158208ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNFEHs_uTfAfVNxOYi_8qawQgvvx2wimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=sb9bHz3mfUQJimgurl=catholickey.org/photo/archive/20081010/1010_MCCAssembly.jpg width=53 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2The Catholic Key/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://catholickey.org/index.php3%3Fgif%3Dnews.gif%26mode%3Dview%26issue%3D20081010%26article_id%3D5305cid=1256158208ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNFEHs_uTfAfVNxOYi_8qawQgvvx2wMissouri casinos seek to end $6000 a day loss limit/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Catholic Key,nbsp;MOnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Silvera noted that the quot;loss limitquot; was the bgambling/b industry#39;s idea in the first place to get Missouri voters to approve open bcasino gambling/b. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.joplinglobe.com/editorial/local_story_284103217.htmlcid=1256158208ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNGy78KqulOk1fNRNGjngynabjqoKwGuest columnist, Scott Charton: For our schools, for our economy/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrJoplin Globe/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.news-leader.com/article/20081010/BLOGS10/81010024cid=1256158208ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNF3j4erbaJ2TC_ISWlEnVn4Q_k5owIs Prop. A the Tony Soprano of ballot measures?/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNews-Leader.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256158208hl=ennobrall 3 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AllergiesNews/story%3Fid%3D5975550%26page%3D1cid=1254717516ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNFyghs22oQ5xnTYiIN_gzcRP1teMQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=e4nvrRzjU3AJimgurl=a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/ap_ac_smoking_081007_mn.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2ABC News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601087%26sid%3Da_lt1vc59N7E%26refer%3Dhomecid=1254717516ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNG6ssU2z_R-tqYYiniNrwQT7ZTdMgAtlantic City bCasino/b Monthly Revenue Falls Most Ever (Update1)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBloombergnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1On the Las Vegas Strip, the biggest US bcasino/b center, the money bgamblers/b wagered dropped 6.7 percent in the first eight months this year, Nevada#39;s bGaming/b b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g2uEY_3TKbpwAQX1S6tUsP74c0_gD93NNHM00cid=1254717516ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNFNyz5ElWWFVCW4VoLBiSA-2g9TVgAP NewsBreak: AC to have 7-day smoking ban/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Associated Press/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/09/ap5532572.htmlcid=1254717516ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNEx0xYKpArPWRcezLWM-txh7-60wAAC casinos likely had biggest decline ever in Sept/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrForbes/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20081010_Editorial_Atlantic_City_government.htmlcid=1254717516ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNF_axOQxncVOJ1KcMsRbQ0eQIb1pgEditorial: Atlantic City government/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPhiladelphia Inquirer/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/casinojournal/archive/2008/10/06/getting-political.aspxcid=1254717516ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNGZb8Ge63ZkOUx2oMo6MzbcjyVGzgnobrPittsburgh Post Gazette/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20081010_Delay_of_casino_smoking_ban_just_in_time.htmlcid=1254717516ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNEq0MmlhTa6QpQ2nur3_K5I1uCRPAnobrPhiladelphia Inquirer/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254717516hl=ennobrall 644 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081010/NEWS02/810100337/1003/NEWS02cid=1255883277ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNFS2wwwAk7-bN2AULokhBllIKgbmQThree Maine ski resorts oppose bcasino/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBarre Montpelier Times Argus,nbsp;VTnbsp;-/font nobr22 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;There is a stark contrast between these attributes, for which Maine is known, and those associated with bcasino gambling/b.quot; Warren Cook from Saddleback b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sunjournal.com/story/286431-3/MaineNews/Backers_Casinos_907_jobs_crucial/cid=1255883277ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNEhnx7Fvr-neCyhjdTY4O3d0eFD6ABackers: bCasino#39;s/b 907 jobs crucial/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSunJournal.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255883277hl=ennobrall 11 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.guampdn.com/article/20081010/NEWS01/810100305/1057/NEWS05cid=1255938722ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNEKXXyWMsnNwss_UuKmp7aCRnK08gVIDEO: bCasino/b questions raised: Proponents, opponents debate b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPacific Daily News,nbsp;GUnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Proposal A, the Responsible bGaming/b Act, is on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot, putting the decision of whether to permit legalized bcasino gambling/b on b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/10/10/ST2008101002219.htmlcid=1256069589ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNGpgnjBjpSXX7S2jCin10mF-ZsypATunica: Where Blues and bGambling/b Meet/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWashington Post,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Bally#39;s, Resorts, the Horseshoe, Sam#39;s Town: Each bgambling/b floor celebrates the shotgun marriage of Vegas bcasino/b action and the uniquely American b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/casino-gambling/three_ski_resorts_join_fight_against_new_casino_in_maine_49321.htmlcid=1255531410ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNGLKcw5HNTtGuI_eoMfgBZEAI2CGQThree Ski Resorts Join Fight Against New bCasino/b In Maine/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCasino Gambling Web,nbsp;FLnbsp;-/font nobrOct 8, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1There is a stark contrast between these atributes, for which Maine is known, and those associated with bcasino gambling/b,quot; wrote Sunday River General Manager b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.politickerme.com/jessicaalaimo/2899/question-2-ski-resorts-vs-casinocid=1255531410ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNHsBuGKrKP_1tpYTOSRhJ5ksMw4vQQuestion 2: Ski resorts vs. bcasino/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPoliticker Maine/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255531410hl=ennobrall 15 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bransoncourier.com/issue-41/casino-gasbusters-Downstream_steve-monroe-1022.htmlcid=0ei=qTjwSILQLoLg6AOzj5DLAwusg=AFQjCNFRewfIdcGT72feAc-b6OMZzuHkSQbCasino gambling/b a viable Branson entertainment option/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBranson Courier,nbsp; United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Gary Groman aka The Ole Seagull By GARY J. GROMAN bCasino gambling/b can now be added to the repertoire of exciting entertainment options available to b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
casino gambling - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Bonuscodes Party Poker : Get more for your deposit buck

Bonuscodes for Party Poker are a great way to get... Read More

How To Play Craps

Craps is generally seen as a fun and exhilarating game... Read More

Casinos Popping Up Leads To Negative Impact on Economy

Casinos and other forms of gambling are popping up in... Read More

Texas Holdem Poker - Today

The Texas Holdem poker phenomenon has taken the country by... Read More

As Poker Goes Hollywood Hansen is Seen as Icon

In People magazine's December 2004 issue, Gus Hansen was voted... Read More

The Secret of Multiple Odds Tables

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of winning... Read More

Rules and Strategies for Roulette

Roulette offers the greatest variety of possible ways you can... Read More

Limit Texas Holdem Poker

Limit Texas Holdem Poker is the most popular type of... Read More

The Truth About Roulette Systems and How to Win!

The Truth about Roulette Systems and How to Win! Casinos... Read More

How to Win a Million Dollars Without Spending a Lot of Money

I love Major Millions. And realistically speaking, there's not really... Read More

Tournament Blackjack and the Art of Sabotage

I was recently invited to play in the Daily Invitational... Read More

Offshore Sportsbook

Offshore sportsbooks are also the result of many regulations the... Read More

Virtual Casino Etiquette

There are a few points of virtual casino etiquette that... Read More

Online Poker --- Is It Safe? --- Is It for Me?

Online Poker RoomsRapidly Growing in PopularityPlaying online poker is fast... Read More

Avoiding Tilt While Playing Online Poker

As many experts have said, poker is a game that... Read More

Roulette System: 5 Biggest Gambling Mistakes You Should Avoid

In this article I'd like to share with you the... Read More

How to Succeed in the Poker Freerolls Part 2

How to Succeed in the Poker Freerolls Part 1 looked... Read More

Just The Best Online Gambling, Casinos, Poker, Sports Book

BlackJack, Slots, Roulette, Video Poker, Bonus Slots, Stud Poker, Texas... Read More

Offshore Gambling

Many gamblers have come across the term "Offshore Gambling", but... Read More

Roulette - How to Bet

Betting is very simple in roulette if you follow these... Read More

Fantasy Football Offers Gamblers a Unique Kind of Fun

If you are a gambler, and you enjoy sports, chances... Read More

The Secrets of Hop Bets

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secrets of hop... Read More

All About Video Poker

Video poker is a casino game that has much in... Read More

Always Win in the Casino Like James Bond

In the Bond film 'Diamonds Are Forever' we see James... Read More

Money Management: The Real Smart Money

Money Management: Picking "your" spotI'm sure we've all talked about... Read More