An Overview of the Inside of a Slot Machine
You probably enjoy playing slot games on SlotXO and other platforms, but have you ever paused to think about what happens inside a slot machine? There is a world of difference between traditional slot machines and their modern counterparts.
Today, we have computer chips instead of spinning wheels and electronic cards instead of coins. Read on to learn more about what happens inside of a slot machine.
What’s Inside a Slot Machine?
The traditional slot machines worked with the help of gears and levers, whereas the heart of modern slot machines is a computer chip known as the random number generator (RNG). This chip replaced the spinning wheel used in gambling machines up to the 1950s.
The RNG can continually generate thousands of random numbers every second to create a winning combination.
The RNG is a small component of a large computer processing unit (CPU) that controls various functions of the slot machine, including:
- Start switch
- Token or credit sensor
- Max bet switch
- RAM that stores hit combinations, reel stops, and player payouts.
The CPU also controls the hopper that stores the coins or tokens or, as in some slot machines, the player’s credit account.
After generating the random numbers, slot machines with actual spinning reels use stepper motors to turn the reels and stop them at the predetermined position.
A stepper motor is an electromechanical system that uses electrical pulses to drive a spindle or shaft in discrete increments based on the sequence and frequency of the electrical pulses. A computer program would animate a virtual spinning wheel for slot machines with a screen.
Slot Machine Displays
Another integral component of a slot machine is the display, often located on the front to ensure the player sees all the important information. The information includes:
- Coins played or credits played: A player needs to pay attention to the number of credits they are wagering on every spin in their chosen slot.
- Credits: This display shows you the number of credits you have remaining. If it displays zero, you need to deposit more coins to continue playing. You can increase the credit counts by winning spins or adding more money into the slot machine.
- Winner paid: This indicates the number of credits you have won on the last spin, and the system would add it to your credit display.
- Insert coin: This display means that no one is currently playing the slot and that you can insert money into the machine to start a game.
- Error code: This display only comes up when the machine malfunctions and needs a technician’s attention.
Slot Machine Symbols
While technology has significantly revolutionized slot games, some iconic symbols are still present in modern machines. The liberty bell symbol found on the first slot machine introduced in 1899 is common on today’s slots. Other classic symbols that have stood the test of time include lemons, lucky sevens, and cherries.
Final Thoughts
If you are a slot games enthusiast, these are some important components of online casino no deposit bonus, you should know.
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About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
