How To Tell If A Slot Machine Is About To Pay Out

Slot machines can be a source of great entertainment, and the thought of a potential payout can be very exciting. But how can you tell if a slot machine is about to pay out? Is there actually a way to know? In this blog post, we’ll find out! 

We’re going to share everything you need to know about how slot machine outcomes are determined, whether slots have a payout schedule, and what triggers a jackpot slot.

What Determines When A Slot Machine Pays Out? 

When playing slot machines in the casino or online, you may win some spins, and you may lose some. That’s how gambling works. When a player hits the spin button, they may wonder if this spin is going to be a winning one. And then, they begin to question how slot machines payout and whether there is anything they can do to increase their chances of getting a winning spin!

The short answer to this question is that slot machines are random, and when you hit the spin button, the outcome of the spin has already been randomly chosen. Let’s explain why.

Whenever you play slots, the outcome of a spin is always going to be random. This is because of the Random Number Generator (RNG). Every slot machine uses RNG; it is a small electronic chip inside a slot that quickly generates random number sequences.

The RNG is a clever device that generates millions of different number sequences per second, even if the slot is not in use. As there are millions of number sequences generated, this makes it impossible to predict outcomes. As soon as you hit the spin button, the sequence created in that instance is the one used.

Before you know whether you have won or not, the RNG translates the number sequence into the array of symbols that you see on the reels. If the symbols land in a way that forms a winning combination as specified by the paytable, then the slot will award a payout. The RNG – and the RNG alone – is what determines all outcomes on slot machines.

While the random number generator determines outcomes randomly, the volatility indicates how a slot should behave in theory – particularly in regard to win frequency and size. 

Slots with low volatility are likely to land wins more frequently than higher-volatility slots but of smaller size. In contrast, slots with high volatility are likely to pay out less often than lower-volatility ones, but the prizes are likely to be more substantial. However, it’s important to note that every spin is random and cannot be predicted, volatility is a theoretical indicator, and results may differ in reality. 

Do Slot Machines Have A Payout Schedule? 

Some players believe that slots pay in “cycles”. However, this is not true. Slot machines payout at random; it doesn’t matter what time of day it is. 

In fact, it is illegal for online casinos to alter machines to payout more or less at certain times of the day. The UK Gambling Commission states that all gambling must be random and fair for everyone, and each player should have an equal chance of winning on each spin.

Many slot players believe slots pay better at night because there tends to be more winners. Even though it may seem like more people win slots at night, this is only because there are more people playing then, so, of course, there are likely to be more people winning from a statistical standpoint. 

In reality, the chances of winning at night are the same as winning at any other time because all slot machines use a random number generator which randomly chooses all outcomes.

Do Slot Machines Have To Pay Out When They Get Full? 

No, slot machines do not have to pay out when they get full. As soon as the slot machine is full, this doesn’t automatically mean the next player who hits spin wins the jackpot. This outcome of a slot isn’t determined by how full the machine is; it is determined by the RNG.

Additionally, regular slot machines have the capacity to hold a large amount of money, and it is almost always emptied well before it gets close to full. Even if it was to get full, it doesn’t mean that the jackpot is going to hit. Like with all slots, jackpot slots also use a random number generator, so winning the jackpot is entirely random.

It goes without saying that online slots do not have the capacity to get full.

What Triggers The Jackpot On A Slot Machine? 

You can never predict when a jackpot will be triggered on a slot machine. If you could, everyone would win the jackpot! This is, again, because of the random number generator. 

All slot machines, including jackpot slots, generate random and unpredictable outcomes using an RNG. Millions of different outcomes are generated every second, so it’s impossible to know exactly when the winning jackpot combination will come up.

Can You Tell If A Slot Machine Is About To Hit? 

There isn’t specifically anything players can do to know when a slot machine is about to hit. Payouts on a mobile slot machine are always random. 

There are a couple of theories players believe will help them determine when a slot is about to hit. However, these are just myths and slots payout at random. One of these myths is that a jackpot is close when the reels wiggle. 

To make slots visually exciting, sometimes, the reels wiggle. Some people have theorised that when the reels wiggle, the jackpot is going to hit soon. This is not true, as each spin is an independent outcome and has the same chance of landing a win. So, a slot does not know that it is about to hit in coming spins, as each spin’s outcome is only decided once you hit spin.

With a progressive jackpot, some players believe they know when the jackpot is going to hit. A progressive jackpot slot is a jackpot slot where the prize pool increases every time a player places a bet. The number continues to rise as more players play. Eventually, the number rises to a substantial amount, sometimes even a 7-digit sum. Once the prize reaches a certain amount, this is when some players believe the jackpot is about to hit. However, the outcome is random and can occur on any spin; the current jackpot value has no bearing on the result.

Does Lurking Slot Machines Work? 

You may have heard of lurkers, or perhaps you are one yourself. A lurker on a slot machine is someone who watches over slot machines and then jumps on a slot after someone has had a long losing streak in the hope that they’ll get the jackpot.

While you may find people lurking in slot machines, there is no proof of their success. A long losing streak does not mean the jackpot is due soon. A slot could pay out a jackpot twice in a row, or it could be months in between. Each spin is independent, so previous results have no impact on future outcomes.