You’ve checked in, made it through security, found your gate, queued to get on board, struggled with the overhead lockers and finally settled back into your seat. But then the captain says, “We’re waiting for a slot.” What is a slot, and why can’t you take off?
In a slot machine, the pay table lists all the symbols in the game, together with how much you can win if you land (typically three or four) of them on a payline. It will also give information on any special symbols, such as Wilds and Scatters. It’s worth looking through the pay table before you play – it will give you an idea of what to expect from the game and make your experience more enjoyable.
The chances of hitting a particular symbol depend on how many stops it has on the physical reel and how often those stops appear. Traditionally, the more stops there were, the greater the chances of landing a winning combination – but the introduction of electronic reels saw this change. These days, you’re more likely to find that higher-paying symbols occupy fewer stops and are less frequent.
Despite this, a machine’s odds remain random thanks to a computer chip in each one that makes thousands of calculations every second. So the key to slot success is choosing the machine you enjoy playing on, rather than a strategy based around maximising your chances of winning. And remember that luck plays a huge part in your slot success, too.