The whole idea of slot machines came into existence because casinos wanted to offer casual gamers something different. Slot machines require little knowledge of gambling which means that anyone can enjoy themselves playing it. It is different to that of table games such as blackjack or craps which require players to have some level of gambling skills. Since the introduction of these fun games, they have become one of the most popular games in casinos. Today there is a huge range of titles to enjoy and all enjoy huge success, from classic games like mFortune’s Fruit Machine to NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest VR game. So with that being said, we thought it would be interesting to investigate the technology behind slot machines.

The technology behind slot games is anything but simple, they actually consist of some the most advanced technology that gaming has to offer. A big aspect of the game that an observer may not notice is the idea of a number generator. A Random Number Generator (RNG) is an intricate piece of software that ensures that every spin differs from the next, every spin generates a specific result that is self-determining, irrespective of the previous spin. Despite people assuming that achieving this randomness is not always possible, it is a fact that software developers have managed to perfect the task via RNG technology.

In the early days, the vintage slot machine worked in accordance with elaborate configuration of gears and levers. The fundamental component of the machine is a metal shaft that supports the reels. The shaft is connected to a handle mechanism that ensures that all components in the game are active. In order to stop the reels, the game utilises a braking system, and there are also sensors which send a signal indicating the position of the reels to the pay-out station.

Everyone who plays assumes that it is as simple as just putting in a coin and pulling a lever, which is far from the case. When the coin is inserted into the machine, there is a coin detector which registers that coin and unlocks a brake in order for the lever to move. This applies to the reels as well, and again, it may seem like three simple little reels; but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes.

A basic slot machine would have three reels, these reels will have a central shaft that supports serrated discs and are connected to one another. There is another shaft that falls below the central one and this shaft supports a kicker, which is a piece of metal that contains three paddles. A kicker and stopper are connected to springs which they hold, the kicker is situated behind the discs, the stoppers are held against the discs which lock them into position. These are all the steps that enable you to pull a lever on a slot machine which appears to be quite simple.

Slot machines are underrated in terms of how they seem to be easily assembled, but clearly that is not the case. There is a lot of technology behind all the slot games that we love and developers have made our lives easy by creating slot machines that require little to no effort.