The best way to evaluate any slots machine is to inspect its payout table and payout percent. These numbers cut through all of the bright lights and fancy gimmicks to completely describe any individual slots machine. Once you understand how slots payouts work, it will also give you an objective way to compare any two machines. Read on to learn what each of these numbers represents, and what impact they actually have on your game.
Understanding Slots Payout Schedules
A payout schedule is a table that tells you how much a slot machine pays for each of the different winning combinations. Some machines are top loaded, which means they have huge jackpots but small payouts for the lower combinations. Other machines spread their payouts more evenly among the different possibilities.
While a huge jackpot might attract casual players, anybody serious about playing slots should probably play on machines with the best possible payouts for the lower combos. Most players will go a lifetime without hitting a major jackpot, but you'll be fine if you can find some fair payouts on the more common spins. Netting a few moderate wins is much better than holding out for a jackpot that never comes.
Payout Percentages
Modern slot machines are controlled by computer programs known as Random Number Generators (RNG's). These computer programs control the likelihood of any specific number appearing, and they are quite infallible. Because RNG's are set to realistically provide a truly random experience, it's easy to figure out any machine's true payout percent.
When looking at table games, players want the house to have the lowest possible house edge. With slots machines, the tables are turned. These statistics are given as a payout percent; the closer this value is to 100%, the better the machine is. Basically, a payout percent tells you what percent of all money played will be returned to the players (in the long run). A machine with a 95% payout percent, on average, returns $0.95 for every $1.00 wagered. All else equal, a machine with a higher payout percent will always be better than a machine with a lower payout percent.
Every machine gives the house an edge, but it's important to remember that the house is only guaranteed to win in the long run. There is no reason that you can't hit a jackpot and win big, but there will be enough losing players in the future for the casino to make a profit.
