So, this posting is a bit of a departure from our regular content, but it keeps coming up in the personal finance literature so we’re covering it.
The main idea here is: how to make money gambling.
The random number generator, otherwise known as the RNG, is a device that generates a sequence of numbers or symbols that can only be predicted by random chance and not by any other means. A dice, for example, is a manual random number generator, the dice is rolled and a random number from one to six appears. Rolling the dice in a particular way will not change the outcome of the number it gives.
Understanding the mathematics behind online slot games is invaluable in choosing not only the best machine but also in winning.
The Random Number Generator and How it Works
We’ve already explained about the dynamics of the random number generator in a slot machine. It uses a mathematical formula to generate random numbers, which in turn correspond to the symbols on any given slot. In essence should the random numbers generated match a winning symbol, the player wins. The random number generator creates random numbers whether the game is being played or not and does not work in accordance with how the machine was played previously. The clue is in the name, the random number generator is indeed random!
Alas, it is not that simple, if it was the world over would be spending their lives playing online slots and winning a fortune, We now need to consider the probability which basically refers to the likelihood of players winning at a slot machine. In order to calculate this, the player needs to be aware of a specific winning combination as well as the chances of landing that combination.
Let’s use an example. If a slot machine contains three reels with five symbols on each reel, in order to calculate the number of possible combinations on the machine the player would need to ‘simply’ multiply the number of symbols per reel by the number of stops on each reel and you then end up with the number of possible winning combinations and the percentage of hitting the jackpot. It is therefore possible to calculate the probability of landing any combination as long as you are aware of the number of times that each symbol appears on every reel. Needless to say this is not information generally shared by the online slot machines so in order to be at this level the player needs to spend a very very long time analyzing it all.
As slot machines progress and advance they have a variety of a number of reels and winning combinations, which makes it difficult to calculate the probability. It does, however, make the play more exciting and much more of a thrill then the slot machines of old where it was easier to work out just how to win using math as a process and working on the strategy of reels and symbols. What does need to be considered though is that the modern slot machines of today offer much big pay outs than the simple ones of old.
So…the bottom line here is that the concept of a random number generator means that its really, really hard to select winning casino or lottery numbers. The best alternative is just to consider gambling entertainment.
Finally, if you want to test out these concepts play today at thorslots.com.
Image source: Sean MacEntee, via Flickr.
