The mechanics of online slot machines are similar to how they were in the old days – a player places his bet, spin the reels and then waits for the next reels to start before seeing whether he has won. What changes with the newer online slot machines is the speed of play. Today’s slots move a lot faster than they did in the old days, and winning seems easier than it used to be. But winning on an online slot machine is more difficult than winning at a land-based casino. One reason for this is that a land-based casino allows a player to determine the speed at which he spins the reels – and that determines how much he stands to win.
However, winning on slot machines that run on internet sites is still impossible unless the player has accurate information about how the game is progressing. It is possible to determine the outcome of slot machines through a process called backtesting. This technique lets players who are familiar with online slot machines use statistical data to make accurate predictions about the paylines of future slot machines. While it is difficult to win on all of these machines at once, one can increase one’s chances by knowing which lines tend to pay more.
An additional challenge that players face online is knowing the theoretical probability of the house edge (or expected time period between consecutive spins). While it is practically impossible to take a statistical stand and say that any given machine will eventually draw a specific payoff, it is still possible to calculate the expected time period (in minutes, hours or days) and set a maximum bet accordingly. Using a software tool called an RNG (Reverse Game Generator), savvy users can fully analyze online slots and maximize their return on investment.