The basics of online slot are the same as they have been since mechanical slots were first invented: a player places a bet, spins the reels and waits for them to stop to see if there’s a line of matching symbols. The more identical symbols on a payline, the more of a win you’ll get. Now, the randomness of a slot’s outcome is determined by a random number generator rather than a mechanical machine, but the basic principles are the same.

In order to produce the results for each spin, a random number is generated by software on the backend of every game. This number is then connected to different outcomes on the reels, and at the exact moment you press ‘spin’, that random number will be picked and the math module in the software will determine what happens next.

Because of this, iGaming developers are constantly trying to make their games stand out from the crowd by adding unique features that will attract players. For example, Push Gaming’s ‘Players first’ motto has helped them break down the boundaries of what slots should look like; Ganapati’s Japanese anime-style games have a distinctive look; and the growing portfolio of Big Time Gaming slots uses their Megaways mechanic to provide up to 100,000 ways to win per spin.