Since the first slot machines were introduced nearly 132 years ago by Sittman and Pitt, the world has come a long way. Nonetheless, the game’s allure has not been diminished in the least.
Rather, with the scientific advancements of the 21st century, we’ve seen the rise of new and modern slots all over the world. Nowadays, you don’t have to physically travel to a casino to spend some spare time with a slot machine—a few clicks from your mobile phone will do the trick.
Slot machines, be they traditional or new, are popular all over the world. Studies show that North America alone has approximately 767.4 thousand slot machines in their region. The inclusion of online slots further expands the joy of playing with luck.
However, modern slot games are very much different from traditional machines made from wood, barrels, and levers. Online slot games are born out of synchronized pieces of computer code that are not only advanced in grade but also provide a fair chance of winning with every spin.
And if you’ve ever wondered how these online slot games, which give people hours of fun, are created, you’ve come to the right place.
Inside an Online Slot Game Workshop: Building a Modern Slot Game
Slot machine technology has also evolved significantly over the years. Computer-controlled machinery has nearly fully supplanted traditional mechanical designs. However, the game is still the same!
The player must click to pull a virtual lever/spin in order to rotate a set of reels (usually three). If you get a winning combination, you get the cash. The amount that you win—the payout—is determined by which images appear in the payout line.
Though it feels simple for anyone who plays, making one is not an easy task. Modern slot machines, or online slot games, both function on the principles of a random number generator, whereas traditional ones rely on the movements of the reels.
Random Number Generator: Heart of an Online Slot Game
One crucial criterion, especially given the distant features of internet casino gambling, is fair play. This criterion for online slots is met by employing the random number generator.
It is a computer-generated algorithm used by online casinos to randomize the outcomes of a spin. It accomplishes this by creating a series of numerals, with each number matching a sign on the wheels, which can only be predicted by chance.
How Random Number Generators Work in an Online Slot
With each spin, the RNG system generates random numbers at a rate of hundreds of times per second. The symbols that display on your screen at that time are determined by the series of data that appear whenever the reels stop spinning.
The layout of the icons on the reels, as defined by the numerals they represent, determines whether or not you won and how much you earned. Another issue to consider is that each sign is weighted differently.
This implies that in a spin with 24 icons per reel, the odds of a symbol falling on a certain reel are 1 in 24 and absolutely random.
Programming Languages for Building Online Slot Games
Slot machine programming necessitates a significant amount of development labor. From idea discussion through implementation to release, there are several phases. Once the designing process is done, you are ready for the development part.
Almost all programming languages function in the same way—they execute some commands that the machine can understand. Yet, some programming languages have certain perks in certain areas.
Again, the coding language required is determined by the platform you choose. Different systems support different coding languages. You can create a web-based application with JavaScript or an Android or iOS game with Java/Kotlin or Swift/Objective C. For the PC, there are more options, including Lua, C#, Python, and C++.
How Fair Play is Ensured in Modern Slots
Last but not least, modern slot games are tested for fairness by the quality of their RNG and their return-to-player rate (with an RTP rate, players are guaranteed to receive a portion of their money back).
While RNG and RTP provide fair gaming, casino games must still be audited by other parties to ensure fairness. A testing business will determine whether or not a game’s declared RTP is true. It will do so by playing millions of games and comparing the results to a theoretical RTP.
The game is said to be completely impartial and fair if the figures line up. Third parties test games to guarantee that they are good to play at any given time, in addition to formal third-party bodies checking games before pre-licensing, which means they are evaluated before hitting the online gambling market.