The first thing to remember when trying to figure out how a slot machine works, is something called a 'Random Number Generator' sometimes referred to as the RNG. Whether online or land based all proper slot games are run by this type of mechanics. This RNG system allows all slot machines whether 3 reel or 5 reel to pick total random numbers that are assigned to each reel to continuously run through the numbers until the slot player hits the spin button. When the spin button is hit, the randomly chosen numbers for each real will stop on these numbers one reel at a time and which ever symbol is assigned that number will show up on the screen. One thing to realize is that once the spin button has been hit, the symbols that will show up on the screen have already been chosen by the RNG, so the spinning of the reels is just for show and the excitement in the anticipation of waiting to see if you won or lost. The only difference between 3 reel slot games and 5 reel slot games is in a 3 reels slot each reel has its own random group of numbers that are picked one at a time by the RNG, but in a 5 reel slot game, all five numbers for all 5 reels are picked at the same time.

Another little tidbit of information that may be of interest to a slot player when trying to figure out how slot machines works is that some symbols are weighted more than others. Meaning that they are more prone to land on a payline more so than other symbols. A couple of these symbols are the basic 'cherry symbol' which comes up more often than any other symbol in the game, making it possible for a player to at least win back there coin bet. Another symbol that comes up a lot in a slot machine that is a 'weighted' symbol is the 'no symbol' spot, which some machines will pay you back your coin bet when hitting no symbols on the payline. Other symbols that are 'Not' weighted are the big prize symbols, like progressive jackpot symbols, wild symbols, and other big paying symbols, these are not weighted because if they came up as much as say a cherry symbol, a casino would be out of business very fast.