How Slots Work - The Random Number Generator

At the heart of a slot machine is a computer chip, which runs a Random Number Generator (RNG).

This RNG is continuously cycling through numbers at a rate of thousands per second even when the machine is not being played. These numbers correspond to stop positions on the reels of the slot machine, which display winning or losing combinations of symbols.

When you hit the spin button the RNG picks the combination at that given microsecond.

Therefore, the outcome of the game is randomly determined at the moment you hit the spin button.

When the reels have stopped spinning the machine will check whether the reel stop numbers correspond to a wining or losing combination at which point it will pay out and/or end the game.