Around eighty percent of first time gamblers in casinos head straight to slots, these machines seem simple, simply put in some loose change and push a button, providing a gambling experience which is far less intimidating than that involving human interaction against seasoned gamblers and professional dealers. Some slot players like to think that intuition is their greatest asset when playing these machines, whilst others try and use mathematical formulas or even watch other players to try and see which machines are more likely to pay out.

Statistics suggest that they are not the wise choice for those looking for financial game while gambling, it is thought that on average players will only get an eight five cent return for every dollar put into a machine. Despite the myths, mostly coming from the era of mechanical slot, it seems that there are no tactics to guarantee success, one could win four times playing a machine for thirty minutes or not at all. However manufacturers argue that this increases the thrill factor, arguing that gambling would be no fun if you were sure to win and on top of this it is unlikely we would see many successful established casinos.

Like so many other industries were revolutionised with the invention of the microprocessor, so was that of the slot machine. No longer are slots solely operated by mechanics, where the odds of winning can be calculated providing one had sufficient knowledge of a machine.

The computers controlling modern slot machines are programmed with random number generators which use probability to control winning combinations. Every possible combination on a machine is stored in the microprocessor and assigned a number, so that when the slot machine is played the computer randomly selects a number and therefore a result. Meaning that slot machines really are a matter of chance or luck.

The computer in every slot machine assigns every possible combination a number and stores it, when the machine is played the microprocessor selects a number at random, therefore slot machines are simply left down to chance.

The numbers are randomly selected, which means that the odds of winning are identical for every play, no longer do players need to keep hitting the same machine without a bathroom break convinced that it is going to payout soon. A slot machine programmed to payout every one thousandth tries will not automatically let the one thousandth player win, but rather every slot player has a one in a thousand chance of hitting the jackpot.

Slot machine manufacturers are also producing server based slot machines, where games are linked via a server and have an operator. This means the games on machines can be changed without the need to physically change or alter the machine. One can not help to think that they makers of these games are not just leaving it up to chance, as we think we are every time we play.