The slot machine can hit at any time. The computer generator is programmed using random algorithms and therefore it strikes when we cannot tell. With all this information, the answer is that there is no. And you can’t blame them for it as occasionally gamblers sitting at various slots may hear some exciting phrases like «A roulette player hit an enormous jackpot!» or «Slots’ jackpot hasn’t. Every spin on a slot machine is random, so it doesn't matter how long it's been since the last jackpot hit. The jackpot never gets more likely to hit. If the odds of hitting a jackpot on one spin are 1 in 250,000, then they're always 1 in 250,000, whether the last jackpot hit.

Telling when a machine is “due to hit” is the Holy Grail of the slot world

This is why a slot machine can never be said to be “due” to hit a jackpot. It is also why those systems you find on the Internet will never work. One system circulating the Internet says that one can watch for “patterns” on the reels of a traditional-style slot machines for clues as to when the next spin will be a jackpot.

By Frank Legato

It’s one of the most-asked questions among slot players: Which machines are due to hit? Or, how do I tell when a machine is due? Or, which machines are the best to play, right now?

These are not only among the most-often questions asked in letters to this and other player magazines; they are questions asked at casinos across the country, to slot attendants and floor managers: “Where are the hot machines?”

Despite all that has been written about the workings of the modern slot machine, there is still a prevailing notion among players that these questions can be answered—that attendants can give you a hot tip on a machine that’s about to hit; that some outward signs visible on a slot game can show that a machine is close to a jackpot.

Helping this notion is the wealth of “slot system” trash available on the Internet and elsewhere, offering “visual clues” to when a game is “about to hit.”

The Internet “systems” are all scams, and the notions about machines being “due” are misguided. The reason is that a slot machine’s computer is constantly selecting new results—results that have nothing to do with what the machine did three spins ago, four hours ago, for the past week or for the past year.

It all comes down to our old friend: the random number generator. A slot machine’s computer contains what is basically a digital duplication of physical reels. Before the early 1980s, the probability of hitting jackpots, and their likelihood on any give spin, was tied to how many symbols and blanks—known as “stops”—were on each physical reel. The old electro-mechanical slots had 22 stops on each reel. By logging the symbols that landed on each reel, it was possible to perform calculations that would give you the odds of a jackpot landing on a given spin.

That all changed, however, with computerization of the process. For casinos, the problem with physical stops was that the odds of hitting the top jackpot could only be as long as the number of stops on each reel would allow. The use of a random number generator allows “virtual” reels—a computer simulation of reels containing as many symbols as the programmer desires. Numbers in the program represent each stop on each reel. If the programmer wants a low-paying or non-paying symbol—say, a blank—to appear more often, it is duplicated in the program so the random number generator selects it more often.

Thus, instead of 22 stops per reel, you may have 60 stops, hundreds of stops—as many as the programmer wishes, while staying within the odds limits set by the state. This is why odds can no longer be calculated through a formula involving the number of symbols on physical reels. The 22 symbols visible to the player no longer represent the slot machine’s probabilities. They display the symbols that can lead to combinations, but there is no way for the player to know how many numbers correspond to those symbols. The more of them the computer considers there to be on a reel, the more likely it will be selected by the RNG.

The All-Important RNG
The random number generator in a slot machine is just what the name indicates—it is a software program that generates numbers at random, from the list of numbers entered to represent each reel stop. The RNG generates more than a hundred sets of numbers every second, and it generates them continuously, even when the slot machine is idle. This is why each result is independent of every other result on a slot machine. The random generation of numbers is continuous, and no one sitting at a machine can predict which of the numbers the RNG will have generated at the instant you push the spin button.

When you push the spin button, the computer takes a snapshot of the numbers generated that instant by the RNG, and translates it into a reel result. An instant before you push the button, the RNG is generating an entirely different set of numbers; an instant later, yet another set. No one looking at the slot machine can predict the number it will choose next.

This is why a slot machine can never be said to be “due” to hit a jackpot. It is also why those systems you find on the Internet will never work.

One system circulating the Internet says that one can watch for “patterns” on the reels of a traditional-style slot machines for clues as to when the next spin will be a jackpot, and adjust your bet accordingly. Another actually tells the player to watch the reels on a traditional slot machine for wiggling. Bet a single coin until you see the reels wiggle, then bet the max because the wiggle means a jackpot is coming.

These gimmicks are all nonsense. No “pattern” formed by symbols in the pay window—an “X” formed by bar symbols, for instance—is indicative of what will come next. And, “wiggling” reels may mean that the slot machine is old and in need of repair, but nothing else. The physical reels are only there to do what the computer tells them to do. They are display mechanisms. They do the same thing as a video screen—communicate to the player the result at which the computer’s RNG has arrived.

Tips from Attendants
Many players still feel that a slot attendant or other floor person who is in one location all day can tell them which machines are “hot”—in other words, which machines are about to pay off. They will throw the employee a tip to identify a hot machine.

It is a waste of money. Even if a certain machine has been paying off all day, this is no indication it will continue to pay off tonight. A slot machine’s cycles are not predictable.

The only thing an attendant or floor person can give you is historical information. The sole place this historical information may be useful on a slot floor is a progressive bank—one that has been in place in the same location for a long time. The useful historical information an employee can give you here is the level at which the progressive jackpot has hit on that game. If it is substantially above that, other players who are familiar with the link will give that bank of slots more play than normal—the “jackpot fever” phenomenon. Jackpot fever pushes more coins through the game. With more changes for one of those machines to generate the winning combination, it is more likely it will hit.

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More likely, but not guaranteed. And that is the vital part of my message: Even if a progressive is higher than ever before, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s definitely going to hit soon. It could go higher, and even higher—and wait until well after your bankroll is gone.

Progressive slots Jackpot – standalone:

Standalone progressive Jackpots are Jackpots that sit on only one machine. Meaning that the Jackpot can only be won on the Slot Machine that sits under it. These Jackpots are funded by the play going through the machine (usually 1 – 5% depending on the game) so this means that a percentage of the money returned to the player is in the Jackpot.

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Progressive Jackpots have a maximum limit but can sit on that limit until it is won. The size of the “ceiling” and “start up” value differ from game to game.

Ceiling value:

The limit the Jackpot can reach usually Jackpots are won before this is reached but they have also been known to sit on ceilings for extended periods of time which drives much more intense play on the machines.

Start-up value:

This is the starting value of the Jackpot. This is the minimum amount the Jackpot starts at. A Casino does not start to make money until the startup value is exceeded 101% or the previous ceiling was reached. This is where they make the majority of their money as hungry players frantically play the game to score the Jackpot.

How to hit the Jackpot on Slot Machines

hitting jackpot on slot machine is not as simple as just being lucky. Many slot players want to to know how to make a slot machine hit jackpot. Before you play any kind of Slot machine jackpot you need to understand the difference between the types of jackpots available.

Many modern games such as the “Hold and Spin” style which has become popular center the majority of return and game math around the Jackpot Prizes of varies levels. A great example of this are the Lightning Slot Games and the Dragon Slot Games. The “hold and spin” feature is merely a chance to win the Jackpot. There is nothing wrong with these games as almost all the return sits in these features. Both the base and bonus spins are essentially garbage.

In games such as this the Jackpots are far more frequent and the more you bet the more chance you have to win or to score larger prize values.

Progressive Slots, linked Jackpots (in house):

Linked progressive Jackpots follow the same theory as standalone progressive slots. The main difference is that the Jackpot sits over many machines in the same venue. These jackpots are usually much higher as multiple machines feed a bigger pool. In house links are usually operated by the Casino and feature a collection of machines under the link. The slots under an in-house link.

Casino operators often do this the lift the performance of poorer performing games, extend their life-span on their floor or to add a point of difference to their Casino offering.

The RTP% of each game can be lowered to accommodate the return provided by the Jackpot or the Casino Operator could take a small hit on the bottom line effectively raising the RTP% of the game. So for example if the machine contributes 1% a 93% slot could become a 94% slot or a 92% slot.

If you follow my strategy the operator taking a hit actually works out better for you. So it might be worth finding out.

linked Jackpots (wide area):

Similar to the in house wide area jackpots come packaged with the series of slot machines sold.
These are usually the same type of slot machine or the same series of slots from the same manufacturer Lightning and Dragon slot games are again a great example of this. They have a “Linked” Jackpot level which runs across all of those machines in the Casino or across multiple casinos.

The more of these machines that the Casino Has or are on the network the more often that top level will be won and the faster the Jackpot will increase. As these games have the levels factored in the RTP% is affected.

Mixed Progressive Slot and Linked Slot:

Many modern slots now feature both standalone progressive and linked jackpot amounts. This is often shown as multiple Jackpot levels with smaller standalone prizes and much bigger Jackpot prizes to be won. Once more main issue here is that this can start to really eat into the RTP% with much of the player return sitting in Jackpot bonuses.

The more levels of Jackpot the Game has the more of your return is split between those elements and this can really dampen the game.

Deterministic Jackpot (must hit Jackpot):

Found only in some jurisdictions and not quite as common – Deterministic Jackpots are in my opinion the main type you should keep an eye out for when playing in a bricks and motor casino.

While progressives have a ceiling or limit amount that they can reach, the Jackpot can sit at the limit for for an indefinite period of time. A deterministic Jackpot on the other hand MUST PAY OUT AT IT’S CEILING – this means that the Jackpot is guaranteed to go off at or before a specific amount. So if you find a jackpot like this sitting high at or near its limit – than it really is worth a shot.

Of course this can create absolute pandemonium on the floor and the closer it gets the harder you will find it to get on a machine. Of course playing a Jackpot Online has it’s advantages you can get on a high-jackpot anytime you want and can do so in your pajamas. See the end of this post for some suggestions.

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In the case of in-game Jackpot Features an increased betting method is used. Meaning the more you bet the more Jackpot trigger symbols appear this will increase the chances of hitting the Jackpot. This is an obvious design choice to increase the average player bet and ultimately drive more revenue for the casino.

These features will also eat into your bank roll much more quickly. So before playing any slot with a Jackpot Bonus have a look in the game rules if a higher bet means a higher chance to hit the jackpot. Jackpots slot wins are fairly frequent when the ceiling is much lower.

How To Win The Progressive Jackpot Slots

Playing online for example – the standalone is built into the game RTP% and there is a strong call to action to bet more to win the progressive bonus as per the example below.

So… Should you play MAX BET to win?

In short… Yes. Progressive Jackpot Game such as Gunslinger above or the Lightning slots and Dragon slots means both higher prizes and a bigger chance to win when you increase your bet. You should however ensure that you can afford to play at this level. Quite often you can scale the investment so pick a bet level you are comfortable with.

When should you play a Jackpot Slot?

Simple… when they are high. Sounds logical and yes it is but it also helps to have some background information. Basically you need to know how high the Jackpot has reached previously and what the limit is.

In some cases it might help to know if the Jackpot even has a ceiling. But if a Jackpot that can reach a multi-million dollar limit and it is currently sitting at that number than you would be crazy not to give it a go. Even at a lower bet with all lines, it’s worth a try and the odds are still probably better than winning the lottery.

how often does a slot machine hit jackpot

This is difficult to know as it all depends on how much turnover and play is going through the slots linked to it and where the Jackpot level is currently sitting. Generally Jackpot odds are worse at the startup value than they are at the limit value.

How To Hit The Jackpot On Slot Machines

Best thing to do is ask someone who works at the casino or venue, many of the employees have records on recent jackpot hits. You can find out at how much and how recently the Jackpot was won and work out an average hit range. Big jackpots are always worth having a play for so as long as the Jackpot is at a ceiling why not.

Jackpots work a lot like the lottery as the pool increases so does the number of tickets people buy. Every time you press the spin/play button you are buying a ticket, the more tickets you buy the bigger chance you have to win.

I would suggest however that if you are playing for a jackpot you keep this playing activity separate from your regular play activity The same goes online as many online casinos feature games linked to Jackpots below are some of the best online casinos for slot jackpots.

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The following Casino’s all have a wide variety of games with some great Jackpot offerings. From small and frequent Jackpots to HUGE jackpot prizes. All legitimate safe Online Casinos operating in a number of currency and payment options.