What Are the Paytables and Payback Percentages on a Slot Machine?

The slot machine is a mechanical gaming machine that pays out the winnings in a series of spins. The machines began appearing in the U.S. during the 1920s and remained popular throughout the Great Depression. Many slot machines were controlled by organized crime, which made their distribution difficult. Laws prohibiting the sale and use of slot machines were passed in an effort to curb this problem. Despite this, the illegal operation was widely ignored. This led to a widespread decline in the use of slot machines in America.

Depending on the machine, the paytable on a slot machine is listed on the machine’s face. This information is displayed alongside the spinning reels on older machines. Modern video slot machines usually display their pay tables in the help menu. Many pay tables are indexed in both languages. While not as easy to view as those on an older machine, the pay table is available on all screens. A paytable will tell you how much you can win if all the symbols line up in a specific pattern.

The payback percentage of a slot machine is important. This metric represents the percentage of money a player put into the machine that is actually paid out to him or her. If the payback percentage was 90 percent, the casino would keep ten percent of your money and give back 90 percent. Anything under 100 means that the casino is the winner. A game with a high payback percentage can be extremely addictive. In addition to payback percentage, most slots also have bonus games that increase the amount of money you can win.