Slot machines are the most profitable part of a U.S. From Las Vegas to Atlantic City, slot machines take up more space than any other casino game. Online slots work the same way. If an online casino features 300 games, 250 of those games will be online slots. When playing with Android or iPhone devices, mobile slots revenues work the. The PAR sheet or Probability Accounting Report details “how a particular slot machine is programmed, such as the payout rules ” and typically documents the payback percentage, the hold percentage, the confidence interval, and the volatility index.
Do I need a gaming backend platform for my online slot game?
Slots have always been popular for the fun andthrill they offer. With the rise of mobile and web based technologies, playersnow demand to take their entertainment with them wherever they go, and wheneverthey please. Enter the rise in popularity of online casino gaming.
As a game developer, your next idea could beriding on the thrill of casinos. Whether you’re venturing out into developingyour own winning games, or you’re already well established and looking toexpand into the lucrative world of online casinos; A gaming backend platformcan help you save time in developing and nurturing your game. With real-timesolutions like lead and player management, analytics, revenue reports, and more,you can acquire, manage and retain the most important part of any casino: yourplayers.
What are the basic terms I need to know about gaming backend platformsfor online slot gaming?
The world of online betting combines the powerof luck and perceived calculated risks to create an entertaining playerexperience which is at the heart of developing a successful online slotexperience. To start understanding whyplayers love the thrill of slot games lets first decode some common casino gamespeak to give a broader picture into the world of slot gaming:
1. Machine Size
There are many different slot machine sizes andconfigurations used in online casino games. There are common sizes such as: 3x5, or 5x3 ormany other configurations that we will expand upon in the Reels section.Machines of different sizes accommodate different numbers of reels andpaylines, determining the number of available combinations in a game, as wellas the number of matching symbols or bonus features required to wins. Simplermachines are smaller, giving generally higher probabilities to win with lowerpayouts; conversely larger machines can hold more paylines and image reels generallyhave higher payouts but lower probabilities to win.
2. Paylines vs. Winlines vs. 2 Way Pay vs. 243 Way Pay vs. All Way Pay
Paylines are predefined lines which symbols onthe reels can land after a spin. When matching combinations land on a line itcreates a winning combination. The number of paylines a slot has indicates thenumber of ways you can win in a game. The earliest classic slot games have justone payline in the middle of the reels, and spinning matching symbols acrossthe entire line constitutes a win which are still very popular today.
Newer slot machines are more complex; these canhave multiple paylines that require a bet for players to activate allowing theplayer to win in multiple different combinations and configurations of thereels. It’s all in the principle of highrisk, high reward. Slot players ultimately want to match as many of the highestpaying symbols on the pay table. Themath models in the slot game will help determine things such as volatility,RTP, and Hit Frequency however, one key rule is that the math needs to give theplayer an entertaining experience.
Constructing winning paylines starts withunderstanding a slot machine’s pay table. This chart has all the winningcombinations, rules, and paylines for the slot machine, how players can win,and the amount that constitutes a win. When a payline is a winner in aparticular spin it becomes a “Winline”. Often times these terms are used interchangeably but technicallyaren’t. In most games, paylines run leftto right only.
New games change the rules and allow forpaylines to win from multiple directions called Way Pay. The most popular versions of these are:
- ·2 Way Pay – allows machines to pay the samecombinations in both directions left to right and right to left.
- ·243 Way Pay – pays left to right but without“paylines” meaning, as long as the combination of symbols appear on separatereels from left to right, the game will pay for the combination.
- ·All Way Pay – pays in all directions for awinning combination. There are no winlinesand some games even pay for winning combinations on the same reel.
2. Symbols
The pictures, numbers, or letters players see ina slot machine are what’s known as symbols. The imagery used typically matchthe theme of the game. Common symbols used in slot machines are fruits, bells,7’s, and bars, among others. Players win based on how many of these symbols canbe matched on a payline. Those winlinespay the player based on their bet per line they bet on i.e. A player can be ona single line to win or 25 lines to win at varying amounts per line. The symbols along with the math model,special features, and sound give the machine it’s “character” andplayability. If the symbols are hard toread or very similar to each other, it can create confusion for the player andhave them move on to another machine they enjoy.
There are different types of symbols, eachplaying an important part in determining your winnings, and what combinationconstitutes a win in a slot machine game:
●MajorSymbols - These symbols pay significantly higher than others, as they havehigher value, with low probability of landing on the reels. Landing a MajorSymbol allows the player to win many times their wager.
●MinorSymbols - These symbols give players more frequent wins, albeit being smaller,as they have less value. Minor symbols allow players to win frequent, butsmaller amounts.
●Scatter - Thisrefers to a symbol that can create winning combinations without beingconstrained by paylines. If two or more scatters land between two to five of akind anywhere on the screen, you win the defined prize for Scatter. Scattersymbols are also used to indicate, and unlock bonus features such as Free Spins.
●WildSymbols - These are special symbols that are used as substitutes to othersymbols, resulting in a winning combination. Wild symbols also usually havebonus multipliers that create wins using the wild feature. Wilds typically cannot replace Scatters orBonus Game Triggers. Some of the specialtypes of wilds available in games are:
●Expanding wilds - wilds that can trigger toexpand and spread to other areas on the wheels
●Stacked Wild - wilds that are'stacked' one on top of another on the reels giving the perceptionthat is has a higher chance of getting multiple wild symbols on the reels.
●Sticky Wild - a wild that stays on the reels aslong as certain conditions or rules are met. It will stay in the spot that it 'stuck' to the reel and givethe player the possibility of having multiple spins with a growing number ofwilds in play.
●SpecialSymbols - When one or more of these symbols appear, a bonus feature can betriggered, resulting in a free play, a bonus game, or more chances of winning.Special symbols can function similar to Scatter symbols, but this isn’t alwaysthe case. Each game’s special symbol can trigger a specific bonus feature, andmay have a set of rules such as: 3 special symbols need to appear on a winlinein order to enter the special bonus feature that the symbol is triggering.
3. Reels
Reels are a set of virtual or Physical “Wheels”or “Strips” setup to spin in front of the player with the games symbols on themin a set order. The reels are muchlarger than is displayed to the player. Some reels can have hundreds of symbols on them to ensure mathematicalprobabilities in the game. Where thereels are marked to stop in order to match paylines are commonly referred to as“Reel Stops”. Lining up certaincombinations of symbols in three, four, five or more reels, depending on theslot machine, gives the player a winline.
Reels can have multiple configurations such as:1x3, 3x3, 5x3, 1x5, 4x5, 6x6, 2x3x5x3x2, etc. The reel configuration is thephysical dimension of the visible reel which also determines the number ofpossible paylines available to the player. The number of reels has the greatest effect on the number of possiblecombinations in the game meaning the more reels on the machine the lower theprobability to get the largest winning combinations in the game. Conversely, games with more reels tend tohave larger prizes.
4. Features
Online slot games are built with unique featuresthat simulate live games from real-world casinos, to either extend or createnew excitement in each game independent of location. These features are designed to keep players inthe game, betting, and playing. Here are some popular features that casinogoers have come to expect from any slot or casino product:
●Sign UpBonus - Many online casinos offer a huge bonus for signing up to play withthem. It’s a welcome package designed to let new players test the waters andtheir luck.
●LoyaltyProgram – Most real world and online casino’s will offer loyalty programs fortheir customers. These programs allowregular players to earn points that give them different level of statuses. Upon earning a status level players will beentitled to benefits, discounts, free goods, services, etc.
●Jackpots - Theserefer to the winner’s take in a game, and naturally, high jackpots encourageplayers to bet big in the hopes that they will, in turn, win big.
●No DownloadSlots - This type of online slots allow players to instantly jump right intothe game without having to download and install the game’s software in theircomputer. It’s a quick, easy way to play, and gamers love it for theconvenience.
●No DepositBonus - To incentivize players, many online games give out bonuses thatrequire no deposit. Players are welcomed with bonus money to start their playas a thank you for signing up and creating an account. Each game has its own methodsfor bonusing the player - some offer instant sums initially, while others giveplayers and amount to play with for limited time and allow them to keep theirwinnings after.
●HighRoller Slots - Many games cater differently to players with large bankrolls and thewillingness to try their luck with it. Much like the revered high roller slotmachines online games have separate gaming rooms for modern, online highrollers.
●PlayerManagement - Gaming platforms come with player management features that enabledevelopers to authenticate players, and build a rapport or network with thegaming community. This allows developers to store player data, such as savingtheir progress, and letting players pick up where they left off the next timethey’re online and looking for some fun.
●Tournaments - Theseallow developers to keep things fresh, interesting, and good-naturedlycompetitive. A developer’s platform allows players access to leaderboards andprize tables, and sends these out to online players to keep them aware of theirrank and progress.
●Commerce - Manygames offer players a quick advantage, simply with the purchase of a fewboosters to up their chances of winning. Backend gaming platforms allowdevelopers to craft lucrative options for every player to extend their play,while keeping track of their progress to recommend boosts they might need atevery turn in order to bet more, and get more.
●GameAnalytics - The flow of real-time analytics lets developers keep up with theirplayers’ needs and progress, and allow them to respond to immediate concernsand debugging needs in order to keep the game going.
5. Jackpot vs. Progressive Jackpot
The jackpot is what the majority of players willchase. Jackpots gives players a largewin to try for that no matter how or when they play gives them “hope” that ahuge win may be just a single spin away.
A jackpot typically has an amount of winnings everyoneplaying the slot game is competing for that grows over time based on rules suchas contribution from players or RTP shortfalls. To participate in a jackpot players are typically required to meet athreshold on their individual bets per spin. Alternatively, a single jackpot or “in-game” jackpot that is a fixedamount that can be won by the player on a specific spin and is not “shared”amongst all the participants who are playing the same slot game.
Understanding Slot Machine Par Sheets Sets
The most popular and largest jackpots are“Progressive Jackpots”. Progressivejackpots have “levels” allowing players to “earn” their chance to win an evergrowing jackpot amount based on thresholds. The player threshold could be the requirement to contribute or to bet atcertain amounts in order to attain the highest levels in the progression of thejackpot. Typically, progressive jackpotsare the cumulative contribution of all players in either a geographicallocation or through specific games and/casino’s to the progressive jackpot as awhole. All slot players dream of oneday taking home the largest of progressive jackpots which by default are alwayspaid out eventually and therefore is a great incentive for players to return toa slot game regularly.
6. Return to Player (RTP)
Return to Player, usually referred to as RTP, isthe percentage that indicates how much of the bets in a machine are returned tothe players. RTP is the percentage of the entire amount players have bet in anonline casino game, which the house will pay back to its players over time. Ahigh percentage is a strong indicator that a player will win in the long run,and if it climbs over 100%, it means the player has actually beaten the house.
A typical slot machine has a RTP in the 90% to98% range but some can be as low as 81% or 82% some as high as 99.9%. However, this percentage is based on hundredsof thousands or millions of games. Meaning payouts in shorter segments will vary in their payout fromhigher to lower.
One big misconception is that a game listed witha 96% RTP doesn’t mean any player who walks up and plays $100 of gameplay willwalk away with $96 in their pocket. Itmeans over the course of say $1,000,000 of play the pay back to the player willbe close to $960,000. However the make-upof those prizes could be:1 player may have one $500,000 and the remaining winswere the $460,000 a lot of players will have had an RTP of 10%, 25%, 50%,etc in order to pay that 1 player the$500,000.
Online slots are known to have higher RTPs, ahuge selling point for many players, as they compete against a global marketgiving players a greater chance to win. When players see high RTPs, itconvinces them to bet more because higher bets have RTP percentages. Simply because the house does not need toretain as much House Advantage in order to ensure their profitability. RTP’s inverse is House Advantage which is thepercentage advantage of the house in winning on the players bets.
7. High and Low Volatility
In the real world, the stock market fluctuatesbetween extremely high and low values, and when this happens, it is calledvolatile. The same basic principle applies to online slot gaming mathematicalmodels - there are slot games that pay out large amounts, or almost nothing,depending on a player’s luck and the odds. These games have high volatility.
Volatility drastically effects the RTP of aplayer during a game session which can last in the 10’s of spins into thethousands of spins. A high volatilitygame will have segments with RTP in the 0% and then segments with RTP in the200% and much more.
Alternately, there are games that regularly payout small wins, and when players lose, they also lose small. These games havelow volatility. Determining a game’s volatility gives players the concept of“Time on Device” or how long the player will get to play. High Rollers tend to like playing large oddsand thus high volatility. Individualswho are playing a slot game for fun and to pass the time like to play low longterm play and thus low volatility. A good indicator of a game’s volatility isthe amount of the highest fixed jackpot. Basically, it all comes down to theprinciple of high risk, high reward; or smaller rewards for smaller risk.
To capture a wider audience, and enjoy theinterest of different types of players it helps to strike a balance in yourgame’s volatility, such as offering options with both high, low, and middle volatility.This lets you cater to all individuals who dive into ‘high risk, high reward’situation, as well as those who opt for smaller, but more guaranteed andfrequent wins and everything in between.
8. Hit Frequency
Hit Frequency determines how often a machinewill have a winning combination on the reels. Hit frequency is a key element tothe player’s game psychology there is only so long that a player will go withno win before they quit. Have too manywins means the player never wins “big” and thus they lose interest in the game. Hit frequency needs to be balanced for thetype of gaming experience the game designer is trying to create.
Hit frequency is directly related to a game’svolatility. A highly volatile game has a low hit frequency as it requireslarger bets to win, and may offer higher rewards, but players run the risk oflosing big as well. On the opposite, less volatile games may have higher hitfrequencies, but these typically offer smaller prizes for winners. Medium volatility games can skew to eitherside based on the prizing and is what allows the game to have its“personality”.
9. Par Sheet
This document has all the details pertaining toa slot machine’s design, including the pay table, the components of a reelstrip, and the rules of the game to determine who wins, and what makes a win. The most popular definition of PAR is “Paytable And Reel strips”. In short, thePAR sheet is the mathematical document that ensures the games RTP. Mathematicians will often change and updatethe PAR sheet until it is perfectly balanced for the, personality, hit frequency,volatility, and RTP are achieved for aspecific game.
Slot Machine Percentage Sheet
10. RNG (Random Number Generators)
Understanding Slot Machine Par Sheets 4x8
RandomNumber Generators (RNG) are computer programs inside modern slot machines, orthe randomization code in online slot games that determine the winning chancesof a given spin. It’s a complex, sophisticated software that keeps the gamefair, and the house honest as well. RNG is used to randomly select the winingpaylines by identifying and sending out in a completely random order the symbolsand coordinates to make up the next winning line. To this end, RNG gives onlineslot games an atmosphere of fair unpredictability, keeping things interesting.
Thanks for your interest in our Blazesoft Casino Backend, stay tuned for more feature posts! If you would like a free live demo of the Blazesoft backend as a service interface, we encourage you to contact us to book your demo - info@blazesoft.ca or visit our website - http://www.blazesoft.ca
Thanks for your interest in our Blazesoft Casino Backend, stay tuned for more feature posts! If you would like a free live demo of the Blazesoft backend as a service interface, we encourage you to contact us to book your demo - info@blazesoft.ca or visit our website - http://www.blazesoft.ca