If you’ve ever played a slot machine, you know that the payout percentage is determined by a mathematical algorithm. Slot machines must always return at least a certain percentage of the money you bet. However, players can still be net losers if they’re playing a machine with many paylines. For example, if you bet a nickel on 20 paylines and win, you would lose 50 cents. However, the machine would show you a winning payout, despite you losing 50 cents. This process is called the payback percentage, and is used by many modern slot machines.
To find the right game for you, check out the payback percentage for a specific game. In general, the payback percentage for slot games is higher than in live casinos. You can also watch a game demo to get a feel for how the game plays. If you don’t know much about the game, you should be able to find a few online reviews to help you make the best choice.
The pay table on a slot machine is the list of credits that you’ll receive if all the symbols line up on the payline. This table is typically found on the face of the machine (older machines will have them above and below the wheel). A pay table for video slot machines can be found on the help menu.