Slot machine algorithm: Can you hack it?

Slot machines have always been known as the epitome of casino games, whether on an online or offline platform. Because of its simple gameplay, lots of players find it irresistible to spin for a chance to win massive prizes. And since time immemorial, many players have been intrigued by the possibility of winning a slot machine by hacking the algorithm. However, is this really possible?

Learn more about the inner workings of a slot machine algorithm hack and see what else is in store for you at Bitcasino!

How to play slot machines

One of the many things that people love about online slot machines is their straightforward gameplay. Simply put, players need to spin the reels and land combinations of the same symbol on paylines to win. Depending on the game and its rules, the number of paylines can vary.

In today’s modern slot game, bonus features, jackpots and special themes are now available to make each spin more immersive. If you land enough paylines or trigger the bonus features, then you can bring home the game’s jackpot! Plus, you can also expect stunning graphics and music fit for the theme in every spin of the reels.

With this iconic game being so well-loved all over the world, players continuously find ways how they can potentially increase their chances of winning. This is where the slot machine algorithm comes into the picture.

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Do slot machines run on an algorithm?

Most casino players know that slot games are games of chance. However, there are other elements in place aside from luck that make winning possible. 

Numbers, coded systems and all sorts of formulas are incorporated into the game, and all these vary depending on the game provider. But no matter which provider created the game, it’ll always have the algorithm or process called the Random Number Generator or RNG.

Slots that run on an RNG produce results for a game as fast as a millisecond. When players spin the reels, the game will automatically select one out of millions of combinations as the respective symbols land on the reels.

Lots of slot games nowadays run on PRNG or the Pseudo-Random Number Generator that makes use of a random seed value to come up with a random sequence of numbers or symbols. This dictates the result of every spin, hence why many players want to know how to calculate algorithm calculation on a slot machine.

A slot machine’s RNG is a program that operates based on a governing algorithm. The core component of the slot machine, it generates random numbers between 1 and up to several million at lightning speed. Right after you press the button for a casino game, the RNG will record a bunch of numbers to determine where the reels will stop.

To understand the process of RNGs, let’s say you’re playing with a 3-reel slot machine. You place your bet and press a button to spin the reels. The RNG will think of three numbers. The first number will determine where the first reel will land, the second number will determine where the second will land, and so on. Since the RNG can come up with numbers as low as 1 to as high as several million, it divides each of the three numbers according to a fixed value. These fixed values for slot machines are usually 32, 64, 128, 256 or 512. The remainder of the generated number and its coinciding fixed value can determine where the reel stops.

Slot machine algorithms, then and now

The classic slot machine before the creation of computers and electronic innovations depended solely on gears and levers. At the pull of the slot handle, different mechanical pieces start to work. Notched discs connected to the reels were pushed by kickers and eventually halted by stoppers inside the machine. After pulling the handle, the reels would come to a halt, one at a time. There was always an element of surprise because players would have to wait and see if the landing symbols matched up.

As technology started to take over and replace physical machinery inside these casino games, so did the process of determining payouts. Pulling levers was no longer necessary as engines started to replace gears, and starting a game became as easy as pressing a button. 

Modern slot machine algorithms operate on a completely different principle from their mechanical predecessors. As of 2021, wins no longer depend on where the notches end up stopping the reels. They depend on codes, numbers, and mathematical algorithms. This electronic takeover ensures foolproof gameplay. Computers calculating the outcome of a slot ensure that every person and spin has an equal chance of hitting a payout. The guiding mechanics behind today's slot machines revolve around a Random Number Generator.

Slot machine fixed algorithms

Contrary to its name, Random Number Generators aren’t really ‘random’. Algorithms are fixed systems. This means that it isn’t possible for them to be truly random in nature. The outcomes of the RNGs are deterministic. The results of where the reels will land are not infinite. This does not mean RNGs can easily be predicted or cheated. A fixed sequence of numbers already exists in the slot machine algorithm, but it is constantly being changed and upgraded by developers. The ‘seed’ or the fixed sequence of numbers are mixed in with hidden, ever-changing inputs. These altered seeds make the outcomes almost impossible to recreate. Even though the nature of the RNG is not random because it is an algorithm, the results are still unpredictable.

The point of a good casino game is its randomness. You’ll never know if you’ll get the same win or the same combination on the next spin. You’ll never know whether you’ll win the huge jackpot twice in a row. Regulated and licensed casinos make sure the RNGs encoded in slots are fair and frequently evaluated. Sometimes, third parties are hired to test RNGs. All formulas and algorithms set for a given RNG need to ensure that all outcomes are unbiased.

Is it possible to hack this algorithm?

The fast answer is that beating a slot machine algorithm is theoretically possible, but there is little to no chance of it being successful due to the complex algorithms that slots use nowadays.

When it comes to hacking the game using software applications, you will have to run a similar host program to that of the original game to potentially hack the system. However, this identical host can be nearly impossible to acquire, not to mention illegal.

Hacker culture in casinos

While hacking is indeed illegal, it hasn’t stopped a few from doing it especially in casinos where money is at stake. Some have even succeeded in cheating slots even those with advanced technology.

For example, a man named Rodolfo Rodriguez Cabrera hacked the system of a game developing company and illegally sold them to seedy bars and casinos in the 1970s.

Cabrera was interested in the slot games made by the International Game Technology or IGT and wanted to tinker with them to find out how they work. By connecting the memory cards of different slot machines and creating circuit boards, he was able to access IGT’s system and load any game from their server.

Though his discovery didn’t make winning easier, it did, however, make him rich when he sold the software in lower-profile locations like Latvia. Eventually, he ceased all operations after he was arrested and extradited to the United States.

This incident happened decades ago and the same situation may not be possible today thanks to the speedy development of digital slot games. However, as all things progressed with technology, so did the methods of hacking.

As a result, this culture of breaking into systems cannot be fully eliminated. Lots of programmers and statistics enthusiasts continue to try their luck in the hopes of making a breakthrough in the slot machine algorithm.

Source codes in online casinos

Because of cases like Cabrera’s, developers have created more complex and complicated software that is now almost impossible to break through. Today, games have source codes that depend on the RNG or PRNG algorithm to produce unpredictable and random results.

With the use of seed values and millions of different outcomes, its chances of being hacked are extremely low. The source codes of each game, developer or platform can vary as well, making the hacking process an even more difficult task.

Security and CAPTCHA in today’s online casinos

Hacking incidents in the past decade have made casino security tighter than ever before. Aside from using secure source codes, casinos extend their security measures by using authentication processes like 2-factor authentication and CAPTCHA.

Most sites today require 2FA for users as another level of security. On the other hand, CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart) ensures that the entity accessing the website or game is human and not code. The process requires identifying a photo or a specific subject in a series of grids, something that bots cannot do.

Are rigged results possible?

With source codes and algorithms only accessible to game providers and possibly online casinos, it begs the question: can they rig game results?

This is unlikely to happen because the random number generators work both ways, not only for the players but for those who host or created the game as well. This way, players can ensure the impartiality and fairness of the online slot games.

Other slot machine strategies and tips you can try

Since the chances of hacking a slot machine algorithm are very slim, the next best thing you can do is to try out some other strategies to increase your chances of winning. See some of the additional tips you can make use of while playing slot games on a platform like Bitcasino:

Understand the RTP

You will notice that every slot game has its own Return to Player Percentage or RTP. The higher the value of the RTP, the higher your chances are of winning a payline or triggering bonus features. With thousands of slot games out there, you can narrow down your search and play the ones with higher RTPs. 

Choosing games with high win frequency rates gives you more of a chance to win something than nothing at all. This is so you don’t end up wasting all of your money and at least gain some profit back for your next games. 

Understand what RNG means and how it works

Some casino players believe that RNGs in slot games can be easily hacked by simply listing down every outcome to determine what comes next. But even with extensive knowledge of statistics and probability, it’s close to impossible to figure out the next outcome of a slot game especially since game results are independent of each other. 

So if you want to get the most out of playing online slot machines, purely relying on RNG and potentially hacking it should not be the only strategy in your arsenal. Instead, find possible related techniques that take advantage of this randomness like betting strategies.

Familiarise yourself with the game rules and features

A slot strategy that some players tend to overlook is the idea of learning the rules and bonus features of the slot game. Keep in mind that while learning how to play slot machines is easy, the online versions of it nowadays tend to be a tad more complex. 

Be sure to take a look at the rules and additional information about the game first. Understand the RTP and how you can potentially trigger bonus features to increase your chance of winning. That way, you’re not blindly spinning the reels and waiting for the jackpot to drop.

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Slot machines are near impossible to hack

The only exceptions that apply to this rule are the malicious rigging of existing slot machines by shady casino entities. Obviously, this is illegal and put into practice by unlicensed online casinos. It’s for this reason that players need to make sure they are playing on a reputable site with a fully licensed gaming entity at all times. Sites like Bitcasino.io and others go through rigorous internal quality checks to ensure that slot algorithm hacking never takes place.

Thanks to mixing and shifting thousands of sequences and seed numbers, the outcome of a slot machine algorithm is extremely difficult to track in a pattern. Because of its complexity, the results are still random and uncertain. And at the end of the day, slots are all about fun gaming that is left entirely to chance. Part of the excitement of the online casino experience should always be the randomized nature of the games. 

Try your hand at slot machines here at Bitcasino!

Performing a slot machine algorithm hack is something that crosses the mind of most avid slot game players. However, as proven, even this won’t guarantee you winning the jackpot. Slots and other games on the Bitcasino platform are games of chance, so don’t take the fun out of it and simply sit back and enjoy!

Try your hand at other slot games, live dealers, casual games and even sports betting when you make an account and place your bets on the Bitcasino platform. An excellent online casino experience awaits!

Words by: Adi Gregorio