In the modern day, reel tilt refers to a discrepancy between digital reel displays and the outcome of the Random Number Generator. The term “reel tilt” stems from when slots were primarily played with mechanical machines and physical reels. It’s a term meant to describe the difference between what the player sees and the outcome.  While it’s not nearly as common today as it used to be when physical machines could wear down, it’s something that still happens today and something you need to be aware of.  Causes and Technical Explanation With old mechanical machines, reel tilt resulted from worn-out gears, dirty pieces within the machine, and damage done to the machine. There would be instances of reels landing in the incorrect spot. There could be instances where a jackpot might appear, but the internal machine was a simple payline payout. This leads to customer confusion and anger in the case of “losing” a jackpot.  It’s a bit more complex with digital machines, but it’s mostly due to software glitches or synching errors between what’s seen on the screen and what RNG. These can be even more problematic because there’s nothing to point to other than a software glitch. A player could visually see a broken component in a mechanical machine. That’s not the case with digital machines. RNGs are an algorithm that’s programmed to randomly produce a series of numbers, and when a player spins, it stops. This can be a problem because synchronization is dealing with latency issues between the gaming device and the RNG server.  Impact of Reel Tilt on Gameplay When reel tilt occurs, this can derail the playing experience. Spins could stop, there could be lights flashing out of sorts, error messages mid-spin, and more. As mentioned, you can see that you won a jackpot but receive a small payout from a regular payline win. Conversely, if you receive a jackpot payout that doesn’t appear on screen, the casino could nullify this. When this happens, the casino may need to shut down the machine, ending all play on it until a technician comes and repairs it.  There’s nothing worse than people thinking they won massive amounts of money only to find out it was a reel tilt. Not only does this cause frustration, but it’s also led to some legitimate lawsuits from players against casinos.  Notable Cases and Legal Disputes A famous case involved a Waterloo, Iowa, casino in 2015. It was ruled that they wouldn’t need to pay a $41 million jackpot. An 87-year-old woman bet a simple quarter on the machine, and the machine popped up with a message that read: The reels have rolled your way! Bonus Award—$41797550.16. After she and her daughter brought employees over, they ruled it was an error, and they wouldn’t have to pay. Instead, she won $1.85.  Another case earlier this year involved a woman named Roney Beal. She thought she won $2.5 million after hitting the $1.2 million jackpot, but also had a multiplier. This occurred at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  “That’s when the sentences came up ‘tilted,’” she said. “When the man came over to talk to me, he said, ‘Lady, get it in your head, you won nothing.’” The employee then asked her to roll it off and she refused. Her lawyer argued that the casino employee touching the machine after the reel tilt was tampering with evidence.  The casino offered her $350 in exchange and refused to pay the jackpot.  This is common, and yes, casinos have policies against reel tilt. This could read, for example, “malfunction voids all pays and plays.” In some lawsuits, the players and casinos have reached settlements, but it’s incredibly rare for courts to rule against the casino regarding the full payment.  In 2000, there was one incident in which a player did get their money. Jacques Bezou took Harrah Casino in New Orleans, Louisiana, and IGT, the game developer, to court. The jury and an appellate judge sided with Bezou, and IGT was responsible for the $1.3 million jackpot.  Another case came in 2006 where Garrett Griggs brought Harrah Casino and IG to court and a ruling was provided on March 22, 2006. In this case, a slot engineer, James Edward Oatman testified.  Here’s what he said, according to court documents:  Mr. Oatman said that when the reels were spinning before the generation of the random numbers for the game being played, a problem with the third reel was discovered by the machine. The machine was programmed not to select random numbers until the tilt was cleared. Thus, Mr. Oatman concluded that there had been no random number generation, and no jackpot could have been won. Preventing and Resolving Reel Tilt Casinos can prevent reel tilt by regularly maintaining the machine and the technology. Most casinos do that, but sometimes it slips through the cracks. They can also regularly upgrade their RNG software to ensure a better synch between the machine and the software.  When reel tilt occurs, here’s what the casinos do:  Shutdown: The casino immediately shuts it down to prevent anyone else from playing.  Inspect: The casino has an in-house technician check out the machine to determine the cause of the reel tilt.  Repair: After pinpointing the issue, the technician fixes it and recalibrates the machine, and the casino puts the game back online for people to play.  It may be tough to reconcile with as a player, but this is real, and it does happen. I’ve personally never had this happen to me, but I can understand the emotional whiplash of feeling like you won only to find out you didn’t. Try to work something out with the casino if the situation is a true reel tilt.  Take your pick and enjoy our incredible slots below or click here to dive into our wide array of free slots. Industry Innovations and Future Trends As technology advances, so too does the chance of software glitches. RNG technology that can integrate with the visual displays will help, but technology that can track and fix errors would assist with less downtime. If technology could recalibrate and re-synchronize machines overnight when a casino is closed, that would also be massively helpful. Regulators in states with casinos play a massive role. Having laws in place for reel tilt protects the player and the casino. Some laws can also mandate that machines need to meet a specific technical standard that would also help reduce the risk of reel tilt.  Here are some other types of software that I could foresee leading the charge against reel tilt:  Blockchain: This technology will ensure transparent data records and make it easier to verify what happened.  5G: As this improves, so too does the risk of latency issues.  Quantum RNGs: These RNGs generate truly random numbers, which will reduce potential errors.  AI: This technology can detect errors and provide instant feedback.  Conclusion Reel tilt is never a fun thing to deal with, but it’s a real issue that doesn’t happen in casinos. Being aware that this issue exists can set you up for a much more pleasant gaming experience and help you not feel like you won $40 million only to find out it was $1.85.  This is something that’s becoming less common over time and my hope is we eventually reach a place technologically where it no longer occurs so we can enjoy slots without interruptions or issues. 

Some players hop around the casino to different slot machines like they are playing musical chairs. Others are slow and steady and move to other games much less often, favoring to stay focused on one slot or at least just a few. But how does this affect the potential to win?  Is it better to play one slot machine or move around? The quick answer is that it doesn’t matter. Some high-tech inner workings have more to do with the result of a slot spin than what a player does. While some players believe it’s best to hop around and others believe it’s important to stay put and wait for a big payout, the fact is the outcome of playing slots doesn’t change by switching machines or staying in one place – it’s all luck and randomness. Keep reading to learn more about these two strategies and some of the fallacies involved in these lines of thinking. Understanding Slot Machines and the RNG While some players believe their actions and approaches to a game can affect the result of a slot spin, the real truth is that this isn’t true – it all comes down to chance or luck. Modern games make use of complex software that includes a random number generator (RNG) that constantly runs billions of possible outcomes. When a player hits the spin button, the RNG determines the result of a spin based on the slot computer’s inner workings. This ensures a random outcome. Therefore, no matter a person’s strategy, either moving around from machine to machine or focusing on a single game, the RNG still determines a random win. The result of each spin has no bearing on the following spin, thanks to the random number generator (RNG). So whether a player stays on a machine or moves on to another is based more on personal preference than potential winnings. The simple fact is that slot machine odds aren’t good and casinos have as much as a 15% house edge. The odds of winning can range from 1 in 5,000 to more than one in  35 million. Winning those top prizes comes with some extremely long odds, so players should always see slot play as entertainment and not be solely focused on winning a major payout. The Strategy of Sticking to One Slot Machine Looking at these two approaches may offer some insight into differing types of players. Those who like to focus more on one game or who may get overwhelmed by too much change may prefer the “single machine” approach to slot gaming. The players may feel more relaxed with the familiarity and comfort that comes with playing a particular machine. They may also prefer a more laid-back slot-playing experience in general as well. Here’s a look at a few of the advantages and disadvantages of this style of play PROS CONS Comfort and relaxed feeling Lack of variety Fewer changes Players may play too quickly, sapping their bankroll Familiarity with a certain game For example, a player in Las Vegas named “Tim” prefers parking himself at one of his favorite machines. This game offers some gameplay and bonus games that he enjoys and can also produce some bigger payouts as well if he can find some winning combinations. Tim finds that playing too many games can become distracting and prefers simply to play his game for a while and take a break now and then for a drink or a meal. Players certainly have different preferences on the number of games they play and Tim’s approach is just as good as anyone else’s. It’s just important that all players are at the mercy of the RNG. The Strategy of Moving Around Slot Machines For some slot players, staying one place too long just won’t work. They prefer more movement and more action. For example, a player named “Sharon” is a regular player at live casinos in the southern U.S. and said that she enjoys switching machines frequently. She gets bored if a winning spin doesn’t come quickly and prefers to move on to something different. These types of players enjoy a little more spice by trying different machines to enhance the gaming experience. If some winnings don’t come their way, they might jump ship. Some of these players may also decide it’s time to exit after finding some winning spins. Here’s a look at some of this style’s advantages and disadvantages: PROS CONS Getting to see a variety of games More difficult to focus on the game's various nuances May play slower, making bankroll last longer More frequent changes may become overwhelming Players may be less likely to get bored While players may have certain beliefs and strategies about how long to play at a slot, these are irrelevant. As noted, all payouts are based on the RNG. A player staying at one machine may not win for a spin after a spin or may also win big several times. A player hopping around may strike out or may also find a few nice payouts here and there – it’s all random because of the RNG.  Discover the excitement of Jackpot Party's free slots—no download required! Additional Considerations in Slot Machine Gaming Beyond simply the amount a player changes machines, there are numerous other considerations players take into effect when playing. Most of these also do not affect how a slot machine pays out. All of these concepts can also apply to playing slots online as well. Stopping a Slot Machine vs. Letting It Spin Many players have differing views on this topic. Some prefer to let the reels finish out while others prefer to stop the reels before the spin is complete. It makes no difference and either method will yield the same result that’s already determined by the RNG. However, stopping them over a long time may speed up the action more and make that bankroll drain sooner if you don’t find some nice wins. Does that work for you? Optimal Duration on a Slot Machine The exact time to spend at a slot machine before moving on is arbitrary and up to a player’s tastes. Some may prefer to stay a certain amount of time or a certain number of spins. Other slot fans may just play by feel and hope to at least see some winnings after at least a few spins.  The 5 Spin Slot Machine Strategy This is a popular slot machine strategy with many players who aren’t afraid to move from machine to machine quickly. This is kind of a “hit and run” approach to playing slots that was introduced by a YouTube slot player named “Professor Slots.” This concept calls for players to spin five times at a machine or when playing online.  If a player wins in those five spins or doesn’t win, then it’s time to move on to another machine. These five spins are arbitrary and irrelevant, however. The RNG is the sole decider of a winning spin. As AskGamblers.com notes: As the theory relies on the ‘cold’ versus ‘hot’ slots (slots that are not paying out versus the slots that are about to pay out), a theory that has long since been disputed, you can see why no one can guarantee the success of the five spin method, either. Budget Management No matter a player’s strategy, a solid approach to the payer budget and bankroll can make the experience more enjoyable. Set a budget and stick to it. Those who hit the ATM often are in danger of using other funds that may be needed for critical household expenditure. Those who play smart and make their bankroll last longer have a better chance at winning. Playing at a level of stakes you can also afford is also critical. Players may even want to set a budget per day to ensure they stay within certain limits. Setting aside some winnings as you play may also be a good idea. Responsible Gaming Staying safe and playing slots should go hand in hand. Stay within a budget and don’t “chase losses.” Some signs of problem gambling include: Hiding gambling behavior Financial hardships caused by gambling Borrowing or stealing money Gambling despite negative consequences Family troubles and conflicts Using alcohol or drugs more often Players who believe they have some gambling issues should avoid playing slots and seek out help. The National Council on Problem Gambling can help.  Conclusion While the two strategies in this article, staying at one slot versus moving among many games, may not affect the results of a slot, they may be more of a personal preference. A player simply may feel more comfortable using their style of gaming. Having fun in a casino is what it’s all about and players should do what makes them feel good. Whether either style of play is more beneficial is up to individual tastes. Are you one who tends to play just a single game or two? Maybe it’s time to get out of your comfort zone and add some game variety. Are you mixing it up a lot? Maybe try to focus on just a few games and see how it feels. No matter what way you go, it’s important to remember that the RNG ultimately decides wins and losses.