When you play slot, you have a number of different chances to land a winning combination. These can include paylines, which are patterns that match symbols need to line up across to form a payout. A pay table lists all the symbols that can appear on a slot and how much you will win for landing them (typically 3, 4 or 5 matching symbols) on a winning payline. Historically, pay tables appeared directly on slot machines, but now they are more often embedded into the help screens.

While there are many myths about slot, there is a general consensus that players can improve their odds by understanding how slots work and the differences in paytables between games. Here are some of the most common tips:

Know that each spin is random. It may be difficult for some players to accept, but the outcome of any spin is determined by an RNG chip which randomly chooses numbers from a massive spectrum each time you press the spin button. This means that a winning combination is not ‘due’ to land and that it can be hit at any time, even after the reels stop spinning.

Look at the paytable before you start playing. Ensure that you understand the symbols and paylines, and check the paytable for any bonus features that are available. Also check the RTP rate, which will give you a good idea of how likely it is that a slot game will return your money over the long term.