When people play slot machines they’re essentially playing a game of chance. Each time they press the spin button a random-number generator sets a number and then determines what combination of symbols will land on the reels and how big that combination is. Because there’s so much going on in a typical slot machine, it can be hard to keep track of it all and this is why developers have included pay tables that detail how payouts, jackpots and bonus features work.

Charles Fey’s invention of the slot machine in 1887 revolutionized gambling. His machine replaced the old poker symbols with diamonds, spades, horseshoes, hearts and liberty bells—three aligned liberty bells being the highest win. The Fey machine was also the first to allow automatic payouts and used three reels making it easier to align symbols. Today’s video slots can have up to fifty pay lines and often feature a variety of games that can be played depending on how the pay lines add up.

One effective strategy for winning at a slot machine is to look for machines that have recently cashed out. This is because there’s a decent chance that the player left the machine after a big win and the amount of their cashout will be displayed on the machine. It’s a good idea to check this information before you play as it can help you avoid some common misconceptions like believing that a machine is due to hit after a long losing streak.