When you play slot, you’re betting on a series of random numbers to determine the outcome of each spin. The results of the previous spin don’t affect the odds of a future spin, so each one has an equal chance of hitting a winning combination. However, there are some nuances to this concept that you should be aware of.

The first major variation concerns how symbols are used in slot games. While traditional mechanical machines use revolving reels to display and determine wins, newer electronic models work on different principles. Some even have video screens instead of physical reels. When these machines first came out, players were distrustful of them because without a revolving mechanical device, they seemed like they could be rigged.

Manufacturers addressed this by weighting particular symbols, so that their hit frequency was disproportionate to their appearance on the physical reel. This gave the illusion that a symbol was so close to appearing on a payline that it must have been due for a win.

Modern electronic slot machines use computer systems to determine whether a player has won or lost. These systems are more complex than electromechanical ones, but they still operate on the same principle: once the reels stop spinning, the machine needs to read whether there is a winner. This is done with a number-generating algorithm that determines how many combinations are possible, how often the machine should pay out (how loose or tight it is) and so on.