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The classic slot machine works on an elaborate configuration of gears and levers. However, more recent models of slot machines operate entirely differently. They may look similar to the mechanical machines, but they are controlled by a central computer that determines the outcome of every spin. The underlying computer uses random number generators to generate thousands of combinations per second, which means that no machine is ever “due” for a win or “overdue” for a loss. The random number generators in modern slot machines are tested and certified to ensure that each spin is fair.
Some modern slot machines use a video image rather than actual reels, but they still operate on the same principle. The reels and handles are merely decorative to make the machine more appealing and to give players the illusion that they can control their chances of winning. The fact that the results of each spin are totally random also explains why slot machines don’t pay out more often when they are “due” or when played at certain times of day.
Many people enjoy playing slots because they provide an escape from their everyday lives. Research has shown that a large percentage of gamblers have difficulty maintaining mindfulness in other contexts, and the attention-capturing rewards and intermittent reinforcement associated with slots play allow them to experience dark flow. Dixon et al. found that both PRPs and force measures of reward reactivity were related to the positive aspects of gambling enjoyment, but only the latter was significantly associated with dark flow in a multiple regression model.