From the lights to the sounds, everything about a slot machine is designed to entice you. It’s also designed to get you to play for as long as possible (time is money). Whether you are playing traditional mechanical machines or the newer video versions, there are strategies that can help you maximize your potential winnings.

The first step is knowing the terminology. There are a lot of misunderstandings about how slots work, especially when it comes to the different types of payouts. We’ve compiled all the information you need to know in one place, so you can start winning like a pro in no time.

When you insert cash or a ticket with a barcode into a slot, it activates the reels to rearrange symbols and triggers a pay table based on what the game pays out when certain combinations appear. Each spin of the reels is determined by a random number generator, which runs dozens of numbers per second. When a signal is received (anything from a button being pressed to a handle being pulled) the RNG sets a number, and the reels stop on that combination.

If the pay table explains how the different symbols can be paid out, it’s important to understand that this is only what happens in theory. The odds of any specific symbol appearing on a payline or during a bonus feature are based on the number of stops the reels make, and these odds are set by the manufacturer.