When you play a slot machine, the payout depends on which combination of symbols appears on a pay line. Winning combinations have different payout values, which are illustrated in the pay table. Pay tables are usually displayed on the machine’s exterior, but they can also be integrated into the digital screen of video and online slots.

The pay table serves as an important guide for slot players, highlighting how the game’s different features and bonuses work together. It illustrates how the game’s pay lines (which determine winning spins), symbols, scatters and wilds can interact to create larger wins and activate bonus games and features. The pay table is typically influenced by the slot’s theme, but its layout is universal across machines.

Before the era of credit cards and electronic bill validators, people dropped coins into slots to activate games for each spin. In modern casinos, this practice continues to some extent, though it’s less common as the games are based on random number generators. In both live and online casinos, gamblers place their wagers by using coins or paper tickets purchased with credits.

It’s also important to remember that the result of each spin is purely random, and there is no such thing as a “due” payout. Some players become frustrated when they don’t win a jackpot, but they should keep in mind that it is not their fault. If they want to increase their chances of winning, they should stick to the machines that appeal to them and avoid ones with low payout percentages or bad odds.