Online slot games are fun, simple and can offer big payouts. They’re also based entirely on chance, so winning or losing depends on luck – or the lack of it.

Different slots come with different themes, soundtracks, additional features and symbols but what they all have in common is that they run on random number generators (RNG). These are special algorithms that produce random numbers every millisecond – ensuring that each spin of the reels is completely independent of the previous one and that there’s no pattern that can be predicted by players.

The RNG is what makes playing slots online safe and fair for all players. All the other gimmicks such as spinning reels or a slow down of the animation after a win are just there for entertainment and to make you feel like your luck has changed – which it hasn’t, as all the results have been decided before you even pressed the spin button.

Choosing a slot game is a matter of personal preference, but two important things to look for are the Return to Player (RTP) rate and variance. The RTP rate reveals how much the game gives back to players and the variance shows how often a slot pays out and how large its winnings are. You can find these on the game’s help screen or in its pay table. A high RTP rate means the game is more likely to pay out, while a low variance slot may not pay out as often but when it does, its wins will be bigger.