Computer Selection Table

A list of all possible reel symbol combinations on a slot machine.

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The computer selection table is a detailed table of every possible reel symbol combinations and is found on the slot machine's random number generator. The RNG cycles through the computer selection table at the rate of several hundred placements on the table per second. When a player pays his money and hits the spin button, the RNG selects the latest number chosen off the computer selection table and determines if the player won.

The reel symbols no longer have anything to do with determining a winner on a modern slot machine. Instead, the video reels are a visual aid or entertaining enhancement for the player, used to keep him in suspense or simply for the sake of slot machine form. In actuality, the computer selection table is the important determiner on the machine.

Some players believe they can beat the slot machines by figuring out the up/down cycle on a slot machine. Because there is a computer selection table, these players believe there are certain sections of the list where the odds of winning money are larger (an up slot) and certain portions of the list where the odds of winning money are smaller (the down slot). A player must walk away in a down cycle and keep playing in an up cycle.

Unfortunately, it would be virtually impossible for a player to accurately determine where on the computer selection table the RNG is focused, since a player will only see less than 1% of all selections made by the RNG at any given time.