The slot machine is the most popular casino game, offering some of the highest jackpots in the industry. But it’s not without its hazards, especially for newcomers who are unfamiliar with the rules and strategies of the game. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get up to speed quickly:

Start with a Budget

A good way to keep your gambling under control is to make it a planned part of your entertainment budget, like you would treat a movie ticket or night out at a restaurant. This will ensure that you don’t lose more than you can afford to win, and will help prevent a potentially disastrous loss.

Play with Max Lines/Coins

The more lines you play, the more chances you have to win. Most slots have multiple paylines that unlock different payouts, so if you’re playing with a maximum bet, it makes sense to try and hit as many of those lines as possible. If you’re not sure how to do this, read the game’s “info” section and watch its video results to see what each payline looks like before making a bet.

Focus on Speed

The faster you spin, the more likely you are to get a winning combination. To do this, reduce distractions as much as possible, including silencing your cell phone and keeping your eyes on the screen. Ultimately, this will maximize your winnings by giving you the best odds of hitting that elusive jackpot.

Know Your Odds

A random number generator (RNG) determines your sequence, which is then mapped to each reel stop by the computer. The result is that each reel has a unique set of stops, and only those stops can produce the winning combination. This means that your chances of winning are independent of the results of previous spins, so you can always expect a certain percentage of wins.

The first modern slot machine was invented in the 19th century by a New York company called Sittman and Pitt. Their machine had five spinning drums with a total of 50 poker symbols, and winning was achieved by lining up winning combinations. Later, manufacturers began using electronics and programming to weight particular symbols, increasing their probability of appearing on a payline by increasing the odds of their matching with adjacent symbols. In the 1980s, slot machines were programmed to allow up to 22 symbol combinations and 10,648 possible outcomes. This reduced jackpot sizes and improved payout frequencies, but still didn’t guarantee any specific outcome of a spin.