When playing a slot, players have to keep track of several things like paylines, symbols and bonus features. To make this easier, slot games include information tables known as pay tables. The pay table will show the different symbols and their payouts, as well as how many of them you have to land in a winning combination. This information is often presented in a visual manner and with bright colors to help players understand it better.
When a player inserts cash into a slot machine or, in ticket-in, ticket-out machines, places a paper ticket with a barcode in the designated slot, the machine activates reels that spin and stop to rearrange the symbols. Then the machine prints a receipt with the winnings, which can be cashed out or used to play again. Many slot games have a theme that is reflected in the symbols and other bonus features.
In the case of video slots, which are essentially virtual reels with a representation of multiple reels on a screen, each symbol has its own individual paytable. This is because each possible sequence of symbols on a single reel is assigned a unique number. When the random-number generator receives a signal (which can be anything from a button being pressed to the handle being pulled), it will come up with a number that corresponds with a specific spot on the virtual reel.
Hence, the physical reel will land on the symbol that matches that number. This is why it is very important for players to check the paytables before they start playing any slot. Besides that, players should always gamble responsibly and never be tempted by the thought of quick wins.