Linked slot machines are pretty common on casino floors today, as the popularity of these formats has grown over time. Some players wonder how those linked machines work when it comes to payouts:
Do you think that the amount of games being played on linked games affects the determination of the spins? Since they are linked, the spins from other people have to factor into timing, right?
Kimberly H.
Even when slot machines are linked, the outcome of each spin is independent of each other within a bank, and each machine’s outcome is solely determined by the random number generator (RNG) within that specific slot. Other machines’ outcomes have no impact on your outcomes.
What is linked are the progressive jackpot prize or prizes, depending on the structure of the machine. By linking machines, there can be offers of bigger top prizes, and they can grow faster, since multiple machines are adding to the balance. Of course, they can also be won more frequently, since more machines are able to tap into the top prize as an award.
So ultimately, your outcomes are still your own, but if your neighbor hits that Grand just before you do, you’re going to feel that in the form of a smaller payout, simply because the progressive has just reset. As such, our normal advice about checking around for the best progressives applies here.
And of course, certain games, like Dancing Drums and Ultimate Fire Link, share multiple progressives, including Minis and Minors that can reset a lot more often given the frequency that they can be hit, so a neighbor hitting one just before you can be even more noticeable.
But if you’re both in a bonus at the same time, we’ve previously shared advice on the site about how to lock in a progressive before your neighbor.
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