An online slot machine is a video game where you can bet virtual money or credits. These credits represent your bankroll, and the number of coins or tokens you have available to wager will determine how much you can win. There are different types of slot games with varying return to player (RTP) percentages, volatility levels, maximum win values, and bonus features.

Modern slot machines have a microprocessor that assigns a probability to each symbol on each reel. This probability is then multiplied by the number of lines in a machine, to determine the odds of hitting a particular symbol on a payline. The computer then uses an internal sequence table to find the corresponding reel locations and causes them to stop at those placements. The symbols in the payline will then indicate if the spin was a winning one or not.

A “tilt” is a malfunction of a slot machine that causes it to misalign or stop the reels. This is most commonly due to a mechanical problem such as the door switch being in the wrong position, but can also be caused by a software bug or other technical issue. Historically, electromechanical slot machines would have tilt switches that would make or break a circuit to detect this type of fault. Modern machines no longer use these switches, but any type of tampering or other malfunction will trigger a “tilt” alarm. This will stop the machine from paying out and usually elicits an audible alarm to alert the patrons.