Types of Online Slots Games

Overview

With hundreds of online casinos and many different casino software developers, there is much competition in the industry. The software providers are continually developing their software and games to offer better features and enhanced functions. Some software providers offers hundreds of online slots titles in their game suites with more being developed all the time. These games come in different forms and it is worthwhile to understand the different types before you begin playing.

Classic Slots

Classic slots are more similar to the original slots machines. They most commonly have three reels and one payline, although you may find some with five reels. These games are a more simplified version of online slots and generally do not include additional features and functions. They are ideal for someone looking for a straightforward slots game.

Video Slots

Most of the online slots games available today are video slots. These games include new and impressive features and functions that aim to increase the player’s chance of winning through interactive or entertaining side games. There are different types of video slots games.

Multi-payline slots have multiple paylines which increase the player’s chance of hitting a winning combination. You can find games with 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 or even 100 paylines. Alternatively, you can find games with no paylines, but with 243 or 1,024 ways to win.

Bonus slots are the most popular type of online slots games. These games are unique from one another and offer a selection of bonus features. These may include wild symbols that substitute for other symbols to complete a winning combination, scatter symbols that do not need to appear on a payline to trigger a win and multipliers that multiply your winning payout, as well as free spins bonus rounds and bonus feature games. Other features have been added to slots more recently, as software providers compete to stay ahead in the industry. Other features may include a nudge feature, hold and spin, random jackpots and more. Some online slots games also offer gamble features that allow players to gamble to increase their winning payouts.

Progressive Slots

Progressive slots are popular and exciting online slots games. Progressive slots machines collect a portion of each bet placed on the machine and add it to a progressive jackpot. These machines may be stand-alone machines, they may be connected to other machines in the casino or they may be part of a wider progressive jackpot network. The games most commonly pay out if a specific winning combination is hit when playing with the maximum number of coins; however there are also progressive jackpots that are awarded randomly. Progressive jackpots can get large enough to offer life-changing payouts.

How to Play Online Slots

Overview

Some online casinos offer hundreds of unique online slots titles. In addition, there are many different types of games available. While the principles of the games are the same, there may be slight differences to be aware of. Slots is a random game run by a random number generator and this makes the games simple to understand and to learn how to play.

Choosing a Game

Before you begin an online slots game, you must choose the game you are going to play. First, decide on the type of game you are interested in playing – a classic slots game, a video slots game or a progressive slots game. Then, make sure you find an online slots machine with a betting range that suits your bankroll. This will help you to keep playing for longer and increase your chances of winning, instead of using up your bankroll in a couple of spins. Finally, you can choose your game based on the theme, graphics, animations and sounds that appeal to you. You can find almost any theme imaginable, from the Ancient Roman Empire to aliens and anything in between.

Playing Slots

Online slots is one of the easiest games to learn how to play. In order to start the game, you need to place a bet. Choose your bet size by deciding on the coin denomination you want to play with and the number of coins you will use. Place your bet and click on the ‘spin’ button to start the reels spinning. You then simply need to sit back and wait for the reels to come to a stop to reveal if you have hit a winning combination. You will be paid out for any winnings according to the pay table posted on the screen. When playing video slots games, your spin may activate a bonus round – free spins or a bonus feature game. If you activate a free spins game, it will generally play automatically until the free spins have been used up. If you activate a bonus feature game, you may need to play an interactive game that can come in many forms. You will be paid out for any winnings and taken back to the main game screen. Some online slots games offer a gamble feature that allows you to gamble to increase your winnings.

Progressive Slots

Progressive slots are a popular variation of slots games. Commonly, if you want to be eligible for the progressive jackpot in the game, you will need to bet with the maximum number of coins. Make sure to play on a machine where you can choose a coin denomination that is small enough to let you bet with the maximum number of coins to be eligible for the progressive jackpot.

History of Online Slots Games

Overview

Slots are the most popular games at any casino – land-based or online. They are so popular that they often make up at least half of the games suites at any casino. Slots games date back to the 19^th century and over the years they have been developed and enhanced into the interactive, graphically-rich, feature-filled games that are available today. Online slots come in a wide range of variations with something to suit all players.

The Pre-Cursor to the Slots Machine

The pre-cursor to the slots machine was a poker-type game developed by Sittman and Pitt in 1891. The machine consisted of five drums with ten playing cards on each drum. Players pulled a long lever to start the drums spinning and the aim was to land on the best five-card poker hand possible. The ten of Spades and Jack of Hearts were removed from the deck.

The First Slot Machine

The first slot machine was invented in 1895 by Charles Fey. The machine had three spinning reels, each with ten symbols. Players would pull a lever to set the reels spinning with the aim to line up three identical symbols. The highest payout was for three Liberty Bells and the machine became known as the Liberty Bell.

Electromechanical Slots are Invented

Bally, the pinball machine producer, developed the first electromechanical slot machine in 1963. Powered by electricity, the machine did not require an assistant to run it. It also featured sound effects, as well as a hopper to catch winning payouts. In 1970, the size of the hopper was increased to allow it to hold more money and this was the beginning of large payouts. Around the same time, Bally hired a computer programmer, named Inges Telnaes, to develop a random number generator for the machines that would ensure their fairness. These are still used today when you play online slots.

Video Slots Games

Video slots games were introduced in casinos in Las Vegas in 1975. These machines did not catch on immediately as players were wary of the technology as they could not see the physical reels spinning. In the 1980s the games finally became popular.

Online Slots Games

With the first online casinos in the mid-1990s, slots games went online. These games can now be enjoyed by players from all over the world, from the comfort of their own homes. If anything, slots games have only become more popular since they became available online. As technology has improved, the features and functions of these games have been enhanced and some online casinos offer hundreds of unique online slots titles in their games suites. There is something for all types of players and all sizes of bankroll when playing online slots.