Why are there Different Types of Slots Available to Players?
Slot machine games are a dime a dozen. What began with Charles August Fey’s iconic Liberty Bell slot machine game in 1895 has rapidly become a multi-billion-dollar global industry comprising thousands of slot machine games all over the world. For the purposes of explanation, Casinofy broadly identifies 3 unique types of slots, namely: classic slots, video slots, and progressive slots. Within each of these subsets are scores of different slot machine games.
In the days of yore, slot machine games a.k.a. one-armed bandits were mechanical devices with a lever to spin the reels. Nowadays, one-armed bandits are more likely to be found at Las Vegas slot machine museums, pawnshops, and the basements of slot machine collectors. Fortunately, the evolution of the slot machine has been met with tremendous enthusiasm among players. Though rare, it is still possible to seek out rudimentary slot machine games – along the same lines of those classic slots by Charles Fey and ilk, at downtown Las Vegas casinos, Reno casinos, and even at saloons where gambling is permitted.
Classic Slots – The Games That Got Players Hooked
Our Casinofy guide to classic slots features all of the information needed by players to understand how these exciting slot machine games work. Rudimentary by today’s standards, classic slots are easily identified by 3 spinning reels. Unlike modern-day video slot machine games which feature 5 reels, multiple paylines, in-game animation, audio-visual displays, and movie-style overlays, classic slots are simple, fun, and potentially rewarding. A classic slot machine game features 3 reels and a center payline.
It is possible for a 3 reel slot machine game to have 9 paylines, or more, but the idea of a classic slot is rooted in its simplicity. The symbols which adorne the reels on a classic slot machine game include fruit-themed elements like pineapples, grapes, watermelons, bananas, strawberries, flaming 7s, bells, bars, and the like. As a rule, classic slots will not feature much animation, if at all. The advent of video slots has given rise to multiple categories of slot machine players, some of whom prefer the throwback appeal of classic slots, while others tend to relish the action-packed adventures of video slots and progressive slots.
Video Slots – Action and Animation Galore
Video slot machine games are the most popular slots of all. They encompass a wide variety of slot machine games, including themed slots, animated slots, throwback slots, multi-reel slots, fixed payline slots, variable payline slots, and beyond. The identifying characteristics of video slots games are the video-style elements at play in these games. These slots showcase 5 reels, typically with 20 or 25 lines in play.
However, there are many game developers which have created online slots games with hundreds of ways to win. With 5 reels in play, players have many more combinations of winning symbols to form. Video slots games are peppered with action – there’s never a dull moment. Multiple symbols adorn each reel, allowing players to experience a ‘Vegas-esque’ extravaganza of entertainment.
Video slot machine games almost always feature high-paying symbols, and low-paying symbols. The high-paying symbols will include the Wild and Scatter symbols, and the main characters of the slot machine game. For example, if you were playing Cleopatra slots, Cleopatra may serve as a Wild, or a Scatter, as well as the high-paying symbol. Other symbols such as the pyramids, the Sphinx, Anubis, hieroglyphs, and other ancient Egyptian artefacts may complete the listing of high-paying symbols in the game.
Slot machine symbols are determined by the software developer for each and every game that is created. The low-paying symbols will usually include 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, or combinations thereof. Video slots usually add many unique symbols for the Wilds and Scatters. A Wild symbol is instantly recognizable, since it is usually the main character in the themed slot game. It substitutes for other symbols to form winning combinations, except for the Scatter symbol. When 3+ Scatter symbols form, players typically win ‘Free Spins’ on video slots games.
Feature-Filled Slot Machine Games
Many other fascinating elements are at play in video slots games such as Bonus Rounds where players can win big prizes during in-game features, Free Spins rounds, Gamble Features (players typically choose a Red or Black card, or for an even bigger prize the correct suit of the card from 4 options (diamonds, hearts, spades, clubs). Autoplay functionality is yet another feature inherent in video slot machine games. This allows you to spin the reels a set number of times at a fixed bet value, until such time as you disable Autoplay.
Video slot machine games are thematic masterpieces. Tremendous effort goes into crafting these themed attractions, and you will instantly notice a veritable smorgasbord of options available to you. Themes include horror slots, action-packed slots, romance slots, ancient Egyptian slots, jungle-themed slots, movie slots, throwback slots, space-age slots, interstellar slots, and countless others. Players are able to select video slots by game name, software provider, category, and sometimes even by game features.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
While classic slots and video slots are exciting, many players find the most enticing slots to be the jackpot slots, or progressive jackpot slots. As its namesake suggests, progressive jackpot slots feature a progressive jackpot which builds with every real-money bet that is placed on the slot machine game. These are not classic slots, since progressive slots feature 5 spinning reels and multiple paylines at play.
A small percentage of every real-money bet that is wagered on these games goes towards the jackpot prize pool. Given that so many players are competing across the network, the likelihood of winning a progressive jackpot is low. But this doesn’t stop players from participating. The broad term, ‘progressive jackpot slot’ could refer to many different types of progressive jackpot slot machine games. These include the following:
- Stand-Alone Progressives – these slot machine games are not connected to other slots and are typically found at land-based casinos only.
- Wide-Area Progressives – these progressive jackpots are connected to a network of different casinos with many different players competing at the same time for the jackpot prize. For example, NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech, Play’N GO, and other software providers have networks of casinos that use their software and their progressive jackpot games.
- In-House Progressives – these progressive jackpot games are found at one casino or online casino. The progressive jackpot slots are connected at the same casino, but not outside of the casino. The jackpot prize is substantially bigger than a stand-alone progressive jackpot slot, but much smaller than a wide-era progressive jackpot slot.
If you play Marvel progressive jackpot games, you may notice a Mini, Minor and Major jackpot meter on the game. Players can level up to higher paying jackpots while they are betting on a slot machine. Most of the time, the jackpots are randomly struck, and the only determining elements are the size of your bets.
The Final Word: Casinofy encourages players to carefully read up about the different types of slot machine games that are available. Classic slots are excellent choices for beginners or experienced slots players. They make for a welcome change from the high-octane energy of a video slot, or a progressive jackpot slot. Penny slots tend to fall in the classic slots category, although not always. Video slots are bustling with activity and big payout potential. Always factor the RTP and house edge in mind when playing different types of slots games.
