At SuperCasinoSites, fans of slots can learn all about the classic game which is available across numerous online casinos. This website has been created by expert gamblers who have shared their knowledge with the readers on this site. Before you start playing slots online, you can read articles about how the results are determined in a fair way.
For many players, slots are a fun way to gamble. Unlike blackjack or poker, they’re easy to play and require no previous experience, so they can be enjoyed by nearly anyone.
Slots Evolution
1Early Years
Slots first appeared in the United States around 1890 and are often associated with Charles Fey, who created the first slot machine. The Liberty Bell machine was the first slot machine to be invented, by Charles Fey. It was much simpler than today’s machines–people used to insert a nickel and pull a lever which triggered the mechanical spinning of the reels. If they got three Liberty Bell symbols, they won 10 nickels (which were worth much more back then). Or if they got a bar of chewing gum, this is where the BAR symbol comes from.
2Nowadays
Slot machines have come a long way since they were first introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century. Although they are still played in casinos around the world, their appearance and operation have changed dramatically over time. Mechanical spinning no longer determines whether we win or lose at slot machines; instead, random number generators ensure fairness and random results by preventing manipulation of any kind.
3The Future
Slot machines, which are much newer than traditional slot machines, have a much more modern look. They have beautiful animations and state-of-the-art videos that create a truly unique gambling experience. And they’re more exciting than traditional slot machines because they have bonus rounds, lots of special symbols, free spins and many other features like progressive jackpots.
SLOTS BASICS
How Slots Work
Random Number Generator
Paylines and Bets
Slot machines are often considered a game of chance, but they are actually governed by extremely complicated computer algorithms. Players who want to improve their chances of winning need to learn the basics of slot games before they start playing.
Slot machines are simple and straightforward. You play against a machine or computer, not against other players or a dealer. Traditional slot machines have physical levers and reels with several common symbols such as bars, double bars or cherries. Fruit machines are called that because they use fruit symbols; those have been replaced by different images over the years.
Slot machines, also known as one-armed bandits and gambling machines, are used in casinos to play poker and other card games. Video slots have a graphical representation of 3, 5 or sometimes 6 reels on the screen.
When you play slots, you place your bets on the reels. They spin around and stop, showing you whether you win or lose. If you get matching symbols across any of the pay lines of the game, you win! The highest payout (called a jackpot) is usually given for a rare combination and if you’re playing with maximum coins.
In the early days of slots, there were only a few pay lines. Today, you can find slots with up to 100 pay lines. The more pay lines you see, the more opportunities there are for winning in the game. Payouts depend on the pay table of each game–factors include the number of matched symbols and your bet size. Each slot is different; some even double your winning or give you a higher win when special symbols appear on reels–sometimes they act like multipliers or substitutes.
To understand how slot machines work, you have to know about Random Number Generators (RNGs). These devices are built into the slots and are designed to ensure that the odds of winning any particular combination remain the same from one spin to another. The belief that a machine is due for a big payout after a certain number of plays is just a myth–modern RNG-based slots are never due.
The Random Number Generator is an electronic device that produces random numbers. The Random Number Generator is similar to the microprocessors found in computers, which produce thousands of random sequences per second.
True random number generators are used to generate numbers that cannot be predicted or reproduced. Pseudo-random number generators, or PRNGs, use algorithms to generate long sequences of numbers, but they are not truly random because they depend on a seed value. True randomness can be hard to find and sometimes impossible; therefore, PRNGs are usually used instead.
Tip: While the game is not being played at, the processing of random sequences of numbers will still continue.
Every virtual casino game – slots, blackjack, roulette, or video poker – is run by an algorithm called a random number generator (RNG). The numbers it generates correspond to positions on the reels. When you press Spin or Play, the most recent number generated is used to determine the result. All this happens in a fraction of a second, so players can’t predict what combination they’ll hit or count symbols. Casinos can’t adjust a machine so that it pays out its jackpot once in a few months, for example. If a game uses RNG instead of fixed odds to determine results, it can’t be manipulated by anyone but its maker.
The Random Number Generator (RNG) is a computer algorithm that determines the outcome of a game. The hit frequency indicates how often a winning combination will appear in the game, and it ranges from 3% to 40%. A hit frequency of 20%, for example, means that the game will stop on a winning combination about 20% of the time. These numbers can be confusing because a 3% hit frequency may sound unappealing but typically such games offer players an opportunity to win a really huge jackpot. Video poker games often have a hit frequency of 40%-45% but half of these wins only award back your initial bet.
One important thing to consider when choosing a game to play is the Return to Player percentage (RTP). The RTP indicates what percentage of all wagers made at a particular game will return to the player as winnings over time. In slots, the RTP greatly varies, but most video slot games have a return of around 90%. When it comes to online slots, the return is even more generous and often more than 95%.
Paylines are an important aspect of slots. In the past, physical slot machines had a single payline that ran across the middle of the reels. Today, video slots have more paylines in different forms – in the shape of V, an upside V and zig zag. The most basic video slots have at least 5 paylines but in some games, their number can reach 25 or even 100.
When you begin to play a slot game, you’ll notice that there are several indicators at the bottom of the screen. One of these is labeled “Lines” and it indicates the number of paylines that are currently active. You can adjust how many paylines you wish to play by clicking on this number and choosing a different number from the drop-down menu that appears. The more paylines you choose to activate, the more chances you have at winning!
According to the payout table, you will win a prize if you match three or more symbols on a payline. If you are playing with $1 on a 20-line slot, your bet per spin will be $20.
Slot machines traditionally pay out winnings for matching symbols that appear from left to right, but many modern games have a “win both ways” feature. This means that winning combinations can be made from right to left as well. The popularity of these games has increased significantly because they give players twice as many ways to win. Another recently introduced feature is the “all ways” win system, which eliminates the paylines and allows players to collect winnings for every possible combination. To score a win, you simply need to land at least 3 matching symbols on consecutive reels. These slots usually indicate the number of ways you can win in formats such as 243 ways, 720 ways or even 1024 and 3125 ways.
When you play slots online, the denomination of the coins and the total size of your bet are determined by three factors: the denomination you choose, the number of active paylines, and how many coins you wish to wager on each line. For example, if you activate 100 lines and bet $0.01 per line ($1 total), then every spin will cost you $1.
Slot games also offer Max Bet, which allows you to bet the maximum amount on all lines and spin with the maximum amount of coins. In many games, this is the only way to win the jackpot, but be careful–the maximum bet can cost several hundred dollars per spin. Some games also offer bonuses triggered by activating Max Bet.
Differences between Classic and Video Slots
There is a wide variety of slot games available in online casinos today. Classic slots are easy to understand, while video slots are more complicated.
They resemble old-fashioned mechanical slot machines in that they have 3 reels and a single payline.
Some players prefer playing classic slot games, but most punters today enjoy the more advanced 5 or 7-reel video slots which feature themes and graphics that are more captivating.
The symbols on modern slot machines are often taken from the fruit machines of a century ago.
Modern video slot games are often based on popular books, films or TV series, with developers taking inspiration from historical periods and ancient mythologies. The result is state-of-the-art games that can be more similar to computer games than classic slots.
Slot machines today are often equipped with 5 or more reels, which makes them more exciting to play. Many studios also add additional paylines or free spin features to their classic games, further improving the experience.
Video slots are a lot of fun because they have so many special symbols, multipliers, free spins and bonus rounds. Some games use the “win both ways” or the “all ways” systems, which make them really unique. Scatter symbols are my favorite because they trigger bonus games that sometimes open in a new window.
Popular Slots
Special Symbols
The first machines to use the Liberty Bell symbol were developed by the Philadelphia-based company Jennings & Buel. The bells were used on five different slot machines, each with different symbols: horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and liberty bells. Later, Chicago-based manufacturer Herbert Mills introduced his Operator Bell slot machine and added fruit symbols. Today’s video slots offer many more themed symbols–Greek gods or African animals for example. Still, many classic symbols remain popular–lemons, cherries, lucky Sevens and liberty bells for example. Most of these symbols do not come with any extra payout; they are the lowest paying symbols in the pay table.
In addition, you might get blank symbols that aren’t associated with any winnings. However, some slots include wild or scatter symbols, which can greatly improve your chances of winning.
Wild Symbols
Wild symbols act like jokers in a slot game, making it easier to form winning combinations. For example, if the player gets two cherries and a wild, the game will give the corresponding payout for three cherries.
Wild symbols usually appear on the reels and in every position. They often have several times higher payout than regular symbols and can replace other special symbols or jackpot symbols.
Wild symbols act as multipliers in many games. They can also trigger bonus rounds or free spins. There are different types of wild symbols, and players should check out the pay table before placing real money bets.
For example, stacked wilds are common in video slots. Unlike regular wild symbols, stacked wilds cover the entire reel. If a second stacked wild lands, your chances of hitting a big win increase significantly. Expanding wilds work similarly: They expand into the entire reel and turn all symbols into wilds.
Wilds that remain in their position for several spins are called sticky wilds. They often form winning combinations. Wilds that keep changing their position are called shifting wilds, and they make the game even more exciting. Trailing wilds turn one of the symbols into a wild and stay for several spins. While one of them remains in its original position, the other moves around the screen.
Scatter Symbols
Scatter symbols are another type of symbol that can be found in most video slots today. They usually appear on the reels and pay out when they land anywhere on the screen, not necessarily on an active pay line.
Scatter symbols can appear anywhere on the reels, and they don’t need to land in any particular order to win you money. When two or more scatters appear anywhere on your screen, you usually enter a bonus round or free spins feature. Some games also let scatter symbols act as multipliers for wins, while others require that you get at least three of them anywhere on your screen to collect a prize.
Special Features
Slot game developers have been steadily getting more creative with special symbols and features. Scatter symbols used to award 5 or 10 free spins, but today online slot games often have bonus games that open in a new window. Multipliers and gamble features are popular, as well as jackpot symbols like cherries and bars.
Free Spins
Many slot games offer free spins, but the way to get them varies from game to game. In many cases, you’ll get free spins as soon as you land three scatter symbols on the reels.
When you have a lot of scatter symbols on the reels, you’ll get more free spins. One of the best things about slots is that when you get more scatters during a free spin, it triggers another sequence of free spins. Many games would also pay out double or triple your winnings from these free spins.
Multipliers
Scatter symbols, wilds and other special symbols can multiply your winnings in certain slot games.
Some games offer extra payouts up to a hundred times the original winning, while others just double it.
Gamble Feature
The gamble feature is a common feature in both online slots and land-based fruit machines. Gamblers can double their winnings by guessing whether a playing card is red or black.
One of the most common types of gambling games includes guessing the color of a playing card. However, some games have different rules–for example, you might be required to pick a winning or losing item, guess the suit of a face down card, or choose one object from several choices.
Bonus Games
The bonus game is the most exciting part of a slot game, as it can be triggered in many different ways. The most common way to trigger a bonus game is by getting 3 bonus symbols, wilds or scatters on the reels.
Before betting, check the paytable. Bonus games can have several levels and award cash prizes or other prizes. Some bonus games require matching cards, others require you to open treasure chests. Fortune wheels and many other types of bonus games are also available.
Software Providers
There are thousands of slot games available–some that can be played at land-based casinos and others specifically created for the web. The variety of types, styles and genres is immense, thanks to fierce competition between software companies who are always trying to stay up-to-date with technology and meet customer expectations.
Software providers that supply the games at famous casinos are known for their high-quality graphics and audio effects, generous jackpots, and interactive gameplay.
Microgaming
Microgaming has a large portfolio of games, even though many of them are quite old.
Still, Microgaming has produced some of the best slot games in the industry. These releases feature plenty of special features, bonus games, and free spins. Although Microgaming is one of the oldest companies in the industry (it’s been around since 1994), it continues to be at the forefront of innovations when it comes to designing slot games.
Thunderstruck II, Immortal Romance and Avalon II are among the most famous video slots from Microgaming. The company has also developed some of the most popular progressive jackpot slots today – the Mega Moolah slot series, Major Millions and King Cashalot.
Net Entertainment
Net Entertainment is a slot machine developer that was founded in 1996 by Swedish entrepreneurs.
NetEnt is one of the most successful gaming studios in the world. They create games with beautiful graphics, exciting animations and big jackpots. They also have touchscreen-friendly games like South Park, Aliens and Gonzo’s Quest that run well on all kinds of mobile devices. The studio has some of the most sought-after online slots today – Hall of Gods and Mega Fortune, which feature huge progressive jackpots as well as visually appealing games like Fairytale Legends series, Starburst, Jack Hammer and South Park.
Playtech
Playtech is one of the most popular providers of online casino games, renowned for its wide range of slot machines.
Playtech was founded in 1999, when online gambling was booming. The company has since grown and now offers hundreds of slots and other casino games. Its best-known titles include The Avengers, Gladiator, Tomb Raider, Hulk, Iron Man and many more. Playtech also offers progressive jackpots and over 300 games.