About Us
Contact UsA Complete Guide to Slot Machines
Slot machines are without a doubt the most exciting game in the casino, and with the rise of online video slots and their various features, they’re becoming more engaging and interesting with every passing day.
The hype surrounding slots is founded on a few things – the colossal jackpots, the fun features, and the sheer number of free spins and slots bonuses casinos are giving away to win you over as a player.
With stories of players winning $15,000,000 from a $0.30 spin found all over the web, it’s little wonder that slots are the top priority for most players.
Yet not all slot machines are created equal. There are indeed fantastic games that have potentially life-changing jackpots, but there are also plenty of dud slots which you’ll want to avoid. To learn about the best slots online and where to play them, check out the page linked to below.
500%
up to $7,500
- Top-notch payout speed
- Robust selection of casino games
- Extremely high bonus totals
250%
up to $1,500
- Superb bonus structure
- Download or instant play
- Excellent for crypto users
125%
up to $3,750
- Highly established brand
- Hugely popular among bettors
- Lightning-fast payouts
$20,000
welcome package with 400% match bonus
- Great bonuses
- Strong loyalty program
- Large slots selection
$125 FREE!
with $25 deposit
- History of reliable service
- Tournament offerings
- Substantial progressive jackpots
500%
up to to $7,500
- High bonuses/low rollovers
- Banking versatility
- Reliable live dealer options
300%
up to $3,000
- Huge bonus offers
- You can gamble with Bitcoin
- Nice table game selection
$8,000
match + 100 Free Spins
- Freeroll Game Tournaments
- Same-Day Crypto Payouts
- Ongoing Promos
300%
up to $6,000
- Aggressive bonus for new players
- Rewarding VIP program
- Bitcoin can be used at site
100%
up to $2,000 + 20 Free Spins
- Big bonus
- Slots players will love it
- Good variety of table games
200%
up to $7,777
- Many offerings to choose from
- Wide game variety
- Top-notch software providers
We understand that it can be confusing to understand how to distinguish between great slots and the less worthy ones, how the features work, and that understanding how slot machines work can seem tough at the start.
We’ve created this page to bring you up to speed in record time. Feel free to read these sections one by one or skip ahead to the section which is most relevant to you.
How Slot Machines Work
Types of Slot Machines
Did you know that there are distinct “types” of slot machines? Yup, that’s right – no two slot machines are exactly the same, but they can be classified according to certain categories.
For example, slots can be classified by the number of reels they have or the type of jackpot. There are three-reel slots and five-reel slots, and there are fixed jackpot slots and progressive jackpot slots.
Fruit Machines
Fruit machines are found in pubs and bars all over Europe and in lots of land-based casinos around the world. They’re exactly as the name indicates – basic slot machines with a few symbols based on plums, melons, bananas, and bunches of grapes.
Fruit machines don’t offer many features (if any), but one common feature is the “nudge.” This gives you the ability to move symbols up or down to help create winning combos. You can also “hold” symbols in place for another spin.
One-Armed Bandits
These are another form of land-based slot game. Their defining characteristic is their “handle,” which protrudes from the side of the machine and which you need to pull on to spin the reels.
One-armed bandits typically have three reels and rows and are made up of simple symbols, much like fruit machines. They won’t offer lots of bonus features, although we’ve encountered a few in which you can jump up a “level” to play a higher-value game with bigger payouts.
Classic Slots
Classic slots are the online version of fruit machines and one-armed bandits. They’ve been made to recreate these games in digital format and typically appeal to older players who remember how slots were back in the day.
Classic slots, like their land-based counterparts, don’t offer lots of extra bells and whistles. Instead, they typically offer 5-10 paylines, perhaps an expanding symbol or two, and maybe a few free spins thrown in just to spice things up. The aim of the game is to win cash payouts and the jackpot (if you’re lucky).
Video Slots
Video slots are the main focus of online gambling these days. There are literally thousands of them out there, and new ones are being published every week.
Video slots are different from other kinds in that they have features, animations, and superior graphics, much like video games. A video slot might have a story, levels for you to move through, several bonus features and rounds, and a mesmerizing 3D theme based on ancient Egypt, Aztec culture, or something else entirely.
Branded Slots
We mentioned above that there are all kinds of video slots online. From football to food to flowers to farming, there are all manner of themed slots out there.
However, there are also specific “branded” slots which are themed on big-name movies or even companies. These can be plain and simple, but they often have lots of great bonus features and decent jackpots, since it’s likely the slots company has paid a licensing fee and so will want to make the slot the best it can be to maximize their return on investment.
Mobile Slots
Most slot games designed within the last five years are mobile-compatible. However, there are specific mobile slots which have been designed with mobile players in mind. Nektan is a slot firm which has carved a name out for itself in the mobile gaming scene, and its slots are lite, fast, and they load extremely quickly.
Slots which have been designed specifically for mobile players don’t tend to have as many features as everyday video slots, but they usually have at least a free spins bonus round.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
These games offer “super jackpots,” which are often linked together in networks.
Progressive jackpot games come in all types, too. There are simple, straightforward games with few features, and there are extravagant, feature-rich progressive slots which are a pleasure to play.
The features and extras are often overshadowed and deemed less important than they would be in other games due to the huge amounts of cash on offer, though. Some progressive jackpot slots offer the sort of wins you would think of as lotto wins, rather than slot wins. They can change lives in an instant and have done so on many occasions.
Virtual Reality Slots
Slot Machine Strategies and Myths
Other Helpful Articles on Slot Machines
While you might look at a slot machine, enjoy a few spins, and think you have it all figured out, there’s actually a lot more to playing slots online than initially meets the eye.
Like with everything else, it’s the little things that count, and it’s the things you don’t see coming that will bring you down and leave you empty-handed. Taking some time to familiarize yourself with the various facets of slot machines will pay off dividends in the long run. The following pages have been designed to teach you what you need to know.
Slots Glossary
Managing Your Bankroll
Land Casinos with the Greatest Selection of Slots
Sometimes it’s nice to switch off your devices, disconnect from the digital world, and interact with real life, isn’t it? As slots players, we feel the same way, and every once in a while, we like to visit the best slots casinos in the world for some serious fun.
While there are thousands of land casinos out there, there are only a select few which make our “best slots casinos” list. These offer staggering numbers of slot machines, some huge jackpots, and of course the delicious food and high-octane entertainment which sets the best casinos apart from the average ones.
Check out the best land casinos for slots players on the page below.
Best Land Casino Destinations for Slot Fanatics
Slot Tournaments
Slot tournaments are a great way to play slots for a variety of reasons. They’re available at land-based casinos, casino sites, and real money slots apps.
Some of the biggest and best slots tournaments have prize pools in the hundreds of thousands. These typically cost a lot of money to enter, but there are plenty of cheaper tournaments to play in. You’ll even find free slots tournaments that pay real money prizes!
If you play slots tournaments for real money, there will be a “prize pool.” This pool of money will be distributed to the top winning players.
Every casino will do this differently. For example, if 45 players sign up then maybe they’ll pay out the top 7-10 players. If 10 players sign up, then maybe the top 5-10 players will cash. If 200 players sign up, then maybe 15-20 players will cash.
Typically, the larger prizes are awarded to the top finishers. The smaller prizes are awarded to the people who cash at the bottom of the payout scale.
There are lots of different types of slot tournaments. The following list has the most common formats you can expect to find.
Multi-Tiered or Survivor
These start off with multiple groups of players. The highest scorer from each group will move on to the next phase, where they’ll compete against the other winners.
This is similar to a poker shootout tournament.
Sit and Go (SNG)
As with poker SNGs, the tournament starts once a certain number of players sign up to play. For example, if you sign up for a 10-person slot tourney, and there are only 9 players, the tourney won’t start until a tenth person joins.
Scheduled
These start at a specific date and time. The upside to this type of tournament is that it attracts more players, which leads to higher prize pools and payouts.
The downside is that it’s much harder to win since there are so many players participating.
VIP
These tournaments are reserved for VIP club members.
To earn an entry, you might need to earn enough points each month or wait for an invitation from the casino.
Extender
These are interesting tournaments because the points you earn accumulate from one round to the next. For example, if you earn 500 points in round one, you’ll start with 500 points in round two. Any points you earn during that round will be added.
If you have a bad round, you might be able to make up for it during a later round. The opposite also applies – just because you had a great round, that doesn’t mean you’re going to win. You can always have a bad round and lose the tournament.
These tournaments often allow add-ons and rebuys too. And some tournaments can last for as long as a month, which gives you multiple chances to increase your score.
Evolution of Slot Machines
Slots today are a heck of a lot different from how they started out. It’s rare to find an old-school fruit machine these days, but we still remember them with fondness, and we’re sure many of you do, too.
While those three-reel, one-armed bandits were a lot of fun (and still exist in some casinos today), there’s no doubt that the vast number of features like free spins rounds, expanding symbols, and built-in mini-games which modern video slots offer ultimately enrich the gaming experience.
Looking ahead, what does the future of slots hold? Only time will tell, but we’re already beginning to get a glimpse with the first virtual reality slots and blockchain-powered games. Slots are constantly evolving, and we’re excited to see what lies in wait.
Check out the in-depth article below for an overview of the evolution of slot machines.
Slots FAQ
Yes, there are lots of genuine free spins offers online. Most have some terms and conditions attached, such as rollover/wagering requirements. However, free spins are definitely free, and if they are no-deposit free spins, then you won’t even have to deposit a minimum amount to trigger them.
Yes, lots of casinos which offer slots accept Bitcoin as a payment method. You’ll be able to find plenty of Bitcoin slots sites in our list of casino reviews.
Unfortunately, there are a few rogue slot sites which will either steal your deposits or refuse to pay out wins. We advise you to check out our rogue casinos page and avoid every single site listed on it.
You most certainly can. There are thousands of mobile slots and slots apps for both mobile phones and tablets. Whether you’re using iOS, Android, or another device entirely, you can enjoy most modern video slots on any mobile device.
No, it isn’t possible to cheat slot machines. The only person who will be cheated by buying and trying to use such systems is you. Slot machine software companies tend to be extremely rich, and they didn’t get that way by building games that can be hacked and exploited.
There are pros and cons to both. However, to answer your question directly, the advantages of online video slots are convenience, unrivaled variety, and the sheer number of free spins and other bonuses you can claim at online casinos, even if you’re not a high-roller.
With no-deposit free spins, you usually don’t have to deposit any of your own cash to claim the offer. Normally, all you have to do is register a new account. With regular free spins offers, you usually need to make a qualifying deposit (often $10 or $20) to trigger the spins.
RTP stands for “return to player.” This is almost always denoted as a percentage, such as 96%. The percentage tells you how much money is returned to players as compared to what is bet in total. For example, a slot with a 96% RTP returns $0.96 out of every $1 bet. Naturally, the higher the RTP, the better for players.
Progressive jackpots grow until someone wins them, and then start accumulating again. Therefore, it would be impossible to give a static answer here. Check out our progressive jackpots page to find out which games are renowned for having large progressive jackpots.
There are a few contenders for the “crown” of best slot software company. Playtech, Microgaming, and NetEnt are all equally awesome. Games from any of these providers will be high-quality and feature-rich.
