Classic Slot Machine Games Online
If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or any other city which allows slot gambling, then these are the machines which line the casinos by the thousands. Some of these machines are very basic, while others have wild symbols and wild multipliers to further increase jackpot totals.
Most classic online slot machines have three reels, but sometimes you will find a two or four reel machine. The more reels in the machine, the more permutations or possible combinations are able to hit the pay line (the line or lines on which the symbols must line up to score a win). This means, in a multiple reel machine with a single jackpot line, your chances of hitting that combo are slimmer than normal.
Classic slot machines are not the only option available to online players, but they are still highly popular due to the fact that many slot players first cut their teeth on a similar machine at a land-based casino.
Video Slots Online
A video slot is a simulated slot machine which utilizes a random number generator to generate a vast number of different symbols on each “reel.” While many online slots simulate the traditional 3 reel layout (which would only have between 10 and 20 symbols in a land-based casino), it’s interesting to note that all online slot machines technically fall into the category of video slots.
Due to the fact that all symbols had the same chance of appearing on the payline, early slot machines could be analyzed to find the odds of any single combination being hit. All one had to do was count the number of symbols on the reel and work it out from there. For example, a traditional slot machine with 15 symbols on each of its three reels would have 3375 (15x15x15) different possible combinations. Therefore, the chance of hitting the jackpot would be 1 in 3375.
Video slots, however, have video reels and many also incorporate bonus rounds into the game. They do not have to use reel mapping as they are not confined to having only 32 physical stops on each reel. This frees up the game designers to incorporate any number of video symbols on each reel.
Many of the newer games have five reels but often pay between 15 and 25 paylines. It’s a nice option for the ambitious gambler, as he or she can decide how many lines they want to play and how many coins to bet on each line.
But with video slots often having between 30 and 90 symbols on each reel, a player’s chance of hitting the jackpot is significantly smaller. Take, for example, a video slot with 50 symbols on each of the five reels. This would produce more than 312 million combinations (50x50x50x50x50 =312,500,000).
Progressive Jackpots Online
Nothing gets an online slot player more excited than the allure of hitting a huge jackpot. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that one of the most popular features of internet and land-based casinos is the progressive.
Progressives are jackpots which are contributed to and built from wagers by players at casinos all across the web. You can usually recognize progressive slots by the ticker displaying the jackpot amounts as they increase with each passing second. This usually works with a group of progressive slots, where each time a player plays a coin, the jackpot is raised for the entire group.
Online casinos usually even link with other casinos' online slot games, bringing the jackpot to incredibly high amounts (sometimes in excess of one million dollars).
Keep in mind that online progressive slots will usually require you to play the maximum bet in order to win the entire jackpot. If you’re unsure about the requirements for betting and payouts, remember that all slot machines have the information you need posted on the front. Before you begin to play, take a minute to "read" the machine.
Free Slots Games Online
Many online casinos offer free slot games for those who aren’t yet ready to risk playing for real. While some might say that this makes about as much sense as drinking beer without alcohol (what's the point?), it’s an excellent option for beginners, because it allows you to learn all the slot terminology and machine layouts, as well as seeing if you like the particular software used by the casino.
Many modern slot machines are loaded down with numbers and multiple ways to win on any given spin, not to mention all the options for betting and payouts. While all the bells and whistles of online slots might seem daunting to some beginners, wading into the shallow end via free games will have you playing like a veteran in no time.
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