From humble beginnings when slot machines operated using strictly mechanical components, both slot machine technology and consequently slot machine games have developed rapidly and nowadays players can find hundreds of different slot variations available in online casinos such as SuperCasino. As the components of slots machines have changed, the industry has seen a class structure develop around casino slots and most slot machine can be categorized into one of six distinct classes in relation to their setup & how they function.
The main types of slots that you would expect to find at a casino include 3 reel slots, 5 reel slots, video slots, progressive slots as well as bonus slots which each embody unique characteristics which distinguish them from one another.
Types Of Slot Machines
In order to get a better understanding of the different types of slot machines in the market we have provided a summary of the main groupings that slots fall into both in land based and online casinos. While slots technology is ever evolving and new games are constantly introduced, almost all slots can be classified into one of the categories listed below.
3 Reel Slots – 3 reel slots are the most classic form of slot machines and as the name suggests these games incorporate a 3 reel structure usually with one but sometimes up to five different pay lines. 3 reel slots are very straightforward to play and the player usually bets between 1 and 5 coins per round, winning if the symbols on the pay schedule line up on one of the pay lines. 3 reel slots can be found at all land based and most online casinos with a variety of machine themes, betting limits and games offered to players.
5 Reel Slots – 5 reel slot machines are virtually the same as 3 reel slots however these machines have 2 additional reels added to the game. Betting on 5 reel slot machines usually requires 5 coins for a maximum bet and the games can be based on a number of different themes, some including both bonus rounds and special payouts. 5 reel slots are less common than 3 reel slots however can still be found at most land based casinos and some online casino sites. Generally 3 reel slots tend to be more popular since they cost less and often offer the same payouts to the player making 5 reel slots a more expensive endeavour.
Video Slots – Video slots are all the rage these days and unlike 3 and 5 reel slot games video slots can incorporate many different reels and pay lines depending on the setup of the game. With video slots, the game is run entirely on a computer with virtual symbols and paylines that are represented on the screen. One of the best features of video slots today are the excellent bonus rounds and themed machines that are currently in the market. These include popular slots such as Monopoly, Superman and Wheel of Fortune which are all offered in video slot format in online casinos. Generally speaking video slots are much more popular online than in live casinos, however some players do play them live since they are usually available at very low bet amounts per spin (1c – 5c per line).
Progressive Slots – Progressive slot machines are by far the most popular type of slots found in any casino, largely due to the fact that their jackpots offer the player life changing money. Progressive slot machines can be linked across a number of casinos properties or between machines in house and offer payouts while beyond the jackpot on regular slot machines. As players continue to play on progressive slots the overall jackpot builds as a small portion of each bet made on the machine is added to the total pay out amount. Typical progressive slot payouts can reach as high as $15,000,000 which is why they are so well liked by slots players. Progressive slots can come in many different forms including 3 reel, 5 reel and video based games and offer the extended jackpot pay out for any player who successfully hits the jackpot symbols on the machine.
Bonus Slots – Bonus slots are the last major class of slot machine game that can be found in casinos and with bonus machines there is a special round that when activated offers the player prize multipliers and added payouts. One of the most popular examples of a bonus slot machine is Wheel of Fortune, where when a player hits the spin symbol a large wheel above the machine sets in motion with a number of prizes. When the wheel stops, the player wins the prize listed in that section. This is just one example of a bonus slot machine however there are a number of different machines that incorporate the bonus slot model.