Slot games were a technological novelty when they first appeared in the 19th century. Classic slots still evoke nostalgia and have an appeal for retro collectors. With the boom in the online casino industry in recent years, the online slot industry has created countless variations of simple games.
You can find a variety of games, from classic three-reel slots to five-reel slots with modern themes, super channels or cascading games. Reactoonz slot is a great example of cluster winning cascading reels, while Mega Moolah is one of the most popular progressive slots.
How slot games work
Slots run with a random number generator in the background, which means that all positions where each reel stops are completely random, so there is no one effective strategy for playing slot games. Gambling certification agencies provide third-party certificates on the authenticity and validity of RNG game mechanics.
Depending on the slot type, you can get different winning scenarios. Some common symbols that contribute to the gameplay are Wild and Scatter symbols. In addition, you can get free spins rounds or activate other bonus rounds that are more or less innovative. Here are some of the most common slot game types.
Classic Three-Reel Slots
The original slots had three reels and one payline. They often had fruit symbols, lucky 7s, and bells. This old-school online slot is still popular in the iGaming industry. However, classic slots don’t have advanced features, such as elaborate bonuses, more paylines, and ways to win.
The fast-paced gameplay and simple rules are appealing, but the above-average return to player percentage may put off some new players.
Five-Reel Slots
Video slots grew in popularity in the 70s and 80s and still remain in many traditional casinos today. But they offer more options, and in online casinos, five-reel and three-row slots are the most common.
Modern slot games have advanced graphics, sound effects, and soundtracks. In addition, you can have up to 40 paylines, a variety of game mechanics, bonus rounds, and more sophisticated gameplay than the old three-reel slot games. More paylines generally mean you have a better chance of winning than with traditional slots. Understanding paylines is similar to understanding interest rates in finance.
Cascading Slots
Most traditional slot games give you wins after the reels stop, provided you land the right combination of symbols. Cascading reels is a slot game where you can have more rows, and each win results in a cascading reel with new symbols landing in the winning symbol’s place. If the new symbols form a winning combination, you can theoretically win indefinitely.
Cluster Slots
Cluster slots usually have a different layout, with a 7×7 grid or different. The goal is to get five identical connected symbols to form a cluster. These games look more like casual jewel games than classic slots, but can have other slot game mechanics like wild symbols or scatter symbols.
Progressive Slots
Most online casinos have a fair share of jackpot slots. These slot games may come from the same game developer. When you place a bet on that slot, a small portion of your winnings goes into the jackpot pile, and since all players contribute to the jackpot, the jackpot can balloon to a huge amount.
To win the jackpot, you have to bet the maximum. Operators promote jackpot games and you will quickly learn which ones offer the chance to win huge prizes.
Interactive Slots
I-Slots are a subcategory of slot games that offer more advanced game features such as bonus rounds, deeper stories or other things you might find in a typical video game.
Mini games sometimes require skill and players do not rely too much on RNG and randomness, at least during the bonus phase. If you have video game skills, this method will increase your chances of winning.
