How to Play Slots are a gaming device that generates a game of chance, also known as fruit machine and slot machines in Australia and New Zealand. In this article, we will explain how to play slots, but before that, we will go over the history, terminology, and strategy so that you can fully understand the process and what it takes to win.
Slot History
In 1891, in Brooklyn, Sittman and Pitt created a gaming machine MFortune.co.uk that anticipated modern slot machines. This poker-themed set has five reels with fifty different card designs. Very soon, at least one such car appeared in many bars of the city, which instantly became a hit.
People put in nickels, pulled the lever, and the reels spun, dealing cards in the hope of a winning poker hand.
Given the lack of a standardized payout structure, players could win everything from free beer to cigars or royal flush drinks. The chances of hitting a royal flush were doubled by removing the ten of spades and the jack of hearts from the deck, increasing the house advantage. The player’s chances of winning can be further reduced by shuffling the reels.
In 1894, San Francisco resident Charles Fey invented the first slot machine. Namely, he is credited with inventing the now-familiar Liberty Bell design, which was a three-reel, one-payline slot machine with an automatic payment mechanism.
Although the Fey slot machine was an instant hit, the game has changed a lot since its inception.
In 1907, fruit symbols appeared on the reels of slot machines, whereas in the past only playing card symbols were used.
In the 1920s, the Mills Novelty Co. developed the Skill Stop feature, which allowed the player to stop the reels and try to influence the outcome of the game.
Money Honey, the first electronic slot machine, was introduced in 1963 by Bally, a company known in the Illinois video game terminal (VGT) industry.
The Fortune Coin Company of Las Vegas, Nevada created the first slot machine in 1976 in Kearny Mesa, California.
In 1978, IGT (International Gaming Technology) bought Fortune Coin Co. and their slot technology
Reel ‘Em In, created by WMS Industries in 1996, was the first American slot machine to feature a bonus round on the second screen.
Since at least 1994, when Three Bags Full was released, there have been machines of this type in Australia.
Classic slots have played a critical role in making Las Vegas a casino paradise as they are perfect for beginner slots players because they are fast, easy to learn and play.
How to play slots
In the following sections, we have provided information on how to play slots at land-based and online casinos.
Playing online slots
When it comes to playing online slots, there are some things you should be aware of:
Do your research and choose a slot machine with a good RTP or payout per player, percentage and volatility.
Try the demo version of the game and if you like it, MFortune start playing.
Set a budget limit to manage your funds so you don’t lose more than you want. When you reach the limit, stop playing for a while.
Keeping your budget in mind, bet on as many paylines as you see fit. If you bet on more than one payline, you can get more wins.
After winning a big prize, players stop playing so as not to lose money.
Slot etiquette
When you play in regular casinos, there are unwritten rules for playing slots:
If you are a dedicated gamer who often plays many slots at the same time and switches between them, make sure that the slot machine you choose is not being used by anyone else.
The seat can be occupied even if no one is sitting there.
Play only one machine at a time when the casino is full.
You are playing against the casino, not against other players.
Don’t let defeat confuse you. This is all for fun and has nothing to do with machines, staff or other players.
It is advisable to play when you feel good, but if you feel hungry, sleepy or grumpy, it is better to skip the slots and save money for a better time.
Payouts
Slot machines are configured to return from 0 to 99% of the money played. The theoretical payout percentage, known as return to player, is the percentage of money that must be returned to the player. It is good to know that the minimum potential payout percentage is often set by law and varies by jurisdiction.
The winning schemes on slots are calculated in such a way that the casino receives a certain percentage of the bet real money, and the remaining funds are given to the players.
A return to player percentage of 97% means that after a large number of bets, say $1,000,000, the machine will pay out an average of $970,000.
Slot types
In this section, we will provide more information about the different types of slots that you can find in online and land-based casinos.
Classic Slots
The classic online slot is the simplest type of online slot, sometimes referred to as a one-armed bandit, an old mechanical machine with a lever that the player pulled to make the reels spin, which inspired its nickname.
Classic slots are a good choice for players who love simplicity as most classic slots only have one horizontal payline across three reels. People who have never played a slot machine before will appreciate how easy it is to play. Three reel slots usually have fewer betting options and are favored by players on a smaller budget and by those who enjoy fast action games.
The fact that they only have a few reels reduces the number of possible winning combinations. In addition, the variance is very high, which means that players can either win big or lose quickly. Although they use random number generators (RNGs), online versions of classic slots usually pay more than their mechanical counterparts.
Classic slot machines have different symbols and easy to understand rules, so players win when they get three of the same symbol. On rare occasions, 3-reel slots have bonus rounds and even wilds and scatters.
Video slots
Video slots were created in 1970 and are also called 5 reel slots. They do not have levers, so players had to press a button to start the round. Video slots have very attractive graphics, sound and video that appeal to players of all types. They were created by software developers to improve the gaming experience of players. Five reel slots may be the true forerunners of the online slots we see today.
The maximum value that can be bet on one pay line in a video slot varies, so video slots have quickly gained immense popularity. The advantage of having more paylines than three reel slots means you have a better chance of winning. Moreover, they also have big jackpots. And the last thing that makes five reel slots different is the free spins mode, which can include bet multipliers.
progressive jackpot slots
All well-established online casinos should offer this type of slots given that these slots come with a large progressive jackpot that increases over time. A small amount of each player’s bet goes into the pot, and when the prize is won, the jackpot starts growing again from a fixed amount – seed.
We can classify three subcategories:
Offline games. People who love gambling should be aware that individual progressive jackpots are not linked to other slots. They are associated with only one game, which means that the jackpot will only grow as long as people continue to play that particular slot.
Linked – Linked jackpots, on the other hand, consist of prizes in more than one game. However, please note that these games may not always be in the same casino. Sometimes they can be scattered across different casinos run by the same company.
Global progressive jackpots are the most attractive because they grow to huge amounts almost instantly. Slot fans can find slots with so-called flat jackpots, and as you might have guessed from the name, the prizes in these games never increase.
All progressive slots have a jackpot counter that allows players to see how much money has been added at any given time, which can be very useful as players can enter games at the best possible time.
Before playing progressive slots, you must remember that you need to spin at the maximum value in order to be eligible for the biggest prize. If you make the maximum bet and get a winning combination that opens the jackpot, you will receive a much smaller payout. These slots have fewer regular wins, so the chance of someone winning a big prize is not too high.
Slot elements
In this part, we will explain the elements of slot machines.
drums
To fully understand the differences in the games, you must become familiar with the jargon. The reel is slang for a horizontal column, the most significant part of slot machines. Please note that on a single reel, each symbol can only appear once per spin. Appearing on the screen, they make it clear whether your combination is a winning one.
Most modern slot machines have five reels. However, developers are constantly inventing new challenging and complex games. As a result, slot machines with interesting graphics and 3-reel slots with two grids appeared, but regardless of the number of reels, their functions do not change.
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Paylines
A payline is a combination of winning symbols. Winning symbols can land in any of these directions – vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or even zigzag. Slot machines have gotten to the point where they can have a random number of paylines. In addition, players can bet on the maximum number of specified paylines.
Ranks
The rows together with the reels make up the game grid, the surface on which the symbols are placed. The number of rows grew, as did the reels and paylines. Also, how rows and reels are sized is the only factor that makes them different from each other.
Symbols
Despite the ever-increasing advances in the slots universe. The symbols used are considered classics. Which is why even the newest slots feature the most popular symbol types. When these icons match correctly, players receive their winnings.
Pay table
The paytable is a helpful guide that not only tells you. How much you can win, but also how to use the special features, paylines. Wagering requirements and jackpots, if any. The size of the table depends on the complexity of the slot machine.
Not all slots make this clear, but most include the expected return to player. RTP, in the paytable. When you look at the percentage, you can decide. If this machine is more for people. Who just want to play for fun, or better for people. Who like to take more risks and wait longer to win bigger prizes.
