The world of organizing iGaming continues to expand at a phenomenal rate. Even though legal online casinos have been around since the mid-90s, they didn’t really hit their stride into the later part of the 2000s. They went into overdrive with the rise of American online casinos. Now, with slot fever a tap away, 24/7, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
Better than Baskin Robbins with 101 flavors, slot games continue to create new genres. Discover the pageantry and magic behind today’s slots, from classic slot machines to today’s captivating megaways and seven-reel slots.
Understanding Online Slots
Today’s online slots are based on the original slot machines that first appeared in the late 1800s in underground salons. When online casinos first launched, the bulk of games where digital slots that were replicas of the classic three-reel slot machines that filled the floors in Reno and Las Vegas. The mechanics still work the same.
However, instead of pressing physical buttons or cranks, the players press buttons to set up their bet and pay lines. Even sweeter is the chance to turn over the betting and spinning duties to the autoplay feature.
Key Slot Game Genres
Classic Slots
The bread and butter and roots for today’s slots still run through classic slots. Of all the slot genres, classic slots have gone through the most transformations. The original classic slots were the three-reel games with a single pay line.
Fortunately, many of today’s online casinos still have a special place for these classic three-reel games. However, they benefit from today’s impressive graphical engines. The other form of classic slots is the upgrade to five-reel status. By having five-reels and more pay lines, usually up to ten, slot traditionalists can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Video Slots
While it might not seem like a big deal based on today’s visually impressive slots, the video slot revolution was a key turning point for today’s epic slots. The concept of video slots dates back to the 1970s when Reno and Las Vegas casinos were looking to generate excitement for their slot machines.
When online casinos first launched, they were limited to dull and formulaic three-reel slots based on the limitations of the dial-up modem and providers like Netscape and the now archaic and defunct Adobe Flash technology.
With the switch to HTML5 technology in the later part of the 2000s, the top developers of the day, like NetEnt and Microgaming, went to town. The first generation of video slots is still so popular that they are heavily featured in today’s online casinos.
Megaways Slots
Part of the allure of playing today’s slots is the abundant in-game bonuses. One of the fastest and most popular bonuses remains the megaways genre. NetEnt widely gets credit for starting the modern-day megaways genre with the release of Gonzo’s Quest. The concept behind the megaways is that one win creates an “avalanche” of bonus wins for free as long as new winning symbols land in place of the previous ones.
The chance for epic wins is so wild, that entire online casinos have a dedicated section just for megaways games. Many of the legendary ones, like Gates of Olympus, even have their own spin-offs.
The Other Benefits for Online Slots
Making a deposit and spinning the reels is the easy part. Next, we explore many of the exceptional benefits of playing today’s marvelous online slots.
The Bonuses and Promotions
Because online slots are the majority of the online casino games, it is only fair that it has the most bonuses available. It’s common that most welcome and no-deposit bonuses work for most slots, except for progressive ones.
Sometimes, a generous free spin bonus is attached to the welcome package to make it hard for new players to say no to signing up. Of course, the main bonus for slot games is the free spins we just mentioned. Sometimes, players can get their hands on over 100 bonus spins to play free slots and win real money.
Demo Play
As a side bonus, many online casinos, especially the social ones, support practice play. Playing demo slots allows members to enjoy and learn the games without spending a dime.
Getting Started with Online Slots
The fun part about enjoying today’s online slots is that it is easy to get going. Consider these straightforward and expert steps to enjoy the best in slot entertainment:
- Choose a Licensed Site: The first winning move is to choose licensed online casinos for security and fair gaming results.
- Understand RTP: RTP is a gauge to help players know how much they can get back from a $100 wager. The rule of thumb is to choose slots that start with a 95% RTP.
- Bet Small: The allure of winning progressive jackpots can quickly go through your budget. So, do yourself a favor and make small bets with games that are inexpensive to play.
- Play Responsibly
Even with these expert tips, letting the game control you is still easy, which is a big mistake. Always have a fixed budget that you can afford to lose to help prevent problem gambling and compulsive spending. After creating an account, it is a strong move to place self-playing and spending limits.
- Conclusion
With AI tools now in the mix, the trend is for more personalized slot gameplay with stunning results. Also, many online casinos are featuring custom-made slot games with AI assistance based on what members prefer to play.
