There are a lot of different slots and also a lot of different casinos, so we always recommend looking up reviews of different casinos before you bet your money. It is easy to find reviews of online casinos, such as this one with opinions about Botemania, and also comments in forums and communities related to gambling.
We are all familiar with the slot machines in bars and casinos; they are all very similar to each other as the only thing that usually changes is the theme or whether or not they have a shared jackpot (only the casino ones).
However, with online slots there are more variations and types of games: classic three / five reel slots, bonus phase slots, progressive jackpot slots, video slots, i-slots… Not to mention the many different themes they have, which can range from video games to famous people.
For this reason, we explain the differences between all types of slots below.
Classic (3 reels)
Physical three-reel slots are known as “classic slots” because they were the first slots to be created (1899). They had physical reels and were activated by a hand crank.
They are the simplest: each reel contains a certain number of symbols, and when three matching symbols line up, you get a jackpot.
They were so important to the gaming and casino industry that they were the main reason for the expansion of Las Vegas into what it is today.
This type of slot is a very fast-paced game that some players like more than others. The variance (or variance) in slots is very high, and that means you can win big or lose it all very quickly.
The handicap of these games initially was that having only 3 reels greatly reduced the number of possible combinations.
Take for example 3 reels with 10 symbols each: that leaves you with only 1,000 possible combinations which makes it impossible to have a jackpot on the machine, as the hardest event would occur at least 1 out of every 1,000 spins.
This is why the need was seen to add more paylines in addition to the central horizontal payline, giving rise to a new type of slot machine, which we explain in the “Multiple Payline Slots” section.
Video Slot Machines (5 reels or more)
Unlike traditional physical slots, video slots (invented in 1970) no longer require mechanical reels or levers: they are digital and are activated by pressing a button.
This type of slot machine was the forerunner of online slots, as they are the typical slots in physical casinos, but instead of reels, they have video screens.
Thus, 5-reel (or more) slots are an evolution of the classic slots and are the most common slots in online casinos.
They are becoming increasingly popular and the maximum number of coins varies between one or more per payline. The graphical representation can be a full five reels, although most commonly a video screen is used.
The great thing about these slots is that by having more paylines, the odds of winning are higher than with three-reel slots and your bets will last longer. Plus the jackpots also tend to be bigger.
Multi Payline Slots
While traditional slots have only one payline (the horizontal one in the centre), multiple slots support multiple payline combinations.
Three-reel slot games usually offer multiple paylines (between 1 and 9). The maximum bet is usually 3 coins on single-line machines, while on machines with multiple paylines the maximum bet is usually equal to the number of lines.
Slots with 5 reels and paylines available.
On the other hand, 5-reel slots usually allow you to make up to 20 or 25 multiple combinations, but some allow up to 200 lines!
The more paylines you select, the higher your bet and the more chances you have of winning on each spin – and the quicker you can blow your budget, of course, as these are multi-bets and with one spin it’s as if you’re doing many more at a time.
Progressive Slots
Progressive slots, also called progressive jackpot slots, are one of the most exciting casino games. The only downside is that in order to qualify for the progressive jackpot (or jackpot) you usually have to play for the maximum bet, so you have to bear in mind that the investment required to play this type of slot will have to be higher than for a regular slot.
How do progressive slots work? When you place a maximum bet on this type of online slot machine, part of your bet goes into the progressive jackpot pot, which is made up of all the players who are playing the game at the time.
On most casino websites they have scoreboards with the total progressive jackpot they have accumulated with all their progressive slots. Otherwise, they are just like other slots, they have different themes and can have 3 or 5 reels.
This type of slots is also available in casinos, as they have the possibility to network them, and even connect them with those of other casinos.
It should be noted that progressive slots can be worth thousands of dollars, but the odds of winning are very low (like playing the lottery).
Slots with Mini Games (i-Slots)
These types of online slots are (in our opinion) some of the most fun. They are also known as bonus phase slots.
In addition to the usual slot gameplay with the reels, certain spins trigger bonus phases where a mini-game appears in which you can multiply your winnings.
The i-Slots are interactive slots that even allow you to play mini-golf in the bonus rounds, and there is a component to them that is not just chance as with other slots, but skill is required, so your chances of winning are somewhat greater.
3D slots
3D slots are all those online slots that feature three-dimensional graphics and elements in the gameplay.
The design of this type of online slots is very varied. They are inspired by cinema, popular culture, video games, etc….
If you notice, most slots are a mix of several of these types of slots. That is to say, it is very common to find 3D video slots with multiple paylines and mini-games, for example.
Virtual Reality Slots
Virtual Reality is no longer the future, it is the present in all kinds of virtual games and experiences.
All this is thanks to a technology that operates with special headsets such as Oculus Rift, Razer OSVR, Sony Playstation VR, Samsung VR among others.
These soundproof and insulated cases are equipped with multiple LED screens and a sound system. The idea is to immerse the user completely in a virtual reality that simulates real life better and better.
All this, applied to the casino, can give online casino players a more realistic experience, just like in real casinos.
VR for the gambling and gaming world is still quite green, but it is a pretty safe bet in the short term: analysts predict that with the help of Virtual Reality technology, the online casino market will reach a revenue of $520 million by 2021.
Technavio, a company specialised in doing analysis and reporting on emerging sectors, has launched in September 2018 a study on Virtual Reality in the Casino industry for 2018-2020 in which it predicts that the VR-supported gambling market will grow by 55% by 2022.
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