Online Slots Guide

Online slots are constantly growing in popularity and nowadays account for the majority of games offered at online casinos. The meteoric rise in the popularity of online slots can be attributed to several factors: online slots are colorful and fun, you can play them for very small wagers and win big jackpots, and they are the easiest of all the casino games to learn and play.

The surge in online slots popularity has created abundance in the slot machines that are offered to players from all over the world, with new games being designed and added to existing online casinos almost every single day. This means that an average online casino now offers between 50 to 300 different slot games that include classic slots, video slots, progressive jackpot slots and a big selection of different themed slots, covering every imaginable subject.

History of Online Slots

Before delving into the exciting and new world of online slots we must remember that long before computers and the internet were ever invented, people played slot machines. The first was invented in the US by Charles Fey in the late 19th century and was named the Liberty Bell. The new mechanical slot machine was unable to make automatic payouts but still drew a lot of attention and by the 1930’s slot machines were mass produced.

The first slot machine with a fully automated payout mechanism was invented in 1963 and video slots first made an appearance in 1976 and in 1996 players were introduced to the first video slot with a bonus round, where players got to play an additional game at no extra cost, and by 1997 the first online casino was launched and started offering a variety of online slots to anyone with a computer and internet access.

Types of Online Slots

Classic Slots – offer the traditional 3 reel format, usually with a single payline in the middle of the screen. They require matching three symbols on a single payline. Before computers these slot machines were activated by pulling down a lever.

Video Slots – the actual reels that were used in classic slots were replaced with a computer screen that mimics the look, feel and operation of a slot machine with reels. Video slots offer players special game features such as prize multipliers, wild and scatter symbols, free spins and much more.

Bonus Slots – give the players some type of a side game that starts once the main spinning game is over. Usually the bonus round is triggered by some symbol combination that occurs during the main game.

Progressive Slots – any type of slot game can be connected to a cumulative jackpot. The progressive jackpot grows with every wager that is made on the machine and can be triggered by a specific symbol combination.

Random Progressive Slots – these progressive slots work slightly differently than regular progressive slots by offering a progressive jackpot that can be randomly triggered at the end of any spin. To win it the player is not required to reach any specific symbol combination, instead they just require a lot of good luck.

Online Slots Rules

Each slot machine has its own rules and those depend on the structure of the slot machine. The good thing is that there is no need to learn the rules that govern each and every type of online slot game. This is because an online slot will only allow you to make moves that are allowed. The machine will never allow you to make a bet that is too high or low, or let you spin the reels out of turn. This way you are never able to make a mistake when you play online slots.

How to Play Online Slots

The easiest thing in the world is to play online slots. Anyone can do it. All you have to do before you start to play online slots is decide how much money you have to spend and then select the online slot game you wish to play.

Once you have selected your game, the slot machine will open on your computer screen and you will need to select your coin size (how much you wish to bet). If you play a multiline slot machine you will also need to select how many paylines you wish to play (you do not have to play all of them) and then you click the ‘spin’ button and the game will start.

Online Slots Strategy & Tips

Although slots are easy to play and are considered to be games of pure chance, there are some measures you can take to ensure you are playing in the optimal way:

Money Management – always figure out your gambling budget before you start playing. Allocate an amount of money for a slot playing session so that once you lose it you take a break from playing. If you win you can take back your initial investment and continue playing using only your winnings.

Play while alert – never play while you are very tired or intoxicated. You do not want to lose out on big wins simply because you were too drunk or tired to press the right button.

Know your pleasure – if you like making little wins that keep you playing then stick to traditional slot games. However, if chasing the big progressive jackpots is what you enjoy most when you play online slots, then you should aim to play games that have the potential to provide you with the big windfall you want.

Have fun – remember that online slots are a game of chance and no type of strategy or skill can help you win. Slot machines are a game of fun and anyone can become a big winner. This is their appeal and you should focus on having fun by playing online slots you enjoy.

Online Slots Tournaments

In recent years online casinos have introduced a new and exciting feature of online slots tournament play. Players get to play the same slot game and compete on which player will generate greater wins. The top players at the end of the tournament win extra cash prizes in addition to the money they won while playing the slot machine itself.

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