History – How To Play – Rules – Odds – Strategy – Pro’s Perspective
Slot machines are referred to as slots, 1-arm bandits, fruit machines and poker machines. Players will place wagers in the form of coins (or virtual coins if it is an online slot) in order to spin the reels of the game. Any slot machine will have a minimum of 3 reels and players can start spinning these reels by pulling a lever (or clicking on Spin if it is an online slot machine). The symbols on the reels will start to spin until they stop. When they stop, players will be awarded according to the combination of symbols they achieve on the payline. The payline is a virtual line on which players must get certain symbols in order to get paid.
Players will be paid based on the bet they have placed, the combination of symbols and the paytable of the game. The paytable is a table that shows players the different combinations and their respective rewards. This paytable is usually found at the top above the reels of the slot machine. The symbols appearing on these reels are usually cherries, bells, watermelon, and sevens, this is why they were called fruit machines. Other advanced slots might have a certain theme. For these games, the symbols will be inspired by that theme. For example, Thunderstruck is an online slot which is themed around Thor and Norse gods. On this game’s reels, players will see symbols that include Thor, Thor’s Hammer and Odin among other related symbols.
Slots History
Errors Only OK. Errors Only OK. Then hit the 'spin reels' button, or pull the handle on those few slots that still have handles, or hit a button marked 'play max credits,' which will play the maximum coins allowed on that machine. On video slots, push one button for the number of paylines you want to activate, and a second button for the number of credits wagered per line. Keno, which has its origins in China, is found in video form in many American casinos. These machines, similar to slot machines (and often placed alongside them in casinos), play similarly to the live form of keno, with players picking numbers and hoping those digits are randomly chosen during each game.
The history of the first slot machine dates back to 1895. The father of the first slot machine was Charles Fey, whose original slot machine had poker symbols on its three spinning reels. The symbols also included hearts, horseshoe, bells, and spades. Since the game only had 3 reels, it was easy to make the game payout for the winning combinations automatically. The paytable of the game was available at the top and it showed players the different winning combinations. The highest combination paid 50 cents when players got 3 bells on the win line.
In 1891, another form of slot machines was invented by Sittman and Pitt. This new machine looked a lot like the early version of slots that can still be found to this day. The game included five drums and 50 cards with a poker game theme since players were paid according to the poker hand they formed. This is why they were called poker machines. Players would start the game by putting a nickel into the game’s slot and pull the lever in order for the drums to spin so they could get a poker hand. Most of these machines used to pay players in the form of gifts such as cigars, drinks or food or other things that were sold at the pub or the bar where it was being offered. In order to increase the odds of the house and make it hard to get a poker hand of a Royal Flush, the game did not have a 10 of Spades or a Jack of Hearts.
In 1907, Herbert Mills invented another machine that was called Operator Bell and by 1908 these slots were installed in every bowling alley, cigar store or salon. One of these original “Liberty Bell” slots can still be found in a Reno Restaurant in Liberty Bells Saloon.
Another great development occurred in 1963 when Bally invented the 1st electromechanical slot machine called The Money Honey. This was the first slot to have a bottomless hopper and it offered automatic payouts as well. The biggest reward that could be claimed was 500 coins. This machine was one of the reasons behind the skyrocketing rise of electronic gambling. Reel Em was the first-ever video slot that offered players any kind of bonus rounds.
Multi-line slots made an entrance to the scene in the 1990s. These games had more than one winning line. This means that players could claim payouts according to combinations on more than one line that are aligned on the game’s screen. With the emergence of online gambling, slots were one of the first games to be adopted and transformed into online games. They developed quickly and can now offer up to 100 lines and 1024 ways to win. They also offer players a lot of bonuses in the form of wilds, scatters and rewarding jackpots.
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Slot machines can be found at every gambling venue, whether online-based or land-based. Because the online gambling world has fewer restrictions in terms of technology and development, players will find a wider array of slot machines than those found at land-based gambling venues. We are going to discuss the gaming procedure for both online slot machines and land-based slots:
For Land-Based Slots:
For land-based slots, players will have to buy bar-coded coins, quarters or other coin values the game accepts. Usually, players will see the coin value the game accepts written on the game itself. After players enter the coin in the game’s slot, they will pull down the lever, causing the reels of the slot to spin. The symbols on these reels are usually themed around fruits that are accompanied by bells, sevens and the usual one bar, two bar and three bar symbols.
After the reels stop spinning, players will be rewarded if they have a winning combination on the game’s win line. Players can find out the combinations that would make them eligible for a win at the game’s paytable. This paytable can be found at the top of the reels. It will show the different combos and their rewards.
There are also slot machines that resemble video slots that can be found online. (Some can even be found online with the same features.) These video slots usually have a touch screen that players will use in order to control the game like video poker.
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For Online Slots:
Players who want to enjoy this game at an online casino will have to follow another gaming procedure. For online slots, players will first choose the game, then they will choose their wagers. Choosing the wagers at any slot machine, whether a classical or a multi-line video slot, includes 3 options:
- Choose the number of lines that players want to activate by placing their stakes on.
- Choose the coin value that players want to use to place wagers and get rewards.
- Choose the number of coins they wish to place on every activated line. All of this creates the wager. The total amount of their bet will be seen under the Bet Cell.
After placing the wager, players will be able to start the game by clicking on Spin. It is usually found under the reels in the game’s control panel in between or next to the wagering options that were mentioned above. The symbols will spin and, after they stop spinning, players will be paid according to the paytable, their bet, and the winning combination. The paytable can also be viewed at the top or as players click on “View Pays” or Paytable that is found somewhere on the game’s screen.
Slots Rules
The rules differ from one slot machine to another. Each slot machine will have its own set of rules printed on the game itself or, in the case of online slots, players can view them by clicking on “Game Rules.”
Max Bet Only Triggered Bonuses:
Some bonuses and jackpots will not be triggered or activated unless players have placed the maximum wager.
Wild Symbols:
Wild symbols differ from one game to another and can substitute for any other symbol the slot machine has. These wild symbols will not replace other bonus or scatter symbols.
Triggering the Jackpot:
The jackpot is triggered when players get a certain combination of symbols on any of the winning lines of the game. It can be found at the paytable.
Scatter Symbols:
Scatter symbols are special symbols that reward players generously in the form of scatter payouts. They can also trigger free spins. Free spins mean players will get a number of spins on the slot for free. They are usually triggered when players get three scatters on the reels.
Apart from these rules, there are some etiquette rules players should follow when playing at a land-based casino or a venue that is offering these slots.
Players can play on two slot machines side by side providing the gambling venue or the casino is not crowded. If it is crowded and there are players waiting to be seated, the attendant will ask players who playing on two slots to end one of the sessions.
Some players prefer to keep clicking on the buttons rapidly thinking that it gives them good
luck. This is usually frowned upon because it causes the buttons to wear out quickly and causes a lot of disturbance to other players in the casino or the gambling venue.
Players who want to watch another player spinning the reels should leave one chair between them and the players unless they plan to play on the slot machine right next to that person. If they do not do that, an attendant will approach them and ask them to move away.
It is ok to celebrate when you get a big win or hit the jackpot, providing you do not celebrate for too long. Also, when you get a big win, you should tip the attendant who is getting the payout for you. It’s common etiquette.
Lastly, if you spot a slot machine that has a leaning chair on it, it is advised to leave that slot machine alone. It signals someone was playing at the slot machine and he had to go to the bathroom or get something to drink and he feels that the slot is lucky for him. You should leave it for a maximum of 10 minutes before you move the chair and take a seat.
Slots Odds
Slots are usually programmed to payout 82 to 98 percent of what was wagered in the form of winnings. This percentage is known as RPT (Return to Player) or the Theoretical Payout Percentage. The minimum RTP for every slot machine depends on the regulations and laws of the state. In Nevada, for example, the minimum percentage is 75 percent, in New Jersey it is 83 percent and in Mississippi, it’s 80 percent.
The winning combinations and patterns on a slot machine, the amount it pays and the frequency of these payouts are carefully calculated and selected so they pay a specific fraction of money to the casino or the house while giving back the rest to the players. For example, a spin on the slot machine costs one dollar and it has an RTP percentage of 95. It can be calculated that over the long term, for example after one million spins, the game is going to give back $950,000 to players from the 1,000,000 dollars they have put into the slot. The house or the operator will keep the remaining $50,000.
The RTP is not the only important statistic in slots as the percentage of every payout on the game’s paytable is also important. For example, in any slot machine that has 12 different rewards in the paytable, the probability of every reward equaling 0 percent except the jackpot can be quite deceptive. If the jackpot win is 4000 times the wager, then it would happen 1 time every 4000 spins and would make the game have an RTP of 100 percent, despite being a very dull game.
The table of the probabilities for any slot machine is called the Paytable & Reel Strips sheer, also known as PARS. PARS helps players understand the psychology of the slot machine. For instance, if the game has 13 payouts that range from 1:10 up to 2400:1 it will show that the 1:1 payout would happen once every 8 spins, the 5:1 would happen once every 33 spins while the 2:1 payout will happen once every 600 spins. The PARS sheet is usually confidential and developers and manufacturer never post them; however, there it is possible to find the PARS sheet of any of your favorite games posted online. Despite this, they are not of any real value to players as slot machines usually have 8 to 12 different programs that have varying payouts.
Slot machines are also known for the “Taste.” The Taste refers to a small amount of money the game pays every few spins to those who are seated at a slot machine to keep them engaged in the game. The logic is simple: if players keep losing their bets without winning any back, they will eventually grow bored and leave the game. The taste is usually the 1:1 or the 2:1 payout.
Slots Strategy
Slot machines are games of luck, so there are no strategies or techniques to implement. On the other hand, there are some tips and suggestions that may be quite useful for any player who is looking forward to spinning the slots:
Stick With Slots With a Low Jackpot:
If you are a land-based casino player, you will notice the slot machines that offer millions in jackpots are not that popular because the chances of hitting the jackpot are very small. This is why you should stick with slot machines that have a jackpot in the $1,000 range since you have a better chance of triggering it. These smaller jackpot slots are known for paying out better rewards more frequently.
Know When You Should Move On:
Like any other casino game, you might find yourself on a losing streak. When that happens you should just move on and stop playing or go to another slot to change your luck.
Quit While You Are Ahead:
If you have been on a winning streak or have just hit a jackpot, it is a pretty good idea to cash in your winning and leave. The more you play the bigger the chance you might lose what you won (or at least a big chunk of it). Like any casino game, you should quit while you are ahead.
Work According to a Betting Pattern:
You should always follow a wagering pattern that will help you earn rewards. For example, always start with the minimum wager possible and, if you lose, up it up a notch and keep increasing the bet after each spin. When you win, do the opposite. The + / – betting pattern is not guaranteed (there are no guaranteed betting patterns for slots because it is 100 percent random) but this can help increase your odds.
Placing the Maximum Wager:
Although this contradicts the last tip, it is another way of playing. The aim is to place the highest wager so you can earn high rewards. This is essential in online video slots as some bonuses cannot be triggered if players do not place the max bet.
There are also some misconceptions we have to clarify:
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- Playing the game faster will not increase the chances of winning.
- Clicking on the spin or pulling the lever will not affect the outcome of the slot. They are all the same.
- Each spin is independent, so the game will never be “due to hit”.
- When someone wins a great payout on a slot machine that you left does not mean that you missed that payout. There is a big chance that you wouldn’t have hit the same payout because you would not have pulled the lever at the same fraction of a second that this player did.
Pro’s Perspective: Slot Strategies and Tips
With John Grochowski
Modern slot machines are multimedia technological marvels complete with animation, sound effects and sometimes even video clips from movies and television shows.
While three-reel slots still exist, the majority both in live casinos and online have five reels, and sometimes have six, seven or more. Instead of one payline, modern video and online slots usually have 20, 30, 40 or more paylines. Some don’t even use paylines at all, making any combination of like symbols connecting from left to right a potential winner, even if they’re not on a line as such.
During regular play, you may win a trip to a bonus event during which you have a chance to win money without making any additional wagers. Here are a few of the most common bonus types.
Free spins
You win a specified number of free spins of the reels. Many free spin bonuses are played on the same reels as the main game and it’s possible to win any of the prizes usually available. Sometimes, the main reels fade from the screen and are replaced by bonus reels with different symbols and different winning potential.
For example, games have been introduced in the last few years in which the lowest-paying symbols are removed from the bonus reels. It’s still possible to win nothing on a bonus spin, but the frequency of big winners is increased.
Wheel spins
The original wheel spin game, Wheel of Gold, was introduced in the mid-1990s and it led to the ever-popular Wheel of Fortune slots. Since then most slot manufacturers have introduced wheel spins.
In a wheel spin bonus, you see a wheel divided into prize segments. On some, all prizes are credit amounts, but some wheels offer credit multipliers, progressive jackpots, and trips to other bonus events. You start the wheel spinning, then hope it lands on a big-paying space.
Pick’em events
The reels are replaced by a different scene. Some have included aliens in hiding spaces, dancing gift-wrapped boxes, dishes on a Chinese menu, fishermen on a pond and much more.
You touch the screen to choose an icon, and the item then reveals a credit reward for you to collect. On some pick’em events, you make just one choice. On others, you keep picking until you choose a bonus-stopper symbol.
Personal preference
All these bonus events are designed to make the games interactive and fun to play. How much they contribute to the overall payback differs from game to game and manufacturer to manufacturer, but as much as 40 percent of the overall return may come from bonuses.
Free spin games tend to be more volatile with the potential for bigger wins offset by the possibility of spins that bring no credits. Pick’ems are used in what the slot industry calls “entertainment” games in which it’s a larger goal to add fun and extend your play than to offer big wins.
Ultimately, which is best for you comes down to personal preference. Do you like pick’em entertainment or do you want to keep those reels spinning?
Slots are the easiest games in the casino to play -- spin the reels and take your chances. Players have no control over what combinations will show up or when a jackpot will hit. There is no way to tell when a machine will be hot or cold. Still, there are some pitfalls. It's important to read the glass and learn what type of machine it is. The three major types of reel-spinning slots are the multiplier, the buy-a-pay, and the progressive.
The multiplier. On a multiplier, payoffs are proportionate for each coin played--except, usually, for the top jackpot. If the machine accepts up to three coins at a time, and if you play one coin, three bars pay back ten. Three bars will pay back 20 for two coins and 30 for three coins. However, three sevens might pay 500 for one coin and 1,000 for two, but jump to 10,000 when all three coins are played. Read the glass to find out if that's the case before playing less than the maximum coins on this type of machine.
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The buy-a-pay. Never play less than the maximum on a buy-a-pay, on which each coin 'buys' a set of symbols or a payout line. The first coin in might allow the player to win only on cherry combination, while the second coin activates the bar payouts, and the third coin activates the sevens. Woe is the player who hits three jackpot symbols on a buy-a-pay with only one coin played--the player gets nothing back. A variation is the machine with multiple payout lines, each activated by a separate coin. All symbols are active with each coin, but if a winning combination lines up on the third-coin payout line with only one or two coins played, the payoff is zero.
The progressive. You also have no reason to play less than maximum coins on a progressive machine. A player who eventually lines up the jackpot symbols gets a percentage of each coin played. The first progressive machines were self-contained--the jackpot was determined by how much that particular machine had been played since the last big hit. Today most progressives are linked electronically to other machines, with all coins played in the linked machines adding to a common jackpot.
These jackpots can be enormous -- the record is $39,710,826.26, a $1 progressive at a Las Vegas casino. The tradeoff is that frequency and size of other payouts are usually smaller. And you can't win the big jackpot without playing maximum coins.
If you must play fewer than maximum coins, look for a multiplier in which the final-coin jump in the top jackpot is fairly small. Better yet, choose a machine that allows you to stay within your budget while playing maximum coins. If your budget won't allow you to play maximum coins on a $1 machine, move to a quarter machine. If you're not comfortable playing three quarters at a time, move to a two-quarter machine. If you can't play two quarters at a time, play a nickel machine.
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With so many paylines and the possibility of betting multiple coins per line, video slots are different. Some penny slots with 20 paylines take up to 25 coins per line. That's a $5 maximum bet -- a pretty penny indeed! Most players bet less than the max on video slots but are sure to cover all the paylines, even if betting only one coin per line. You want to be sure to be eligible for the bonus rounds that give video slots most of their fun. Some progressive jackpots require max coins bets, and some don't. If a max-coins bet is required to be eligible for the jackpot and you're not prepared to roll that high, find a different machine.
Money Management
Managing your money wisely is the most important part of playing any casino game, and also the most difficult part of playing the slots. Even on quarter machines, the amount of money involved runs up quickly. A dedicated slot player on a machine that plays off credits can easily get in 600 pulls an hour. At two quarters at a time, that means wagering $300 per hour -- the same amount a $5 blackjack player risks at an average table speed of 60 hands per hour.
Most of that money is recycled from smaller payouts--at a casino returning 93 percent on quarter slots, the expected average loss for $300 in play is $21. Still, you will come out ahead more often if you pocket some of those smaller payouts and don't continually put everything you get back into the machine.
One method for managing money is to divide your slot bankroll for the day into smaller-session bankrolls. If, for example, you've taken $100 on a two-and-a-half-hour riverboat cruise, allot $20 for each half-hour. Select a quarter machine -- dollar machines could devastate a $100 bankroll in minutes -- and play the $20 through once. If you've received more than $20 in payouts, pocket the excess and play with the original $20. At the end of one half-hour, pocket whatever is left and start a new session with the next $20.
If at any point the original $20 for that session is depleted, that session is over. Finish that half-hour with a walk, or a snack, or a drink until it is time for a new session. Do not dip back into money you've already pocketed.
That may seem rigid, but players who do not use a money management technique all too frequently keep pumping money into the machine until they've lost their entire bankroll. The percentages guarantee that the casino will be the winner in the long run, but lock up a portion of the money as you go along, and you'll walk out of the casino with cash on hand more frequently.
That is changing in new server-based slots that have started to appear in casinos. Operators will be able to change payback percentages at the click of a mouse, but they still must have regulatory approval to do so.
There is a lot more to slot machines than meets the eye. But if you learn the ins and outs of playing them, you can use some strategies that just might help you hit the jackpot.
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