Slot machines have been a favourite for many millions of gamblers for many decades. Their simple appeal is the total dependence on luck to win: placing the bet, pulling a lever (or pressing a button) and waiting to see the verdict.
A Long History
Slot machines were born around the end of the 19th century, comprised of five reels initially bearing images of poker cards. The aim was to get a winning “hand”. Soon this type was replaced with a model that had three reels – the basis of the modern slot machine. Many of the early slot machines used fruit symbols, hence the name fruit machine.
A Good Start For The Inexperienced
Classic slots are pretty much the simplest games you can find at a casino or gambling website, requiring no skill or strategy. The traditional three-reel slots aren’t too embellished with lights, animations and other decorations, which is perfect both for novices and those who enjoy the traditional simplicity of appearance. The traditional model has three reels, but there are also machines with five, and even a few with seven.
How Do They Work?
Reel slots began with three physical reels that would be turned inside the machine; nowadays they have largely been replaced with video reels, which actually increase your odds of winning. With physical reels the number of symbols was very limited, which made getting a top-scoring combination less likely. Digital reels, however, are much less restricted. The play is simple: activate the reels and hope for the best.
Understanding Paylines And Paytables
Paylines and wild symbols are two details that a player must understand before using reel slots. To start with a player must familiarise themselves with the paytable, which shows how much can be won with different combinations – called paylines. Paylines are the winning combinations of symbols on the reels, and they aren’t confined to three identical images. A payline can be any specific combination of symbols and must be activated by betting on it with at least one coin.
How Many Paylines?
The original slot machines only had one payline, which was a match of three identical symbols. These days there can be up to 30 paylines, and each one can generate different prizes or bonuses. While some machines give you a choice of how many paylines to activate, others automatically include all of them.
Variations
Classic slots have a few alternative models that still retain the fundamentals of the much loved prototype. One add-on is the option of a bonus game, while another is the addition of wild symbols, which increase chances of winning – although sometimes if they’re not part of a winning combination, they have no value. Some other variations are slots with fixed jackpots, progressive jackpots or accumulator bonuses.
Wins For All
Casinos keep a close eye on the financial worth of slot machines, and won’t hesitate to replace them if they become more of a cost than a profit. Luckily, this isn’t likely any time soon, and gamblers throughout the world still enjoy testing their luck and pocketing winnings.
