Need to know all about slots? You’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we will
cover everything you 9️⃣ need to know about slots – from odds to reels to wins, get the
knowledge you need to spin like 9️⃣ royalty.
Slot machines are by far the most popular
casino game, having surpassed table games due to speed, ease, and accessibility. 9️⃣ This
is because slots are plentiful and can be found in ‘prime seating’ locations by casino
entrances, making them not 9️⃣ only cheaper and easy to play, but also highly
accessible.
At Caesars Slots, we put the reels and riches of great 9️⃣ rulers in the palm
of your hand – at work, at home, on vacation, and anywhere you have a mobile
9️⃣ device.
WHAT ARE SLOTS?
Slots are gaming machines that generate random combinations of
symbols on a dial, where certain combinations result in 9️⃣ wins. The odds of winning on a
physical slot machine is around 1 in 49,836,032. The average return-to-player (RTP)
rate 9️⃣ is usually 92-97%, with online slots having better payout percentages than casino
machines. Online casinos like ours have a paytable 9️⃣ in every game, where you can read
about payout rates, prizes, and bonus features for that slot. You can find 9️⃣ the paytable
for our slot games by clicking the “i” button inside that slot.
THE BIRTH OF SLOT
MACHINES
It’s widely known 9️⃣ and accepted that Charles Fey is the father of modern slots,
creating the Liberty Bell (or first “New Nickel operated 9️⃣ machine”) in 1887 in San
Francisco. Slots became an instant hit, and the inventor was able to open a production
9️⃣ factory to manufacture slots. These machines do not differ much from modern ones, with
similar reels and symbols.
DID YOU KNOW?
Slot 9️⃣ machines go by many names! “Slot machine”
or simply “slots” are American and Canadian English, while “fruit machine” or
“fruities” 9️⃣ are more common in British English. In Scottish English these are referred
to as “puggies” and in Australia and New 9️⃣ Zealand, you might hear them called “poker
machines” or “pokies”, though these are still the same type of gambling machines. 9️⃣ Slots
have also been called “one-arm bandits” for their large levers used to spin the earlier
mechanical slot machines.
Land-based versus 9️⃣ online slots
Simply put, land-based slot
machines are those that you find in casinos that you visit in person. Whether you’re
9️⃣ taking a weekend trip to Las Vegas or Atlantic City with friends or bigger trips to far
off gambling centers 9️⃣ such as Macau, the slot machines you play in casinos are
land-based.
Land-based slot machines go all the way back to 9️⃣ the late 1800s in San
Francisco, where they were first kept in store entrances to entertain people who were
passing 9️⃣ by. Early slot machines gave winnings in the form of chewing gum and golf balls
before cash prizes became common.
The 9️⃣ earliest slot machine technology was made of
mechanical reels powered by random number generators. As computer technology became
more advanced, 9️⃣ computerized video slots have changed the slot playing experience for
the better. Game play has become richer and more diverse 9️⃣ with complex game themes.
Moreover, the jackpot potential is bigger because machines aren’t limited to how many
reels can physically 9️⃣ fit into the back of the machine.
As the years went on and
technology has become more advanced, slot machines have 9️⃣ become popular in casinos all
over the world. In many places, they have become even more popular than table games
9️⃣ such as poker and blackjack. Not only are they fun and entertaining, but they often
offer the opportunity for big 9️⃣ jackpots on small wagers without too much skill.
Online
slots have taken slot machines to the next level. First of all, 9️⃣ they offer players the
opportunity to play 24/7, whenever, wherever. It is not always easy to travel to a
casino 9️⃣ to play the slots, but players who are interested can now get the same
experience from the comfort of their 9️⃣ only living room. Whether you want to play on your
computer or phone, online slots offer a thrilling entertainment experience 9️⃣ from
anywhere in the world. Online slots are based on constantly evolving technology that
engage players with new changing themes 9️⃣ and fun features. Play experiences online are
more varied, which means that you’ll never be bored with the same thing 9️⃣ twice. That’s
why millions of people all over the world love to be entertained by online
slots.
POPULARITY of slot machines
So 9️⃣ why are slots so popular? For starters, they are
easy to play! Just insert or set your bet and push 9️⃣ the button or pull the lever,
depending on machine design. This ease also factors into the time in which it 9️⃣ takes to
play. It is possible to place over 500 bets an hour on a slot machine, and even more
9️⃣ when there are not many bonus activities.
Minimum bet requirements for slots also add
to their attraction. You can play a 9️⃣ short quick round with the chance at a jackpot or
huge prize for a lower fee than table games. Casinos 9️⃣ make their games attractive with
sounds, art, lights, and the exciting surrounding casino floor environment. Online,
slots are made with 9️⃣ the same environment in mind, with the option to adjust settings as
preferred. Slot designers build machines with player activity 9️⃣ in mind, aiming for an
engaging, stimulating, and overall fun experience where players feel a part of the
action.
Land-based versus 9️⃣ online slots
Simply put, land-based slot machines are those
that you find in casinos that you visit in person. Whether you’re 9️⃣ taking a weekend trip
to Las Vegas or Atlantic City with friends or bigger trips to far off gambling centers
9️⃣ such as Macau, the slot machines you play in casinos are land-based.
Land-based slot
machines go all the way back to 9️⃣ the late 1800s in San Francisco, where they were first
kept in store entrances to entertain people who were passing 9️⃣ by. Early slot machines
gave winnings in the form of chewing gum and golf balls before cash prizes became
common.
The 9️⃣ earliest slot machine technology was made of mechanical reels powered by
random number generators. As computer technology became more advanced, 9️⃣ computerized
video slots have changed the slot playing experience for the better. Game play has
become richer and more diverse 9️⃣ with complex game themes. Moreover, the jackpot
potential is bigger because machines aren’t limited to how many reels can physically
9️⃣ fit into the back of the machine.
As the years went on and technology has become more
advanced, slot machines have 9️⃣ become popular in casinos all over the world. In many
places, they have become even more popular than table games 9️⃣ such as poker and
blackjack. Not only are they fun and entertaining, but they often offer the opportunity
for big 9️⃣ jackpots on small wagers without too much skill.
Online slots have taken slot
machines to the next level. First of all, 9️⃣ they offer players the opportunity to play
24/7, whenever, wherever. It is not always easy to travel to a casino 9️⃣ to play the
slots, but players who are interested can now get the same experience from the comfort
of their 9️⃣ only living room. Whether you want to play on your computer or phone, online
slots offer a thrilling entertainment experience 9️⃣ from anywhere in the world.
Online
slots are based on constantly evolving technology that engage players with new changing
themes and 9️⃣ fun features. Play experiences online are more varied, which means that
you’ll never be bored with the same thing twice. 9️⃣ That’s why millions of people all over
the world love to be entertained by online slots.
TYPES OF SLOTS
CLASSIC 3-REEL
SLOTS
These 9️⃣ are modeled after the original (physical) fruit machines as traditional
3-reel slots. These basic slots are easy to play and 9️⃣ understand! To win, simply match
symbols along the top, middle, or bottom line. Some people use these to relax, unwind,
9️⃣ or reminisce. Traditional slot machines have physical reels as opposed to their video
slot equivalents, though classic slots can now 9️⃣ be found with either.
FLAT TOP
SLOTS
Flat-top slots have a fixed top prize or jackpot, also known as a cash pot
9️⃣ jackpot, standard jackpot, or non-progressive jackpot. These have a massive prize and
are the only types of jackpots that do 9️⃣ not grow or change in any way. The prize remains
the same between players and can be won by playing. 9️⃣ These jackpots may be lower than
those of progressive slots, though the chance of winning the jackpot is far higher 9️⃣ than
the chance of winning a progressive jackpot.
5-REEL SLOTS
5-reel slots, or video slots,
use a video to display 5 virtual 9️⃣ reels. These can be found in casino slots as well as
online ones.
Video slots typically have 5 reels, which allow 9️⃣ for up to 100 paylines
instead of just 1, creating more chances of winning. Paylines are winning combination
patterns on 9️⃣ the reels, and the more paylines you have the better your chances are of
winning. 5-reel slots include special symbols 9️⃣ like WILD and SCATTER to provide even
more ways to win. Be sure to read the paytable before you play, 9️⃣ to understand the game
you are playing. 5-reel slots become harder to understand and follow as they vary in
complex 9️⃣ ways to win and scatter symbol triggers.
BONUS FEATURE SLOTS
Bonus rounds are
unique features in slot games where you can win 9️⃣ without betting. These bonus rounds
might include a mini-game or free spins, usually triggered by lining up special symbols
such 9️⃣ as a WILD (substitutes any symbol on the reels to create a payline) or SCATTER
(allows for generous payouts, extra 9️⃣ rewards, or triggering a feature). Bonus rounds
offer a short and fast way to win extra payouts during a feature 9️⃣ before returning to
the base game. Some may require speed or skill, while others are up to chance or play
9️⃣ short graphics.
Free Spins are the most common and popular bonus feature. Once
triggered, wins stack as the reels spin without 9️⃣ taking more bets from the player. The
triggering bet is used in calculating the wins in most bonus features, so 9️⃣ the higher
you bet the better your bonus wins will be! Do you have a favorite type of bonus
game?
PROGRESSIVE 9️⃣ SLOTS
Most slots have fixed jackpot prizes that can be won or missed
without affecting the jackpot amount. Progressive slots have 9️⃣ a jackpot that increases
over time, as their jackpots are prize pools that rise each time the machine is played.
9️⃣ The value of the jackpot increases with every spin that is not won during a game,
essentially accumulating player bets 9️⃣ to return to them to a lucky winner. The odds may
be tougher, but the payout is sure to be 9️⃣ huge!
ONLINE SLOTS
Online slots are becoming
more popular each year, being preferable to some slot players over land-based ones. Is
there 9️⃣ any difference between physical and online slots? The answer is yes! Online slots
have more advantages than land-based ones, including 9️⃣ convenience and accessibility,
privacy, and better bonuses. Read more on why you should play online slots
Video
slots
This kind of slot 9️⃣ machine has more graphics and diverse gameplay than a classic
slot because of virtual animation. Many on the higher end 9️⃣ of the spectrum have quality
sound effects, graphics and animation, and have become the norm in many casinos online
around 9️⃣ the world – in addition to being the only kind of slots online.
Mega spin
slots
This feature means that a machine 9️⃣ has more than one set of reels in a single
machine – more variety, more entertainment. Mega spins slots are 9️⃣ made so that players
will never get bored of seeing the same content twice.
Slots multipliers
Multipliers
work to increase player winnings 9️⃣ by multiplying bets, line wins and total wins. The
multiplier symbol lands during either the base or bonus game to 9️⃣ signify the amount
which is multiplied.
Jackpot slots
Many slot machines feature different kinds of
jackpots, that can range from a few 9️⃣ dollars to a few thousand dollars. In general,
smaller rewards are easier to win, while larger rewards are rarer and 9️⃣ require higher
bets.
Multi-payline slots
Multi-payline slots are a product of technology’s ability to
add more features in slot games, which have 9️⃣ become more diverse in terms of animation,
sound and graphics. Multi-payline slots means that that there are multiple payouts on
9️⃣ winning combinations across reels. If a game has more paylines, then a player is more
likely to score a win.
3D 9️⃣ slots
3D slots are designed to make a user feel as if they
are having a 3D experience, without needing the 9️⃣ glasses. If you enjoy lots of
stimulation from sounds and animations, then this kind of slot is for you.
Vegas
slots
This 9️⃣ refers to the classic, unbeatable style of slot machines from Las Vegas.
Nowadays, many online slots are designed to recreate 9️⃣ the Vegas experience for those
looking to enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes.
SLOT BASICS &
TERMINOLOGY
Slots PAYLINES
A 9️⃣ payline is a straight or zig-zag line that determines the
payout for a spin, based on the combinations of symbols 9️⃣ appearing on the line. Slot
machines have you pay your bet per line, applying it to each individual payline you
9️⃣ choose to bet on, whereas online slots such as ours take your bet as is and apply it to
all 9️⃣ paylines without having you pay for each line separately. Only active paylines
provide a payout for winning combinations, and with 9️⃣ us, all paylines are active!
Variable or adjustable paylines are those that allow you to choose whether to wager on
9️⃣ them or not and fixed paylines are those where you must bet on all paylines but give
you the chance 9️⃣ to win a larger payout, which is why they are sometimes referred to as
all-or-nothing games.
Slots with more paylines provide 9️⃣ more opportunities to win, so
check the paytable for each slot you play to know your chances. Every time you 9️⃣ spin,
paylines with winning combinations will flash on your reels to show you how you won.
Each hit is then 9️⃣ combined to give you your payout.
Our slot machines, as well as those
in casinos, use a Random Number Generator (RNG) 9️⃣ to create a random output of symbols
even when no one is playing the machine! This means that the resulting 9️⃣ combinations are
truly random and unpredictable, ensuring fair gameplay. Every player has the same
chances of winning.
NEAR MISSES
You need 3 9️⃣ scatter symbols to trigger a bonus event and
spun one… two… and the third is just off the reel! So 9️⃣ close… right? This may be the
case, though the reality is that this near miss was probably one of the 9️⃣ many that
happen as a part of the game’s design. Slot manufacturers build near-miss elements into
their reels to balance 9️⃣ out the game’s payouts and engage players with a tempting win
they could have had.
FALSE WINS
False wins are more frequent 9️⃣ with modern slots and
become more apparent as more slot variations and paylines develop. False wins are wins
that are 9️⃣ lower than the bet placed, so if you were to bet one million coins and you won
175,000 coins, the 9️⃣ machine would still say “You won!” even though that spin ended in an
actual loss. Thes wins not only allow 9️⃣ you to spin more, but also add excitement to the
game. Old, single-lined slots had no reason to give false 9️⃣ wins, whereas now slots have
so many payout options that the machine shows you winning on certain lines and not
9️⃣ others, hence the small amount. If you could choose to bet on a handful of lines rather
than all of 9️⃣ them, false wins drop in frequency or all together, depending on the game
pays.
DEAD SPINS
If you spun and came out 9️⃣ empty-handed, you had what is called a dead
spin. Unlike winning spins with any type of payout, a dead spin 9️⃣ gives zero wins. The
more volatile a game is the more dead spins will occur; however, in such games, wins
9️⃣ will generally be substantially larger since they are less frequent.
WEIGHTED REELS &
REEL STOPS
Each reel has a set number of 9️⃣ reel stops, positions at which it can come to
a stop. Slot reels stop directly affects wins, making reel stops 9️⃣ critical in slot
design. “Weighted reels” are those in which weighting components have been added to the
reel stops. Weighting 9️⃣ components can be added to each reel stop, increasing the
relative frequency one reel stop will be used compared to 9️⃣ another.
Example: imagine
reels with spaces between symbols. A game could be designed to stop on a space with
more frequency 9️⃣ than on a symbol, which could stop with more frequency than a different
one. Weighted reels allow for an increase 9️⃣ in potential combinations and make some
scenarios more common than others.
Near-miss scenarios can be caused by weighting reel
stops next 9️⃣ to special symbols or by allowing two out of three needed symbols to show up
in place. These scenarios make 9️⃣ it seem like you almost made something happen, though it
resulted as a part of the slot’s design. Using weighted 9️⃣ reels can make top payouts
bigger, however, as they increase, so does the amount of dead and false
spins.
UNBALANCED REELS
Similar 9️⃣ to weighted reels, unbalanced reels use more or less of
a certain symbol on one reel over another to change 9️⃣ the chances of an outcome. Imagine
having three red 7s on one reel, another three on the next reel, but 9️⃣ only one on your
third reel. This unbalanced reel will give the effect of near misses when only two of
9️⃣ the symbols line up and it seems like an almost win. Unbalanced reels get more complex
with video slots and 9️⃣ slots with more reels. In games with stacked symbols and bigger
pays for five-of-a-kinds, unbalancing reels cause even more near-missed 9️⃣ wins. Like many
other near-miss opportunities, this drives up excitement and suspense. From a design
perspective, balancing symbols can help 9️⃣ a slot machine reach its payout target, while
the randomness in wins makes it exciting.
WILD SYMBOLS
Mutli-spin or multi-payline
slots often 9️⃣ feature many bonuses using special symbols as triggers. Wild symbols
substitute for all symbols other than the bonus icons (such 9️⃣ as scatters). These
sometimes multiply your wins or expand to fill the reel to increase your
payout!
SCATTER SYMBOLS
Scatter symbols, also 9️⃣ called Scatter Pays, are bonus icons that
pay wherever they land on a payline by completing a winning combination like 9️⃣ a wild or
increasing the payout for a spin. Three scatters usually trigger a mini game or bonus
feature that 9️⃣ provides free extra wins, such as free spins or respins.
Glossary of
slots: your complete guide to slots terminology
RTP – Return 9️⃣ to Player: the percentage
of money a player earns back compared to how much they have wagered
Pokies – the
Australian 9️⃣ term for slot machines
Multi Spin – available on online slot machines only,
these slots feature multiple sets of reels
Fruit Machines 9️⃣ – offshoot of a classic slot
machine featuring only fruit symbols, and typically less complex graphics than many
modern digital 9️⃣ slots
High Roller Slots – as opposed to penny slots, these slots offer
higher payouts for those willing to wager higher 9️⃣ pets
Bonus Games and Features – extra
games or features within online slots
Auto Play – feature on online slots that enables
9️⃣ a player to choose a preset number of spins without having to press spin each time
Bet
Max – the maximum 9️⃣ amount a player can bet on a slot machine
Coin Size– available in
penny up toR$5 slots – Coin Size allows 9️⃣ players to vary the increments of money the
wager
Fixed Jackpot – jackpot always stays the same
Free Spins – a bonus 9️⃣ feature
offered on many slot machines
Loose Slot – slots that offer players higher payback
percentages
Mechanical Slots – classic slot machines 9️⃣ whose reels operate mechanically
rather than digitally
Traditional slot machines that have physical reels rather than
the video equivalents.
One-Armed Bandit – 9️⃣ refers to early slot machine mechanisms
whereby a player had to pull down a large lever to operate the machine
Pay-line 9️⃣ – a
straight or zigzagged line that crosses a particular symbol across reels
Payout
Percentage – the percentage of money a 9️⃣ slot machine should return to a player over
time
Pay Table – a reference for players on a slot machine to 9️⃣ show players different
winning combinations and how many credits each combination is worth
Progressive Jackpot
– the jackpot continues to grow 9️⃣ until it is won
Random Number Generator –
mathematically based computer program that randomized slot machine results from all
possible number 9️⃣ sequences
Reels – the strips that spin inside the slot machine screen.
When symbols on reels match up, the player wins
Scatter 9️⃣ – a scatter symbol that appears
on a reel unlocks free spins, special features and bonus games
Symbol – the different
9️⃣ icons on slot machine reels – popular ones include fruit, dollar signs, number sevens,
and money bags, but can be 9️⃣ many other signs as well
Tight Slot – less frequent payout
than loose slot machines
Wild Symbol – wild symbols substitute for 9️⃣ winning symbols on
the reels if they land in their place
Winning Combination – casinos decide winning
combinations in advance, and 9️⃣ a player can win by getting one
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