Game Introduction The "One Armed Bandits" have come a long way since they where invented by Charles Fey. Nowadays you will find thousands of different games and many different variations of slots. They are easy to play, can offer big jackpots for a small bet and can keep you entertained for hours on end for a small outlay. Types Of Slot Machines When you walk into a casino or login online you will see all sorts of slots these can be divided into categories based on the format. All formats have their pros and cons but all are usually set to pay out anywhere from between 85% and 99%. In very rare cases there may be one or two slots in a casino that have their pay outs set at 100% but these will be almost impossible for you to locate. The following are the common types. Spinning Reel : These are the old style slot machines that still have reels. Most frequently seen with three reels but occasionally you will find one with four or five. They can have from between one and five winning lines Video Reel : These games use a vise screen much like video poker machines to display a set of five virtual reels. Video slots often have as many as twenty different pay lines. Progressive : If you see a meter above the game with a jackpot value that is changing then you have a progressive slot machine. The jackpot rises as players play and one winner scoops the lot. Bonus Slots : One of the newer variations, these games have some sort of additional bonus game or prize that can be won by lining up a specific combination. Slots Rules Slot machines are very simple to play and don't really have any rules as such. Just insert money via the note acceptor or coin slot. Make sure that the credits have registered and then choose your bet level. Hit max bet to automatically bet the maximum number of credits per spin. The reels then spin and when they stop you are left to see if any of the required combinations line up. If they did your credits will rise accompanied by some music or noise. If you hit a major jackpot the light on the top of your machine may flash. In this case you have to wait for the attendant to come and pay you your winnings. Playing slot machines online is just like playing in Vegas. In fact the games use exactly the same programming code so you really have the chance to bring hundreds of slot machines right into your own home. So far the biggest online jackpot won in one spin was just over $1,800,000 - not bad considering the lucky player never left her house! Pay Out Percentages and House Advantages It is no secret that slot machines have a high house edge. The pay out percentage vary from machine to machine. Progressives tend to have the lowest pay out percentages because a part of every bet must be used to fund the jackpot. Of course if you are looking for a life changing jackpot then progressive are the way to go. The most important thing is to set a budget before you start playing. Online Slot Machine Previews |