Most Popular Slot Types and Their Features

Slots, or fruit machines, have always been one of the must-haves of every casino. But with the shift from land-based casinos to online ones, the presence of slots skyrocketed to unprecedented levels.

In addition to their enormous numbers, slots also come in various shapes and forms, with each having its own set of characteristics that separate them from one another. Let’s dive into the most popular slot types and learn what they’re all about.

Classic Slots

Also known as 3-reel slot machines, classic slots are the most common ones you can find due to their simplicity. In land-based casinos, they are referred to as one-armed bandits. The nickname stems from traditional slot machines with a lever that players must pull for the reels to spin. 

With only a few reels, these machines have a limited number of combinations. Thus, there are fixed paylines with little bonuses or extras; however, they may offer jackpots to make it up. To land a huge win, players need three matching symbols on their reels.

Video Slots

With usually having five reels to spin, video slots are quite different from the classic ones. Instead of a lever to pull, players need to push a button to get things in motion. 5-reel video slots are considered upgrades from the classic slots as they have better graphics, more paylines, and extra features. Online gamblers also have the option to go with free bonus video slots to extend their playtime.

6-reel and 7-reel Slots

These slots push the borders of the three-reel and five-reel slots to offer UK players something different. Six and seven reel slots share a similar structure with five-reel ones. The only difference is that they come in a 6×3 or 7×3 grid. These extra reels help players have better combination options and more winning opportunities.

Progressive slots

With progressive jackpot slots, each sum players bet contributes to the jackpot. In other words, the jackpot prize pool is made up of the stakes players place on these progressive slots. Naturally, the prize money increases along with the player numbers, potentially reaching up to millions of pounds.

Interactive slots

Interactive slots usually come with multi-paylines and reels and use different layouts from other online slots. But what makes them truly unique is their interactive features that enable players to manipulate the course of events during a game.

Common Features of Slots

Compared to the simplicity of classic ones, modern and online slots have a range of cool features to spice up the gaming experience. Before jumping into them, it’s a good idea to see online reviews, like slots judge, to find out more about online slots. Here are a few of the most common slot features.

Scatter and Wild Symbols

To make wins in slot games, you need to line up identical symbols on the paylines. Scatter and wild symbols break that rule. Scatters trigger different profitable features depending on the game. Wilds, on the other hand, work like the joker in a pack of cards, replacing other symbols, bar the scatter to complete winning paylines etc. 

Free Spins

Free spins are the most common bonus features in slot machines. They allow you to spin the reel for free and can sometimes be retriggered during the game. Every slot game may introduce different and unique ways to activate free spins.

Cascading Reels 

Slots that have cascading reels are not the most common. However, this feature can help improve a player’s winning chances and extend the gameplay. Here, instead of slot symbols appearing in a regular manner, they cascade onto the grid and replace other symbols, creating space for new ones.

Paylines

Paylines are the set of lines where matching symbols must land to trigger wins. In classic slots, there is a single payline which is the central row. But the modern versions often have multiple paylines, increasing the prospects of landing bigger wins.

Ways to Win

Ways to win are pretty self-explanatory. It’s usually expressed in numbers that indicate the number of possible winning combinations. Some of the most generous slots in the market can have up to 100,000 ways to win.

Pay Tables

Pay tables give essential information about a game and its symbols, including wilds, scatters, and payouts for different combinations.

Multipliers

Multipliers are exclusive slot bonuses that can multiply your winnings depending on their set amount. They range from 2x to as high as 1000x.

Conclusion

Being one of the most gripping casino games out there, slots indeed have a wide variety nowadays. But as long as the gambling industry continues to evolve, we can expect to see new variations pop up left and right.