Video Slots are one of the most popular games around, especially when it comes to online gaming. But, if you’ve somehow managed to stay out of the loop and wouldn’t know your Slots from your Bingo, then we’ve got your back.
Read on as we talk you through everything you need to know about online video Slots.
A brief history
A good place to start is at the very beginning, tracing this iconic gaming experience to its initial invention. In 1891, the first recognised slot machine was developed by New York manufacturers Sittman and Pitt. These machines were a far cry from what we’re used to today, consisting of five metal drums and a deck of 50 playing cards that rotated inside, in the hopes of forming winning Poker hands. This gaming machine was then distributed to various bars across America, costing one nickel to get the reels spinning. The player would have to pull a lever after inserting their coins, which led to the nickname “one-armed bandits”.
In 1902, a developer from Chicago named Herbert Mills came out with the next big name in Slots’ history. The Operator Bell was the name of the machine, and was met with great success. Just six years later and Mills’ creation could be found in most shops, bowling alleys and saloons. This is also where the BAR symbol first appeared, and still remains a prominent icon in slot games today, even online.
Fast forward to 1964 and the first fully electromechanical slot was developed by Bally. The machine was called Money Honey and kept that iconic lever to keep the one-armed nickname alive.
The internet
With the boom of the internet in the mid ‘90s, game developers were quick to take Slots online. WMS Industries Inc. were the first to bring out an online slot – Reel ‘Em – that could include more than one screen at a time, and multiple ways to win. Nowadays, this is the norm, and you can get your fix of slot games at https://www.karamba.com/casino/videoslots/ anytime and anywhere.
Terminology
- Reels
The reels are the columns on the screen that spin during gameplay, as well as acting as the space where the symbols will fall. The most popular layout that you’ll find online is across five reels, although three-reel games are also available.
- Symbols
A key aspect in any slot game, the symbols are the pictures that cover each section of the reels and dish out prizes depending on how many icons you manage to line up. The symbols will also correlate with the overall theme of your chosen game, further illustrating the slot’s storyline. You should also expect to find playing card icons representing the lower value symbols in the game.
- Paylines
The paylines are the lines that run across the reels and will signal when a win has been triggered. When you read through the rules of your chosen slot game, you’ll often find that you need to get X amount of a certain symbol across a certain amount of paylines to generate a win.
- Random Number Generator
You’ll often see this feature represented in the form of an acronym – RNG. This software ensures that all outcomes within the game are random and haven’t been fixed in anyone’s favour. You should find an icon somewhere on the screen that confirms this feature is in action.
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Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
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