Slots History

Nowadays, slots are recognised as the most engaging and diverse casino games on the internet. They swarm the online casino floors in hundreds, sometimes thousands, and are enabled to provide the punters with endless hours of fun and benefits. But how much do we really know about slots? Let’s go back and see through their development process that led to modern slot machines online we all know and love today. Before electronics and before the internet was even a notion, the mechanics ran any machine or apparatus used in society. The first gambling machine was invented in 1891 by a New York company, Sittman and Pitt. It was a poker machine with 5 drums with a total of 50 playing cards. By 1895, the first slot machine was unveiled to the public. It was manufactured by Charles Augustus Fey, it was called the Liberty Bell and it featured 3 reels, as well as playing cards with 5 symbols – heart, diamond, spade, horseshoe and a liberty bell. There was only one paying line. For years to come, slots remained purely mechanical and a number of manufacturers copied the design of the Liberty Bell. In 1964, Bally created the first fully electromechanical slot called Money Honey. The reels were operated electrically, but to start the machine one would have to pull the lever. It was considered at the time that introducing any other way of starting the machine aside from pulling the lever would be unfamiliar and off-putting for players. The first true video slot was developed in the late 70s. It was showcased at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel and used a modified 19 inch Sony TV for the display. WMS Industries released Reel ‘Em, the first video slot machine which had a second screen where the bonus round pays out. This happened in the 90s. Just in time, because simultaneously the internet bloomed and brought the development of the first online casino sites. Even though the very first casinos online primarily offered classic casino games such as blackjack and roulette, slots quickly joined and assumed dominance over the online gambling industry.

Some Facts about Online Slots

In the early years of online gaming, internet slots remained very similar to their land-based counterparts. The same type of symbols was featured on the reels and for a while there were no notable structural changes to the slot format. As computer programing advanced so did the limits of development of online slots. New types of games started to appear, featuring interesting themes, layouts, symbols and special gameplay modifiers. It has now become the standard to include 5 reels in a video slot machine online, and the ones that have 3 reels have retired. They are now considered traditional and retro and are mainly played for nostalgic reasons. Classic 3-reeler machines have spawned modern video slots that can have 5-7 columns, sometimes even more, and feature more than 10 paying lines, often 25, 40 or 50. In recent years, software developers have found ways to make their slots pay for combinations of adjacent symbols, which has led to slots having 243, 1,024 and more ways to win instead of standard paying lines. The industry has reached a point where it counts on several leading companies and dozens of smaller studios to feed the slot casino portfolios with top-notch products embellished with high-definition graphics, bonus rounds, innovative elements and worthy payouts.

The Most Popular Online Slot Providers

Some casino software companies work successfully in several categories, developing simultaneously table games, live dealer and slot machines for online casino websites. Other have completely turned to slots and geared their entire production towards delivering attractive slot machines to all the eager punters such as you. Certain companies are often called “giants of the industry”, as they have the biggest games libraries and the most influence in the field. They are joined by well-known yet smaller software companies who try to remain consequential by developing slots that are at least on par with the most famous titles made by the big dogs. Ultimately, many boutique studios have appeared in recent years, looking to innovate the slot machine by inserting creative features and new ways to reward the player. They are often not concerned about the lack of quantity in their arsenal. Quality and uniqueness is what drives them. NetEnt Net Entertainment (NetEnt) was established in 1996 in Sweden. It has become one of the top vendors in the online gambling industry, having received all the major industry awards and developed over 300 slot titles that have set standards of quality for other developers to refer to. NetEnt online slots are praised for their advanced technology and crisp design, as well as for their user-friendly gaming environment and seamless mobile functionality. The most popular titles from the number one Swedish provider are Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Guns N’ Roses, Jimi Hendrix, Mega Fortune, Hall of Gods, Motörhead and there are many, many more. Microgaming Another titan in the online gaming industry, Microgaming released the first online casino in 1994. The company’s portfolio includes well over 600 slots and perhaps its greatest quality is the ability to stand the test of time. Having been operational for decades, Microgaming never fell into a trap of exploiting past glory and repeating the same formulas over and over again. No, Microgaming continues to deliver video slots with creative themes which are brilliantly executed. Some of the most recognisable titles are Thunderstruck II, Immortal Romance, Terminator 2, Lost Vegas, along with progressives Mega Moolah and Major Millions, among others. Play’n GO Play’n GO is another Swedish gambling software provider, founded back in 1997. Aimed to conquer the European market, Play’n GO manufactures casino games that respond to the latest technological demands, all the while featuring interesting themes and features. Many high-ranked online slot websites incorporate these products and the players love them for being visually attractive, action-packed and often bring high winning potential. Riches of Ra, Aztec Idols, 7 Sins, Aztec Princess, Book of Dead and Gemix were all produced by Play’n GO. Playtech Playtech has been around since 1999 and has one of the most diverse portfolios in the industry. They have tried making every gambling game you can think of and became a force to be reckoned with along the way. From the perspective of slots production, Playtech is probably most known for its networked progressive jackpots. The brand also stands behind a series of licensed slot machines, such as Rocky, The Mummy and The Sopranos. IGT International Game Technology (IGT) was founded in the 80s and transferred its land-based slots to the virtual casino floor in 2005 after partnering up with Wagerworks. With huge experience in the real casino environment, IGT tries to match the real user experience with their online slot titles. Many of them, as we’ve mentioned, are copies of existing brick and mortar cabinets, such as Pharaoh’s Fortune, Crown of Egypt and Cleopatra. A series of IGT slots are enriched with a MegaJackpots Progressive Jackpot, which also makes them rather popular. Yggdrasil Yggdrasil Gaming has been founded in 2013 and with much shorter time to make an impression, the Malta-based company gained the title of a rising star. Yggdrasil’s online slots are blessed with beautiful designs and creative features. The very first slot released by this supplier, Jokerizer, and several other titles that were launched in the following years, earned them accolades Slot Provider of the Year at 2016 EGR B2B Award and iGaming Software Supplier of the Year at 2016 International Gaming Awards. Quickspin Based in Stockholm, Quickspin was established by experienced industry experts that used to work for NetEnt. The high level of technical know-how of Swedish online casino professionals shines once again through popular Quickspin titles such as Big Bad Wolf, Volcano Riches, Sakura Fortune and Sticky Bandits. At first one of the primary vendors of online slot machine in the Nordic region, Quickspin now easily matches the skills of the best slot providers in the world and continues to expand its network of associated slot sites.

Types of Online Slots

The time has long passed when slots were mere fruit machines with one paying line and 3 mechanical reels. Several game types were derived from the original slot format and you can now find all of them in the best online slot sites.

Classic Slots Online

his type is the most similar to the original slots that were first introduced through online gambling platforms. Classic, or traditional, online slot machines in most cases have 3 reels and can have between 1 and 5 paying lines. They are void of specific themes and embrace the genuine slot charm that is well known for its fruits, bells and BAR symbols. Most of these titles feature cherries, lemons, plums and other delicious fruities, with the addition of lucky sevens or liberty bells. The effects are usually reduced to joyful bursts of sound whenever a win happens. When you choose a classic slot, do not expect to see multiple bonus rounds and special features. The best you can get is a Wild symbol and perhaps a jackpot. But, that simplicity is often what makes such games attractive.

Video Slots Online

Video slots are more complicated to dissect. Among them, there are multiple subcategories but we’ll try to summarise their highlights without going into overwhelming details. We’ll leave something for you do discover by yourself! Now, video slots are usually themed around a story, character, myth or legend, or a fantastic subject that resembles sci-fi novels or movies. Software providers can also take a popular movie or TV series and develop a video slot with a license, so as to attract the fandom of said projects to spin the reels and relive their favourite experiences in front of the screen. Structurally, video slots normally have 5 reels at least. They can sometimes have more. The number of paying lines can go from 9 or 10 up to tens of thousands of ways to win, depending on the game and its provider. Video slots come with various additions to the standard gameplay; they feature Wild symbols, Scatters, free spins bonus rounds, pick-me games, money wheel bonuses and multipliers. They can even have progress bars and level-up features, so the player is always engaged, always pursuing something and always looking to trigger something or other, all the while enjoying advanced visuals, brilliant design and theme-suited sound effect and background music.

Progressive Jackpot Slots

Slots with progressive jackpots are often categorised separately from slot machines that do not feature a pooled prize. They can have elements of classic slots or be full-fledged video slot machines packed with bonuses and special features, but their main characteristic is that they take a small percentage of every bet each player makes and place it into a pot that grows progressively amounting to massive sums. The progressive jackpot prize is sometimes awarded on any random spin and sometimes the player needs to collect a certain number of special symbols or trigger a bonus round for a chance to play for the jackpot. One way or the other, progressives are a big deal in the online casino world and all the best slots sites should have them.

Best Slot Sites

With the industry booming in the past decade, there is no shortage of websites where you can play slots online. The tricky part is finding the best ones. It takes time and effort to review all the available platforms and evaluate their straights and weaknesses. To do this, you must know what to look for and which aspects to pay special attention to. These are the traits that the best slot casinos should have:

• A license from a reputable regulator. Look for the seal of certification on the bottom of the front page and the license number.
• A website that is easy on the eyes and easy to navigate. You should have quick access to the casino’s lobby, bonuses and promotions and its cashier.
• A great selection of slot games, preferably from multiple software suppliers so as to satisfy any player’s needs for variety and an extensive choice all in one place.
• Lucrative slot bonuses. The best slot bonuses are online free spins bonuses and slot tournaments, but many slot lovers can also benefit from generous welcome bonuses and match deposit promotions.
• Efficient and fast banking system supported by convenient and secure payment methods. The players ought to be able to pick their preferred method of deposit/withdrawal from a wide range of options, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid vouchers, mobile payment apps, instant banking and also Bitcoin.
• The site should promote responsible gambling and conduct all the necessary measures to protect the players’ privacy and personal information. All the top slots sites apply SSL encryption to safeguard the data shared by users, both personal and financial.
• Ultimately, the best slots casino online is required to offer 24/7 customer support to its players, preferably through live chat, phone and email.

Best Slot Sites for Winning

Playing slots for fun is a remarkable experience, yet the majority of players do expect to win something while they play. Each of us has expectations and as long as these are healthy and reasonable, winning at slots is something we fundamentally deserve. Which are the best slots sites for winning, you may ask? Well, this is a hard question to address, let alone answer with certainty. There isn’t a slot website or online casino that can guarantee you wins. Lady Luck takes care of that. But we can share with you some of the most favourable circumstances that can improve your chances of winning when you play slots for real money online.

• If you wish to leave a slot machine with a boosted bankroll, try to pick the slots with the highest payouts. Pay close attention the return to player percentages of the fruit machines you play for real money. The higher the RTP, the bigger the chances of receiving sizeable payout over time. The RTP does not indicate whether you will be able to trigger bonuses and earn something extra, but it tells you if the chosen machine pays enough for you to consider betting on it. Examples of slots with high return are Ugga Bugga (RTP 99.07%), Jackpot 6000 (RTP 98.9%) and Blood Sucker (RTP 98%). So, find slot sites that feature these games and their approximates.
• Minding the volatility is also a good course of action. The variance, or volatility, is the “risk factor” for internet slot machines. On low-volatility slots, it is easier to form winning combinations, but the payouts are often smaller in size. High variance means you will have to wait a while to land a win, but the reward is impressive. To be able to make use of the full potential of high-volatility slots, you need to have a notable bankroll.
• Do some research before you join a slots site. It may not be a good idea to go with the obvious option every time. Perhaps there is another online slots casino that may serve your preferences better in terms of its slots collection and banking alternatives.
• To win more, you need to bet more. Don’t be afraid to make higher bets if you can afford them. It is on rare occasions that you have the chance to win a progressive jackpot with a minimum bet.
• Pick a casino that has favourable free spins bonuses with minimum wagering requirements to make the most of your slots play.

UK Slot Sites

Slots sites available to UK players are some of the best gambling websites on the internet because they rank high in all the relevant aspects, from security and RTP verification to game choice, available banking methods and support responsiveness. For one, all UK slot sites are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. This makes them compliant with current gambling laws in the United Kingdom and allows users to play with a peace of mind. Leading software providers such as Microgaming and Playtech supply the majority of UK-friendly online casinos with their premium slots and British players have the convenience to play in their local currency, the pound sterling (£). Don’t be surprised by the favourable wagering requirements on bonuses and fast withdrawals at the cashier, because these are the advantages of the best internet UK casinos. To reach the crème de la crème list, a UK casino needs to present competitive bonus offers, easily accessible support, impeccable security and full mobile usability, as well.

UK Casino Regulation and Licensing

It is perfectly legal to place bets on slots online in the United Kingdom, as long as the player is 18 years old or older. The gambling laws in the UK are rather relaxed and a significant portion of the country’s population identifies with the term “avid gamblers”. Of course, governmental institutions make sure that gambling is practised responsibly and under secure and safe conditions. The main document that regulates gambling in the UK is the Gambling Act 2005. By the power of this act, the UK Gambling Commission was funded, a regulatory body that issues licenses and revokes them in extreme cases when the casino operator does not comply with its strict set of rules. UK online gambling license guarantees fair, safe and secure service to the casino customers. Operators who fail to supply this, risk penalties. As you can see, playing slots online for real money can be a real bliss, provided that you play at the best slot sites, in a regulated environment.