Table of Contents
Game type
Among the game types there are 4 most prominent:- classic slots
- video slots
- mega spins
- progressive slots
Classic slots
Classic slots are a tribute to the slot machines at the dawn of their existence. Since many players experience nostalgic feelings about physical slot machines with a lever, producers of contemporary online slots continue to release such games online. Depending on the game type , though, the number of reels, paylines and other parameters may differ, but the overall theme, fruit symbols and the atmosphere of a retro casino are pertained. In most classic slots there are 3 reels and a little - in comparison to video slots - number of paylines. There are also simpler bonus rounds. An example of a classic slot:Amatic - Hot 27
Fruit machines
Among classic slots, fruit machines can be singled out as a separate category. The term itself comes from old school British physical machines which had fairly simple rules: a player only needed to collect a winning combination on a single payline. This kind of game is perfect for beginners. Fruit machines produced today, though, may deviate from classics. Loot at the fruit slot “Fruit zen” by BetSoft.Video slots
At the moment, video slots are the most popular type of slots in online casinos. The thing is that anyone can find a thematic slot he or she prefers. Usually such a slot has 5 reels and up to several hundreds paylines. Excellent graphics, animations and sound effects make the game process far more engaging. In addition, often the main characters of the games are popular characters from movies, animated movies or even members of musical groups. The slot below is dedicated to the legendary group Guns N’ Roses, where it is possible to choose one of five hits as a background music. Another example is a slot based on the “Jurassic Park” movie. The slot features characters from the movie and the movie soundtrack. The pearl of the game is a T. Rex, walking among the trees and giving out additional bonuses.Mega spin slots
This is the next level of gaming. A player can play 3 to 9 games simultaneously. When he or she chooses desirable games and bet amount and pushes the button, the story begins. Up to 45 reels in all the games start spinning simultaneously, which means that the chances of winning and hitting a jackpot multiply. Usually, 3-reel slots are played in mega spins, but there are exclusions as well.Progressive slots
Progressive slots are a network of slot machines that share a jackpot. Every time someone plays a progressive jackpot game, its total amount increases until won by a single lucky player. Consequently, the amount of jackpot depends on the number of people playing the games. The originator of progressive jackpots is the first producer of online slots, the Microgaming company. Its jackpots set records, the latest being in the Mega Moolah game in 2015. It was won by Jon Heywood, equaled EUR 17,879,645.12 and entered the Guinness World Records.
Since we are talking about jackpots, it is worth mentioning different types of progressive jackpots and also a fixed jackpot.
Jackpots
Standalone Progressive Jackpot
This is a progressive jackpot, which can be won on one slot only. Consequently, the jackpot is accumulated slower, being still a large sum.Proprietary Progressive Jackpot
Another kind of jackpots, shared inside a single casino. Don't expect a multi-million winning here, however, the chance to win such a jackpot is higher.Network jackpot
The jackpot sum is accumulated owing to players playing in different online casinos, which use the software of one provider (NetEnt, Microgaming, BetSoft…). The opportunity to hit a jackpot here is low, but the sum is cosmic.Fixed jackpot
In this case, a casino sets a sum which does not change. So, neither the number of players, nor playing time or the round size impact the size of a winning. The fixed jackpot is less popular than the progressive one, but still is of demand.Apart from types of game and the availability of jackpots, slots can be classified according to reel amount, paylines, bet lines, themes, quality of video etc. The most important thing is that your players like them.
2021 update
In 2021, all of the above slot types are still popular among gamblers. Classics lovers keep playing classic slots, and those who like innovation and technology, try something new. Among the most popular trends of 2021 there are several:- 3D slots
- Freeplay
- Virtual Reality Slots
- Provably Fair slots
