Last updated: October 13, 2023
Welcome to Casino Today, your go-to home for the best insights and most up-to-date knowledge for casino gambling. Whether you have read some of our other slot machine guides, or if you are here to learn a little more about the slots. Here you will find our guide on how to play slot machine games. Our team of experts tailored this guide for players from all backgrounds, providing an insight into what goes on inside these popular casino games and how to go about playing in 2022 and beyond. Join us as we share information we pass on to you, your worries will be settled, and the best experience we can offer is waiting at your fingertips.
Modern slot machine games trace back to large and unique machines manufactured by an avid mechanic (and tinkerer) of the late 19th century, Charles Fey. The machine that Fey created was simple but complex in concept, and this machine was called the Liberty Bell.
They were featuring three spinning reels operated by a handle and a single slot to place a coin into. This machine had just one pay line, with each reel featuring five symbols – some you would recognize today – spades, hearts, diamonds, a horseshoe, and a bell.
This machine aimed to line up each of the three reels with the liberty bell symbol; doing so would pay a jackpot of 10 coins, so at a single coin (5c) per spin, you would have the chance of winning back ten times your bet (50c jackpot).
This simple game design is the foundation for many of the classic slots that are played throughout casinos online and on the gaming floor.
Taking a step back in time and crossing over to New York in 1891, a machine was first created with a similar foundation to Charles Fey’s later Liberty Bell design. We now know that this machine was an early adoption of a slot machine and poker cross over.
Similar to what would become the Liberty Bell, this machine had five spinning drums, each with ten cards on each drum. The concept here was that every spin of the drums would provide the player with a five-card poker hand.
This machine was quickly followed up by another version which featured colors that players would be which color would land on the single pay line. However, both of these machines phased out once Charles Fey developed the Liberty Bell.
Interestingly, early slot machines were not always confined to being gambling games. Many of these first models were adapted as a ‘vending machine’ like device that store keeps would use at their counter to allow customers to purchase quick items like gum, candy, licorice, and golf balls – simply insert the right coin and pull the lever for the item.
The next significant development in the early days of slot machine games came from a Chicago man by the name of Herbert Mills in 1907. This machine was an updated version of the three-reel slot called the Operator Bell.
This machine was the first record of fruit machines, which are simply slots which featured fruits instead of other symbols.
It is worth noting that Mills went on to be very successful, becoming a leader in the development of vending machines with his coin-operated machines serving ice cream and Coca Cola in bottles (as well as in cups!)
Also coming from Chicago, but much later in 1932 was the beginning of full-scale manufacture of slot machine games by the group Lion Manufacturing – who changed their name to Bally Manufacturing (and later Bally Technologies) following the success of their game BallyHoo.
Initially, the group was designing pinball machines; however, once gambling became legal in the state of Nevada, they branched out to create smaller models where awards could be earned by collecting a number of cards dispensed by the machine.
Bally was famous for the introduction of the first multi-denomination slot machines – which used nickels and quarters. They launched the first major up-right slot machine in the 1940s, and the business grew so much that by 1960 Bally was responsible for over 80% of the slot machines that were manufactured.
Another important invention from Bally was the multi-machine coin hopper to allow for payouts of much larger winnings without the need for gaming attendants having to cease play while making payouts to the lucky players.
When we look back at these early slot machines, they are barely recognizable as the foundation for video slots that we have today—obviously a result of the many modifications and technological innovations.
Now, while it is harder to think of these original slot machines as being the “forefathers” of the modern game – it is exciting to see that for the modern iteration of slots, the only limits are the minds of software developers themselves!
There is no arguing the fact that slot machines are a worldwide sensation. Having made their way across the world, from the United States through Europe and into Asia and throughout the Pacific.
Today, these games are (and have been) manufactured throughout the world too. Some of the big-name manufacturers over the years have been:
With all the success and popularity, there is one thing that has always been a given for slot machines. In essence, they have been income generators for casinos for many years despite featuring large and relatively frequent payouts.
Astonishingly, even though there are still well over a million slots in the heavily legislated American gambling market today, there are more slot machines per person in Australia – Aussies love their slots (or pokies as they call them).
When we talk about the game of slots becoming a leading gambling pastime, it has to be said that the development of the internet went hand in hand with the growth. Coinciding with a boom in the number of casinos being opened and the prominence that online casinos were having, slots were available in more locations around cities and accessible to everyone at home, work or on-the-go with online casinos.
Of course, the exponential growth of mobile devices and mobile gaming has resulted in a significant boost in the revenue for these online casinos.
Nowadays, known as a philanthropist, William Redd (also known as Si) was one of the Bally group’s engineers in the 1970s. However, during that period, he was also known as the guy who proposed the use of video in slot machines (in the 70s) but was knocked back by the bosses at Bally.
Believing in the product, Si requested permission to run with the idea in a personal capacity and was given the all clearance to go ahead. A decision that would come back to haunt Bally.
Si went on to start a company known as A-1 Supply in 1975 before changing its name to Sircoma in 1978. The company that Si started were developing what we know as video poker machines and slots. With the company seeing success, Si rebranded as International Game Technology (IGT) in 1981 and then took the company public, at which point they began to reel in Bally’s lead in the slot machines market.
Fast forward to 2014, IGT merged with GTECH and officially overtook Bally as the largest manufacturer of slot machines.
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There is plenty of diversity and selection available amongst the slot machine games industry. This choice means there are also plenty of reasons why you should play the slots. Although, it goes without saying that there are also other excellent casino games worth playing, but here we will touch on why you should play slot machines.
If you are reading this guide, then chances are you have had exposure to the game of slots at some point. So, you should know that playing slot machines are so simple – which is part of the reason players love these games.
They’re known by many names around the world, the Aussies call them pokies, in the States and our friends to the north – we call them Slots. Over in the UK, they have a couple of names for them, fruit machines in England and puggy in Scotland.
Just like the relaxed nature of how to play slots, players from all over have the same carefree love towards the game.
What makes these games so great is that their simplistic gameplay and low bet amounts allow players from all walks of life to jump in and get started.
Playing the game is the epitome of enjoying a session of relaxed casino gambling. Bets can be as low as 1c per spin, playing at your local casino or online is easier than ever to access your bankroll.
The most stressful part of playing the slots is deciding which game you would like to play!
If you are new to playing the slots, you have nothing to worry about because the game is played solo – which means if you make a mistake or do something you didn’t expect to, no one will ever know! Which is one of the common reasons why beginners get anxious playing table games:
If you are comparing slot machines to just about all forms of casino table and card games – the slots are a much more accessible option.
Bets can be as little as 1c compared to the common minimum stakes of $5 to $10 that table and card games require.
Players wanting to boost the stakes can increase the cost of their bet by increasing the number of pay lines they play and the number of coins or bets that are placed per pay line. It is common in slot variants today for there to be between 24 and 50 pay lines, but this will depend on the game you play ultimately.
The way these bets work with pay lines is that your bet is made on each pay line that you are playing, so if you choose to play the full 50 pay lines, then your bet per spin is multiplied by the 50 pay lines i.e., a minimum 1c bet would be 50c.
So, even players with only a small handful of change can still enjoy the gambling adrenaline action with the slot machines, and if you have a much larger bankroll to work with, then you can boost the stakes and risk it for bigger wins.
In the early days, winning on Charles Fey’s three-reel slot machine would payout over just the one pay line if you were lucky enough to match symbols.
As the number of reels increased, players were then allowed the chance to play over a higher number of pay lines. The patterns that led to the payouts over these pay lines would vary between games. Modern video slots can offer hundreds of ways to win, even over 1000 on some variants.
The introduction of these multiple pay line games meant that software developers had greater flexibility to tweak the volatility of payouts i.e., how often slots paid out. Developers can set the payout frequencies and amounts to place the onus on players to decide whether they would place smaller bets or take a higher risk with increased bet size and go for the big one.
Developers are continually trying to innovate and create new ways for players to win in an attempt to keep player interest. One of these innovations was respins or cascading symbols – which are certain symbols which cause reels to respin to create bigger wins or multipliers with wild symbols potentially.
The allure of slot machines is the chance to hit big with a jackpot payday. Over the years, developers have continued to find ways to increase the jackpots for players without giving up too much of the edge for the casino.
Nothing comes for free, so expect many of the slots with multiple ways to win big jackpots also to include higher volatility – meaning bigger wins less frequently.
Some of how slot machine games have changed to increase jackpots are by linking these big wins to completing special features. By linking these two features together, players get added entertainment value by having another aspect of the game to look forward to. Having these wins behind a feature wall means that players not only have to land the symbols for the feature but also have to land the correct symbols to score the big win.
As with all casino games, there is a house edge built into the game, which provides the house with a better probability of winning over the player. Now, the house edge will vary depending on the game that players choose to play, and the total bet amount that is placed.
To give you a rough idea of what to expect when playing the slots, typically the house edge is about 15% for spins of 1c, approximately 10% when placing spins at 5 cent game, about 8% on a 25c spins and reduces even further to about 6% on spins of $1.
So, in simple terms, this means that playing 1c spins the house edge would mean that players would lose approximately $15 for every $100 that is bet through the slot. Placing bets of $1 per spin would, therefore, be more efficient (over some time) with a player reasonably expected to lose $6 for every $100 that is bet through the machine.
Slot games today have a plethora of unique features that add to the way the games are played; however, the underlying foundation of slots will typically always remain the same regardless of the game you play. This foundation is an algorithm that works as a random number generator (RNG), and here we look at what these RNGs do in terms of slot games and how some of the other components work.
The first mechanical slots had a fixed set of possible outcomes due to the simplistic pay line and the fact that these machines were purely mechanical. With software, video slots can have any number of pay lines, and the outcomes are endless because of the random aspect of the algorithm which powers them.
RNGs made significant changes to the value of slot machine jackpots as well as the quality of life changes for the player experience. Once developers introduced the RNGs behind video slots, it created pure unpredictability to the outcome of each spin, therefore improving the level of adrenaline and giving players that real gamble feeling.
Another component of slot games that have seen improvement as a result of the implementation of RNGs was the ability for slots to include a high number of pay lines. Gone are the days of the simple straight across or diagonal ways to win; however, although there are more ways to win, not all wins will have you banking a ton of winnings. Many of the wins on slots today are typically smaller amounts, and depending on your denomination and game, you can also win less than your initial spin cost!
The most significant advantage that RNGs and more in-depth game mechanics have introduced is the prominence of scatter symbols. Why is this, though? Well scatter symbols can provide winning spins to players regardless of pay lines – simply land the necessary number of symbols, and you will activate these unique features!
If you played slot machine games at casinos over the years, you might recall hearing the bells and whistles of trains? This was a slot by the team at Aristocrat, which in the 1990s released games with huge linked jackpots through their slot cash express and the hyperlink jackpot system.
Developers knew that winning the jackpot was important for players, and the only problem was that the probability of these jackpots occurring was slim. Implementing jackpot levels meant that players would have a real belief that they would be able to win at least one of the jackpots, even if it was the smaller amounts.
Jackpots have changed many times over the years, but none of those changes were as game-changing as when linked or progressive jackpots were introduced. While the dream of hitting a huge jackpot was a driving force behind why players were attracted to the slots, progressive jackpots took things to another level while also showing players that their play had a direct effect on the jackpot value.
These systems were so popular that many slot creators went on to launch their own linked jackpots, leading to what we now call progressive jackpots – which are now considered the norm.
Looking back, we can see how far games and jackpots have come from the early days of Aristocrat’s first four-level jackpot slots, through to games offering between two to ten varying jackpot amounts – otherwise known as levels.
In 1995 Anchor Gaming introduced the bonus wheel to slot machines. This addition was a separate bonus wheel that sat atop the Wheel of Gold. When a player hit the bonus, this wheel would spin to reveal which bonus a player had earned. This idea was so successful it was quickly followed by all game manufacturers and is now a mainstay among video slots today.
Soon enough, slot games began allowing players the option to earn bonuses across several pay lines rather than just a single win. Players well-received this because it meant that they were now able to win across many of the pay lines, rather than just the highest amount.
This approach has been implemented almost like a standard among software developers in modern slot games, primarily because while it does allow players the opportunity to win, the added win potential does not necessarily expose casinos to more massive payouts and instead just adds onto the bottom line of players. Therefore, providing more of an incentive to players and getting more players spinning on the slots.
The slot machine landscape has always been dependent upon the developments and innovations of software companies. Over the years, slots have seen many changes, and here we are going to look at some of the main developments which helped lead towards online casino gambling.
During the 1980s, manufacturers began implementing video slots to replace the mechanical machines. Players were not sold on three-reel video slots initially; however, developers soon realized that to get players on board with the change, they would need to innovate further.
In the mid-1990s, Bally designed a video slot machine called the Game maker, which allowed multiple casino games to be played with blackjack, poker, and slot machines able to be played on the one machine. This started the video slots revolution and was likely the starting point for taking the slots to the internet.
In recent years, we have seen more growth in specialty slots or alternative games to the standard machine layouts. These specialty games introduced sports and pop-culture into slot machines, helping to push the crossover with famous brands and games like Wheel of Fortune, Monopoly, Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, and the king of pop Michael Jackson all getting their place in the world of slot gaming.
What made video slot machines so popular among players was the uniqueness that these games were now open to. Players were no longer confined to playing the similar variations of the same slot machine games.
With video slots came more exciting themes and innovative design features through enhanced graphics, 3D elements, and animations, plus better overall sound capabilities. Furthermore, players were introduced to new slots, which in turn created brands and resulted in sequels and follow up games with updates.
Players were no longer forced to settle for simple (classic) three-reel slots with limited pay lines and unique features. As developers continued to improve on the gameplay experience, slots were boosted with the addition of story-driven slots and even six-reel slots.
Today, video slot machines and games dominate the marketplace representing well over 80% of the slot machines currently in use across casinos.
Now, we just covered some of the features which made video slots so famous, while noting that although initially, players were slow to join the video slots bandwagon, it was the innovation changes which helped take the industry from the mechanical age to the virtual reels age.
While the physical aspects were apparent improvements from the older mechanical machines, it was the fundamental changes to winning potential and the inclusion of a wider variety of jackpots that helped boost the move over to virtual slots and video reels.
The progressive and multi-tiered jackpots meant that players had a real benefit to playing this new breed of slot machines, while also setting the stage for online casinos to earn casino gamblers over with their ease of play and excellent bonuses.
The success is seen by online casinos can be linked to the ability of these internet sites to provide an almost limitless experience thanks to many reduced overheads and the power of creativity that the internet allows.
There are still players that prefer to continue playing their slot games at brick and mortar casinos, particularly if they happen to live in the same state or location (for American players).
Many of these players are still accustomed to the atmosphere and the overall casino environment while playing – for these players, and it is apparent that they desire the social aspects of casino gambling – which is entirely fair. On the flip side to this, some players are introverted or prefer to avoid the casino scene altogether.
While the social aspect is an excellent benefit to playing at brick and mortar casinos, there is one area where these casinos are easily outshined by online casinos – which is the promotional side of gambling.
Promotional aspects of casinos include more materialistic and non-gambling related benefits, such as free drinks, discounted accommodation, and meals, as well as deals on spa and resort services depending on where you play.
The promotions that online casinos offer purely relate to in-game aspects like bonus money and free spins for slots.
In 1996 the first online casinos were launched to the public, and from here, the industry continued to see massive growth throughout the next two to three decades. Players were drawn to the straightforward gameplay and just how easy it was to enjoy all the same gambling aspects.
There is no need for social interactions, and the game lobbies provide extensive collections of casino games straight into the palm of players’ hands. Without the social aspect, playing at online casinos is an excellent way for players to learn how to play games thanks to bonus money and by playing free games. This means players can practice all they like without having to risk their real money.
The early days of online casinos saw players needing to download software applications to their computers; however, these days are long gone now thanks to instant play technology, which allows players to get straight into the game using their web browser—no messing around with settings and no installation of software.
While there is the added worry of security and confidential information being provided over the web, the majority of websites are covered with security features and data handling policies to protect players.
Keeping with the straightforward nature of playing slots at online casinos, if players do have trouble, these websites offer customer service.
Before players start playing online slot machine games, it is crucial to research potential casino websites to find the one that best suits you. Some of the pieces of information that you need to figure out are whether it is licensed and playable from your country, what added features are available that may help you play for free while testing out different games too.
Once you find an online casino that you would like to play at, you will need to register a free player account. This is straightforward and can be completed quickly.
While it is quick and easy to register your account and get started, when it comes to withdrawing any winnings, you will need to provide some identification documents to confirm who you are for anti-terrorism and money laundering reasons.
Many online casinos can provide players with significant value and bonuses since they have significantly fewer overheads when compared to a brick and mortar casino. Plus, being able to play hundreds or thousands of different games from the comfort of your own home or on their favorite mobile devices is a great benefit to players.
Online security through licensed casinos is much safer than players may expect. Plus, players’ bankroll is entirely for use through their gaming without the need for paying added costs of transport, accommodation, and drinks or meals. For many players, it takes a considerable amount of wins to cover the costs of any trip to the casino.
In our opinion, the most significant benefit of playing with online casinos is the comfort and convenience of beginners. While many people in society suffer from anxiety, being in casinos can bring out these feelings in many of us regardless of anxiousness. It is well known that some players love both ways to play and take advantage of the free games to learn games before heading down to their local casino.
Because of developments in technology, some believe that the future is not bright for brick and mortar casinos. While this may be true to an extent, we don’t think that the viability of casinos is being threatened.
It is evident that casino gaming revenues are beginning to trend downward; however, we are still talking about an industry that is generating well over $200 billion in revenues in just the United States alone – there are similar figures throughout the world.
You can bet your bottom dollar that these brick and mortar casinos are chipping away at steadying the decline and will continue to look at ways to improve the player experience.
We believe that the future of traditional casino gambling will continue to change as casinos move towards more of a resort-style offering – like the abundant and popular casino resorts throughout cities in Australia, where these casinos offer a complete getaway for visitors through accommodation, highly touted restaurants, spas, and even used as venues for entertainment and conventions.
In short, the future of casinos will be one which includes being a complete entertainment package for visitors and not just the chance to win some real money.
We have looked into how slots started with the original machines by Charles Fey in the 1890s, as well as how developments have taken the simple machines like Fey’s Liberty Bell and turned them into powerhouses with linked jackpots and the stunning graphics and gameplay of modern video slots.
Slot machines have come a long way since being basic machines and even their role as store vending machines. Nowadays, slot machine games are a worldwide phenomenon with the simple gameplay and potential for huge rewards being a considerable aspect of the attraction by players.
We looked at how the industry moved on from the clunky mechanical machines and what it took for players to join the new-age movement that was video slots.
Regardless of where you may be playing from, or your preference in gambling games, there is one aspect which has always had the attention of casino gamers – the accessibility of slot machines for all skill levels and all financial backgrounds. With players able to enjoy the same thrills playing 1c spins that they would when playing $1 spins, slot machines indeed are the gambling game for the people!
It is incredible to look back and see that while players have been playing slots for well over a century, to this day, many players still have the same desire for slot machine games that they did when they started playing. The slots industry has continued to adapt to changing trends and offering players more excellent value and flexibility in how they play.
While you could say that casinos and gambling games are at a crossroads in modern society, any divide between traditional casinos declining and the exponential growth of the online casino industry does not appear to be driving a nail into one or another. Brick and mortar casinos may be experiencing reduced revenues. Still, for the significant growth that the online industry has seen – it does not appear to us (and many others within the industry) that traditional operations will be phased out.
Slot machines will continue to be a popular gambling game for all players, given the game is somewhat for the people. We expect that developers will continue to push the boundaries for development as they have shone in the past, because of the increased competition for player registrations.
So, whether you are a beginner and looking to test out the waters of casino gambling, or a seasoned veteran trying to squeeze out every ounce of value from your gaming – we recommend staying up to date on the latest slot developments and get the inside scoop on where to play at online casinos.
Plus, the team of experts at CasinoToday share information and excellent guides on all the latest casino games. Before you get started playing with slot machines, we recommend reading our how to win at slots guide and check out our list of the recommended online casinos.
Jerome oversees our editing and content team and absolutely loves blackjack. So much so that he was a professional player for more than a decade before joining us at Casino Today. He’s written several books, mostly on the subjects of card counting and the different blackjack systems he employed over the years. He also runs a successful YouTube channel where he showcases different blackjack scenarios with beginner tips on how to beat the dealer.
