Video slots: everything you need to know
The Appeal of Video Slots
Video slots, also known as computer slots, are one of the most popular games in the world today, thanks to a combination of exciting graphics, big pay-outs, the growth of online casinos, and the great entertainment they offer. But today’s video slots are the culmination of a long history of inventions. Here’s some background information to help you understand the appeal of video slots.
The Path to Video
Before video slots, there were reel slots. These slot machines offered fewer chances to win (as they had only three or five reels), but were hugely popular in bars, casinos and gambling halls in the first half of the 20th century. With the invention of the computer chip, video slots became a possibility, eliminating the need for the old-fashioned “pull the lever” machines. From 1975 on, video slots gradually became the norm. While reel slots are still available in some casinos, video slots are far more popular and, of course, online casinos only offer video slots.
What Video Slots Have to Offer
Thanks to the elimination of mechanical reels, video slots can offer many more chances of winning than a reel slot machine. Computer images represent the reels, and a random number generator chooses the symbols that come up. The number of possible combinations is much higher, so a single game can offer multiple chances at winning. More pay lines and more bets per line increase the amount bet per spin, but the more you bet the more you can win.
Another advantage offered by video slots is the progressive jackpot. Video slots can be linked to other machines in the same casino, in the same state, or even worldwide through an online casino. The more people playing, the higher the jackpot, as each player contributes a tiny bit to the total. Progressive slots offer bigger payouts than single machines, sometimes reaching millions of dollars.
Video slots, thanks to advances in technology, can offer bonus games that regular slots can’t. In addition, this technology makes it possible for video slots online to be visually stunning, incorporating amazing sounds and graphics that make the experience memorable. All sorts of themes and designs are available, and the number of inventive, newly created slots increases daily. While some may miss the old-fashioned reels, video slots have much, much more to offer.
