Slot Machines
Slot machines are a staple in any casino, from the biggest Las Vegas establishment to the smallest Atlantic City gas station.
A Brief History of Slots
The first slot machine was invented in the late 19th century, and was something of a fusion of a slot machine and what is today called video poker. There were five reels, each with 10 cards on them. The goal was to get as good a poker hand as possible.
However, the vast number of combinations in a poker deck made it nearly impossible to make the machine pay out automatically. That's why, after this machine, the number of reels was reduced to 3 and the number of symbols to 5 or so per reel.
These simplified machines became immensely popular and spread to casinos around the world. The first electric slot machine, with the electricity powered buttons and lights that we know today, was made in 1964, and slots have remained pretty much the same ever since.
The only major development in the world of slots in recent years has been the advent of video slots and bonus games. Bonus games are video game-esque segments a player can trigger by lining up a certain combination of symbols. These bonus games are usually very fun for the player, as well as quite lucrative.
How to Play Simple Slots
In the golden olden days, playing slots was about as easy as tripping down the stairs. You just put in a coin, pulled the lever, and waited to see if you won.
These days things are a bit more complicated, but not too much so. For starters, most machines will let you choose how much you want to bet. This means you can put in anywhere between 1 and 3 or 1 and 5 coins and the payout will be different for each. When you put in 5 coins, all of the payouts will be 5x those of 1 coin, and the highest paying option will often give you an additional jackpot bonus. In these cases, it is generally a good idea to bet 5 coins and shoot for that Jackpot that's not available at lower levels. To help you choose your betting amount, slot machines have buttons that say "Bet One" and "Bet Max;" use these buttons to bet the amount you want.
But I digress. You put in your coins and then you pull the lever. But what if there is no lever? It's okay. Don't panic. In most cases, levers on modern slot machines are just there for show anyway. If there isn't a lever, there will always be a "Spin" button on the machine. This "Spin" button serves the same purpose as a lever, except without the physical sensation of feeling like you're actually the one setting the wheels in motion. That's why I prefer slots with an actual lever arm. It feels like you're part of the game.
Betting Lines and Bonus Games
Alright, the basic steps to playing slots I outlined above are good for simpler slot machines, but these days there are some pretty complex slot machines that require some complex knowledge to use.
The original slot machines had just one payline across three reels to see if you won anything. This one has 25 paylines across 5 reels. Welcome to the new world. This machine, called Spider-Man if you couldn’t tell, lets you pay more to activate more lines. If you bet the maximum amount, it’s like playing the machine 25 times at once.
And then, do you see the two spiders in the upper left-hand corner? If you get three of those in a row, you unlock a bonus game in which you have to defeat Venom, which of course nets you mad cash.
Don’t be afraid of the complex slots, some of them can be quite fun. And now, after reading this guide, you’re ready.
