About Online Slots

Nearly all of us have seen slot machines. Well-known to some as ‘One-Armed Bandits’; they are a mainstay of pubs, bars, and of course, lined up in rows inside the casino.
Only a few coins are required if you are tempted to chance your luck. None of the arcane knowledge demanded by Poker or Blackjack is required here: anyone can try, and most of you probably already have.
All you need do is pull the lever, watch the reels spin, and then, perhaps if we’re lucky – One, Two, Three… jackpot!

A Quick History

The game was first developed in New York in the late 19th Century. It was at first highly derivative of poker – a one shot, mechanized poker – the player would insert a coin, tug on the lever and hope for a royal flush, or at least a pair of kings.
Back then, cash prizes did not exist, instead, the player might win a pack of cigarettes or a beer from the patron. Slot machines as we know them now, with automated pay-outs, soon followed. They were popularized by an American inventor, who simplified the device immensely by changing a few things.
Firstly, the former deck of cards was replaced by five symbols: horseshoes, diamonds, hearts, spades and the famous Liberty Bell.
Winning was easy, at least in theory. As the three spinning reels only needed to show three straight Liberty Bells instead of a flush of five cards.

Shortly after, this new design was widely installed in bars around the United States. It is this variation of slots which is the direct precursor to any modern slot machine.
Aesthetic considerations aside, the only major difference now is that most machines are computer controlled, rather than mechanical, and of course you might forgo the machine altogether, and pull the virtual lever on the internet.

Online Slots

Playing online is a good option for those of us that can’t afford trips to Las Vegas as it allows you to enjoy the thrill of the casino from the comforts of your own home.
Game play is now so much easier, but you should not forget that you’re still playing with real money. Often players are suspicious of computer controlled slots and online slots because you cannot see the mechanism, but the odds depend on the casino, not the machine.
If you do get into playing slot machines, then perhaps you will notice there are some variables, machines often use different symbols, and different combinations of these symbols will determine how much you win.
There are some differences that any would-be player should note – Some machines will allow you different betting options, i.e. bet more, and therefore win more.
In general, some machines will always pay out the same jackpot, and some machine’s jackpot will increase the more players pay into it. Perhaps the most vital thing to know is that machines with higher jackpots usually have lower odds of paying out.
All small differences aside, the slot machine’s essence is simplicity, because it is the illusion of luck that is tempting, and this makes them fun for all to play (and the jackpot, of course!).