The first slots appeared over a century ago. Initially they were represented by mechanical slots. Over time, they have changed significantly. Today, slots are available online, and there are thousands of titles on casino websites. Because of this, even professionals find it difficult to list all types of online pokies. However, knowing the basic classification simplifies their choice.
How Slots Work
Stationary slots have a mechanical device with a software control algorithm. Online versions are represented by applied software. It’s based on a random number generator. It’s responsible for the random falling out of the symbols, which ensures fair results of spins. It cannot affect neither the owners nor customers of the casino.
Types Of Slots
Classic Slots
They act as virtual prototypes of fixed slots. They have traditional mechanics. The field includes 1, 3, or 5 paylines. The symbols are retro images: bells, stars, sevens, etc.
Some of the classic online pokies have free spins and risk games with the choice of cards to double the prize.
Modern Slots
This category includes online pokies that differ from the “one-armed bandits”. While creating them, providers use bright graphics, 3D visualization, animation, and special effects. An amazing variety of genres is available for players.
Some modern online pokies are created based on cartoons, fairy tales, movies, and comic books. Most of them have thematic soundtracks.
Modern slots have different types of bonus features:
1) Respins. They allow users to re-play the game without charging their accounts.
2) Random bonuses. They can fall out at any time of the game.
3) Free spins. During these rounds, doubled or tripled odds are available.
4) Purchased bonuses. You can activate an additional round by placing a bet of a certain size.
Slots With Cascading Reels
In slots with regular mechanics, prize combinations are calculated after each successful spin, then the next round begins. In online pokies with cascading spins, a different system is implemented. Symbols in the prize combinations explode or disappear. Other pictures replace them. This gives a chance for one successful spin to get a few payments.
The first cascade slot was released in 2001. It was Gonzo’s Quest from NetEnt. Until now, it has been at the top of casino collections.
Slots with cascading reels support different options – respins, free spins, multipliers, purchased bonuses, etc.
All Ways Win
These online pokies appeared thanks to Microgaming. In 2011, this company released Immortal Romance with a new mechanic called All Ways Win.
Slots with All Ways Win mechanics have different prize options: quick spin, themed rounds, stacked Wilds, etc. Some of them support multiple packages of free spins In each of them, there are certain bonus features.
Megaways
These slots are based on game mechanics from Big Time Gaming. The first Megaways game was introduced in 2016 and broke records for popularity in online casinos. This prompted other providers to buy the rights to Megaways from Big Time Gaming and start creating their own online pokies based on it.
A special feature of the mechanics is that the field doesn’t include pay lines. Instead, the main rounds provide between 243 and 1,024 paths to form prize combinations. They can be formed on the reels with different numbers of symbols. There are often additional rows of pictures above the main field.
Slots with Megaways support different prize features. These include free spins, respins, “sticky” and expanding Wilds, progressive multipliers, etc.
