Slots Rules

Slots (or slot machine) is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels that spin when an arm is pulled or a button is pushed.

They are also known as one-armed bandits since slots were initially operated exclusively by a lever on the side of the machine and they were able to leave the player completely moneyless. Many modern machines still have a lever in addition to the button.

Slots rules

Slot machines contain a currency detector, which validates coins or bills inserted to play. They pay off based on patterns of symbols shown on the front of them, when they stop.

Computer technology allowed creating many slots variations, including online versions. Currently slot machines are the most popular gambling games in casinos, generating on average around 70% of casinos’ income.

Some slots come in multi-line variations. Reel slots typically have three or five lines. Video slot machines can contain even as much as 100 different paylines.

There are also slots that involve skill. A player has a limited control as to when the reels stop. It can create an illusion that a player can actually beat the machine.

Slots payout rate

Payout percentages in slot machines may vary from 82% to 98%. It means that in the long run you can expect to win back 82-98% of your wagers on each spin. Slots with high payout rates are called loose slots.

Slots history

First one-armed bandits were developed by Charles Fey in San Francisco in 1895. He wanted to create an automatic poker machine. However, due to the number of possible winning combinations and the technology level in those times, he was unable to accomplish that goal. Instead, he created a machine with three spinning reels containing five symbols. The machine paid off each time it showed three matching symbols. Each symbol had a different payout.

In 1963, the first fully electromechanical slot machine appeared, called Honey Money. It was the first machine to provide an automatic payout without the help of an attendant.

The first computer-based video slot machine was developed in 1996 by WMS Industries Inc. It was called Reel'Em and was quickly adopted in plenty of casinos.

Where to play online slots?

You can find slot machines at every casino we present in the online casino reviews section. We especially recommend 888.com Casino, where you can choose from over 20 different slots and receive a 100% up to $200 welcome bonus.

More casino articles:

 Quick start
 Baccarat rules
 Blackjack rules
 Craps rules
 Roulette rules
 Betting systems
 Basic blackjack strategy

Go back to the Online Poker Strategy.