Online slots – there are many different kinds of variations and types of slots available. We got the classic 3-reel games to Megaways and even VR slots (not popular yet, though), to all kinds of other options.
On this page, we will break down the different slot types for you in an easy way based on our experience and expertise from the gambling industry and at CasinoWizard.com. After reviewing thousands of online slots, we have come across them all.
Why do the different slot types matter? They all offer players a unique gaming experience with various volatility levels, features, and Return To Player (RTP) percentages.
Why Understanding Slot Machine Types Matters
People’s tastes and preferences are different. Some like salty foods, others have a sweet tooth, while someone else can’t get enough of spicy experiences. The same applies to movies: some prefer romantic comedies, while others love horror.
What types of slot machines do people like? Luckily, there are many different types of slot games and variations to choose from, as not everyone likes the same things. Sure, some slots like Book of Dead appeal to the masses and become huge commercial hits, while some games like Deck of Scurra find their niche audience.
Each slot type offers a different experience, and finding what really appeals to you can make a big difference to your overall user experience. After all, we don’t want to waste our time on games that we don’t enjoy.
Traditional Slot Machines
Everything has a beginning, and the classic 3-reel with 1 payline slot was started with the invention of the Liberty Bell game in 1894. This is the machine that set the standard for today’s modern slot machines and influenced the upcoming fruit slot machines.
Traditional slot machines grew in popularity in the 1930s in America and were introduced to the first land-based casinos in Las Vegas in the 1940s, first as a way to entertain the girlfriends of the high rollers, but soon the revenue from these slot machines matched that of the table games.
We rarely come across simple types of slots as the earliest ones anymore, but the new ones all carry traits and variations of the first ones.
Classic Slots
Classic slots often resemble the older one-armed bandits, but with some kind of modern twist, while honouring the retro feel to it.
These games are simple, as they usually lack advanced features, so you will understand how to play them from the get-go.
Classic slots often feature a fruit theme, as that just goes with the whole setup, and some of our all-time favourites include Fire Joker or Fire Joker 100 for those that want to aim for even higher wins.
Video Slots
Technological advancements have led us to the most popular types of slot machines, which today are video slots and have revolutionised the slot industry.
They share common traits with classic slots, as the basics are the same, but video slots are much more advanced due to the graphics used and the limitless possibilities for animations when implementing features like expanding wilds, symbols, rows, bonus features, and more.
While classic slots are simple, video slots are the modern way of playing online slots and sometimes require some more understanding of how to play. Although plenty of straightforward video slots also exist.
One example of an advanced video slot is Pirots 4.
Key Features of Video Slots
The special features used in video slots are often what make these games so engaging and fun to play. Popular ones include wild symbol variations, multipliers, avalanches/tumble effects, and consecutive wins during the same spin. We also got respins, sticky symbols, exciting free spins, hold & win, and other bonus game options.
The paylines can also differ from the classic 10 to thousands of ways to win. There are also other ways to calculate wins, such as Scatter Pay and Cluster Pays slots.
The options for symbols are also endless, as you can go any direction you please as a slot developer. Just look at Kenneth Must Die, which is as far away from a traditional fruit machine as possible, yet also includes advanced features.
Classic vs Video Slots
As you can see, the differences between classic and video slots can be huge while sharing the core basics.
Classic slots are simpler and easier to understand as they lack any advanced features, while video slots sometimes require more knowledge to fully enjoy the game due to the many variations and features offered in these types of slots.
Some of the key differences include the following:
| Metric | Classic Slots | Video Slots |
| Paylines | Usually 1-10 | Up to several hundreds of thousands & variations |
| Symbols | Often Fruit | Anything that goes with the theme used |
| Bonuses | None or an enhanced variation of the base game | Free Spins, Hold & Win and other options |
| Special features | Something simple or none | Sky’s the limit |
3D Slots
Who knows what online slots will look like in the future as the possibilities continue to become pretty much endless, especially with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, no matter how we think about it.
A long-term rule among slot developers has still been to focus on the actual gameplay and keep the video additions short and simple to avoid any distractions. However, there are exceptions to the rule, as seen in the cinematic intro in Snake Arena 2 or bigger win sequences nowadays in most video slots.
Maybe these examples give us a hint of what we might expect to see in upcoming UK slots, as we have probably only scratched the surface until now.
Megaways Slots
Few things have made such a huge impact on how types of gambling machines are created as the introduction of the Megaways mechanic by Big Time Gaming.
It all started with an unusual idea that slots could have some more variations and step away from the fixed payline rule, and add a system where the ways to win vary from one spin to another, up to 177,649 ways to win.
The first Megaways slot was Dragon Born, released in 2016. Still, it wasn’t until the release of Bonanza Megaways that things skyrocketed as the game became the most popular slot literally everywhere for a while.
Many Megaways slots have followed since then, especially after BTG introduced an option for other game studios like Blueprint Gaming and others to use the Megaways mechanic through a licensing agreement.
The Megaways engine has lost some of its allure nowadays, as the market has been flooded with these types of slots, but they remain relevant and continue to be one of the few market changers the slot industry has seen.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
Jackpots are always an interesting incentive to get players to become interested in slots, whether they are land-based or online. However, land-based casinos seem to favour these types of slots more than the online versions.
The allure of jackpot slots is that you can see the max win, and as in progressive jackpot slots, the jackpots can be huge. We are talking about millions at stake in some cases.
So how do progressive jackpots work? They usually consist of four jackpots:
- Mini
- Minor
- Major
- Mega
The lower jackpots are paid out more frequently and pay smaller amounts, while the Mega is the one to keep your eyes on, as it can be massive. The jackpots are paid out completely randomly, and the Mega jackpot can sometimes grow for months before it’s paid to a lucky winner.
The jackpots usually start at a fixed amount paid by the casino, the slot developer, or both. What then happens is that a fixed percentage of all players’ wagers on that game is allocated towards the jackpots, so they become self-sustained and grow from players’ balances.
For example, the popular Dream Drop Jackpots allocate about 12% of all bets to the jackpots, leaving about 82% RTP for regular payouts.
The biggest jackpots, like WowPot Jackpots and Mega Moolah, are part of network jackpots, where all casinos offering the games contribute to the same jackpots and help grow them through all players’ wagers.
It can be tempting to play progressive jackpots and try your luck, as you might win so much, but we don’t recommend playing them from a best slot strategy perspective.
Flat Top vs Progressive Jackpots
Other popular jackpots include those with fixed jackpots. These jackpots remain at their current values and don’t grow until they are won. Games Global is, for example, one game studio that releases many slots with fixed jackpots. However, one popular game to try with fixed jackpots is Le King.
So, which ones are better to play if you want to test your luck on a jackpot slot?
Let’s look at some pros and cons.
Fixed Jackpots
Pros:
- The max win probability is decided (but not always shared)
- You constantly see what amounts are at stake and what is possible to win
Cons:
- The jackpots can become a distraction, and the odds of winning a mega jackpot can be discouraging
Progressive Jackpots
Pros:
- The jackpots constantly grow in value until won
- It’s exciting to play a slot where the Mega jackpot can become your biggest win ever
Cons:
- A big chunk of the RTP for regular payouts is allocated to the progressive jackpots
- The chances of winning a mega jackpot are minimal
Bonus Buy Slots
With the increased popularity of casino streamers, players’ shorter attention spans, and a willingness to take more risks, we have seen Bonus Buy Slots become mainstream in markets where these options are allowed.
However, bonus buys are not allowed in the UK and some other locally regulated markets, as they are seen as potentially harmful from a responsible gambling perspective, as you can lose more and a lot faster through the feature buy options.
When the bonus buy option is available, you can choose to pay extra to access the slots’ special features or bonus games instantly. In most cases, you can, for example, pay 100x the bet to access the free spins right away without the need to wait for them to trigger organically.
Slot streamers prefer to use the bonus buy options to showcase how to win at slots, but this is a risky option, as no wins are ever guaranteed during free spins.
Themed Slots
One detail that distinguishes one slot from another is the theme of that game. The choice of theme is endless, ranging from space, as in Starburst, to a serial killer, as in Serial.
The good thing is that players can match their preferences with the theme, as there is something available for everyone.
We don’t see many branded online slots anymore, as they are expensive to create due to all the costs involved. However, there are some to choose from, for example, Guns N’ Roses and Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen. Branded slots are more common in land-based casinos, though.
The most popular themes among players online include fishing slots, ancient Egypt, and fruit.
Fruit Machines
Fruit-themed slots are popular and probably will always be, but the types of slots that players enjoy can vary per market.
For example, many players in the UK prefer to play online slots that resemble those found in land-based casinos. These games often have the attributes of retro slots, with a clunkier look and feel.
Some popular fruit-themed slots among UK players with these qualities include games like Reel King and Super Hot Fruits.
Mobile Slot Games
Playing online slots through mobile devices has surpassed the popularity of PCs and laptops.
More players play online slots on their smartphones due to the availability, and since we practically always carry our phones with us wherever we go.
This development has led game studios to focus even more on a mobile-first approach, where slots are created first for a splendid mobile experience. All types of slots are responsive, meaning they automatically optimize for any device and screen size.
You will never find a new UK online slot that isn’t optimised for mobile phones.
Key Takeaways
Slots have experienced quite a journey from the first Liberty Bell games and one-armed bandits, and other classic fruit machines, to the modern video slots and failed attempts (so far) with creating VR slots.
One thing is for sure: the way we play slots today will be different in the future. The question is just when the next breakthrough innovations will be introduced.
You came here to learn more about the types of slots, and we have listed the main ones on this page.
Here is a summary of the main differences between slots:
- Classic slots
- Video slots
- The theme used
- The features offered in slots
- Mobile slots
- The volatility
- The innovation between the game