Think of casinos and the image of rows of slot machines with levers to pull, whirring images, and ringing bells will likely come to mind. A staple of gambling culture, slot machines are in fact the most popular of all casino games by a wide margin.
The earliest slot machines date back to the late 19th century. Thus from the very start the machines have found a prominent place in modern casinos, evolving over the decades from the coin-operated "one-armed bandits" employing mechanical reels to the computerized touch-screen video slots of today. And of course now you have the option to enjoy slots at home via online versions of the popular game.
A true gambling game, playing the slots often does not require much in the way of skill from the player, although some variations do in fact introduce the possibility of developing winning strategies.
When choosing a game, then, the primary decision you'll face is to find a variety of slots that suits you best in terms of entertainment value. You'll also want to locate the "paytable" -- often clearly displayed -- and have some idea when you start regarding how winnings are calculated, so as to increase your enjoyment.
Betting Amounts
Most slot machine games offer you a choice regarding the amount you wish to risk on each pull of the lever (or press of the button). Frequently you'll find two buttons on most slot machines, a "Bet One" button and a "Bet Max" button. Choosing one of these buttons allows you to adjust the amount you're risking on each turn, as well as the amount you stand to win should your spin be successful.
On most games there will be a range of betting amounts indicated, with a minimum and maximum allowed. Say you see the phrase "Play 1 to 5 coins" listed on the machine, with each coin worth £1. Pressing "Bet One" means you'll be betting £1 on your spin, while pressing "Bet Max" means you're making a £5 bet. As you might expect, a winning spin in which you "Bet Max" here will get you five times what the same spin gets you if just "Bet One."
Do look over the "paytable" for the game to see how bonuses and jackpots are awarded. In many cases, you're only eligible to win extra money if you have chosen the "Bet Max" option. Once you've made your choice how to bet, that's when you hit the "Spin" button or pull the lever and watch to see how you do.
Multi-line Slots
Starting in the 1990s, so-called "multi-line" games have become increasingly popular. In fact, if you stroll down a row of slot machines at a casino today it is more likely than not you'll see most of the games being of the "multi-line" variety.
For novices, the multi-line games might appear confusing, although in truth they aren't that difficult to figure out. Unlike traditional slot machines that feature a single horizontal payout line, these games feature more than one payline. In other words, multi-line slots give you more ways to win, although you should know the payouts are always adjusted according to your chances of success.
Many machines feature three or five paylines, while more complex games can feature 15, 25, or even 100 different paylines!
When playing a multi-line game, you will also have another betting option to consider. You'll generally have a chance to "Bet Per Line" or "Select Lines" or the like before you spin. Again, consult the paytable before you start and decide how you want to approach these games before making that first spin.
Jackpots
Slot machines calculate payouts according to the chances you'll hit a certain combination of images or symbols with your spin. For example, let's say you're playing one of those classic three-reel slot machines with the bars and cherries. The paytable will indicate what you win if you hit a single cherry, two or three cherries, one bar, two or three bars, and so forth. For example, if you "Bet One" on a machine where one coin equals £1 and hit a single cherry, you might win £2.
Meanwhile, jackpots represent larger prizes awarded for exceedingly rare combinations or events. In some cases, games or machines are linked so that a small amount is taken from each to create a large jackpot available to all players. As mentioned above, you usually have to "Bet Max" to be eligible to win jackpots, but do consult the paytables as there are many variations among the games.
Indeed, winning a jackpot or other big cash prize -- and hearing that subsequent loud rush of coins dropping into the tray and accompanying ringing of bells -- is one of the great pleasures of playing the slots.