Slot machines are one of the most popular games you can find in a casino. You will probably never walk into a casino without seeing at least 50 slot machines.
And if you know anything about online gaming, you know that almost every online casino has at least a small selection of slot machines available.
So why are these simple machines so popular? There are many reasons, the main one being that they are extremely profitable both for casinos and players.
Anything that’s profitable will obviously be promoted heavily, so that’s one reason so many people play slots. Another reason is that slots are incredibly simple and easy to enjoy.
Though there are quite a variety of slots available to play, there are only 2 main categories: 3 reel and 5 reel.
The differences between the two types are obvious. First of all, the number of reels is obviously different. Three reel slots are like the original machine that Charles Fey designed, while Five reel slots are modern video slots.
People argue as to which one is better. Fans of the 5 reels lot say that it offers more chances to win, while fans of the 3 reels lot say that the 5 reel machines are too expensive and risky. My recommendation is to try both, and see which one you like more.
Three Reel Slot Machines
3 reel slots are simpler, which is attractive to some people. On this kind of slot machine, there are only 3 reels, and usually only 1 pay line.
Three reel slots are the more authentic looking machines, with real spinning reels and a real lever to pull. Even though the wheels spin in reality, the location of their landing is already determined the second you push the button or pull the lever. 3 reel slots usually have lower jackpots and bonuses, simply because there are less winning combinations.
Five Reel Slots
5 reel slots are much more complex.
Labeled by most as “video slots”, 5 reel slots are computerized on a screen, and have no physical spinning wheels. Some people prefer this to the old-school 3 reel slot, while others prefer to use real mechanical slot machines.
Five reel slots often offer huge jackpots, because everything is computerized and there are 5 reels, so there are a huge number of rare combinations that don’t exist in 3 reel slots. Another large difference between the two types of slot is the number of paylines. 5 reel slots can have up to 20 paylines.
You can usually wager up to 10 coins per payline, which means you could potentially be betting $10 on a nickel machine if you use all the paylines and bet max on each.
You should watch out for machines like these, because it’s easy to play before you really understand how many coins are being wagered.
Plus, most machines will convert your coins into credits, which makes things even more confusing. It’s important to understand what’s going on whenever you’re gambling, even if it’s just a small wager on a slot machine.