Not All Online Slots Are the Same: Here’s What Sets Them Apart

Although the iGaming industry entertains gamblers in thousands of ways, one of the most popular is the humble slot game. Based on the traditional one-arm bandit machines—but with unique modern twists—slot games are the favorite of millions of players due to their relatively low cost to play and high entertainment factor. Even gamblers who don’t want to spend money and prefer a game demo often opt to try the latest slot before anything else.

Despite the vast number of slots available, they are not all the same. Each slot can feature unique elements, and when these elements are combined in different ways, they create thousands of unique games. If you want to learn what makes each slot unique, keep reading.

Slot Type

The first differentiation between the many slots available online is the slot type. A single slot game can fall into several categories, but the slot type isn’t used only to determine where the game will be listed in an online casino; it also often depicts how the game is played or behaves. There are five primary types of slot games:

Classic Slots

Classic slots are reminiscent of the Las Vegas slot machines that boasted traditional fruit symbols and three lines that you could win on. These are often based on physical slots but are digitally recreated to be enjoyed by a wider range of players.

Video Slots

Easily the most common form of modern slot, video slots use modern technology to offer a more engaging gambling experience. These games usually provide more ways to win that are celebrated through pleasing graphics, smooth animations, and exciting audio and soundtracks.

Progressive Slots

Progressive slots are video slots with a unique jackpot system called a progressive jackpot—hence the name. These feature larger than regular jackpot pools that are contributed to by each player. Due to their large potential payouts, these slots are known for setting records for the biggest online wins.

Megaways Slots

Like progressive slots, Megaways are video slots tweaked to offer a unique experience—in this case, the Megaways gameplay method.

These slots have reels that allow a different number of symbols to appear each time a wager is made. This form of playing, developed by Big Time Gaming, provides thousands of ways to win.

Mobile Slots

Mobile slots, also a form of video slots, are designed and developed specifically for playing on smaller screens. They are commonly only available through mobile casinos or mobile applications. Although these are smaller games so that they can be streamed more easily, they offer the same exciting features as other video slot titles.

Themes

Aside from the various types of slots, the theme of a slot is the most distinctive aspect of a game. All slots, irrespective of type, have a theme—whether Ancient Egypt, a popular gameshow, or a classic (an original theme of its own).

These themes add to a game’s allure and often tie into its gameplay. More than this, they allow developers to showcase their ability to create visually stunning games that feature highly detailed symbols, flowing animations, and crisp graphics.

RTP (Return to Player)

The return to player (RTP) rate of a slot is one of the key factors players consider when choosing a game. This rate relates to how much of the money a slot receives is paid out to players in the form of winnings.

While different slots can have the same or similar RTP rates, the variation in these rates appears to players in different ways.

Volatility

Like RTP, players often consider volatility when selecting a slot to play. Volatility refers to how frequently a game pays out and the size of the payouts. Low-volatility slots pay out more frequently but mostly smaller prizes. High-volatility games rarely pay out but offer large rewards when they do. Medium-volatility slots offer the perfect middle ground.

Despite all slots being categorized into one of the three forms of volatility (low, medium, or high), each game is unique as many other characteristics may differ—such as theme, RTP, and gameplay.

Paylines/Ways to Win

The paylines or ways to win relate to how many “invisible lines” are drawn across the reels upon which symbols must correctly fall for a player to achieve a win. In classic slots, there are only three. In more modern titles, however, it is possible to have thousands of ways to win.

Bonus Rounds

Bonus rounds are a large part of the attraction of online slots and provide an additional level of intrigue and enjoyment. These are additional games often triggered by getting three or more of a specific symbol (called a scatter) on the reels.

A slot may have various types of bonus games, ranging from free spin bonuses and pick-em-type games to mini-games that require more interaction and concentration. These bonus forms are also often enhanced further by additional rewards like multipliers or stacked symbols.

Enhancing Features

There are a plethora of features that slot game developers add or remove to enhance a game and make it stand out from others. These features can change the gameplay slightly and even boost the player’s chances of landing a large win.

Examples of the most common enhancement features include wilds that substitute for all other symbols (except scatters), cascading or avalanche reels that can lead to multiple wins on a single wager, and expanding symbols. Each of these adds depth and excitement to a slot, making the gameplay experience more enjoyable and keeping players coming back for more.

Are Slots Unique?

Many players question whether the thousands of slots on the market are truly unique or simply carbon copies with different names. Considering the number of variable characteristics each game can have, there is no doubt that each slot differs from the next and can offer a unique gambling experience. If you’re not sure about a particular slot, the best way to find out is to give it a spin.