At online casinos like Spin Genie there are thousands of online slot machine games to choose from. And although variety is the spice of life, it can be a little overwhelming at first – especially for beginners. That’s why we thought we’d help to break down some of the different types of slots in this blog.
Keep reading to learn more about classic, video and progressive slots, and the similarities and differences between them. Or if you’re more interested in slot machine strategy, you can check out our blog post on the subject.
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Classic Slot Games
Classic slot games are those which take their inspiration from traditional fruit machine games. They usually feature traditional fruity symbols like lemons, grapes and cherries, as well as golden bells and BAR symbols. These games are based on the original one-armed-bandit physical slot games, which involved pulling a lever to spin the reels and hopefully match up symbols. In those days it was illegal to win cash prizes from the machines, so fruit-flavoured sweets or gum were awarded instead.
Although today’s games offer cash rather than sweets, the classic slots tend to have a simple format and little to no bonus features. Some classic slots may not even have a Scatter or a Wild symbol, and some replicate the 3x3 format of the original machines.
Our Top Pick
Reel Fruits is a great example of a classic slot game. Spin the reels to hopefully match up grapes, plums, oranges and other tasty fruit for the chance to win a cash prize.
The highest-paying symbol in Reel Fruits is the lucky seven, which awards 5,000 coins for five matching symbols on a payline. It’s followed by the BAR symbol, which has a top value of 3,000 coins. All in all, Reel Fruits is a great shout if you’re new to online slots, or if you are looking for a classic fruit machine experience.
Video Slots
‘Video slots’ is another term for the online slot games that you’re probably most familiar with. They usually involve spinning the reels for a chance to win a cash prize, but the variety of themes, bonus rounds and special features is much more varied than classic slots.
Video slots are characterised by their high-quality graphics, and there are often animated elements, custom soundtracks and more. Whereas classic slots don’t tend to have bonus features, video slots are known for them. From free spins, Wilds and multipliers to picking games and more, these games are known for their engaging features and eye-catching design.
Video slots often have lots of paylines, and they may also include features such as cascading reels, respins and more to give you more opportunities to win a prize.
Our Top Pick
Fishin’ Frenzy: The Big Catch is one of our favourite video slots. This fishing-themed slot is part of the popular Fishin’ Frenzy franchise, and features a meter at the side of the reels to collect fisherman symbols. Collect four fishermen for a chance to upgrade the cash value of fish symbols on the reels and get five free spins!
Progressive Slots
Progressive slots are those where there is a jackpot prize that increases over time. Here’s how it works: a small percentage of each player’s bet goes towards the jackpot. The more people that play, the bigger the prize pot grows. Sometimes the jackpot is raised across different casinos and games, meaning that the potential prize can become very big. For example, Red Tiger has Daily Jackpot games, where around 3% of each player’s bet helps to fund the jackpot.
Some jackpots drop daily, whereas others can build up for weeks or even close to a month before dropping. If you’re lucky enough for the jackpot to drop on one of your spins, you could be the winner of a potentially huge prize. Once someone wins the jackpot, the process starts again. Don’t worry - it won’t start from zero - the starting jackpot is often very generous, to encourage people to join in.
Our Top Pick
The King Kong Cash JPK game takes place deep within the forest, in a leafy green clearing where the legendary ape Kong keeps all his treasure. This fun slot game has an RTP of 95.01% and features five exciting bonus rounds, including the King Kong Trail.
The game also has a Sleepy Kong feature that is activated randomly throughout gameplay. Kong will suddenly wake up from his slumber and spring to life, awarding you one of four Monkey Modifiers. Our favourite is the Banana Cannon Wilds, where Kong launches Banana Wilds that explode on the centre reel for a chance to score even more winning combinations!
Which Type of Slot Game Should I Play?
The truth is that this depends on your personal preferences. Each type of slot machine has its own pros and cons, and we recommend trying each of them to see which you prefer. Of course, your decision doesn’t need to be final – you might feel like playing a classic slot one day and a progressive slot the next.
Having said that, the different types of slots are likely to appeal to different types of players. Classic slots are great if you’re looking for a straightforward gaming experience that replicates the slot machines you can find in pubs and casinos. They can also be a good choice for newcomers to the slots world, since they offer a streamlined experience, without potentially confusing bonus features and extras.
Video slots is probably the biggest and most popular category, since it encompasses pretty much all online slots that don’t fall into the ‘classic’ category. These games are perfect if you’re looking for diverse, entertaining slots with brilliant graphics and a range of bonus features. Although these special features can potentially make them a little confusing at first, you’ll soon get the hang of it once you start spinning. We recommend always checking the paytable and rules before you start playing, so that you understand how it all works.
Progressive jackpots are a great option if you want to play for potentially huge prizes, sometimes into the millions. There are hundreds of progressive slots to choose from, and they aren’t any more complicated to play than video slot games. However, it’s important to remember that these games have a higher volatility than non-jackpot slots. This means that your chances of winning a prize are smaller, but if you are a lucky winner you could be walking away with a big prize.
If you’re looking for more tips for playing slots, you can check out our blog.
Play Fun Slot Games at Spin Genie
You can find classic, video and progressive slots here at Spin Genie. Choose from over 6,000 Slingo, slots and live casino games for a fantastic gaming experience at a safe and secure online casino. Whether you’re into animal-themed slots, TV slots, or you’re looking for a progressive jackpot game, you can find it all at Spin Genie. Sign up today and join the fun!
