Video slots make up the most extensive category of slot machines, captivating users with a variety of themes and an abundance of mechanics and features that add diversity to gameplay. Most providers, including NetEnt, Yggdrasil, Endorphina, Microgaming, and others, are involved in developing such machines. The main advantage of video slots lies in the presence of additional winning opportunities, making the process of spinning the reels more engaging and captivating.
Distinguishing Video Slots from Classics
Despite sharing the fundamental essence of classic and modern machines, they have several significant differences that impact the user's gaming experience. To illustrate, these categories of machines can be compared based on several criteria. Thus, video slots are more modern and versatile gambling entertainments with an abundance of features, as well as an increased number of ways to win.
| Indicator | Video slots | Classic Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Diverse with lots of buttons, colorful elements and animations | As simple as possible with basic keys and no complex design solutions |
| Number of lines | It's not limited. It can range from tens to hundreds of thousands. | As a rule, from one to ten paylines. The machines with a large number of them are rare. |
| Symbols | Not limited by theme and visualization. Can have any shape. | Classic symbols in the form of cards, bars, colors and animals |
| Mechanics | Freespins, bonuses, stacked symbols, sticky wilds, re-spins and cascading spins, expanding reels, jackpots | Basic Mechanics. Apart from the regular spins, users can only access wild symbols, free spins and bonus rounds. |
How They Operate
Specialized companies, known as providers, are responsible for creating video slots. They supply the gambling operator with software in accordance with agreements concluded between the parties. The slots themselves are hosted on the developers' servers, which control their availability to users and functionality according to specified characteristics. Online casinos act as intermediaries between providers and players.
The operation of slots is based on a random number generator, determining the outcomes of each individual spin. All basic parameters of the machines, such as RTP and volatility, are built on its mathematical algorithms.
The main characteristic of a slot is its RTP (Return to Player). This parameter determines the level of funds returned to users and is expressed as a percentage. For example, if the RTP is 95%, then for every 1000 rubles, it will return 950. The remainder will constitute the profit of the online casino and the provider. The scheme operates exclusively during prolonged gameplay.
Modern video slots have an average return rate ranging from 90 to 98%. Their volatility varies from low to high. This also sets them apart from classic machines, where the risk is usually minimal.
Description of Mechanics
The main advantage of video slots lies in the presence of a large number of additional features that add variety to the gameplay. Among them, the following can be highlighted:
- Wilds. Wild symbols that replace any other image on the field and allow forming winning lines where they shouldn't be. There are regular wilds, sticky wilds, with multipliers, and so on.
- Free Spins. A set of free spins with additional payout opportunities, which are activated under certain conditions. Most often, this involves collecting three or more scatters on the field in one spin.
- Bonus Round. Similar to free spins mechanics. Activated when a certain number of bonus symbols appear. The game moves to a new screen with rules different from regular spins. Here, players are offered to choose items, spin the wheel of fortune, etc.
- Respins. Spins launched without spending money from the balance. Usually, the condition for their activation is the collection of any paying combination on the field. Respins can repeat until the next spin turns out to be unsuccessful.
- Jackpots. They can be cumulative or fixed. In the first case, the prize pool is formed from a small percentage taken from the bets of each user in the slot. Its size is unlimited and can reach millions of rubles. The amount of the fixed jackpot is determined by the operator. Several levels of the prize pool with different activation conditions can be provided in the machine.
- Megaways. A popular mechanic of expanding reels. Thanks to it, the number of paylines in each spin can reach hundreds of thousands of combinations. In slots with the Megaways feature, the reels in different spins can expand and include more cells.
- Cascading spins. When a combination is formed, the playing symbols disappear, and new ones fall into their place from above. This is a kind of respin analog. However, most of the field remains in place.
In addition, video slots may feature mechanics such as Gigablox with large symbols spanning several cells, stacking wilds where multipliers are summed up when calculating the payout, and so on.
To see what features the slot supports and how they work, you can check the machine's help section or visit the provider's website.
Examples of Popular Video Slots
Often, online casinos provide sorting and categorization of slot machines based on supported mechanics. The total number of machines in the operator's entertainment catalog can be several thousand. You can evaluate them by parameters such as RTP, volatility, number of lines, and other characteristics. Below are a few examples of popular machines.
| Title | Provider | Payback, % | Number of lines |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dog House Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96,55 | 117 649 |
| Sakura Fortune | Quickspin | 96,58 | 40 |
| Space Wars | NetEnt | 96,75 | 40 |
| Gonzo’s Quest | NetEnt | 95,97 | 20 |
| Pink Elephants | Thunderkick | 96,10 | 4096 |
| Legacy of Egypt | Play'n GO | 96 | 30 |
Most online casinos allow you to play slots in demo mode. This is a trial version with bets using virtual chips, designed to familiarize yourself with the machine.
