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Slot Types
Types of Slot Machines.
When you play at an online casino, you’ll find that there are loads of different types of slot machines. These range from simple, classic slot games with barely any special features, through to really complex 7-reel slots with loads of bonuses and fantastic graphics.
On this page, you can easily find slots of many different types, making it simple to find the types of slots you enjoy playing. We’re also going to run you through some of the main types of online slot machines, so you can choose which type of slot to try first.
The most basic (and very first) type of slot is the classic slot. This is a game that harks back to the olden days, offering a simple way to play. This means that you won’t find this type of slot with loads of different bonuses and features, and you also won’t find loads of paylines. What’s more, the game will only have three reels, not the five reels found at the majority of slots found at online casinos.
Some might find the classic slot type to be boring, but others will like the fact that they aren’t distracted by needless features and over-the-top themes. One thing that isn’t usually missing is a big jackpot though, as it’s possible to win thousands when playing classic slot machines.
If you want to see the style in action, Opal Fruits (96% RTP, low volatility) is a modern take on the fruit-machine format, and Mega Joker is about as traditional as online slots get. Both are playable free. Our full classic slots guide has more.
Video Slots
Most online slot machines are video slots. This modern type of slot can have a number of reels, however most commonly they have five, plus they can have loads of paylines. In fact, the video slot type have thousands of different ways to win! They come in a range of different slot themes, including Halloween and Christmas, and the theme of a slot can really add to its overall enjoyment.
Video slots also usually have bonus games and special features, such as wild symbols, scatter symbols and free spins. They also usually have some large prizes available, which can sometimes be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Video slots are the category most of our catalogue falls into. Starburst (96% RTP, moderate volatility) is the simplest place to start, Gonzo’s Quest introduced the tumbling-reel mechanic now copied everywhere, and Sweet Bonanza shows how far the format has been pushed since.
Progressive Slots
If you’re looking for the biggest prizes around, you should look no further than the progressive slot type. These are slots that don’t have a fixed jackpot, but instead have a jackpot that rises as more and more people from around the world play. This can cause some progressive jackpots to be worth millions. Once a player has won the progressive jackpot, it will reset back down to its minimum amount.
Both classic slots and video slots can have progressive jackpots. Different slots offer different ways to win a progressive jackpot. Some will simply require you to spin in a specific combination of symbols on the reels, while at other slots, you’ll need to start a bonus game if you want to win the jackpot. Some other slots simply grant the jackpot randomly before, during or after a spin.
The best-known example is Mega Moolah, whose four-tier wheel has paid out some of the biggest prizes in online casino history. Note that a progressive jackpot can only be won with real money, since the pool is funded by real bets, so the demo shows you the base game only.
Slots with Specific Features
As already mentioned, you’ll find loads of different features at online slots. Nearly all slot types will have wild symbols and scatter symbols, while you’ll also find various bonus games too, such as free spins and second screen bonus games. These special features can be loads of fun, but more importantly, they can offer some massive prizes.
These features can begin in different ways, however the most common is by getting a certain number of scatter symbols on the reels. They can also start randomly or when you have collected enough of a specific symbol.
Themed Slots
You’ll find that online slots have loads of different themes, however some really popular ones include ancient Egypt, the Wild West and the ocean. Slots can also be based on different times of the year, such as the slots you’ll find in our Christmas and Halloween sections. Essentially, everyone should find a slot out there based on a theme they’ll enjoy!
The theme of a slot won’t impact much on the gameplay, however it can boost enjoyment considerably. Fun themes are also often allied with impressive graphics to create something that looks absolutely stunning.
Megaways Slots
Megaways is the biggest thing to happen to slot design in the last decade. Invented by Big Time Gaming, it replaces fixed paylines with reels that change height on every single spin: each reel can show anywhere from two to seven symbols, and the number of ways to win recalculates each time. That is where the headline numbers come from, most commonly 117,649 ways.
Bonanza (96% RTP, high volatility) is the game that started it all and still the reference point for the format. White Rabbit Megaways pushes it furthest, with a 97% RTP and cupcake symbols in free spins that permanently extend the reels toward a possible 248,832 ways to win. Studios everywhere now license the mechanic, which is how you get Rick and Morty Megaways and The Dog House Megaways.
One thing to know before you play: Megaways games tend to run high volatility. The huge win potential comes with long dry stretches, so they reward patience more than most slot types.
Jackpot Slots
Jackpot slots are worth separating from progressives, because not every jackpot grows. Fixed jackpot slots pay a set top prize, usually a multiple of your stake, and you know the number before you spin. Progressive jackpots pool a slice of every bet across a network of casinos until somebody wins, which is how the totals reach seven and eight figures.
Mega Moolah is the name most people know: a four-tier jackpot wheel that has produced some of the largest online casino payouts ever recorded. Divine Fortune Megaways shows the newer approach, combining a Megaways engine with three local jackpots. For the fixed-prize version, Wolf Gold uses its Money Respin feature to award Mini, Major and Mega prizes without any network pooling. Our jackpot slots guide goes deeper on how each type pays.
3D Slots
3D slots put the emphasis on presentation: rendered characters, cinematic cutscenes when you trigger a bonus, and animation that treats the game more like a short film than a set of spinning reels. The maths underneath is the same as any video slot, so this is a category defined by how a game looks and feels rather than how it pays.
Betsoft built its reputation on this style. House of Fun and Take Olympus are good places to see what the studio does with character animation and bonus-round staging.
Branded and Licensed Slots
Branded slots are built around a licensed film, TV show, band or personality. The appeal is recognition: you already know the characters, the music and the world before the first spin, and the bonus rounds are usually written around famous scenes.
Some of the best-known examples on this site are The Goonies (96% RTP, very low volatility, and the most played demo we host), Narcos, Ted, Tomb Raider and Playboy. Worth knowing: licence fees have to come from somewhere, so branded titles occasionally carry a slightly lower RTP than an equivalent unbranded game. Always check the figure on the review page before you play for real.
Slot Types Compared
A quick side-by-side of the main types, with a game from our catalogue you can try free for each one:
As you can see, there are loads of different types of online slot machines found at casinos, so how do you go about finding the type of slot best for you? The answer is simple: just play the various slot types for free, here on this site! This will allow you to find out which slots are right for you, and which aren’t. Whether you want to play different types of penny slot machines or high limit slot, you can do this without having to spend any of your hard-earned cash.
Once you’ve found some free slots on this site that you really enjoy playing, you should play them for real money at one of our recommended online casinos!
Browse slots by type
A few specific slot styles worth a closer look:
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