Online Slots
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* All links to slots in this article pop up in a new window The Main Differences Between Slot GamesTwo things to understand before we start: firstly, most online casinos all use similar software. Secondly variance plays a very important role in which slots you should play. There are several casino software platforms, but the good (read "safe"!) ones generally run on "Microgaming", "Cryptologic", "Playtech" or "Wagerworks" with a handful of good ones also on "Realtime Gaming" (RTG). There are other software platforms, but the above have the best array of slots for players who like excitement - as I write. This means that you will find the same slots at different casinos on a frequent basis. I have also put up a selection of Microgaming's free slot games that you can play right now without the need to sign up and which can accompany this article.Leaving the boring 3-reel slots aside - press, click, spin, press, click, spin, yawn - the more entertaining 5-reel "bonus" slots (often referred to as "video slots") are far more popular. These generally get classified into two categories "Free Spin" slots and "Bonus" slots. The former have bonus rounds, triggered when certain symbols appear, that award the player with X free spins where each spin is multiplied by anything from 1x the bet to 25x the bet, depending on which slot you play. The "normal" bonus slot games instead have a "pick 'em" style bonus where the player has to select from a number of symbols to reveal prizes. Some slots combine the two. Some Slot BasicsPersonally, I love the entertainment factor found in free spin slots. While some are obviously better than others, the beauty of a free spins bonus is that, in theory, you could win anything. Imagine getting the top award during the free spins with a 3x, 6x or even a 25x multiplier! Nice. Not that it happens much of course! With the Pick 'Em style bonuses, there is always a set limit on what you can win, and I find this less exciting, especially when you are on a losing streak and need to win big to catch up!In general, online slots have around a 3% - 8% house edge, although progressive jackpot slots may go a little lower in light of the fact that the jackpot counts towards the percentage and in some cases, this can be well over a million (pounds, dollars, euros etc). Most casinos don't publish the expected returns or house edges of each slot (Wagerworks slots being the exception with returns in the 94-96% range), although you can get a rough idea from the Monthly Audited Payout reports that the casinos publish on their websites. In general, these tend to be between 93% and 97%, which gives us a clue. Whichever way, there is no doubt that online slots offer a much better expected return than land-based casino slots. Slots are of course, games of chance, so don't expect to win in the long term. You could get lucky, but the odds are against you. I've had plenty of winning sessions, and plenty of losing ones, but slots are my "thing" and I love the entertainment. "Variance" is a key in any slot - the higher the variance, the harder it is to win regularly, but the odd big win you do get will be much bigger than on a low variance slot. High variance slots are generally for the high-rollers and the opposite is true. It's very common for players to claim slots are rigged after a bad session, but more often than not (I trust the casino software providers listed above) it's because they played a slot with a higher variance and higher bet than their bankroll could stomach while chasing the big hit. Which Slots Are Best?I'm taking a view that you are pretty new to this so I'd start of by suggesting playing the most popular slot in the history of online casinos, Thunderstruck which is available at Microgaming casinos. This slot is medium variance and can be streaky, but has a free spins bonus offering 15 spins at 3x when you see three "Rams" in view. (View Info: Thunderstruck). Being such a popular slot, it has invariably been copied and cloned so you will also find several slots like Thunderstruck on Microgaming and other software.If you live in the USA, Playtech, Wagerworks and Cryptologic casinos are not an option for you, however you may prefer to find a safe RTG casino as these have an excellent array of free spins slots in their "Real Series". I have actually written these up in a seperate overview: RTG Real Series Slots and this will give you a rundown of the best slots to play there and the variance considerations. If you are outside the USA, then Cryptologic casinos have an excellent starting point in their Marvel Slots series: Thor is a very good low/medium variance game that keeps you going and offers 10 free spins at 3x in the bonus round. It's easily my favourite slot on the Crypto platform and you can play it at any of these good Cryptologic casinos. The other Marvel series slots are ok and I know that The Hulk slot is very popular for a "pick 'em" style slot as it has quite an entertaining way of awarding the bonus where you smash up tanks and helicopters. Play it and you'll see what I mean. Without over-complicating the issue, the few slots I mention above are a great starting point for the newbie to learn how they work. If you want more information, I have written up a list, with reviews, of my 10 favourite free spins slots which you may find interesting. Or not! One final note: I wouldn't play Chartwell's slots...they suck in comparison to those from Microgaming, RTG and Cryptologic. Playtech slots are ok, in particular the Desert Treasure slot, but Playtech casinos are generally lacking in slots choice IMO when it comes to entertainment. Easily the best options are at Microgaming casinos and RTG casinos, so try there first. Try The Free Spins Slots At The Following Casinos | |||||||||