Ever since the traditional casino decided to add the simple slot machine to entertain “proper” gambler’s wives, people have been enhancing them. Firstly, more paylines were added; then diagonal paylines, wild symbols, bonus features. I all got quite complicated; but the machines were still limited to 3 reels . That changed when computer technology caught up.
Some bright sparks realised you could replicate a mechanical slot with a program; using a random number generator to mimic the spinning reels. Now real estate was no longer limited to the physical proportions of the machine; but it still had to be practical and easy to use.
The powers that be settled on 5 reels, and brought in animated graphics, complex bonus features and all kinds of interesting goodies to enliven the experience. Witness! The birth of the Video Slot!
Jargon Buster
Coin Size: Same as in 3 Reel Slots . How big is the coin you’re playing with?
Number of Coins/Lines: Almost all Video Slots have multiple paylines, and multiple coins per payline. It gets complex to remember what you are playing with here; but simply – coin size x number of coins per payline x number of paylines = size of bet.
Payline: The imaginary line drawn through all the reels that the symbols must line up on to trigger a payout.
Wild Symbol: A symbol on the reels that will substitute for any other symbol. These generally carry a multiplier, so that the winning combination’s payout is increased if you make that combination using the wild symbol.
Payout Percentage: This is the amount of coins the machine pays out to gamblers on average, as a proportion of what it brings in. In most traditional casinos this is around 75% (every dollar you bet, you can expect to get back 3 quarters). In the online world, mainly because the casinos don’t have to pay rent, this percentage is closer to 95%!