Are all slot machines the same? At first sight, they may seem to be – at least in their essence. The basic mechanic of all slot machines is the same – they are the derivatives of Charles Fey’s original gaming machine built more than a century ago.
The differences between real money slots are not always apparent. Beyond the different themes and formats, some have fundamental effects on how they work and how much they pay.
Return to player (RTP)
First and foremost, let’s get something out of the way: when you play slot machines in the long run, you will always lose at least some of your money. Casinos are not charities, they are businesses that offer a service and expect profits in return.
How much does a casino earn when you play a slot machine? This is expressed by a metric called “Return to player” or RTP.
All slot machines have RTPs under 100%. The industry average is around 95% but some slots have higher RTPs (up to around 98%) and lower RTPs (around 93%) as well. The higher the RTP, the less you can expect to lose when playing the game in the long term.
Volatility
Often used interchangeably with “hit frequency” (which is a mistake, by the way), the volatility of a slot machine has to do with how often it pays and how much it pays with every hit. A high-volatility slot will usually pay out less frequently but the payouts are higher. A low-volatility slot will pay more often, making it a more enjoyable game, but lower amounts.
Paylines
The Liberty Bell, the original slot machine built by Charles Fey, had a single win line, and a small number of symbols on its reels. Modern slot machines have more reels, more symbols, and often many more win lines.
As a general rule, the more win lines a slot machine has, the more likely it is for a spin to pay out a win.
Bonus and side games
Another major difference between slot machines is the bonus and side games they offer. Almost all slot machines have some type of bonus game (with a few exceptions) but most of them are simple and boring: a few free spins and that’s about it.
Some of them are, in turn, much better equipped in this area. The best games have side games and bonus games filled with special features and potential big wins – things to look forward to when playing the game.
Jackpots
Jackpots are the prizes every slot machine player is craving for – and the hardest to win. Many games have jackpots but these are usually small amounts that are multiples of the bet you play per spin. There are, in turn, a few of them with progressive pooled jackpots that can be massive, even life-changing.
What sets some slot machines apart? Aside from the return to player and volatility, aside from what meets the eye, some aspects make a huge difference: like win lines, side games, and jackpots. Keep these in mind when choosing the slot machine you play.