Types of Slot Machines

A lot of people who see slot machines for the first time get the impression that they are all the same. In fact, there are many types of slots. This is something that a player must learn early on, as each one operates under distinct rules.

Straight Slot Machines, as the name implies, are probably the best known and one of the most common. They are straightforward, in that the payout does not change. For instance, a one dollar bet will always win $2,000. Of course, the payout is commensurate to value of the coin. A two dollar coin will pay more than one worth fifty cents.

Then there are the Multipliers, which will register a payout for hitting a symbol based on the number of coins that you plugged in. As an example, if you plug in one coin, and you hit three cherries, the pay is $5. If you play with two coins and hit the same symbols, the payout will be double ($10). If you play the maximum of three, you will get $15 or $20.

The Bonus Multiplier works on basically the same principle. The main difference is that by playing the maximum number of coins, you will get a chance to win the bonus jackpot. The amount varies of course, but they range from a thousand coins to over ten thousand.

Another machine that offers jackpot bonuses are the Buy-a-Pay slot. These slots offer different payouts for the coins played, but in order to win the jackpot, you must play the maximum number of coins. For instance, a coin will win on three cherries; two coins will win on cherries and apples, and the three is eligible for the jackpot.

It is important to remember in Buy-a-Pay slots that hitting on the jackpot symbol without playing the maximum coins will not win you anything.

The same rule applies with the popular Progressive Slots. These slots either stand as one or are linked together, but in either case, the jackpot prize grows as more players bet (the analogy would be the lottery, wherein the prize money grows as long as there are no winners).

Again, if you decide to play on a Progressive Slot, always play for the maximum, because if you do hit the jackpot by playing the minimum coins, your winnings will be limited.

Other popular variants of slots are video Poker machines, where players can win by getting the appropriate Poker hands; another type gaining popularity are multi-denomination slots. With these machines, a player does not have to worry about what kind of bet he has to make, because the machine can accept and convert them.

As Internet technology improves and casinos continue to innovate, so will the slot machine, and their classifications will also increase. This can only mean more excitement and more money to be won.