Video Slots
Updated
Gayle Mitchell
Updated
Gayle Mitchell
Online video slots are the most popular type of casino game available today. And thanks to the sheer volume of new slot titles being released each month, no other type of slot game can compete when it comes to variety.
Unlike land-based slot games, online video slots are completely digital and run on software. Whenever you spin the reels (columns) or place your bet there is nothing mechanical and the result will be completely random thanks to a random number generator (computer process used to generate an unpredictable series of numbers).
Some of you might be skeptical about this, but reputable software providers will all have their games monitored and regularly audited for gaming fairness by third-party authorities such as eCOGRA. Video slots are completely luck-based but some some have a higher return-to-player percentage than others (RTP).
Video slots have a minimum of 5 reels (columns) and 5 rows but this can go higher. With a larger grid size (columns and rows) video slots offer more paylines.
Paylines are important, as these are the lines you need to land matching symbols on. New game mechanics have allowed video slots to increase the number of ways-to-win, so that some slots even offer paylines in the thousands e.g Forgotten Island. There are also some that let you choose which paylines you want to be operational during a spin e.g Ancient Fortune Zeus.
As technology improves, software providers are constantly trying to offer something more exciting for players to enjoy. New features to video slots include cascading reels e.g Deadmau5, cluster pays e.g Ghost Glyph and even the megaways reel mechanic e.g Cash N Riches Megaways.
This game’s free spins round launches when you spell out the word GOLD with scatter symbols. You will start with 12 free spins and a progressive multiplier that increases by +1 with every Rolling Reels win.
This slot’s free spins round is triggered by landing at least 3 book symbols. A random symbol is selected the become the special expanding symbol that will fill whatever reel it lands on with duplicates of itself for the duration of the feature.
Thunderstruck 2 has an innovative bonus round called the Great Hall of Spins. The more you trigger the bonus round, the more options become available to you. The Valkyrie option gives you 10 free spins with a 5x multiplier, Loki awards you 15 free spins with Wild Magic symbols, Odin hands you 20 free spins with random multipliers, and Thor bestows you with 25 free spins enhanced by a Rolling Reels mechanic.
Cat Clans’ Catapult Free Spins bonus round is a hold-and-win-style hybrid and activates when you land 3 scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5. You only get 3 free spins upfront, but any wild symbols that land will become sticky and reset your free spins count to 3.
This action-packed slot has a bonus round that takes 2 steps to trigger. When you land 2 Monster Truck scatters on the reels, you will get a respin that gives you a chance to land a 3rd scatter. Once the feature gets going, you can choose from 3 free spins options with varying volatility.
This Is one of the most feature-packed slots in existence. Aside from its 8 random features and respins, there are also 2 free spins modes. You can access the bonus round by filling the free spins meter with stars or getting 2000 Super Tokens in the Super Token meter. Once you’re in, you can choose to buy or gamble your way into Super free spins, where a progressive multiplier boosts your winning potential.
This slot’s classic gameplay has a bonus round that is activated by the appearance of 3 shield scatters. You will then spin a bonus wheel that awards you between 10 and 30 free spins with a multiplier of 2x or 3x.
The Green Knight integrates an interesting bonus round where you are given 45 free spins with a multiplier wild guaranteed to appear on every spin. If 2 scatter symbols appear while the feature is active, you get 5 Shield spins where your current multiplier is locked for their duration.
In this title, based on the smash-hit fighting arcade game, the bonus round is aptly named “Beat the Boss” free spins. Just like in the game, you must beat Balrog, Vega, and Sagat to face M. Bison with a 10x multiplier. No specific number of free spins is assigned to you, and the bonus round continues until you or the boss are defeated.
This game has an innovative 3-stage bonus round. The first two stages give you the chance to upgrade your symbols and add wilds to the gameplay before you embark on the final stage where your enhancements are active for 3 spins.
Video Slots are immersive video-based slot machines with feature-rich bonuses and gameplay. Do you want to know how to start playing these slots online? Read the step-by-step guide below.
Registration is free and only takes a few minutes to complete.
You will find the games under the casino's slot section.
You can access the information section by looking for an icon usually marked with an "i".
Bets are increased or decreased by clicking on the "+" and "-" buttons respectively.
The paylines of the game will determine how many combinations will be matched.
Comparing video slots and classic slots is like comparing music genres from different generations. Both categories are very representative of the time of they were created. However the table below highlights the fairly big differences you can expect to find between the two.
Gayle Mitchell is the leading female expert on casino gambling and has written extensively, presented seminars and was editor of four gaming newsletters. She is the author of seven books, 12 Ebooks, and five Tips booklets. Online since 1999, Mitchell has owned and operated 4 gaming websites. Her writing and teaching style is targeted at educating novice and passionate casino players.
