A Guide to Playing Slots at Online Casinos

According to history, the first slot machine, a simple mechanism with three reels and five symbols on each, was invented by Charles Fey of San Francisco in 1887. Sittman and Pitt in New York went on to develop this mechanism into the precursor of the slot machine. Today there are "slot parlours" across the USA regulated by the Gaming Control Board and it is not uncommon for illegal establishments to have their equipment confiscated by authorities.

Slot machine options presented by online casinos:

• Single line slot: players click the start button and symbols must be lined up along a single pay line in order to pay out; there is no strategy involved and once the player pulls the virtual lever the outcome is in the hands of the online casino
• Multi line slot: this increases the player's chance of winning; more money is required but the combination of symbols that could increase winnings is multiplied

Different machines offer different coin options and payouts; usually, the larger the bet, the greater the payout. Slot machines with progressive jackpots are offered to online players; a percentage of the bet is allocated towards an ever increasing jackpot that could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. These progressive jackpots lure online players to the slot machines.

The online casinos payout report provides statistics of the current payout for playing slots online. A payout of 95% means that the casino is paying out 95% of all bets received; this percentage does not indicate your chance of winning.

Slot machines have a wide appeal and they remain a game of sheer luck!