Slot Machines – How They’ve Evolved

A slit or narrow opening, especially one for receiving something such as a coin or letter. Also figuratively, a position in a sequence or series; an assignment or job opportunity: ‘He slotted his way into the team’. (American Heritage Dictionary)

The coloured boxes in the pay table above show how the symbols should land to trigger winning combinations. This information is important because it allows you to understand how the game works. It may help you make more informed decisions and increase your chances of winning!

Slot machines are a huge source of casino revenue and have been around for decades. Their evolution has been slow, but there are some milestones that have helped them to become the leading source of revenue for many casinos today.

Historically, slots were not very complex. Punters had to keep track of only a few paylines and a limited number of symbols, and jackpot sizes were relatively small. As manufacturers incorporated electronics, they began to use computerised programs to ‘weight’ particular symbols, which increased the odds of hitting winning combinations.

The emergence of online slots has changed the way that people play them, but they are still based on the same basic principles as their offline counterparts. The main differences are the addition of bonus features, which often change how the slot games are played. The way in which these bonuses are awarded is also different, and some of them come with steep wagering requirements, so you need to be cautious when using them.