With the proliferation of the internet and advances in web development, there are all kinds of different online slots available today. Gone are the days when gamblers would have only a handful of games to choose from or, worse still, just one or two in the local bar.
Software companies like Playtech, Micrograming, NetEnt, and others constantly strive to bring new and ever more interactive iGaming experiences to the market. Over the years, slots have evolved into several distinct categories. But which is most profitable? By the end of this article you won’t need us to tell you, you’ll be able to work it out for yourself!
Classic Slots
Classic slot machines hark back to a time almost forgotten. They’ll feature a small number of reels, rows, and win lines, and will not have the kind of interactive features more common on modern slot machines.
Still popular after all these years
Although their artwork is basic, classic slots often draw on traditional casino imagery. You can expect to see symbols such as Liberty Bells, Lucky Number Sevens, “Bars”, and a lot of fruit – hence ‘fruit machine’. Classic slots might also feature slightly more creative artwork but the focus is more on emulating an experience as close to the bare bones slot machines of old as possible.
Occasionally classic slots will include minimal features. These might include holds, re-spins, and free spins. Don’t expect to see the grandiose visual displays of more modern offerings, however.
Video slots
Much more common online these days online are video slots. These have taken the framework laid down by the classic slot and run with it. The most common layout for a video slot is a gameboard with five reels and three rows. However, many more creative designs exist in multiple different shapes. Some are successful and some less so.
The reels may or may not spin like they would on a real-world slot machine. Alternative game mechanics, such as cascading symbols, can bring the changing of symbols to life but essentially change little about gameplay.
Video slots will usually feature many more win lines than a classic slot. Depending on the number of reels and rows, there can be 20, 40, 100, or more win lines active during any one spin. Developers also experiment with alternative game mechanics here too. Rather than use win lines, some will award players for matching symbols anywhere on adjacent reels. This creates slots with much lower variance in general, although doesn’t necessarily increase or decrease the average return to player rating.
Modern video slots will be based around a particular theme. The artwork, backgrounds, bonuses, music, and other features will often be inspired by this theme. These days there is a slot attempting to cater for just about every niche interest going. At well stocked online casinos, you’ll find sports slots next to horror slots, mythology slots, funny slots, and even musical ones.
Licensed Slots
A particular favourite of the large slot developers serving the market is the franchised slot. These take their themes from existing concepts from the world of popular culture. They might be inspired by a band, a movie, or TV programme. Licensed slots will often feature genuine footage and/or sounds from its source material. Naturally, those already fans will gravitate naturally towards titles like Terminator, Jimi Hendrix, the Rocky movies or the many other massive pop culture references turned into slot machines.
3D slots
3D slots, as a title, is a little misleading. You don’t need to wear a pair of special glasses to enjoy them. It more refers to the fact that these slot machines have an extra dimension to them. They’re much like video slots, only with far more involved gameplay.
The result is something that sits between a video slot and a video game. Players will need to complete side games, work through various levels, and collect items along the way. When done well, this can create a much more immersive experience than even modern video slots are capable of.
Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpot slots are a form of either video or 3D slot where each player using the machine is competing for an ever-increasing shared top prize, as well as local, smaller prizes from the main game itself. Progressive jackpots will usually feature a side game during which the player can win a truly life changing sum of money. With prizes routinely approaching and exceeding £100,000 for the jackpot, it’s clear that these massive prizes don’t get taken down very often.
Which Slots are the Most Profitable?
Unfortunately, there is no one type of slot that’s more profitable than the rest. There are huge differences between the highest return-to-player rating and the lowest across all categories. For example, video slots can range from the low 80% range right up to 99%. The same sort of spread can be seen with 3D slots too.
Whilst it’s certainly true that progressive jackpot and classic slots also vary in terms of their profitability, the average classic slot is often more lucrative than the average video or 3D slot. Classic slots can have extremely high RTP ratings and it’s rare to see a very low one.
Meanwhile the opposite is often true for the progressive slot machine. Since players fund the progressive pool with each bet, it’s not immediately clear how much of the amount skimmed off the top of the player’s bet actually goes to the pool and if the casino itself takes another cut. In the latter case, the progressive machine may have a lower RTP than the average 3D or video slot.
The best advice you can get when it comes to choosing a profitable slot is to do a little bit of research. Headlinecasinos.com is a great resource for people that want to learn more about slots. Check the slots that appeal to you and look for those with a high return to player rating. The higher the RTP, the more likely you are to win in the long run.
One more thing. When assessing the RTP of a slot, remember that the rating only represents the game when it is being played optimally. This means with the maximum number of win lines possible and without any additional side bets. Generally speaking, no other variations to gameplay will influence the return to player rating of a fair slot machine.