What Makes a Good Slot?

Some people believe that once you’ve used one slot machine, you’ve used them all; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Slot machines come in a number of different styles and have their own unique quirks – hence why they’re still popular generations after their debut. First appearing in the late 19th century, slots have remained a popular way to gamble ever since. But what is it that makes a good slot? In this article, we explore this question in more detail.

Good Graphics

When it comes to slot machines, one of the biggest tell-tale signs of quality is the graphics. As it takes time and money to code good graphics, low-quality slots are rarely up to scratch. While bad graphics don’t necessarily mean that the game is rubbish, there is a strong correlation between graphics quality and overall game quality. If they haven’t put money into the graphics, it’s likely that they’ve skimped in other areas, too.

When choosing a slot to play, look for graphics that have the “wow factor”. If it looks like it was designed by a child, avoid the game at all costs. If it’s a classic game with a retro theme, the graphics may look old; however, this is almost always intentional. Take a closer look and decide whether the graphics look old-school or just downright rubbish. It’s possible to create high-quality reproductions of retro graphics, so keep this in mind when deciding whether to use the machine.

Themed Games

Themed slots are directly modelled after a TV show, film, or a popular entertainment figure. A few examples of this would be Jurassic Park, Spiderman, and Beyonce. Typically, themed slots are expensive for the casino to acquire as they need to pay a licensing fee to the company that owns the brand. In turn, the casino then has to charge more to play the machine in order to make their money back. Although themed games can be expensive, they tend to be the most popular and the most fun to play.

In general, themed slots are found in physical casinos. Although online casinos may have a few themed games, the majority are unbranded.  When gambling online, keep an eye out for sites that have knockoff versions of themed games. These games look like they are themed but are in fact just a cheap copy. To get around the copyright laws, these games don’t use the real name of the theme. For instance, instead of Top Gun, they may call it Top Gunner.

Simplicity

A big selling point of slot games is their inherent simplicity. Other gambling forms, such as poker, require time and dedication to master. Slot machines, on the other hand, can be enjoyed without any prior training. To play most slot games, all you need to do is place your bet and press spin. As they are purely luck based, everybody has the same chance of winning, regardless of whether you’re an experienced gambler or a novice. To ensure the results are random, slot machines are powered by a Random Number Generator or RNG for short. As soon as the player turns on the machine, the RNG starts spitting out sequences of numbers. When the player presses the spin button, the RNG stops. Whatever number it stops on will determine the outcome of the spin.

Bonus Features

With the new and improved video slots, game-designers are able to craft fun and creative bonus features. Not only do these make the game more exciting, but they also increase your chance of a pay-out. Bonus features can range from free spins or wild symbols to entire bonus rounds. When the bonus round is activated, you are transported to a whole new game screen. From here, you can use the new game to boost your winnings without risk. In games that feature a bonus round, it’s very easy to win back your original bet, plus more.

Big Payouts

Another attractive feature on slot games is the opportunity to win big. Unlike other casino games, slot machines allow you to make a large amount of money with a small investment. Originally, slot games had a single payline. Back then, you would have to match symbols across the one horizontal line to win. Today, most video slots offer between 35-30 paylines that go in different directions across the reels. As you can probably tell, this maximises your chances of winning! A large number of paylines gives the player more control when placing the bet. If you only want to play casually, place a small bet across a few paylines. If you’re feeling lucky, increase your wager across multiple paylines.

Free Play Test

The best slot machines are those that offer a free play test. Essentially, this is the chance to play for free before depositing real money. This allows you to decide whether you want to invest your hard earned cash in the game, or move onto something different. This feature is mainly found online, though some physical slot machines offer this feature, too. It’s also worth noting that sites that allow you to try a game for free usually have great quality. When a casino is confident that you’ll love the game enough to deposit real cash, they must be proud of their slot quality.

In Summary

With so many slots available, it can be difficult to decide which one to play. Looking out for the features above will ensure you choose a good-quality machine. If you’re still unsure, look for games that offer a free play test. This way, you can try out the slot before investing your own money. As always, consider your financial situation before using an online or physical casino. Set yourself a budget before you start playing, and only spend money that you can afford to lose.

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