What makes online Slots different from the classic slot machines?

Slot machines have changed a lot over the years, going from purely mechanical to almost completely digital. These days, plenty of players go online to play slot games, rather than travelling to a land-based casino venue.

So, what sets online Slots apart from the classic slot machines? Their core concepts are still the same – spinning the reels to see whether matching combinations land – but there are a few ways that the two formats differ. Read on to take a look at a few of those factors.

  1. Accessibility

The most obvious – and significant – difference between online Slots and classic slot machines is their relative accessibility. For a physical slot machine, players need to travel to a land-based casino venue in order to spin the reels.

Online Slots are accessible from any suitable device with a solid internet connection, whether that’s a laptop, smartphone, tablet or desktop. These games are available whenever players want to play, without having to go anywhere to do it.

The number of options available to players also varies between online casino platforms and land-based venues, with a greater variety available

  1. Variety

Classic slot machines are generally more limited in their design, sticking closest to the original designs of Charles Fey’s Liberty Bell. Classic games will often feature three reels, either a single payline or a small number of them and a small selection of symbols.

Fruit is commonly used as the symbols in classic slot machines, along with symbols like bells and horseshoes.

Some online Slots also stick to the classic design, but plenty more have expanded theming and gameplay mechanics. There can be as many as six or seven reels in online slot games – with an average of five – and many games have symbols related to their specific theme, whether that’s mythology, wildlife or a popular TV show.

  1. Graphics and animation

Another area where the two differ is in their visual presentation. Classic slot machines may still rely on physical reels, limiting them to static symbols, LED displays and simple sound design. But many of the slot machines found in land-based casino venues are now video Slots, which can feature animations.

Online Slots are entirely digital, so they can make use of high-definition graphics and detailed animations. As they don’t have to contend with the sound of other nearby games, online Slots also benefit from more detailed sound design and soundtracks.

  1. Jackpot types

A classic slot machine will usually offer a fixed jackpot, which remains the same over time. This is quite different to the other form of jackpot that some online Slots use – the progressive jackpot.

A progressive jackpot starts from a set level but is increased every time that a player spins the reels on a connected instance of the game. A small fraction of every wager goes towards the jackpot total, allowing it to climb over time and reach values above a standard fixed jackpot.

But with progressive jackpot Slots the odds of landing the jackpot combination are lower compared to games with a fixed jackpot value.

Classic slot machines and online Slots share the same basic concept and design DNA. But the two formats have a lot of differences that may impact player preference.

Chris Michael
Chris Michael
Chris Michael is a writer who delivers engaging and informative news on sports to readers of blogs, websites, newspapers, or magazines.

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