Slots Games
Not so long ago all real-world casinos have rapidly shifted towards
5-reel slot machines. It was to an extent that slots became widely
associated mainly with 5-reel games. Such slot games usually offered
bonus features that weren't used in 3-reel slot machines. In some
countries, like Australia, there aren't even 3-reel slot games anymore,
all of the slot machines having five reels.
With the advent of
the Internet, we have seen a large variety of both 3-reel and 5-reel
slot games. Compared to land-based
SlotsofVegas online 5-reel slots have
usually a bonus round that gives you an additional chance to win. But
what's the difference between 3-reel and 5-reel slots, and is it wise to
go with the maximum bet on a larger number of reels?
Payout PercentagesIt is believed that 5-reel slots are
much harder to win at, compared to 3-reel slot machines. Well, it did
work for old slot machines, but with the introduction of RNG (random
number generator) to both land-based slots and online slot games, this
theory no longer applies.
For instance, a 3-reel slot machine has
95% payout percentage set by the manufacturer. A 5-reel machine has the
same 95% payout percentage, which means that you have EXACTLY the same
return from the machine in the long run. No matter how many reels there
are in the machine, be there even 20 reels, the payout percentage set by
the manufacturer is what really matters.
Hit Frequency
Take a look at the pay table on a 3-reel and a 5-reel slot machine.
If you compare, you will see that a 5-reel slot game usually has more
winning combinations than a 3-reel slot machine. The winning
combinations on a 5-reel slot game can consist of 3 or 5 symbols, and
sometimes even 2.
In this situation you will be hitting regularly
more smaller payouts rather than the big ones occasionally. Thus a
5-reel slot gives you a much higher hit frequency but for lower win
amounts. And, of course you don't have to forget about luck.
Playing Max Bet5-reel slot games usually give
you a chance of playing more than one payline. The number may vary from
machine to machine, but you will likely to encounter from 5 to 20 pay
lines. It's recommended that you play the maximum number of paylines.
Although, playing a maximum bet is not such a good idea, because you may
end up paying large amounts of money on a small denomination slot
machine.
For example, you are playing 20 paylines at a 5 cent
slot machine. The maximum coin per line here is 5. By performing simple
calculations, you will see that playing maximum bet at such a machine
will cost you $5 for a single spin. Not bad for a 5 cent game, don't you
think?
So stay out of max bet, unless it is required by the game.
Many of progressive slot games require you to play maximum coins to be
able to hit the jackpot. So make sure you have read carefully the win
table before you are actually playing the slots. It all varies from one
slot machine to another.
ConclusionsAs
with anything else, it's up to you to decide what type of slots is more
fun. Because the key of enjoying and winning at slots is first and
foremost having fun while playing it. Try everything for yourself to see
what kind of slot machines do you prefer and start spinning those reels!
Whether 3 reel or 5 reel, whether online or offline, slots have
evolved more than any other online casino game. The evolution of slots
is if anything on the rise. Today the evolution is taking place on two
fronts. One is that of sensory experience. This is being done through
better graphics design and the incorporation of music and other audio
features into the slots. Above all it is being done by animating the
symbols on the reels. The second evolution is taking place through the
features involved in the slot games. Wild symbols have become an
integral part of slots. But today the wild symbols are evolving. For
example there are stacked wilds in which all the symbols in the reels
containing the initial wild symbols become wild symbols. The bonus games
are also evolving. Instead of being simply "pick an object" type of
games they are incorporating some player skill and multi level features.