Even though a physical gaming machine was still used, the actual slot part was now digital. These were so-called because instead of using a drum with reels and symbols, they had everything displayed on a small video screen. Fast forward to 1976 and the first video slot machines were launched. As time passed, technology became more advanced and so did the slot machines. Slot machines grew in popularity and found their way to casinos, pubs and entertainment venues in many countries around the world. A lot of the time, the symbols were themed after fruits because the earliest prizes you could win were fruit-flavoured pieces of chewing gum. To make the game even simpler, playing cards were removed from the reels and a smaller number of themed symbols were added instead. Gaming machines weren’t advanced enough to handle the many different combinations you could get from a hand with five cards, so two hands were dropped. In poker, your objective is to form the best hand possible with five cards. They had a single row and if the right combination of symbols appeared on this row, you’d win.īelieve it or not, slot machines were actually derived from poker games. They were large gaming machines that required you to pull a lever on the side to spin the drum, which was made up of three separate reels. With features ranging from multiple bonuses and feature videos to interactive games and scatter symbols, five reel slots fulfill the needs of any and slot enthusiasts.The very first slot machines appeared in the late 19th century in New York. While some will play the game regardless, more savvy players will know that you get the best odds when betting max coins on some games.Įvery player is going to have a different definition of the perfect slot, but it’s hard to go wrong with today’s highly entertaining five reel games. It's important to know this on every game you play. If you can afford it, playing Max Bet on most of your spins can sometimes increase your chance of hitting a decent jackpot. You can run hot during a session, but the longer you play, the more the game will play close to it's advertised payout percentage. Thanks to the random number generators found in all slots, a game’s promised payout will be the same regardless of who’s playing or how long he or she plays.
Of course, sheer luck seems to be the common denominator in winning big regardless of the number of reels on the game.
However, as with all slot games, payouts are determined by the chip in the game, so statistically, small wins will be far more frequent and big wins far less so. The fact that five reels creates more winning combinations increases a player’s chance of landing on one. With exciting opening videos, entertaining animations throughout the game, and arcade-like bonus mini-games that appear frequently, today’s five reel slots are nothing like the old three reel mechanical machines of days gone by. Hot Shot is one of the most played 5 reel games in Vegas, remaining popular many years after it's release Why Choose a 5 Reel Slot?įive reel slots are the most common type of slot game, and for good reason.