Slot machines have evolved from the days of the standard fruit machines. There is now a whole range of slots to be played in both land-based and online casinos. From the very basic to the complex, there is a slot machine design that will cater to a player’s experience level.

Just what are the customary types of slot machines available to gamers across the globe? Below is a list and short description of the most common types slot machine seen in casinos today.



Multi-Payline/Multi-Coin Slots

The 3-reel, 1-payline single slot machines were the norm. This type of slot is quite simple and there are still plenty of slot players who prefer this type. However, multi-payline slots offer more features that afford more excitement, fun and rewards to players. A multi-payline slot has the standard 5-reel and multiple horizontal, vertical and diagonal paylines of up to the hundreds. Scatters and Wilds are included in this type of slot as well as bonuses to make it more interesting to play. When playing multi-payline slots, each coin that is bet activates a payline. So, if one plays a 15-payline slot, the player has to bet 15 coins to activate all paylines. If not, a winning combo is fruitless if that combo falls on a non-activated payline.

Multi-Payline Slot

This type of slot is the prototype of the multi-payline/multi-coin slot. However, this slot is no longer preferred as though one can choose the number of paylines; a player is limited to betting only one coin per payline. For those with minimal knowledge of how to play slot, there are online tutorials available.

Buy-a-Pays Slot

In this type of slot, an additional coin bet will reveal an extra winning combination. Since the hit frequency of this particular slot type is greatly influenced by the availability of combos, it is best for a player to bet the maximum number of coins in a buy-a-pay slot machine.

Hidden Buy-a-Pays Slot

John Robison, a published expert writer about slot gaming, coined the word hidden buy-a-pays slot, referring to any slot game that has bonuses which are only accessible if a player bets on the maximum number of coins. As a rule, betting the maximum number of coins can increase the payback percentage into 96% up to even 100%. Slot players who play Vegas slots online for real money should check out the pay table to see if that particular slot requires betting the maximum number of coins to activate the bonuses.

Straight Multiplayer Slot

By simply risking a single coin towards maximum number of coins bet, a player can activate all winning combinations, and the chance to increase the winning multiplier with the addition of coins. This basically means that a bet of three coins would triple the bet of a single coin; five coins translate to quintuple winnings, and so on. However, most slot aficionados prefer a single coin bet.

Progressive Slots

Whether standalone, local progressive or network progressive slot; a percentage of bet on this type of slot goes toward a common pot that will increase the top prize. The jackpot starts on a minimum amount, and increases for every game played until a lucky player hits the correct combination to win the jackpot. The slot or network of slots resets to the minimum jackpot amount and then starts to build up again for the next lucky winner. The winnings are usually life-changing amounts.

Combination Slot Machine

This type of slot is basically a combination of two types of slot. It can be a combination of a buy-a-pay slot and a multiplier slot, or a hidden buy-a-pay slot and multi-payline slot. The best approach to this type of slot is to bet enough to activate all conceivable payouts.

Bonus Multipliers Slots

This type of slot machine also activates all combinations with only a single coin. It follows that more coins mean more winnings, including a bonus payout that is activated with betting the allowed maximum coins. The bonus payout rarely comes through so it is best to just bet on a single coin.

Not all slot machines are the same. Not all slot machines are equal. They are diverse and offer a whole range of challenges, entertainment, fun and prizes.