What is a slot?
One-armed bandits, slot machines, roulette tables and blackjack: these are the images that shoot into your head immediately when you think of casinos. But thanks to digitalization, you no longer have to fly to Las Vegas to enjoy this gaming experience. Online casinos bring the gambling fun directly to you – whether on your PC or your cell phone – thanks to the latest technology, opening hours, manned machines or tables are now a thing of the past. Among the most popular games in online casinos are the so-called slots. A wide variety of themes, interactive functions, rocking melodies or magical fairy tale worlds provide the playground and ensure an extremely high fun factor. But what exactly is a slot? What does it stand for? We from Wunderino explain it to you.
What does the word slot stand for?
The word "slot" stands for different things: It can stand for a slot for inserting money, or a letter slot. In air traffic, a slot is a time window for take-off and landing. There are slots on computers and in the north of Ukraine there is even a river of the same name. But we want to tell you more about online casino slots, whose great-grandfathers were the one-armed bandits.
The history of slots
The first slot machine was the Black Cat from the Caille brothers. Designed in 1989, it was the mother of all slots and was the first to have the characteristic side arm. The first one-armed bandit was born. Eleven years later, the invention of the Liberty Bell made Charles August Fey especially famous. The Swabian who emigrated to California invented this slot machine in San Francisco in 1899. It was the first slot machine with a 3-reel game system. Its name was derived from the symbol that triggered the maximum win when tripled. As great as the invention was, it did not help Charles August Fey, of all people, to achieve great wealth: because of the lack of a patent application for his invention, the system became common property of the gambling industry. It actually revolutionized it: Until the invention of the Liberty Bell, many manufacturers produced stand-up slots that functioned according to the roulette principle. Like at the gaming table, one had to bet on color before the roulette wheel was usually set in motion with a lever.
Progressive Jackpots
While the payout for the first slot machine was still 20 coins, in the 1960s it was as high as 2,500: this maximum win was granted with the first modern slot machine Money Honey from Bally Manufacturing. The machine was the first to feature electronic components and a coin magazine. The 80s finally brought the progressive jackpots. In contrast to a regular jackpot, which is set at a certain amount, the progressive jackpots increase with the stake of the players. This means: The more players play, the faster and above all the higher the jackpot increases. There is no maximum value in this case. The most popular progressive slot machine, Megabucks from International Gaming Technology (IGT) was introduced in 1986. The maximum bet was 3 coins, if the reels landed on the Megabucks logo, the entire winnings were paid out.
How do you play online slots?
Whether beginner or full professional: In online casinos there is certainly something for everyone due to the large selection of different slots. All games can be tested in demo mode and with play money. Of course you can also deposit real money immediately and start playing. Here it is worthwhile to look very closely, because in many games are hidden free spins and bonuses on deposit are hidden. It is also worthwhile to take a close look at the rules of the game before you start playing, this can significantly affect the chances of winning.
Tips and tricks for your first game
Check the payout ratio (RTP). Slots with high RTP values (return to player) are more likely to pay out winnings. Test the slot in the demo version and familiarize yourself with the world of online slots before depositing real money. Check in advance which offer of regular free spins and bonuses, or coupons there are, this too can increase your chances of winning considerably. Knowing the rules and functions of the individual slots is certainly another great advantage. With all the fun and joy that gambling can bring, you should play sensibly and not start with too high stakes. Last but not least, you should always focus on playing consciously.
We at Wunderino wish you lots of fun with your next visit to the online casino, whether on your PC or with the Wunderino App!