What’s the difference between online Slots?

There are so many different types of Slots available online, literally hundreds of them. Whether it’s differences in theming, gameplay mechanics or even basic features, there are plenty of things that set the many online Slots apart.

Knowing which game to pick requires understanding those differences in order to make a properly informed choice. So, let’s dive into the key factors that set various online Slots like Luck of the Irish Slots apart from classic fruit machines or others.

Classic vs video Slots

Perhaps the most basic distinction between online Slots is whether they fall into one of these two categories.

Classic Slots are closely styled after the older slot machine designs, with little in the way of newer features or gameplay twists. Usually, these stick to just three reels and only a handful of paylines (between one and five) to keep things simple.

Many classic Slots will also feature fruit symbols, rather than using more specifically themed symbols on their reels. These are generally the most straightforward online Slots designs.

Pretty much every other online slot game falls into the category of video Slots, which make use of advanced graphics, animations and sound effects with more detailed theming. In terms of basic setup, video Slots will feature five or six reels as standard and many more paylines compared to classic variants.

Paylines

We’ve already mentioned paylines, which are the lines on which matching combinations need to land in order to count. While classic Slots only feature a few paylines, other designs will feature potentially hundreds of different paylines.

Not every payline is activated by default, but many modern Slots will have a combination of horizontal, vertical, diagonal and zigzag lines along with other potential patterns. How many a player activates will depend on their wager, but higher numbers of paylines create the potential for more matching combinations to land.

But paylines aren’t used in every online slot game. There are some games that do away with the concept of paylines entirely in favour of a different mechanic known as clusters. Rather than symbols needing to land on set lines, they will count as a combination if certain numbers appear adjacent to each other.

Progressive vs fixed jackpots

Another distinguishing factor between different online Slots is jackpot style. There are two types of jackpots found among slot games: fixed and progressive.

Fixed jackpots are exactly as they sound, a fixed number value that remains the same over time. No matter how many people play a game with a fixed jackpot, anyone who lands the jackpot combination will receive the same value payout.

Progressive jackpots are quite different, increasing over time as instances of the game are played. Each time a wager is made, a small portion goes towards the jackpot total, allowing it to keep growing over time and potentially reach higher values than a fixed jackpot.

That’s not even to mention the wide array of different themes found in online Slots, ranging from wildlife and mythology to popular culture. So, no matter which factors are most important to you, there is an online slot game out there to match your personal preferences.