Brief History of Slots

1891

The developers Sittman and Pitt create the first 'Gambling Machine' in Brooklyn, New York. This is considered to be the precursor to the slot machines we have all come to know and love. Instead of symbols, this machine was based on the 50 card faces used in Poker.

1895

The first slot machine with 3 reels is invented by Charles Fey. This device is the first to allow for automatic payouts and is named the “Liberty Bell”.

1905

Slot machines are further developed by the inventor Herbert Mills, who named his creation the “Operators Bell”. Famously, this machine is the first slot to feature fruit symbols.

1965

Another landmark was reached in 1964 by the company Bally Technologies. Significantly, this marked the arrival of the first electric slot machine called “Money Honey”.

1975

1975 is the year in which the first video slot was created. Walt Fraley’s “Fortune Coin” is considered to be the first slot to come with digitised reels.

1994

Microgaming assert themselves as pioneers within the online casino industry by creating the first online slot. This marks the age of the online casino, in which slots players around the world could play from their desktop.

1996

The popularity of online slots skyrockets. WMS Industries innovates, and creates “Reel ‘Em In”. This is the first video slot to come with bonus features, and sets the trend that has lasted to this very day.

2010

HTML5 technology becomes the main platform for mobile devices. This (coupled with the recent surge in smartphone accessibility) allows online casinos to optimise their games for Mobile Devices.

How Classic Slots Work

Classic slots are simple to play and work easily. You find wide variety in these games in terms of themes but the basic similarity is there in all: they come with 3 reels and have a very antiquated look about them. The classic slots you find at online casinos are usually copies of what you get at land-based casinos say, in land-based casinos in Vegas and other such gambling hotspots.

The way they work is simple. You sign up with the online casino and deposit funds for real money play. You zero in on the classic slots available here and click on the one you want to play. Choose your coin value and then place your wager by zeroing in on your coin size to avoid frustration and helplessness later. Aiding you in this decision is the paytable; it gives you a good idea of the advantages the different coin sizes come with.

Expert Tip

Most classic slots have a single base game; there are no extra bonus rounds to spice things up. If at all any one of these has a bonus round it will have more than a single payline. The payouts for these games are not too high but they are fun to play.

What Are The Types of Free Slots?

You get different kinds of classic slots to try out when you are playing at an online casino.

The most commonly seen ones include:

Classic 3-reel slots with fixed jackpots

These games have 3 reels and a fixed jackpot. The number of coins allowed is also less, and they have a fixed jackpot as the title says. You have the liberty of playing with anywhere between 1 and 9 coins.
Classic 3-reel slots with progressive jackpot

These are classic 3-reel slots that come with a progressive jackpot that can completely change your life for the better. You can play for the progressive jackpot only if you qualify to win it. You stand the chance of winning the progressive jackpot only if you play Max Bets.
Classic 3-Reel slot that gives bonuses for playing maximum coins

These slots give you extra bonuses should you opt to play in Max Bet mode.
Classic slots with 4 reels

Also called wide area progressive slots (WAPS) and could have up to 4 reels. The first of these was developed by International Gaming Technology (IGT) back in the 1980s. Because there is a progressive jackpot attached, the chances of winning are less.
Classic slots with accumulator bonuses

Also called Variable State Slots, they pay out bonuses only if you land your bouquet of winning symbols or permutations and combinations of them in a bank. It is only post this that the bonus gets activated.

Top Classic Slots

Almost every online casino software provider, especially the veterans in the industry including names like Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, and many others offer classic slot games to players. These games all resemble the slots games of yore and are themed on stories from the future, the present, and the past.

The following are some of the top classic slots that you get at online casinos across the world:

Fire Joker Take the Wheel of Multiplers for a Spin!

Play For Free read review

Jackpot 6000 It doesn't get much more 'classic' than this slot

Play For Free read review

Ultra Hot Deluxe If the action was any hotter, you would catch fire

Play For Free read review

FAQs Concerning Classic Slots Bonuses

How many reels do classic slots have?

Classic slots tend to have only three reels. This is very similar to many video slots also, but just because a slot has three reels does not automatically make it a classic slot. Another way of identifying a classic slot is the symbols they use, many of which you will be familiar with, such as:

A Ace
K King
Q Queen
J Jack
10 10
Cherries
Liberty Bell
Lucky Number 7

Which classic slots have the highest RTP?

All slots (including classic slots) have a predetermined RTP (Return to Player). This number determines the slots odds in the following way: the higher the RTP of a slot, the more likely it is that you’ll spin a winning combination. For example, if you wager £100 on a slot game with an RTP of 98%, you will win back, on average, £98. Our top pick of classic slots with a good RTP% (and great gameplay), includes the following:

Rank	Slot Title	Software	RTP
1.	Triple Profit	Playtech	98.72%
2.	Jungle Boogie	Playtech	97.40&
3.	Hot Shot	Bally	97.15%
4.	The Rat Pack	Microgaming	97%
5.	Diamond Mine Deluxe	RTG	96.43%

Which software provider makes the best online classic slots games?

There are many software providers which excel when it comes to classic slots. However, it can be argued that classic slots games have been overtaken, convincingly, by video slots in terms of popularity. Nonetheless, the software provider, Playtech, has a number of classic slot games which are popular amongst players looking for a more traditional experience.

Can I play classic slot games for free?

Yes, you can play classic slot games for free. You can do this using two methods: by playing on slots in demo-mode, or by claiming a No Deposit Bonus. The most obvious difference between these two methods is that you cannot win real money when playing on slots in demo-mode, whereas if you win using a No Deposit Bonus (and fulfil your T&C’s), you will be allowed to withdraw a portion of your winnings.

Can I play classic slot games from my mobile phone?

Yes, you can play classic slots directly from your mobile phone. This works in the exact same way as it does on your desktop, that is, by opening the game in your mobile browser. All major mobile platforms are supported, including: