The Best Online Casino Slot Games For South African Players
Let’s lay our cards out on the table shall we, or in this case our slot symbols. Online casino slot games may not be the most strategic game available online today, but they most certainly are one of the most entertaining. For some the appeal of the online casino slot game lies in its simplicity, for others its the ability for a slot game to create a certain level of excitement and entertainment no matter what level of casino player you may be, for us at The Casino Club, it’s the speed, the ability for you to win incredible sums of money in a matter of seconds.
Whatever the appeal, online slots are probably one of the biggest drawcards to any great casino, and for a would-be first-timer, the first stop to the wonderful world of online casinos.
Join us as we unpack everything you need to know about online casino slot games, from how they work, what to look out for, which slot games to play, and so much more. At The Casino Club, we bring you the biggest and best listings of top online casino slot games specifically available to our South African players.
The History Of Online Casino Slots
The Casino Slot, or more notoriously referred to as “The One Arm Bandit”, can be dated as far back as the early 1890s, its home of which was the bustling epicentre of Brooklyn, New York. Believe it or not, the very first known slot machine was based on another very popular casino game, Poker. Across pubs and bars around Brooklyn, customers would insert a nickel into a machine with a simple lever and 5 drums containing 50 card faces, the aim of the game was simple, pull the lever and hope to get the best possible poker hand.
At that time there was no direct payout from the machine itself, so the bar or pub would subsequently reward the player with a free beer or cigar, the prize was very much determined and agreed by the individual establishment. To ensure that things remained at random, the drums would be rearranged every so often by the establishment owner.
There was one challenge to the very early setup of the slot machine, there were just far too many different winning combinations in Poker for the machine to automatically payout against all possible winning combinations. In 1899, a gentleman by the name of Charles Fey from California created a far more simplified version of the earlier versions of the slot machine. The new version comprised of 3 spinning reels, or wheels, and 5 symbols, one of which was a liberty bell, a name which it would eventually become more synonymously known as.
The new machine was far simpler in the sense that instead of the ten poker cards and 5 drums, Fey’s newly modified version only carried with it 3 reels and 5 symbols, creating fewer winning combinations and more opportunities to create an automatic payout mechanic.
The Liberty Bell took the gambling world by storm, and soon every cigar store, saloon, bowling alley, brothel, and barbershop had one. The machine was so popular that soon after its launch it was banned in the state of California.
Fast forward to the ’60s, Bally Manufacturing, later renamed Bally Entertainment, developed what was considered the very first electromechanical slot machine, rightly named “Money Honey”. What made this particular machine revolutionary lay in its ability to automatically payout up to 500 coins without the need for an attendant. It was the success of this version of Bally’s machine that led to the increased demand for electronic games, and subsequently the steady phasing out of the once-popular side lever mechanic.
Most of the online casino slot games you see in casinos today are what is known as video slot machines. Video slots are characterised by their screen display as opposed to the traditional reel and lever system. Video slots were first introduced in California towards the late ’70s, but the first production units were rolled out originally in Las Vegas. It was the Las Vegas strip that then catapulted the popularity of slots to every other casino operator both near and far.
Today’s modern online slot machines carry with them a vast array of incredibly realistic graphics, fun themes, and of course, more reels than ever before. From pirate ships to the depth of the jungle, 3-reel to 6 reels, and a range of different pay-lines, today’s online player is most certainly spoilt for choice.
How Do Casino Slot Games Work?
Slots in their truest form are fairly simple, physical slot machines are essentially made up of a number of reels or wheels, the number of reels per slot can differ depending on the game, but normally there are 3 and 5 reel variations. On each reel is a set of symbols or pictures, the types of symbols that are displayed on a reel are determined by the specific theme of that slot game. Some slot games may use ancient Egyptian symbols, others may use animals, it is all dependant on the manufacturer or software provider of that casino slot game.
As casino slot games have grown in popularity, more specifically in the online space, this has brought with it a far broader variety. Players today can access hundreds of 3, 5, and sometimes even 6 reel variations online, across thousands of great entertaining themes.
The objective of a slot game both online and physically is to match up the same symbols in the right combination or sequence, this combination is known as the pay line. The pay line is the line that matches up the combination of symbols across the reels in a slot game to determine if your combination is a winning combination or not. Paylines can either be single-line or multi-line.
Single-line Paylines
When it comes to actually playing a slot game, there are essentially two variations that you are likely to come across, firstly you have single-line pay lines, this is probably the simplest form of any slot game, these were very popular up until about the 1990s. With a single line, a player would simply hit the spin button in hopes of matching up the symbols in a straight horizontal line, or the pay line, If the symbol combination matches up you would win.
Multi-Line Paylines
The second variation is known as the multi-line pay lines, which are more commonly found today. With Multi-line there is not just the winning combination on a horizontal line, but also symbols that are zig-zagged winning combinations too. With a multi-line slot, there are of course far more pay lines or combinations that can be won, some video slots can have as many as 1000+ pay lines.
How Online Casino Slot Games Work
Online Casino slot games operate very similarly to that of their famous physical predecessors. The only real difference with online casino slot games is the following:
- Instead of inserting a coin or voucher, players will need to load their online players account with a deposit payment, either in the form of an EFT, bank transfer or credit/debit card transaction. This credit is then used to play online
- Instead of pulling on the iconic lever, players online will simply click the spin icon to activate the game
- Winnings are not distributed in physical coins, but instead credited to your online playing account
- With online slots, players are sometimes offered great bonuses and incentives to boost their chances of winning
- The number of paylines online are far higher than that of physical slot machines due to the technology advantages.
Random Number Generator
When slot machines first entered the market way back in the 1900s, randomly changing the outcome of slot reels and possible combinations was done by hand, this thankfully has evolved quite a bit since. Today casino operators use what is known as a random number generator, or RNG, in physical slots this is a computer chip, in online slots, this is a set of complex formulas and algorithms.
The RNG is probably one of the most critical components to not just a slot game, but the entire casino’s operations, this is because RNG is essentially responsible for the fairness of the game’s outcome. In online casino slot games, the RNG uses extensive and complicated mathematical formulas and algorithms to determine the outcome of the combination of reels and symbols, which determine whether the player wins or loses. Outcomes of any slot game are actually known and determined split seconds before the combination of symbols are displayed on the screen, so in actual fact, there is no need to have spinning reels, this is simply for entertainment purposes.
Return To Player (RTP)
When a casino orders a new slot machine or looks to set up a new slot game online, the casino will have the choice of the manufacturer, or in the online space, the software provider they would like to partner with. The software provider is responsible for not only designing and developing the game, but also dictating the percentage that the game is set to pay out in winnings to players, this payout percentage is known as the RTP, or Return To Player. The standard payout ranges from a low of 85% to a high of around 98% and differs by game and type
How to better understand the RTP percentage
The RTP percentage is the amount that a casino will pay back to a player over time of all the wagered money a slot or casino game has accumulated, the higher the percentage, the more often a player will win. So if the RTP was 100%, it means that both the player and the casino have an equal chance of winning, if the RTP is over 100%, it means that the player will have more chances of winning than the casino. Most well-paying online slots carry with them an RTP% of around 96% – 98%.
So how do casinos determine which slot games pay back a high RTP and which will be on the lower end?. The answer to this is actually determined by the denomination that a player needs to play with in the form of the wagering amount. Generally, the slots that take much lower denomination amounts have lower RTP percentages, so games that you bet in low rands or even cents, slot games that carry with them higher denominations normally have higher RTP percentages.
Online casino slots and the casinos offering them to players should always as a fair play rule, disclose the RTP % amount to you beforehand, this is so you will know exactly what kind of payout to expect. It is crucial to know that online casino slots are considered not a game of strategy but completely based on luck, there is also no set amount of money where the slot machine is set to payout, it is completely random. We always recommend that you play with caution and always know when to stop.
Bonus Slot Features
With modern-day online casino slots, if you have played a few rounds you are most likely to have noticed that one or two of the symbols on the reel are not aligned to the theme. Well, these are what is known as a bonus symbol, essentially if they line up with a specific combination of other symbols, you will receive a bonus injection of winnings, in some cases, landing on the bonus symbol in the right combination can even unlock a free bonus round for you to play. Bonuses are of course subject to the casino and the slot game you are playing.
Types Of Online Casino Slot Games
Online casino slot games have completely transformed over the last 10 years. Today players can get their hands loads of different slot types, each of which comes with its own unique features. Below are some of the online slots you are likely to come across:
Classic Slot Games
The term classic slot can actually be used quite loosely within the online casino world, this is simply because the online environment has brought with it so many small variations of online casino slots, so depending on who you ask the parameters of what constitutes a classic slot does differ.
For the purists, a classic slot is your 3-reel, 5 symbol version, for some of the newer age players, the classic slot has expanded to include everything that is not progressive, video slot, or mobile-based. For us here at The Casino Club, we love a bit of nostalgia, so a classic slot in our eyes is none other than the OG 3-reel, 5 symbol setup with a single pay line.
5-Reel Slot Games
5-Reel slot games are the direct evolution of the classic 3-reel. With advanced programming and online software technology, casino operators could increase the number of reels from 3 to 5, this not only allowed the operator to create a far more entertaining and exciting gaming experience but most importantly it brings with it far more pay lines.
Progressive Slots
Progressives are one of the most sought-after jackpots in the online casino space, simply because winning one of these mammoth pots is likely to skyrocket you into super-wealthy status. Progressives work in accumulated small wagering amounts, in other words, the grand jackpot prize will keep accumulating by a small percentage amount every time a player plays, this of course happens until someone hits the right combination, ultimately winning them the full pot. Often a number of slot machines will be linked together in a network so that they contribute to an overall pot. The appeal of progressives lies in their low risk, very high reward potential.
Video Slots
Video slots are what is commonly referred to as the modern slot machine we now know and love. They are characterised by their video-displayed reels and symbols, gone is the old school mechanical lever, and in its place is an electronic spin button. In the online world, pretty much all slots are video slots in the sense that they are computer operated and contain no actual mechanic parts. Video slots operate with a random number generator, which ensures fair outcomes for each and every spin.
3D Slots
The epitome of slot innovation has to be the 3D slot game. Incredibly advanced graphics, fantastic sound effects, and game features, for anyone looking for the next level in slot entertainment then 3D slots are the way to go. 3D slots are still very much new to the industry, and as a result, only a select number of casino software providers and their partnering casinos will have these available for you to play, they are growing in popularity however and should feature more often in the near future.
