Today, a new slot pops up almost daily, and rarely will you find a classic slot popping up. For the few that crop up, a specific yield of players appreciate them greatly. Classic slots trace back to the old times when gambling fans would walk into the physical casinos and enjoy them in the simplest form. They were simple and lacked the exciting features that their video slots counterparts currently have. They used basic themes such as cherries, bars, and bells as main symbols in the past. However, there has been a transition over the years, and one can find classic slots with other symbols.
On their gameplay, they have the fewest reels (3-reels) and minimal paylines. This makes them the most straightforward slots to learn and play. Video slots get the entertaining edge for their improved reels (5 reels) and paylines that go above 50. Besides the limited reels and paylines, classic slot lovers do not need to worry about the sophisticated features of modern slots. However, despite the limitations on gameplay and functionality, they are profitable, just like the modern slots.
The classic slot history dates back to 1895, when Charles Fey created the first slot machine in California. The machine known as the Liberty Bell featured three (3) reels and had five (5) symbols, including heart, diamond, spade, horseshoe, and the liberty bell. Fey had significantly improved this slot machine that saw players receive automated payouts of up to $0.50 whenever three liberty bells landed on a payline. The slot machines would spread across the US on many establishments, including the bars.
Several entrepreneurs noted the popularity of the liberty bell slot machine and looked to capitalize on it by upgrading the version. It led to larger cabinets with mechanical reels dispensing big payouts. Some even offered jackpots worth 100 coins. In 1963, Bally company introduced an electromechanical machine, and their game Money Honey became the first slot to offer payouts of up to 500 coins.
Besides the payout limits, Bally also introduced new features on the Money Honey slot machine. In the 70s, there was a transition of themes from just fruits and bells to others, including adventures and animals. While video slots would later revolutionize the industry, classic slots would hold a good customer base, especially the nostalgic players. And with the introduction of the internet in the late 90s, one can play classic slots both offline and online.
Classic slots are some of the early first slot machines invented decades ago. Their gameplay was relatively simple, and one aspect that distinguished them was that they used mechanical reels. As opposed to modern video slots, the following elements define classic slots:
Note: Classic slots get other names on different gaming sites. The names include:
Having existed for a long time, many experienced and big software providers have contributed over time to creating classic slots online. Despite the idea of classic slots boasting the traditional aspects, the providers have worked to make them more entertaining by adding more features and quality to the graphics. In a nutshell, one is not likely to come across thousands of classic slots online. However, the present ones are products of the following top providers:
Currently, video slots have the highest following for their gameplay, including improved reels, paylines, bonus features, and general payouts. This explains why one is likely to come across a limited portfolio of classic slots on the gaming sites. However, some providers cater to nostalgic players who still crave the retro feeling and traditional slots. Here is a list of the most popular classic slots:
One drawback of classic slots is that they have limited features. While modern slots may provide sophisticated features such as Megaways, Expanding Wilds, Stacked Wilds, bonus games, Win Both Ways, and Cluster Pays, classic slots provide lesser features. They include:
Players can play most online classic slots in two modes. One can play for free without any money returns or registration. The other mode of play is for real money, and this calls for users to check the return to player (RTP) rate. The rate is expressed in percentage and is the average return to expect on any slot that hits the right combination. For example, a slot lover can expect a $94 payout on a $100 bet on a slot with 94% RTP. Any experienced slot player will go further to check crucial gameplay aspects such as volatility and RTP before spinning any slot.
The main hack is to spot slots with the lowest house edge, meaning the RTP is high. Most users will define high RTP slots as those above 95%. Below is our list of the high RTP classic slots:
The current gambling world calls for convenience, and one of the convenience aspects is improving the accessibility avenues. Worth noting that most of the classic slots were in flash mode, considering their old age. However, as time went by, most developers transitioned to using HTML5 technology to allow instant playing on browsers. The highlight is that users do not require any special downloads to access the games.
Each developer ensures the experience is unmatched and that it mirrors every content on the desktop. This includes the game transitions and maintaining the game’s quality despite the reduced screen sizes.
While some may deem classic slots uninteresting, they still hold several reasons why others prefer them. The ‘new age’ classic slots come with a more entertaining edge for users, explaining why classic slots rarely crop up in this present age.
Still, want a reason to play the classics? Below are some of them: