There are thousands of reasons to love video slots at OJO’s place, but today we’re zeroing in on lucky 13! These cutting games are unrecognisable from the one-arm bandits of yesteryear (although there will always be a place in our hearts for the Ye Olde Slots!). Let’s reveal why…

What is a video slot?

Slot machines with 3 reels and a handle have been around since 1895, but it wasn’t until 1976 that the first video slots were invented. With a screen instead of mechanical reels, video slots revolutionized the gaming experience. Developers now had a universe of tools at their disposal, from unlimited paylines to mind-bending maths engines and stunning design. And when these slots supremos created ‘second screen’ bonus features in the mid-1990’s, modern video slots were born!

Why we love to play video slots

If you’re asking why should you play video slots online, you obviously haven’t fired up OJO’s World of Play! But we forgive you. Get yourself a cuppa, coz it’s time to deconstruct these glorious games and reveal which bionic body parts you need to make a superstar video slot.

1 – Paylines

We’ll never forget the first slots that made everything possible, but if all you’ve got is 3 reels and a single payline, your game ain’t gonna last long. With video screens and advanced software, game designers are free to imagine thousands or even millions of win lines. With over 117,000 paylines, Bonanza was one of the first slots to break the mould. Laser Fruits has over 60 million. Where will it end???!

2 – Themes

Gone are the days when you had to have bells, bars and cherries. From jungle adventures to zombie romance and cosmic quests, video slots have rewritten the rules of online gaming. Whatever you’re into, you can bet OJOplus balance there’ll be a slot that covers it.

Branded games have made their mark on the video slots world too, with games like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Vikings, Guns n Roses and Ted among the many stars of the slots galaxy. If immersive gaming’s what you’re after, you can’t beat casino video slots for pure entertainment.

Check out this awesome trailer for Netent’s Vikings slot:

3 – Better bonus features

Innovative bonus features are the hallmark of a good video slots casino. Competition is fierce for both the type and number of mini games the latest video slots offer. Slots like Rainbow Riches led the way with Free Spins, picker games, prize trails and wheel spinners. Wilds have got wilder with sticky wilds, expanding wilds, mystery symbol wilds – the family just keeps growing!

The Rainbow Riches’ Road to Riches bonus round, where you can win up to 500x your stake in total.

We could write a whole page about the different bonus feature that’ll keep you thrilled these days. One thing’s for sure, if you’re not aiming for the bonus games when you play videos slots online, you’re not doin’ it right!

4 – Next-gen jackpots

Jackpot slots are nothing new but it’s now a category in its own right. Want a game with its own progressive jackpot? No problemo. Want a game with 4 fixed jackpots? How about a whole collection of slots that share the same linked jackpot? That’s where the prizes get into 6 or even 7 figures.

With so much technology at their fingertips, games providers can now create eye-popping prizes at the drop of a hat. Check out Red Tiger’s Must Drop Jackpots or IGT’s MegaJackpots and see for yourself.

5 – Better graphics

Screen technology has advanced at light speed over the last 20 years. Who’d have thought you’d be enjoying high definition slotsplay on a little mobile phone? With crystal clear graphics and superfast animations, the UK video slots you see today are nothing like the games that were dazzling players at the turn of the millennium.

Give any Rich Wilde slot a spin and you’ll see why these online casino games have become more popular than blackjack or roulette. It’s no wonder that Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead is one of the most popular video slots out there.

6 – Sound effects

Can’t have the sights without the sounds, can ya! No more do we need to put up with that weird electronic jingle you got when you spin the reels and the CHING-CHING! when you win. From EDM dance tracks to zen meditation, online casino video slots look after your ears as well as your eyes.

7 – Higher RTPs

With little competition to speak of and a relatively uneducated pool of punter, the pre-internet slots industry had it easy, and got away with murder! Nowadays, players know their onions and get the higher Return To Players they deserve. With advanced software designed by brainboxes with a PhD in maths, it’s no surprise that video slots now regular appear with RTPs between 95-97%. Chuck in some money back on every spin – win or lose – and you’re getting the best deal yet.

8 – Mega multipliers

X has become the most important letter in the slots alphabet thanks to the multipliers up for grabs. Trigger a bonus feature and you’re headed for big wins which multiply your stake. From clever 2x multipliers on the reels themselves to wins of 5,000x or more, videos slots casino software is continually challenging what we thought was possible.

Want virtually unlimited multipliers? Check out Megaways video slots like Rick & Morty or Extra Chilli, and strap yourself in for a wild ride!

9 – Volatility and prize distribution

With such crude technology, classic slot machines could barely manage different RTPs let alone ways to distribute prizes and vary the gaming experience. Once the guts of the machine went digital, the world was their oyster. From low volatility games like Thunderstruck II to slots like Bonanza with rare but monster payouts, video slots now cater for every slots fan. Whether you like your gaming swingy or stable, there’s a video slot for you.

10 – Making magic happen with multimedia

Launch a video slot today with static backgrounds and you won’t get far. To support the narratives and back stories, designers are now bringing animations, movie clips and interactive video game elements to the party.

11 – Lower stakes

The video slots era gave us more paylines, which allowed operators to lower the minimum stake per line. Penny slots have been a staple of Vegas for decades, but video slots have taken low-stakes gaming to the next level. Combine 1p bets with massive multipliers and it’s easy to see what video slots have taken the world by storm.

Progressive Jackpots

12 – More advanced game math

Slots were always powered by random number generators, even the early ones, but with some clever stuff under the hood, the possibilities are endless. Although the RTP is still the most important number, developers can put their brainpower into new features and payout models which make the base games look Neolithic!

13 – Slots with no reels

A video slots casino will never run out of reels, but sometimes we want something different. That’s where grid slots come in. Play video slots like Golden Ticket, Lost Relic or Viking Runecraft and you’ll instantly recognise the cluster model borrowed from gem-based mobile app games.

With no paylines to hold you back, you no longer need to match symbols in a row from left to right. Simply connect symbols up or down and you’ll cash in.

Video slots casino games: The bottom line

You don’t need 13 reasons to see why video slots are far more interactive and entertaining than their forefathers. They look, sound and play better than ever, whatever device you use and we cannot wait to see what our superstar suppliers come up with next!

Aviva

Aviva is the Content Manager at PlayOJO and writes blogs, copy and all things OJOey. A copy/content marketer for over 7 years, she gets her creative juices flowing by singing, dancing (around her living room), and belly laughing regularly.