The 1995 opened a new milestone in the entertainment and gambling industry. The manufacturer of casino software Microgaming has developed software for online casinos, where among the main classic casino games (roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, craps) the new version of slot machines was offered – online slots.
Microgaming’s first online casino was launched in 1995. There are currently thousands of online casinos on the Internet, and all of them offer players not only games for money but also ability to play free online slot games without need to register. Of course, Microgaming is not the only software developer that creates programs for casinos. Online gambling leaders creating online casino software include:
- Microgaming
- Real Time Gaming (RTG)
- Playtech (bought Virtue Fusion – online bingo software)
- Parlay
- 888 (previously this software for online casinos and bingo existed under the brand name Random Logic)
- Topgame technology
- party digital entertainment plc (since 2011, the company combined the popular PartyGaming casino software and the bwin.com platform designed for sports betting)
- Net entertainment
- SPIELO G2 (in 2008, the oldest BossMedia casino software was included in this company)
- Amaya Gaming Group Inc. (the company in 2011-2012 bought the popular software – Chartwell, OnGame and CryptoLogic / WagerLogic)
- Ival Interactive
In recent years, the global developers and manufacturers of slot games for ground-based gaming establishments have been actively entering the online casino market with new free slot games, these companies are:
- International Game Technology, USA (IGT bought Wager Works software in 2005 and entered the global online gambling industry with own games)
- Aristocrat Leisure Limited, Australia
- WMS Gaming Inc, USA
- Endemol Games Limited, UK
- Blueprint Gaming as part of the Gauselmann Group, German
- Eyecon Pty. Ltd., Australia
- Bally Technologies, Inc., USA
Different types of free online slots
The line of free online slots is so wide that it is sometimes difficult to choose your favorite game. There are no fundamental differences between online slots of different software manufacturers. The basic principle of the game is similar in all games: reels, paylines, coins for betting, the SPIN button that starts the game. The breakdown of slots by main types is as follows:
Classic Slots
There are free online slots, the graphics of which are repeated by authentic mechanical slot machines, they have only three reels for playing and from one to five winning lines. Such simple slots are considered classic or standard. Although, literally classic online slots are very far from their predecessors of the early 20th century.
Video Slots
There are online slots where the graphics remind of video slots in land-based casinos, such games have at least five reels, and the number of paylines can be far beyond a thousand. These online slots are referred to as video slots. Video slots are the most common games in online casinos which are also available for a free demo game.
Bonus Slots
The presence of bonus features in the free online slot defines it in the category of bonus slots. And depending on the type of features offered in the game, bonus online slots can also be divided into different categories.
Progressive Slots
If in addition to the established payments in coins for certain combinations in the online slot, there is also a jackpot that grows and accumulates, such a slot is considered to be progressive. This category of online slots with progressive jackpots is most popular among players, because jackpots on them can accumulate up to several million dollars. There are progressive jackpots that accumulate in all casinos of certain software; but there are jackpots, the accumulation of which occurs within the same casino or group; there are jackpots that you can win by chance; there are also jackpots that you can win only if certain conditions are met (the maximum bet in the game, a characteristic combination of symbols); the progressive jackpot is also offered as one of the winnings in the bonus game on the additional screen.
Mobile Slots
The development of computer technology (minimization) at the end of the 20th century brought to the market of entertainment and gambling a new type of slot designed specifically for mobile devices. Mobile slots differ from online slots in their design, it is optimized for small screens of mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, etc.
