Types of Slot Machines, Compared Side by Side

The main types of slots are classic, video, progressive, penny, high roller, and feature-led games. They differ in the number of reels, how wins are formed, the types of bonus rounds, and the cost per spin. Many games fit more than one type, so a video slot might also have a progressive jackpot.

 

BitPlay is a social online casino with slots and fish table games. This guide explains the types of slot machines you’ll find in online slot lobbies. There’s a table that compares them, and each type is described in its own short section.

Every Type at a Glance

The table below compares the types of slot machines using the same six points for each. Volatility is shown as a typical range, since games within a type can vary.

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Type	Reels	How wins form	Bonus style	Typical volatility	Full guide
Classic	Usually 3	A few fixed paylines	Rare, often none	Low to medium	Classic slots guide
Video	Usually 5 or more	Many paylines or ways to win	Free spins, picks, special rounds	Low to high	Covered on this page
Progressive	3 or 5	Normal wins plus a growing jackpot	A jackpot trigger or bonus game	Usually high	Covered on this page
Penny	Any	Same as the game's base type	Same as the game's base type	Any	Penny slot machines guide
High roller	Any	Same as the game's base type	Same as the game's base type	Often medium to high	High roller guide
Feature-led	Usually 5 or more	Locked coins, cascades or changing ways	Built around one main feature	Medium to high	Common slot features guide

 

Two of these rows cover stakes, and four cover how the game is built. Penny and high roller refer to how much each spin costs, and the same game can be played at either level.

 

Most lobbies let you filter games using these labels. For example, a video slot filter and a jackpot filter can show the same game, because one describes how it is built and the other describes the prize.

 

Volatility is the column players overlook most often. It tells you how often a game pays and how large those wins tend to be, and the guide on slot volatility explains how to read it.

The Main Types

The types often overlap more than the table shows. A single game can be a video slot, a progressive, and a feature-led slot at the same time.

Classic Slots

What are classic slot machines? They are three-reel games with a few paylines and traditional symbols like fruit, bars, bells, and sevens. They are based on the design of the original mechanical machines. You win when matching symbols land on an active payline. The paytable is short and easy to read.

 

Classic slots usually have one to five paylines, and it’s easy to see how much a spin costs. Most don’t have bonus rounds, but some add a simple feature like a multiplier or a wild symbol. Many players choose classic slots because they are simple to learn and play. The classic slots guide explains their history and main styles in more detail.

Video Slots

Video slots are the most common type in online lobbies. They usually have five or more reels and use themed artwork, animation, and sound instead of mechanical-style symbols. The extra reels in video slots allow for many more paylines. Some games have a fixed set of 20, 25, or 50 lines.

 

Other games don’t use paylines at all. Instead, they pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, a system called ways to win. For example, a five-reel, three-row game with ways to win has 243 possible ways. Some video slots add extra rows during bonus rounds.

 

Bonus rounds are where video slots differ most from classic games. Common types include:

 

• Free spins, usually triggered by scatter symbols, often with a multiplier.
• Pick-and-win rounds, where you choose items on screen to reveal prizes.
• Wild features, such as expanding or sticky wilds that stay in place for several spins.

 

With so many possible combinations, video slots can have any level of volatility. Two games with the same theme might play very differently, so check the paytable and info screen for details.

Progressive Jackpot Slots

A progressive slot takes a small part of every bet and adds it to a top prize that keeps growing until someone wins. After the jackpot is won, it resets to a starting amount and starts building again. There are two main kinds:

 

• Standalone progressives, where the jackpot grows only from bets placed on that one game.
• Linked progressives, where many copies of a game, sometimes across many sites, feed the same jackpot. Linked jackpots grow faster and can reach much larger amounts.

 

Progressive is a jackpot label, and it sits on top of another type. Both three-reel classic slots and five-reel video slots can have a progressive jackpot. The jackpot can be triggered in several ways, depending on the game. Some pay it for a certain symbol combination, some award it at random after any spin, and others include it in a bonus game. The paytable explains how it works for each game.

 

The share of each stake that goes into the jackpot usually means the base game pays a little less often. Some progressive slots require a certain bet, sometimes the maximum, for a spin to qualify for the top prize. The paytable states if this rule applies, so check it before you choose your stake.

Feature-Led Slots

Feature-led slots are designed around one main mechanic, which shapes how the whole game plays. The three most common are:

 

• Hold and win. Coin symbols lock in place, and a few respins give you the chance to land more. Each new coin resets the respins.
• Cascading reels. Winning symbols disappear after a win, and new symbols drop into their place. One spin can produce several wins in a row.
• Megaways. The number of symbols on each reel changes on every spin. The number of ways to win changes with it, often running into the tens of thousands.

 

Some games combine two features, such as cascading reels with a hold-and-win round. Feature-led games are often medium or high volatility, since much of their value comes from the main feature. The guide to common slot features explains these mechanics in more detail.

Penny and High Roller Slots

Penny and high roller slots are the same games played at different stakes. Only the cost per spin changes. The way the game works, its reels, features, and volatility stay the same. "Penny" means the smallest bet per payline, but a spin on many lines costs more than a penny overall. For example, a game with 25 lines at one cent each costs 25 cents per spin. The penny slot machines guide explains how to keep track of your total bet.

 

High roller players set their stake at or near the top of a game's range. At that level, a few losing spins in a row can take a large bite out of a balance. The guide to high roller slot machines covers what changes when the stakes go up.

Fish Tables Are Not Slots

Fish tables are arcade shooting games where you aim at moving targets and choose the cost of each shot. In slots, the outcome is decided as soon as you press spin. Many lobbies place the two side by side, and the explainer on what a fish table is sets out the full difference.

Picking a Type for Your Budget

Different types of slot machines fit different budgets, session lengths, and tolerance for long dry spells. Use this list as a starting point:

 

• Small budget, long session: a classic slot or a low volatility video slot at a low stake per spin.
• Small budget, short session: a classic slot, or a video slot with frequent small wins.
• Larger budget, interest in big prizes: a progressive or feature-led game, with a stake that still covers many spins.
• You want simple rules: a classic slot.
• You want variety in each session: a video slot with several bonus features.
• You want one clear goal each session: a feature-led game, where the main feature is easy to follow.

 

No matter which type you pick, your bet size per spin matters just as much. A high volatility game at a low stake might fit a small budget better than a low volatility game at a high stake. If a session keeps ending before a bonus round arrives, the game may be too volatile for your budget. A classic slot or a lower stake is a simple change to try next.

 

New players can try two types before depositing any money. BitPlay sign-up free play gives you a session after you verify your account. That’s enough to try both a classic slot and a video slot side by side.

FAQ

What are classic slot machines?

Classic slot machines have three reels, a few paylines, and use traditional symbols like fruit, bars, and sevens. They are based on the original mechanical machines, with simple rules and usually no bonus rounds. Many players like them because the paytable is easy to read.

What is the difference between video and classic slots?

Video slots build on the classic format by adding more reels, paylines, and bonus rounds. Classic slots usually have three reels and a few lines. Video slots often have five or more reels, many ways to win, themed graphics, and features like free spins.

Are progressive slots a separate type?

Progressive slots are a jackpot type layered on top of another format. Progressive describes the growing top prize, and both classic and video slots can carry one. That is why the same game can appear under progressive and video in different lobby filters.

What common terms should I know?

Common slot terms include reels, paylines, RTP, volatility, scatter, and wild. Reels and paylines show where wins happen. RTP and volatility tell you how a game pays out over time. Scatters and wilds are special symbols. You can find more details in the slot machine symbols guide.

Is a fish table a type of slot?

A fish table is an arcade game, not a type of slot. In a fish table game, you aim at moving targets and pick how much each shot costs. In slots, the reels decide the outcome as soon as you spin, and you don't control anything during the round.

Responsible Gaming

Slot play at BitPlay is for entertainment, and every type carries a risk of losing what you put in. Set a budget and a time limit before you play, and stop when you reach either one. If play stops feeling like entertainment, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.

 

This content is not legal advice.