The Best Free Slot Machines

Slot Machine

Today, slot machines are the most popular games in online casinos! Fun and easy to use, it’s easy to get lost for hours… In fact, online gaming sites have understood this and have decided to create partnerships with the best developers on the market in order to offer players an extraordinary experience!

However, slot machines, classic or video, are really numerous on the web. It is therefore difficult to know which is really the best. In order to save you time, our experts have looked into the matter and have prepared our top for you, with such slot machines, you will come across winning combinations every time!

In our top-of-the-best machines with the best bonuses offered, we will review all the characteristics of slot machines to help you know why this slot machine is made for you!

Top 3 Best Free Slot Machines Online

What are really the best free slot machines that you can find in online casinos? We have prepared a small selection of machines for you that you should enjoy!

Starburst – NetEnt

Developed by one of the best suppliers on the market, the Starburst slot machine has become one of the favorite machines of players around the world! Available on desktop and mobile, this brilliant gem-themed slot machine has captivated many.

It has 10 pay lines operating from left to right and right to left. The winnings offered by this game are extremely interesting for the players. Thanks to the “WILD” star developed by NetEnt, you multiply your chances of winning while benefiting from a free spin!

Although the slot machine is not equipped with a mini bonus game, this does not prevent it from offering exceptional winnings to players!

Indeed, this slot machine will allow players to win up to 5000 times the amount of their initial bet! It is therefore one of the most profitable machines of the moment. What’s more, if you’re a fan of sound effects, you’ve just found the machine for you!

Book of Dead – Play’N Go

Here is a slot machine that we have heard a lot about in recent years! Indeed, it is the third born in the series of adventures of Rich Wild from Play’N Go. This slot machine has convinced players since it went online in 2022.

This slot machine is one of the most profitable casino games of the moment. Allowing players to win up to 5000 times the amount of their initial bet. You will therefore go for a walk in the ancient Egyptian ruins in search of a treasure!

In addition, its symbol of the book serving both as Wild (1 time) and as Scatter (3 times) allows players to benefit from extremely interesting bonuses! Indeed, if it appears once, the pound symbol will substitute for an ordinary symbol in order to create a winning combination.

However, if it appears at least 3 times, the bonus game is triggered. Offering players, 10 free spins during which a regular symbol will be converted into an expansion symbol. So you have every chance of winning!

Gonzo’s Quest – NetEnt

Unlike conventional machines, this slot machine does not have reels as such but “falls”. That is to say that instead of rotating, the symbols fall into the columns. This out-of-the-ordinary-themed game is extremely addictive!

Indeed, NetEnt has done an excellent job developing this slot machine which tends to pay the most daring players quite well! With a Wild symbol and a Scatter symbol to increase the chances of winning and to trigger free games, this game makes us easily addicted.

Additionally, Gonzo’s Quest also has a multiplier feature. Activating as you land winning combinations! This multiplier can go up to x5 and x15 when you benefit from free spins.

Gonzo’s Quest is a game that rewards players quite generously, offering a jackpot of up to 2000 times the amount of the initial bet!

How do slot machines work?

Of course, before playing a game (especially a game where you have to bet money) it is important to know the rules so that you can play with full knowledge of the facts!

Here is how online slot machines work:

Rule 1 Set bet amount
(Rule 1bis) For slots with pay lines – Set the number of bet lines
Rule 2 Press the launch button – allowing the reels of the machine to spin
Rule 3 When the reels stop spinning, the alignment of the symbols can generate more or fewer winnings

Each slot machine has its own pay lines. Similarly, each symbol and each combination represents a predefined payout that you can view in the payout table.

Several slot machines also offer bonuses or jackpots to make the game more attractive! These follow different rules according to each game.

Free slot machine: play with real money or in a demo version?
Here we are going to talk about new free slot machines. Indeed, these allow players to choose to play with real money or simply in demo mode. But what are the differences and advantages of these game modes?

  • Demo mode: this mode allows players to discover a slot machine without having to bet real money. This has the advantage of allowing the player to discover all the features of the game. But also to test it to see if he likes it without having to bet money. However, this mode will not allow you to make any gains! And yes they remain free slot machines.
  • Real money: to play with real money you will need to make a deposit at your favorite casino. Then set the bet amount you want to play. This mode is indeed more profitable than the demo mode since it allows you to obtain real money gains, however, if you lose, it is your money that you will have lost!

Thus, each mode has its own advantages. For the most cautious, beginners who wish to discover new slot machines without breaking the bank, we recommend opting for the demo mode, the time to get your hands dirty. For those who are looking for winnings to supplement their ends of the month, it will be better to play in real money!

Free slot machine: the different types of slot machines

Online casinos have understood this, players want to have a choice! In fact, several types of slot machines are often available at the best casinos.

Here are the different characteristics of these slot machine games, so that you know which one will best suit your needs:

Multiple Payline Slots

The pay lines (which can go up to 50 per machine) define the combinations that allow players to win.

Some machines even allow players to define which pay lines they want to activate!

Generally, multi-pay line slots offer players the ability to manage the “way to win”.

But also to be able to win more often, because the more winning combinations there are, the more chances you have of winning!

Progressive Jackpot Slots

These online slot machines are among the most fun and attractive casino games you can find in an online casino!

The feeding of the jackpot responds to different rules according to each game. However the principle remains the same, the more you bet, the more likely you are to win the jackpot.

In addition, this type of slot machine game can significantly increase the probability of large wins. So, whether or not you are new to the online casino world, it would be worth opting for a progressive jackpot slot machine. In addition, these machines are often very playful!

Multiplier Slots

As you can imagine, the multiplier of these slot machines is a win multiplier that can sometimes multiply your bet up to 1000 times! The multiplier can be activated by a symbol or by a specific combination.

From time to time it can also be activated during a bonus game. In this case, it will generally be very profitable because it is difficult to obtain.

In short, playing slot machines with a multiplier can be very profitable for players!

Mobile Slots

Since we can hold our world in our hands, thanks to our smartphones, we want to be able to access everyone from this small device! The developers have understood this well. Since more and more online slot machines are available in mobile versions.

Sometimes offering specific bonuses, so that players can play it from anywhere at any time!

Why opt for an online slot machine? The profitability

Of course, when we decide to bet real money, it is often because we want to be rewarded for our risk-taking by obtaining gains greater than our initial bet!

Thus, it is important to be interested in the profitability of an online slot machine. So take an interest in its payout rate before betting on it. The average redistribution rate of online slot machines is around 96%:

  • 97% for classic 3-reel slots
  • 96% for 5-reel video slots
  • 90% for progressive jackpot slots

The higher the payout rate, the higher the profitability of the slot machine. So the more players are likely to win! Unlike table games whose payout rate depends on the rules of the game, that of slot machines depends on the casino itself.

Thus, to ensure the profitability of the slot machines of a casino you will have to find out about the redistribution rates of this one but also about the reliability of the establishment!

Always remember to check that the casino on which you decide to play has an RNG, a software allowing you to generate numbers in a random, reliable way in order to know if the casino respects the principle of fairness of the games. Indeed, if the establishment you have in mind does not have one, you will be able to play slot machines, again and again, you are not likely to win but you will indeed be ripped off!

Bonuses available on slot machines

In order to encourage players to play slot machines at their casino rather than at the competition, online casinos are doubling their inventiveness in terms of bonuses, especially those available on slot machines!

In addition, some machines are already equipped with bonuses that make the gaming experience even more fun, here are these bonuses.

Bonuses offered by online casinos

This type of bonus is decided by the gaming establishment itself. Thus this offer will be different depending on the casino on which you decide to register. You will therefore have to find out about the promotions available in order to decide which site offers the best advantages!

Bonus cash Real money bonus offered by some casinos usually at the time of registration.
Find the best free slot machines on Delentredeux!ADVANTAGES Find the best free slot machines on Delentredeux!DISADVANTAGES
  • Opportunity to familiarize yourself with the establishment without betting real money
  • Severe withdrawal conditions
Offer on deposit Percentage of bonus offered on the amount of the deposit made by the player, we find these bonuses at the time of registration but also in the regular offers of the casinos.
Find the best free slot machines on Delentredeux!ADVANTAGES Find the best free slot machines on Delentredeux!DISADVANTAGES
  • Allows you to increase your balance and therefore play more and bet more
  • The money obtained is often subject to wagering requirements as well as a maximum wagering limit
free spins These are offered to players by the gaming site, free of charge or on a deposit basis and are usually credited directly to a casino slot machine.
Find the best free slot machines on Delentredeux!ADVANTAGES Find the best free slot machines on Delentredeux!DISADVANTAGES
  • Allow you to discover slot machines for free
  • They are subject to a withdrawal limit, reducing the possibilities

Bonuses available on slot machines

This type of bonus depends on each slot machine game. Indeed, it is the developers who decide which bonuses will be available in each title.

Description of the offer  Advantages
Wilds “Wild” is usually available on the best slot machines and is a substitute for a regular symbol. This makes it possible to create winning combinations where the symbols were not aligned!
free spins Free spins allow you to trigger games on the slot machine for free This allows players to receive the winnings generated by the free spins without having to spend money to bet!
bonus game Feature available on the best slot machines, these are mini-games whose form depends on each slot machine These generally make it possible to obtain more interesting gains than in normal times by offering free spins, jackpots, multipliers, etc.

The best slot machine developers
Of course, slot machines do not come out anywhere and have been developed over the years by suppliers. These began by taking inspiration from classic machines and developed several new fun and rewarding features over time.

For example, free slot machines, those with a progressive jackpot, or offering increasingly better mini-games!

Here are the best developers on the market and some of their most successful machines:

Play ‘n Go More than 160 Reactoonz 2, Feline Fury, Book of Dead, Octopus Treasure, Sticky Joker, Fortunes of Ali Baba, Riches of Robin, Wild Frames, Mermaid’s Diamond…
Pragmatic Play More than 200 Wolf Gold, Sweet Bonanza, Mustang Gold, John Hunter and the secret of DaVinci’s Treasure, Dog House, Emerald King, Wild Walker…
Yggdrasil gaming Almost a hundred Victoria Wild, Valley of the gods 2, 2 gods Zeus vs Thor, Jackpot Express, Football Glory, Medusa Fortune and Glory, Vault of Fortune …
Gamomat 125 Sunny Sevens, The book of beyond, Football super Spin, Fruit Rush, Crystal Brust XXL, Book of madness, Ramses book …
iSoftBet 90 Greta Goes Wild, Macau High Roller, Book of Sheba, Gold Digger, Night Queen, Hot Shots, Dragon Match Megaways…
NetEnt More than 200 Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Druid’s Dream, Long Paro, Wilderland, King of 3 kingdoms, Ocean’s Treasure…
red tiger 144 Golden tsar, Hoard of Poseidon, Clash of beasts, Lucky Fridays, Wild O’clock, 24 hours grand Prix, Crystal Mirror, 5 families…
Betsoft 109 The Hive, Chillipop, Monster Pop, Total Overdrive, Quest to the West, Back to Venus, Super Sweet, Dragon, and Phoenix

Casinos that offer the best slot machines

Of course, to be able to play your favorite slot machine, you must first register at an online casino! And yes, this will allow you to win prizes, bonuses, etc.

In fact, you must be careful when choosing your casino. Because as we said above, it is this that sets the rate of redistribution of the machines! In addition, it will be necessary to remember to check the presence of an RNG in the casino to be sure not to be ripped off!

How to Play Online Slots Games & Make Huge Money

Online Slots Games

Maximum satisfactory online slots feature modern jackpots. This precise kind of jackpot is dynamic. Its price increases with all the games played till any individual wins the goldmine. These jackpots grow in relatively brief years! Like video poker machines were not obvious already, for example, online Slot gadget takes it a step further and brings the convenience

of a slot machine right to all your laptop. sincerely, this is honestly an alternative that you’ll be certain to need to check out, easy to function, and no longer an actually big fan of computers as such. The general public that has tried it is glad that they did and pretty much shifted completely to this medium. consequently, if as well as a lot to offer, this occurs to be an alternative that you could need to study.

While gambling, your most vital goal might be to win economic wealth. Some people region bets for enjoyment. nowadays, fashion is to express. really gambling on the web. Now, software programs are downloadable on your very own smartphone so you can see them, but you can even play the games from your cell phone. you will win and lose cash properly there for your cellular phone without even leaving your automobile all through rush hour.

Many online Slot games at various casinos have options to make it less complicated to pick out the coin size you need to pay for. constantly start with the low coins, and you’ll straight away get a number of games for your investment. You play for an extra time, which means you win if you lose, you lose little. further, the extra time you spend on the sport the extra probabilities get of triumphing the large jackpot.

4 helpful tips for playing slots:

Slots are the most performed video games at each online and land-based casino. Those video games are exhilarating and clean to play, that is why they’re so popular amongst casino gamers. Even for gamers who have simply gotten into the online casino commercial enterprise, slots are usually their preferred because of their sincere policies and the interesting experience they give. Slots are the most played video games at each online and land-primarily based casinos. these video games are exhilarating and easy to play, that’s why they will be so famous among online casino games. Even for game enthusiasts who have just gotten into the online online casino business, slots are continuously their preferred due to their sincere regulations and the exciting degree they supply.

  1. Bet for the maximum number of paylines

Betting for the maximum range of paylines is one regarded method that frequently yields outcomes for individuals who use it. Video slot gadget video games may have paylines starting from nine to 1024, and these vary in wide variety based totally on the only you ought to play.

Having a bet for the maximum is probably a bit costly, but it increases your chances of prevailing by the way. So, whether or not you’re playing at an internet online casino or a land-based totally one, this method will be just right for you.

  1. Bet enough to be eligible for jackpots & Bonuses

Playing is all about taking risks, so don’t hesitate to take your possibilities at the revolutionary Jackpot. you may, however, should surround bets which are slightly higher than the common in case you need to be part of the revolutionary Jackpot. The chances of winning this Jackpot are constantly so slim, however, when you hit it, the cash gained will in all likelihood trade your life.

For maximum online slots, the Jackpot is revolutionary, this means that it will increase in cost the more the number of people worried. So, it is important to display the Jackpot size as you play to know how good a deal money is up for prevailing simply if you hit it.

  1. Don’t go for the complex Online Slots

Most people tend to be drawn to online slot machine games with masses of graphical effects and animations because they look amusing and appealing.

However, numerous research displays that those styles of games generally have tiny odds of triumphing over the greater straightforward slots. So, on every occasion you visit any online casino internet site with slots, pick the most effective ones; you may have extra probabilities of winning there.

Selecting simple slots has been tested as one of the tricks to win slot games. gambling more sincere slots are likewise greater a laugh because the whole thing is simplified, making it easy to find the buttons you need and the various sports alternatives. So, besides complex image designs and animations, there’s nothing proper about those hard slot gadget games that many online casinos are interested in.

  1. Know when to leave

Slots are enjoyable and addictive, so it’s crucial to self-discipline yourself and knows while it’s far proper to depart every time you exit to play them. without this type of you can end up spending lots of money that weren’t supposed for playing. time and money that you spend gambling slots should stay limited.

Acknowledging that some days are awful could be very important, particularly when dropping. when it is a bad day, don’t try to bet more money than what you had intended, because you can quit dropping all of it, on the way to give you further sadness.

How Do Slot Machines and Other Electronic Gambling Machines Actually Work?

Online Slot Machines

Slot machines and other Electronic Gambling Machines (EGMs) are gambling devices that offer a variety of games.

They are inexpensive to run, which makes it possible for casinos to offer low-stakes betting to a large number of players. As a result, they have become the most profitable form of gambling. EGMs are found at casinos, online casinos, on cruise boats, at racetracks, at local bars, and even at corner stores.

Slot machines and other EGMs seem to attract a lot of myths. This is partly because of a lack of accurate information on how the machines work and partly due to the design of the machines. In this article, we will discuss how slot machines really work.

Our goal is to demystify the machines in order to demystify the games. We will also discuss some of the myths about slot machines. This article is intended to serve as a resource for counselors and prevention workers in the field of problem gambling. It is also intended for people in the general public who wish to understand slot machines.

Slot machines and other electronic gambling machines (EGMs) are gambling devices that offer a variety of games. EGMs are found at casinos, online casinos, on cruise boats, at racetracks, and, in some provinces and states, in local bars and corner stores.

There are three main varieties of EGMs: slot machines, video slots, and video poker. These machines are inexpensive to run compared to roulette or blackjack games, which makes it possible for casinos to offer low-stakes betting to a large number of players. As a result, they have become the most profitable form of gambling for casinos and online casinos operators.

A recent report from Statistics Canada indicates that EGMs outside of casinos (e.g., Video Lottery Terminals –VLTs- in bars and slot machines at racetracks) took in a total of 40% of the total revenue from non-charity gambling in Canada. In addition, slots accounted for 80% of the revenue from casinos in 2024. The purpose of this article is to examine how EGMs work and to address some of the most common misunderstandings about these machines.

For the most part, very little accurate information is available from the gambling industry on how EGMs work. However, even it falls well short of full disclosure about the machines. Information is available from numerous “How to Gamble” books, videos, and Web sites. While some of these are remarkably accurate, others are filled with misinformation about gambling.

It is difficult for the consumer to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate information. In the absence of easily accessible and accurate information, people tend to create their own beliefs about how things work. When these ideas are shared, they take on a life of their own as myths. Eventually, these myths are written down in “how-to” books or Web sites. Once written, the myths seem to become fact. EGMs seem to attract a lot of these myths.

The mythification of slots may be due to the way the machines are designed. Mythification may be the basis of many of the great works of literature, but, in the case of gambling, it is the source of much misery. In this article, we will explain how slot machines really work, and we will discuss and debunk some of the related myths.

Slot Machines

The basic game of a slot machine involves setting three or more reels into motion. In many modern offline and online slot machines, the reels are simply computer-generated pictures of simulated reels, but the essential game is the same. Typically, if all three reels match when they stop moving, the player wins, but other combinations can also lead to a prize (e.g., one cherry).

Common symbols include lemons, cherries, lucky sevens, diamonds, etc. The amount of the win is inversely related to the probability of a symbol coming up on the pay line.

However, there is very little relationship between the number of pictures on the reel and the probability of a particular symbol landing on the pay line. The wins and the player’s remaining credits are displayed using a small LED screen (a matrix of little red dots) and in online slots, it will be on screen.

In bricks and mortar casinos, if the player has won more than the machine can payout, a light on top of the machine usually flashes, notifying the casino of a big win. The remainder of the win is paid by cheque.

The payout of the slot is determined by the mathematical structure of the game, not by how recently the machine has paid out. Game structures are very complex and, as a result, the odds against winning on most EGMs are hidden from the player.

In Ontario, most offline slot machines have actual reels. However, some casinos have video slots (also called VLTs) with simulated reels that appear on a video screen. The introduction of video slots allows the game manufacturer a much greater degree of freedom in the structure of the game. Many video slots have bonus features that come up if certain combinations occur.

Bonus features are not new. Reel slots have always had bonus features run either by a separate wheel or oversized dice located at the top of the machine or through a separate display screen that is activated when a bonus feature occurs. The advantage of video slots, however, is that upgrading the program or replacing it with a new game is easier. In my view, slot lineup games presented on a video screen and slots with reels are essentially the same, except that video slots offer a greater variety of wagers and bonus features.

Video poker

Video poker is a completely different game than slots. It is based on five-card-draw poker played against the machine. Players win if they get certain combinations of cards, such as three of a kind (e.g., 4-4-K-4-7) or a flush (e.g., five hearts).

Players press a deal button, select the cards they want to keep by pressing a hold button, and then press deal to replace the rest of the cards. Typically, players only get one draw per hand. Some versions include wildcards (e.g., the joker or deuce), which are worth any value needed to complete a hand. The computer calculates the highest hand present and pays credits that are inversely related to the odds of a particular hand coming up. A flush might pay five credits for every credit bet while a full house might pay eight.

Video poker is different from slots in two main respects. First, the probabilities of the game are based on a simulated deck of cards, so that players can actually compute the probability of winning based on their knowledge of the cards.

For example, if you have four hearts and one spade, you can estimate that the chance of getting a flush if you replace the spade is 19% (9/47).

Second, you have an option to choose which card to hold, which means that there is an element of skill in the game. For example, with Jacks or Better video poker, say a player has a pair of tens, but also has a flush draw (e.g., four hearts). Taking into account the probability and payout for various hands, the player would be better off throwing away the ten and drawing for a flush than throwing away the three hearts to draw for two pairs or three of a kind.

However, if the player has a pair of jacks, he or she is better off keeping the jacks and throwing away the flush draw.

While some of the rules of play seem self-evident, optimal play actually involves memorizing a fairly large number of conditional rules. Thus, players who study the game and make probability-based choices can improve their success.

However, skill in video poker does not usually allow players to overcome the house edge. Skilled players might lose at a rate of 1% per bet, whereas less skilled players might lose at a rate of perhaps 10% per bet. Exact figures for skilled and unskilled would depend on a player’s level of skill and the particular machine played.

Note that there are apparently video poker games where an optimal strategy would allow the player to break even or even beat the house. Evaluating the accuracy of this claim is beyond the scope of this article. However, on most video poker machines, even expert players are playing against a house edge.

Video lottery machines

There is a great deal of confusion about the nature of VLTs. People often use the term VLT when referring to video poker or video slots located in a casino.

There are four main differences between a VLT and a video slot machine.

First, in some jurisdictions, the outcome of the games on a VLT is determined by a central determination system rather than the individual machine. This is in fact why they are called video lottery “terminals.” This distinction might have important legal implications in terms of whether a VLT is classed as a slot machine or a lottery, but is irrelevant in terms of the gambler’s experience.

Second, VLTs in Canada are often multi-game platforms that offer slot games, video poker, and sometimes a variety of other games such as video blackjack or keno. The range of games offered means that VLTs may appeal to a broader range of players than single-game slot machines. Slot games played on a VLT are largely the same as video slots on a stand-alone machine. Video poker on a VLT is essentially the same as video poker on a dedicated video poker machine. As described above, slot lineup games and video poker are quite different. One is a game of pure chance, the other a game with some skill elements. When discussing machine gambling with a player, it may be important to know the type of game played. Telling a VLT player who only plays video poker on the VLT that the game involves no skill could interfere with therapy by undermining the credibility of the counselor (the focus with video poker should be on the limits of skill).

Third, VLTs are often located in bars and corner stores — areas that are more easily accessible. Single-game machines (slots or video poker) make up the majority of machines offered in casinos in Canada, but multigame platforms can be found in Las Vegas casinos. The multigame nature of VLTs is likely due to the pragmatic need to offer a variety of games in a setting with only a small number of machines.

Fourth, wins from VLTs in Canada are usually paid with vouchers, whereas slot wins are paid with coins. However, both accumulate credits until a “cash-out” button is pressed.

Global variations

Gambling is a multinational industry that is regulated locally. As a result, there are regional variations in the games that are available and the regulations that control them. Fruit machines in the United Kingdom, for example, are required by law to pay out a minimum percentage within a short period of time.

Apparently this regulation came into effect because the bar owners responsible for these machines were worried about potential losses due to the volatility of games. According to U.S. patent #6,666,765 (http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html):

[British] fruit machines generally use a form of “adaptive logic” wherein coin-in and coin-out is monitored over time and wherein odds/payouts of the fruit machine are proactively adjusted to achieve a target win percentage. Examples of adaptive logic fruit-machines in Great Britain are GB 2 185 612 A and GB 2 087 618 A …. In the United States, the casino game operated with a random number generator must, overall play of the casino game, provide a known player expected return (or house advantage) and the casino game cannot proactively monitor performance and correspondingly adjust play parameters.

As a result, some of the myths about slot machines in North America may, in fact, be true in the United Kingdom, however, recently told us that adaptive logic machines are being phased out as the United Kingdom moves toward adopting North American standards in order to permit larger prizes.

Slots Confusion

Slot Machine

One feature present in almost every modern slot machine is the partial win or “loss disguised as a win.”

Since slot machines have gone from the traditional 3-reel 1-line slot machine to the modern 5-reel video slot, often with 25 or more winning lines, near-miss outcomes have become almost unidentifiable from other losing outcomes.

By encouraging individuals to play on more than one line, casinos have created a scenario where players are awarded a win on almost every spin.

Despite the increased frequency of winning, the proportion of money returned is often far less than the entire bet, such as winning 10c on a 50c bet. This 80% loss is accompanied by the same sounds on the machine as a real win and occupies the same area of the screen that wins are reported in.

Since noticing near-misses on modern slot machines is difficult, game makers have incorporated other game features such as free-spin symbols, mini-games, and progressive awards, which create new near miss situations while often not guaranteeing any increased value of a win themselves.

For example, special symbols might be placed on the reels that provide 10-free spins whenever three appear anywhere within the game screen. These symbols will often make a special sound, such as a loud thud when they land; and if two symbols land, many games will begin to play fast tempo music, display flashing lights around the remaining reels, and accelerate the rate of spin to enhance the saliency of the event.

When you win these sorts of outcomes you feel as though you have won a jackpot; after all, 10 free spins is 10x the chances to win big money right? The reality is that those 10 free-spins do not change the already small probability of winning on any given spin and are still likely to result in a loss of money. For many games, features such as this have entirely replaced standard jackpots.

These features share one important characteristic: they allow the casinos the ability to provide more outcomes that feel like a win while not increasing the actual payout. The effect of these features is so significant that in 1989 the Nevada Gaming Commission banned algorithms that purposefully increased the prevalence of near-miss outcomes. Of course, this only applied to the intentional increasing of near misses when a loss is already determined, i.e. artificially producing a near miss instead of what the reels would have normally landed on.

Unfortunately, these laws do not preclude the intentional design of reel layouts that, without additional manipulation, produce frequent near misses and losses disguised as wins. These laws also do not apply to the newer game features which either highlight the near miss, such as accelerating reels, or create entirely new topographies of outcomes, as is the case with free-spins or mini-games.

While the question of how to best manage artificial manipulations of near misses may be a topic of future regulatory discussion, the decision to play games with these illusions will ultimately fall upon the end user.

As long as you are willing to expose yourself to the game in the first place, the casino need only sit back and wait. And with the increasing availability of casinos across the US, they won’t need to wait long.