Are you searching for the best slots to play for money? Well, then look no further! We've reviewed hundreds of real slot machines and have ranked them here based on things like their fun/excitement factor, real money payouts, and RTP.
The appeal of real money slots is simple: they are easy to play, require little thinking, and have limits to fit anyone's budget. Most casinos have slot machines that range in denomination from pennies to hundreds of dollars per spin, and they provide anyone who plays the opportunity to bank a significant win.
That's where our leading online slots reviews come in! On this page you'll find links to all our top reviews of online slots in 2020. So, if you want no-nonsense, independent and honest reports, look no further. Discover reliable, trusted online slot machine reviews: Legit, licensed slots. Aug 24, 2016 The average slot machine player makes 600 wagers per hour. Compare that with the average of 100 roulette spins per hour or 200 blackjack hands per hour. (And those numbers are the average for a player with no other players at the table—if other players are at the table, the number of bets per hour can drop by 70% or more.). Slot machines operate on an element of random luck, and the odds can't be in your favor every time. We understand your frustration, but can attest to the integrity of every slot machine in the casino.
This page focuses on reviewing real money slot machines that you will find in casinos around the world and online slots where you can win real cash.
Best Online Casinos for Real Money Slots Players (Updated for 2020)
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While slot machines have existed in brick and mortar casinos for decades, online slots are a new and evolving creation. The first iteration of real money online slots came to fruition when the first online casinos were created in the late 1990s. It was in the mid-2000s. However, online casinos began to take off both in popularity and ingenuity. Many slots that you can find in your local casinos can now be played online, both for free and, in some cases, for real money.
The availability of slot machine titles depends on several factors, with the two most important being manufacturer and location. The rules for online casinos offering slots in the United States are different than those in the UK, and those rules are different than Australia, and so on. There was once a point in time where the online casino was a free for all, and the casinos were available to everyone equally, but those days are long gone. If you are a gambler in the US, you may be disappointed with the number of your classic games that are offered online, but this is likely to change dramatically over the coming years.Several companies exclusively produce online slots. Many of these games are primarily found at offshore online casinos, as opposed to casinos in regulated territories like the UK, or even New Jersey and Pennsylvania online casinos. Some of the most well-known online slot producers include Endorphina, GameArt, and WGS, but they are hardly the only online slot companies.
How Real Money Online Slots Work
For the most part, online slots work the same way as the majority of slot machines that you will find in casinos around the world. Unless otherwise noted, online slots typically use an RNG to generate results for each spin. This means that each spin is as close to truly random as possible. Unlike a deck of cards in an actual, physical casino, the exact time that you hit the spin button will play a role in determining what the result is. If a deck of playing cards is set, the cards will not change based on your decisions. With slots, though unpredictable, your actions do impact the result.
In terms of win frequency or games offered by betting limits, online casinos tend to offer lower limits than most B&M casinos. This is for a few reasons. First, online slots allow for a much faster pace of play. If the online games are 2x faster, you will effectively be risking the same amount if you play for 50c per spin online, as you would be risking $1 per spin in your local casino. The casinos know this, and lower limits help to encourage more play. While some online casinos offer high limit slot play, the majority do not offer many games over $20 or $30 per spin.
Licensed vs. Unlicensed Online Slots
Have you ever noticed how many slot machines in casinos closely resemble the Wheel of Fortune game? Ways to win on slot machines. This isn't a coincidence. Game manufacturers saw that the WOF formula was a significant hit among players, and the bonus spin format has been repeated in many different ways. Online casinos, too, know what games players do and don't want to play. As a result, you will often find games that may look and even sound like your favorite slots, but may, in reality, be close imitations.
The lack of regulations for casinos that operate offshore allows them to operate in a total grey area where they are virtually immune to legal action of any sort. Online casinos that offer 'rip off' versions of IGT or Aristocrat slots, for example, do so because they know that they won't get in trouble. While it is your prerogative to decide whether or not to endorse these games, our recommendation is to check and make sure exactly what game you are playing, especially if you are depositing and risking real money.
Fairness of Online Slots
Perhaps the biggest downside to playing online slots, especially at unregulated websites, is that it can be challenging to prove the fairness of any games that are offered. While Bitcoin casinos can prove that they are provably fair, classic online slots are not as well-vetted. While many of these online casinos do have 'licenses' from different gaming bodies, they are usually not from an organization that researches whether the games are genuinely fair. We advise that you tread lightly whenever you are playing online slots for real money.
In casinos, like those in Las Vegas, the gaming commission will perform audits on the machines on the floor. There are various thresholds, depending on the area and commission, that casinos need to abide by. For example, a Las Vegas casino may not be able to hold (have an advantage of) over 10% of the total risk by the player. The higher stakes, generally speaking, the less house edge that exists in casino slots. With online slots, however, fairness is mostly a guessing game. The best thing that you can do is to research the casino itself. If you are playing at a state-licensed casino like those in New Jersey, you have nothing to worry about. If you are playing at an unregulated online casino, however, you should complete a bit of independent research to ensure that they do not have a poor reputation.
Payouts
Another risk to online slots is that of payment. This again comes back to researching before you play for money at a casino. Nothing would be worse than hitting an online progressive slot jackpot and then not being paid by the casino. While many, even most, casinos will be fair and pay you any earnings (so long as you didn't break any rules), there is always the risk of a rogue operator who will hold your funds.
Progressives, like the percentage hold, are also not monitored, so they add even more risk to the player. For instance, the online casino could be holding half of the money they *claim* is being added to the progressive jackpot. In general, there isn't any valid way to check that online casino progressives are being operated with total integrity. You should be aware of this potential casino, but keep in mind that joining a reputable online property is the most important step you can take.
Slots by Company
There are only a handful of slot machine manufacturers that produce almost all of the physical slot machines on the market today. We break down each company so that you can easily find games made by the manufacturer of your choice. For a full list of slots in alphabetical order, see our Slot Machine Library listed in the next section.
Ainsworth Slots
Aristocrat Slots
Bally Slots
Everi Slots
IGT Slots
Konami Slots
WMS Slots
Vegas Slot Machine Reviews
50 Lions
88 Fortunes
Aftershock
Age of Aurora
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Ancient Dragon
Antony & Cleopatra
Bier Haus
Big Bang Theory
Betty White
Breaking Bad
Buffalo
China Mystery
China Shores
Cleopatra
Cleopatra II
Crazy Money Deluxe
Da Vinci Diamonds
Dragon Lines
Dragon Spin
Dragon's Realm
Dumb and Dumber
Dynamic 7s
Earth Rainforest
Emperor Penguin
Fireball
Flying Horse
Fu Dao Le
Game of Thrones
Geisha
Genie's Riches
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Ghostbusters
The Green Machine
Jackpot Inferno
Jaguar Mist
John Wayne Spinning Streak
Jumpin' Jalapenos
Jurassic Park
Kitty Glitter
Li'l Red
Lock It Link
Megabucks
Miss Kitty
Monopoly
Pharaoh's Fortune
Pinball
Pirate's Pleasure
Pixie Power
Playboy Muy Caliente
Playboy Platinum
Queen of the Wild
Quick Hit
Rapa Nui Riches
Rawhide
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Shadow of the Panther
Shadow Princess
Sky Rider: Golden Amulet
Snow Wizard
Sphinx
Starry Night
Sun and Moon
Super Red Phoenix
Tabasco
Tetris Super Jackpots
The Three Fates
Thor's Hammer
Tiki Torch
Timber Wolf
TMZ
Top Dollar
Treasure Voyage
Triple Double Diamond
The Walking Dead
Vortex
Wheel of Fortune
Wild Fury
Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
Wonder Woman Gold/Wild
Online Slots by Company
Betsoft
Booming Games
Endorphina
Ezugi
GameArt
WGS Technology
Online Slots Reviews
4 of a King
2016 Gladiators
2027 ISS
7up!
88 Riches
African Sunset
Ancient Gong
Atlantis World
Aztec Treasures
Black Gold
Blast Boom Bang
Burning Flame
Caligula
Charms and Clovers
Chunjie
Cuckoo
Diamond Vapor
Durga
Fairy Tale
Geisha
Gems & Stones
Gladiator
Good Girl Bad Girl
In Jazz
Jetsetter
Little Panda
Lost
Macarons
Minotaurus
Origami
Retromania
Safari
Safari Sam
Satoshi's Secret
Slotomoji
Stone Age
Sushi
Taboo
Temple Cats
The Ninja
The True Sheriff
The Vikings
Twerk
Voodoo
Wild Fruits
Popular Slot Machine Games
Even if you are not a regular slots player, the odds are that you have or will eventually play slots at some point in time or another. Below are a few links to articles we have written about a variety of slot topics. On each page, we try to cover everything from how to play them to general information and even include real-play videos that we have filmed at live casinos. Read on to learn more about slots, and the different varieties offered at casinos.
Bally's E-1347 Slot Machine Reviews
Most Popular Slots
Progressive Slots
Free Online Slots
Always Playing Max Bet in Slots
How to Play Slot Tournaments
Types of Slot Machines
There are many different types of slot machines. A lot of new casino visitors may be overwhelmed by the sheer selection of available games, whether you visit a small locals casino or a large resort in Vegas. There are video slot machines, 3 reel slots, 5 reel slots, and so on. These three categories will cover the bulk of machines that you will find in most casinos so that we will focus mainly on those.
Video Slot Machines
Our articles within the video slot machines section offer a dynamic and in-depth look into many different available games. The easiest way to identify a video slot machine is by identifying the games that look nearest to a video game on a computer screen. When it comes down to it, that's what these games are. Though they are on electronic screens, many of the games function similar to reel slots in that they are usually offered in 3 and 5 line varieties.
Slot Machine Reviews
One of the most attractive elements of video slot machines is typically found in the bonus rounds and games that they include. Where conventional slot machines usually trigger a bonus round and then simply offer a fixed amount of 'bonus' or 'free' games, a video machine will usually incorporate some level of graphics and possibly other features. This is why so many players are most interested in video slot machines because they are much more dynamic and interactive. For many, they are simply more fun and enjoyable experience, and in the end, that is what it's all about.
3 Reel and 5 Reel Slot Machines
If you walked into a casino in the 1970s, you would have likely encountered 3 and 5 reel machines almost exclusively. These are the sort of machines that are generally printed in advertisements and seen on TV and movies. Reel slot machines are named for the fact that each of the lines (3, 5) is on a reel. A reel slot machine is best identified by the arm that is found on the side of most of the machines. In this day and age, though, many reel machines no longer offer patrons the ability to pull the reel, and it is only there for show.
Reel slots date back to the days where slots paid out in actual money (change). Today, however, these machines almost always function using vouchers. Cash or an existing voucher is inserted to generate playable credits, and a voucher is printed when play is completed. Reel slots are frequently best recognized for their 'hit or miss' nature. Where some video slots may offer smaller potential wins in exchange for less dramatic losses, many reel slot machines exist under the premise of potential big wins, but frequent moderate to large losing streaks. As a result, if you are interested and intrigued by the idea of possible variance, reel slots will be appealing.
Slot Machine Payouts
The payouts or RTP (return-to-player) is one of the most important and widely discussed aspects of slot machines. Where to find loose slots and which slots to avoid. Unfortunately, when it comes to brick and mortar casinos, there is no answer to that. The range is high, and you just can't know for sure which machine will give you the best odds.
The good news is that in online casinos, the situation is very different, and there are plenty of software providers that are forced to post the expected lifetime return of every game. That's, in fact, one of the biggest advantages of playing slots online vs. land-based casinos. You know exactly which slots to pick and which to avoid. Here you can find an up-to-date list of best USA slots online by payout, which will grant you the highest chances of 'going home' with some extra cash.
Playing Slots
There is little tutorial or instruction needed for anyone interested in playing a slot machine. Many experienced players will offer words of wisdom like, 'always play the max bet,' but the truth is that, for the most part, your risk and reward tend to be proportionate. As is the case with every casino game, the most important factor in how and what slot machines you should be playing is found in the size and variance tolerance level of your bankroll. If you have a lot of money and are going for the shot at a huge win, you are going to play at a different pace and potentially at different machines than someone with less money who is trying to make their funds last longer.
Cons to Playing Slots
One of the downfalls of slot machines is that they can suck you into their action. Some table games, like Roulette, tend to move along at a slower pace, which either bores or tires players before they run out of money or keep putting more chips on the table. With slots, however, the quick and fast-paced action can easily encourage a player to keep chasing after more and more action. Since the massive wins are so far and few between, ending up with a losing individual slots session should not come as a surprise.
When it comes down to it, even a casino enthusiast who does not typically play slot machines will usually be willing to admit that they absolutely can provide a large dose of excitement. The ups and downs of table games may be thrilling, but few games in the casino offer the prospect of a massive win in the blink of an eye like a slot machine does.
Bonus Rounds
One of the biggest draws to playing slot machines for many casino enthusiasts are bonus rounds. These are only offered on some machines and include everything from free spins in the game itself, to special bonus spins (such as those found at Wheel of Fortune) and other unique types of mini-games built into a machine. One of the most popular bonus rounds in all of slots can be found on the Wheel of Fortune Machine. It is far and away from the most played slot machine, and consequently, it can be found at virtually every casino in America.
Depending on the exact Wheel of Fortune machine you are playing, to receive a bonus spin at Wheel of Fortune, you must either get a 'spin' symbol on the last payline, on all three paylines, or every reel of the machine. Once you receive the bonus, just hit the 'spin' button and the wheel above the machine spins until it lands on either a dollar or credit value. The player then receives this amount as their win and is either paid out or can continue to play. The values offered at a Wheel of Fortune machine will usually range from 10-1,000 credits in most cases.Best Slot Machines To Play
Progressive Slot Machines
Progressive slots are another big draw for casino enthusiasts. If you are unfamiliar with slot machines, picture a progressive as an office prize pool that slowly grows over time. Progressives are offered only on certain machines, and their value slowly builds up over time, determined by people putting coins into other machines at various casinos. For example, in Wheel of Fortune, the progressive slowly grows and is paid out only when a player hits 3 'Wheel of Fortune' symbols. Not an easy task by any means, with lower odds. It is different from a jackpot in that it is not a fixed amount of money, but rather it slowly builds up over time as others play the machine. This continues until the progressive is hit and then resets.
Related Posts:
If you like slot machines, then you probably know the Bally name. This iconic brand has had a presence in the American casino and gaming industry since the 1930s.
It provided the slot machine designs that changed the way people play, and the company had a hand in the historic spread of casinos across the United States.
While Bally has had its ups and downs through several mergers and acquisitions, the brand survives to continue its mission of providing entertaining and innovative machines.
Where to play slots like Bally
Free to play Bally slots online
Most Popular Bally Slots
It shouldn't be surprising that Bally has a large catalog of slots available, given their time in the industry. Many of their classic Atlantic City slot machines have been made into online games. These five favorites are a great place to start.
- Quick Hit Super Wheel Wild Red – This mouthful of a machine features 5 reels and 30 paylines along with a lot of features and bonuses. While the design is inspired by traditional slot machines, the gameplay is completely modern. Lucky players will get a chance to spin the Super Wheel to unlock instant winnings, multipliers, wilds or loaded free spins. There's also a range of Quick Hit jackpots on the line for every spin.
- Triple Cash Wheel – Another machine that mixes a classic design with a lot of modern bells and whistles. This slot machine plays three separate games simultaneously for a total of 15 reels and 60 paylines. On top of the exciting base game, Triple Cash Wheel includes a big bonus game that lets players earn instant credits or free spins with big multipliers.
- Lucky Tree – A fun Asian-themed 5-reel slot machine game with 30 paylines and several bonus rounds. The titular Lucky Tree adds a little excitement to each spin, with the potential for a breeze to send extra wild spaces tumbling down onto the reels. Lucky Tree also features a free spin bonus round and a special pick bonus round, which lets players turn over mystery tiles to try and create matching sets of animals for big bonuses.
- Acorn Pixie – A beautiful slot machine that brings an enchanted forest and its pixie inhabitants to life. The 5-reel machine with 30 paylines includes a touch of magic, which can flip losing spins around with a lucky 2×2 cluster wild that can appear to fill gaps. The bonus round is based around an extended version of the game, with 6 rows to fill and permanent wild spaces that branch out from the bottom to help fill out the reels with winning paylines. Players can choose to skip the basic spins and simply pay to play a number of free spins in the bonus round.
- Fu Dao Le – A very popular Asian-themed slot machine that features numerous ways to win. This 5-reel game doesn't use traditional paylines, instead it allows any one of 243 potential left-to-right combinations to trigger a win. The game also includes 4 Red Envelope progressive jackpots that can be won with a lucky spin or through the Match-3 bonus game. There are also free spin bonus rounds, multipliers, stacked wilds and mystery spaces.
Mobile Gaming – Bally Slot Apps
Players interested in Bally games should be happy to hear that their interest in technological innovations extends to making many of their games available for play on mobile devices. This includes all of the top 5 picks listed above. While Bally does not have a dedicated slot game app, players should be able to find their slots listed on several different apps for iOS and Android phones. Free apps usually provide some free coins each day with an option to buy more for anyone who wants to play a longer session. Locations that allow players to bet real money on online slots should be able to find Bally machines on casino apps.
In general, Bally online slot games should play well even on mobile devices. Their clean designs scale well with smaller screens and should be easy to read, although games that use expanded reels may get a little cramped during the bonus round. Certain features such as the U-Spin wheel may not be fully supported on mobile apps. Players may have to settle for just pushing a 'spin' button instead of actually spinning the wheel. It should be a small price to pay for the convenience of playing these great games on-the-go or at home.
Slot Machine Payouts
The payouts or RTP (return-to-player) is one of the most important and widely discussed aspects of slot machines. Where to find loose slots and which slots to avoid. Unfortunately, when it comes to brick and mortar casinos, there is no answer to that. The range is high, and you just can't know for sure which machine will give you the best odds.
The good news is that in online casinos, the situation is very different, and there are plenty of software providers that are forced to post the expected lifetime return of every game. That's, in fact, one of the biggest advantages of playing slots online vs. land-based casinos. You know exactly which slots to pick and which to avoid. Here you can find an up-to-date list of best USA slots online by payout, which will grant you the highest chances of 'going home' with some extra cash.
Playing Slots
There is little tutorial or instruction needed for anyone interested in playing a slot machine. Many experienced players will offer words of wisdom like, 'always play the max bet,' but the truth is that, for the most part, your risk and reward tend to be proportionate. As is the case with every casino game, the most important factor in how and what slot machines you should be playing is found in the size and variance tolerance level of your bankroll. If you have a lot of money and are going for the shot at a huge win, you are going to play at a different pace and potentially at different machines than someone with less money who is trying to make their funds last longer.
Cons to Playing Slots
One of the downfalls of slot machines is that they can suck you into their action. Some table games, like Roulette, tend to move along at a slower pace, which either bores or tires players before they run out of money or keep putting more chips on the table. With slots, however, the quick and fast-paced action can easily encourage a player to keep chasing after more and more action. Since the massive wins are so far and few between, ending up with a losing individual slots session should not come as a surprise.
When it comes down to it, even a casino enthusiast who does not typically play slot machines will usually be willing to admit that they absolutely can provide a large dose of excitement. The ups and downs of table games may be thrilling, but few games in the casino offer the prospect of a massive win in the blink of an eye like a slot machine does.
Bonus Rounds
One of the biggest draws to playing slot machines for many casino enthusiasts are bonus rounds. These are only offered on some machines and include everything from free spins in the game itself, to special bonus spins (such as those found at Wheel of Fortune) and other unique types of mini-games built into a machine. One of the most popular bonus rounds in all of slots can be found on the Wheel of Fortune Machine. It is far and away from the most played slot machine, and consequently, it can be found at virtually every casino in America.
Depending on the exact Wheel of Fortune machine you are playing, to receive a bonus spin at Wheel of Fortune, you must either get a 'spin' symbol on the last payline, on all three paylines, or every reel of the machine. Once you receive the bonus, just hit the 'spin' button and the wheel above the machine spins until it lands on either a dollar or credit value. The player then receives this amount as their win and is either paid out or can continue to play. The values offered at a Wheel of Fortune machine will usually range from 10-1,000 credits in most cases.Best Slot Machines To Play
Progressive Slot Machines
Progressive slots are another big draw for casino enthusiasts. If you are unfamiliar with slot machines, picture a progressive as an office prize pool that slowly grows over time. Progressives are offered only on certain machines, and their value slowly builds up over time, determined by people putting coins into other machines at various casinos. For example, in Wheel of Fortune, the progressive slowly grows and is paid out only when a player hits 3 'Wheel of Fortune' symbols. Not an easy task by any means, with lower odds. It is different from a jackpot in that it is not a fixed amount of money, but rather it slowly builds up over time as others play the machine. This continues until the progressive is hit and then resets.
Related Posts:
If you like slot machines, then you probably know the Bally name. This iconic brand has had a presence in the American casino and gaming industry since the 1930s.
It provided the slot machine designs that changed the way people play, and the company had a hand in the historic spread of casinos across the United States.
While Bally has had its ups and downs through several mergers and acquisitions, the brand survives to continue its mission of providing entertaining and innovative machines.
Where to play slots like Bally
Free to play Bally slots online
Most Popular Bally Slots
It shouldn't be surprising that Bally has a large catalog of slots available, given their time in the industry. Many of their classic Atlantic City slot machines have been made into online games. These five favorites are a great place to start.
- Quick Hit Super Wheel Wild Red – This mouthful of a machine features 5 reels and 30 paylines along with a lot of features and bonuses. While the design is inspired by traditional slot machines, the gameplay is completely modern. Lucky players will get a chance to spin the Super Wheel to unlock instant winnings, multipliers, wilds or loaded free spins. There's also a range of Quick Hit jackpots on the line for every spin.
- Triple Cash Wheel – Another machine that mixes a classic design with a lot of modern bells and whistles. This slot machine plays three separate games simultaneously for a total of 15 reels and 60 paylines. On top of the exciting base game, Triple Cash Wheel includes a big bonus game that lets players earn instant credits or free spins with big multipliers.
- Lucky Tree – A fun Asian-themed 5-reel slot machine game with 30 paylines and several bonus rounds. The titular Lucky Tree adds a little excitement to each spin, with the potential for a breeze to send extra wild spaces tumbling down onto the reels. Lucky Tree also features a free spin bonus round and a special pick bonus round, which lets players turn over mystery tiles to try and create matching sets of animals for big bonuses.
- Acorn Pixie – A beautiful slot machine that brings an enchanted forest and its pixie inhabitants to life. The 5-reel machine with 30 paylines includes a touch of magic, which can flip losing spins around with a lucky 2×2 cluster wild that can appear to fill gaps. The bonus round is based around an extended version of the game, with 6 rows to fill and permanent wild spaces that branch out from the bottom to help fill out the reels with winning paylines. Players can choose to skip the basic spins and simply pay to play a number of free spins in the bonus round.
- Fu Dao Le – A very popular Asian-themed slot machine that features numerous ways to win. This 5-reel game doesn't use traditional paylines, instead it allows any one of 243 potential left-to-right combinations to trigger a win. The game also includes 4 Red Envelope progressive jackpots that can be won with a lucky spin or through the Match-3 bonus game. There are also free spin bonus rounds, multipliers, stacked wilds and mystery spaces.
Mobile Gaming – Bally Slot Apps
Players interested in Bally games should be happy to hear that their interest in technological innovations extends to making many of their games available for play on mobile devices. This includes all of the top 5 picks listed above. While Bally does not have a dedicated slot game app, players should be able to find their slots listed on several different apps for iOS and Android phones. Free apps usually provide some free coins each day with an option to buy more for anyone who wants to play a longer session. Locations that allow players to bet real money on online slots should be able to find Bally machines on casino apps.
In general, Bally online slot games should play well even on mobile devices. Their clean designs scale well with smaller screens and should be easy to read, although games that use expanded reels may get a little cramped during the bonus round. Certain features such as the U-Spin wheel may not be fully supported on mobile apps. Players may have to settle for just pushing a 'spin' button instead of actually spinning the wheel. It should be a small price to pay for the convenience of playing these great games on-the-go or at home.
Bally's Innovations & Features
Throughout the company's history, Bally has been a leader in general slot machine innovation. Aside from their historic contributions, they continue to provide improvements such as larger screens in cabinets and faster software. These important technological developments have been accompanied by some fun gameplay innovations too.
Following the merger with Alliance Gaming, Bally's slot design shifted to focus on providing an engaging and fun experience along with the thrill of gambling. Its primary competitor, IGT, felt that gamblers didn't want more complicated systems.
This directly led to innovations such as their Thrillions system, a twist on classic linked progressive jackpots. Beginning with their classic Betty Boop, Popeye and Blondie themed machines, the rollout in 1999 put the focus on smaller jackpots that were triggered more frequently.
Running off of the same philosophy, players will probably notice the common Quick Hit feature on Bally slot games. This non-progressive jackpot system provides a full range of payouts with frequent minor pots and rarer, proper jackpots for the big strikes.
Bally hasn't forgotten the joys of large community-linked payouts though. Players looking for larger more traditional progressive jackpots in modern machines can stick to the Red Envelope series, which includes fun games such as Fu Dao Le, Heavenly Riches and Super Rise of Ra.
The U-Spin bonus game is probably Bally's most visible success. Starting with the Cash Spin slot machine, this eye-catching innovation provided a thrilling change to the typical bonus round format.
Lucky winners get to actually spin the digital wheel at the top of the machine for a chance to win large credit payouts, free games or even progressive jackpots. The real thrill comes from the built-in gesture control, which reacts to the speed and direction of the player's swipe. The U-Spin wheel adds the fun of a game show to basic slots gameplay.
In general, players will see that Bally's attention is focused on providing interesting and exciting bonuses. Bally slots can include large, expanding reels that provide more ways to win, or even simple money bag bonuses that let players pick one of three mystery bags with the chance of a big payout.
The introduction of the Buy A Bonus feature in the recently released Acorn Pixie machine clearly shows where future development is headed. The option for players to just pay for one last shot at the bonus round before they leave shows Bally's commitment to a fun experience.
The Winding Tale of Bally
The actual Bally company began not as a slot machine company, but as a pinball developer. Raymond Moloney founded the Bally Manufacturing Corporation in 1932 in Chicago. The name came from its first product, the Ballyhoo.
The Ballyhoo pinball game was an early coin-operated piece that filled bars across America. In 1936, Bally used its experience and connections to expand into the growing gambling industry by creating the Bally Baby, a small mechanical slot machine.
Bally would mostly cease production of gaming machines during World War II to provide manufacturing power for the war effort. This didn't slow down their product development though, with their tall 'Hi-Boy' model releasing after the end of the war in 1945. This iconic design, while very basic by modern standards, created a look that would inspire the one-armed bandit for decades. Raymond Moloney's death in 1958 triggered a rough patch for the company, with Bally almost falling into bankruptcy before a buyout and revival in 1963.
The revival was built upon the release of Money Honey, an innovative electromechanical slot machine. Featuring an electric hopper, the machine was able to handle larger and more complex payouts than purely mechanical machines. This raised expectations for slots and set up Bally as a market leader. By the end of the 1960s, it was estimated that Bally controlled nearly 90% of the worldwide slot machine market.
The 1970s and 1980s would see Bally use its profits to grow into a large umbrella company. Bally built the Park Palace Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City in 1979 as its first foray into casino operation.
Its electronics division attempted to enter the home video game market with the ill-fated Bally Professional Arcade.
Their acquisition of Midway Manufacturing in the 1960s would bear fruit as it dominated the arcade and home video game markets through its distribution of hits like Pac-Man and Space Invaders.
By the end of the 1980s, Bally owned the Six Flags chain, a set of health and fitness clubs and multiple casinos. This expansion proved to be draining. The Bally parent company would begin to separate and sell off its diverse divisions in the early 1990s to avoid financial hardship.
The slot machine division, now a subsidiary branded as Bally Entertainment, would be acquired in 1996 by the Alliance Gaming Corporation.
Founded in 1968, Alliance had its own long storied history. It began as Advanced Patent Technology, with a focus on developing new electronics and medical products.
Starting in 1979, the company tried to enter the rapidly growing gambling industry by buying the United Coin Machine Company and developing the Colorado Belle casino near Las Vegas.
Its 1985 merger with Omega Gaming allowed it to enter the video slot market. The next decade would see more property development, several rebrandings and a few mergers until it settled as the Alliance Gaming Corporation in 1994.
The merger with Bally Entertainment was a somewhat messy affair. Alliance Gaming hoped to compete for space against the dominant IGT in the newly developing riverboat and Native American casinos by joining with the still powerful Bally in 1993.
Early negotiations failed though, as Bally Entertainment ultimately sought a merger with WMS Industries. After a few lawsuits and a hostile takeover attempt, Alliance Gaming won out in 1995 with the merger completing in 1996. Bally ultimately became a subsidiary called Bally Gaming and Systems.
Following the merger, Bally grew and adapted to the changing markets by innovating gameplay. They focused on building more entertaining machines and providing powerful systems for casinos.
In 2006, it would go through its final name change, with Alliance Gaming renaming themselves Bally Technologies. After 8 years, Bally Technologies would be bought out by Scientific Gaming in 2014. Casino slot games for fun.
Scientific Gaming made its mark on the gaming industry with innovations in instant lottery games, including development of online lotteries and a mobile gaming app for retail lottery games. Somewhat poetically, this brought Bally under the same umbrella as WMS, which had been also bought by Scientific Gaming.
The Bally legacy lives on today as a leading slot machine developer and brand within the Scientific Gaming powerhouse.
