Slots and slot machines  

This game was an American invention and is today popular throughout the world. The history of slots dates back to 1887, when Charles Fey manufactured the first reels of gaming.

A slot machine varies and there are many types of slot machines available. In a nutshell a slot machine is a mechanical device (however most modern slot machines are controlled by computer chips) that spins "reels" in a circle (typically three) and on each "reel" there are symbols. When the symbols land in the proper order on the "payline" the slot machine dispenses the proper amount of money. 

Types of Slot machines: 

The classic slot machine is the type that spins reels. Usually three reels but some slot machines have up to five, and newer video slots can have more than that. 

Video slots are a relatively new invention. These slot machines are really computers in fancy boxes. The major difference in classic slots vs video slots is that the video slots don't have physical reels. All the slots action takes place on a computer screen programmed to look like reels. 

The biggest advantage to the new video slots was the interactivity they offered the slots player. These games usually have bonus rounds, or bonus games inside of the actual slot game. In other words you might hit a particular combination of symbols on the slot machine and that would trigger the bonus round or bonus game. These video slots range from rather simplistic to highly complex and involved.