Video slot machines
The modern standard: a screen, five reels, features.
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Five reels, three or more rows.
- Ten paylines to thousands of ways.
- Free spins and wilds.
- Most online slots are video slots.
In shortA video slot machine shows its reels on a screen, which freed designers to add reels, lines and animated bonus features.
Seven video slots
| Slot | Developer | RTP | Volatility | Max win | Layout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.71% | High | 2,100x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Starburst | NetEnt | 96.09% | Low | 500x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Sweet Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | Varies by version (96.48% to 96.51% quoted) | High | 21,100x | 6 reels, 5 rows |
| Gates of Olympus | Pragmatic Play | 96.50% | High | 5,000x | 6 reels, 5 rows |
| Book of Dead | Play'n GO | 96.21% | High | 5,000x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Fishin' Frenzy | Blueprint Gaming | 96.12% | Medium to high | 5,000x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Fluffy Favourites | Eyecon | 95.39% | High | 5,000x | 5 reels, 3 rows |
The first
The first video slot machine was developed in 1976 by the Las Vegas-based Fortune Coin Company. Players took time to trust a machine with no physical reels.
What the screen made possible
- Five reels and more.
- Dozens of paylines.
- Second-screen bonus rounds.
- Themes, characters and sound.
Keep reading: Big Bass Bonanza slot machine, Ladbrokes Casino slot machines, Slot machine glossary and The paytable.
How the maths changed
With no physical reels to limit them, designers could weight symbols freely, add a fifth reel, and pay through features as well as lines. Maximum wins rose from hundreds of times the stake to thousands.
Go further: Hold buttons, Big Bass Bonanza vs Fishin' Frenzy and Why slot machines are so absorbing.
In other words
Video slots, five-reel slots and online video slots describe the same modern standard.
Keep reading: Slot machine odds, Big Bass Bonanza vs Fishin' Frenzy, Fruit slots online and Classic slot machines.
Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; the version at your casino can differ. UK land-based stake and prize limits and online rule dates were checked against Gambling Commission and licensing authority sources on 6 October 2026. History follows commonly cited accounts. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What is a video slot?
A slot machine with on-screen reels.
When was it invented?
The mid-1970s.
How many reels?
Usually five.
Are online slots video slots?
Yes.