Slot machines have evolved over the course of history. Most of us have been familiar with the popular mechanical slots like Double Diamond, 5 Times Pay, and Wild Cherry. These were a great set of machines to play, and many of us have enjoyed the clanging of the money coming out of the hopper. The only real problem is, as technology changes, so does individual preferences. This is where the video slot machine comes in. It’s nothing terribly new, probably been around the last fifteen years or so, but they have been met with such incredible fanfare. Folks wouldn’t have to worry about having dirty hands from corralling all of the quarters. In addition, there are great bonuses to enhance the gambling experience and to keep them in the casino. It is of course this is the plan, so be wise and use your better judgement when making the trip to local casino and know when to quit.
What I’ll be covering in the following is a list of some of the hottest video slot machines in the casinos right this moment. I’m not going to pitch a fail safe way to win and beat the odds, it just doesn’t make sense as all the machines are on a computer generated statistical payout. But by using good judgement and taking into account what each game has to offer, gamers can have fun and have a much better chance of making a profit.
Let’s get started with some of the hottest games:
#6- Twin Win (IGT)-A great game with an oceanic flavor, great looking artwork and very clever gaming dynamics. There are 15 lines to play and you can play in denominations from pennies to quarters. There isn’t a formal bonus round in this game, which killed it’s ranking a little, but the real excitement comes in the twin single symbols. Winning one line can actually win you twice for that line. I’ve personally seen some huge hits, even when betting small amounts. There are plenty of Twin Win machines around and one I recommend trying out.
#5- Sun And Moon (Aristocrat)-This game is real easy to understand and features quite an easy bonus to achieve. The actual game play graphics suffer in comparison to what IGT offers, but nonetheless well laid out. Features an Aztek inspired theme, all one would have to do is get two scattered Sun and/or Moon symbols on adjacent reels from left to right to initiate the bonus. Two symbols get you 5 free spins, three will get you 10 spins, four gets you 20 spins and if you’re lucky enough to get five symbols then your prize is 50 free spins. All winning lines are at 2x pay of course and there is a chance to re-trigger some free spins.
#4- Coyote Moon (IGT)-Another well thought out theme based on wolves and Native American culture. This game has innovative stacked wilds that give the player a huge opportunity to win some big jackpots. The bonus is obtained with three bonus symbols in reels 2-3-4. And that gets you five free spins with the possibility to retrigger the bonus. The only problem I have is the number of lines this game has. A player can bet up to forty lines and max out the total bet at 1000 coins, yikes! Not for the faint at heart, but pays big when it hits. Also recommend Wolf Run, this game is virtually the same.
#3- 50 Lions (Aristocrat)-I would say this is more similar to Coyote Moon in concept. The only difference is that the stacked lion symbols are not wild. A fun game as well, and more easier on the pockets, max bet is only 500 on this one. Three red flower symbols on reels 1-2-3 get you 10 free spins. And, this is where the real fun begins!! Not only do you have the stacked lion symbols in the bonus, but there are also stacked wild diamond symbols. Hit a nice jackpot and the machine graphics run wild with gold coins flying everywhere. This game is a little bit more forgiving than the previous 3 and pay out bonus rounds quite frequently.
#2- Davinci Diamonds (IGT)-This is a fairly recent release but simply a gorgeous game with outstanding graphics that are pleasing to the eye and feature revolutionary gaming dynamics. Game is themed around classic art paintings of Mona Lisa and company plus wonderful looking precious stones. Game has what IGT calls it’s “cascading” reels feature as the symbols simply just fall off the top of the screen into winning combos. The bonus is achieved when three bonus symbols line up on an active payline on reels 1-2-3. The player is then greeted with six free spins and every additional three bonus symbols drop gets the player more free spins. Winning payout is fairly high on this machine as one out of every other spin gets you at least your bet back. A very fun game with no other competitor.
#1- Lotus Flower (IGT)-This game is literally fresh, about a month or so old. The first time I experienced this game, I was stunned at how well and fluid the gameplay was. I chose this as the number one pick as it contained a great balance in all the categories. Symbols include face card letters and numbers from playing cards and other mystic symbols like fish, babies and lotus flower wilds, all the symbols are stacked by the way. Grab the bonus by getting three of more lily pad symbols scattered on any reels. Three bonus symbols get your 10 spins, four gets you 15, and five gets you 20 spins. In the bonus, all of the non-playing card symbols count as wilds. Stack them all together and win a megaton. I found this game to offer great odds and the best chance of walking away with some good money.
That rounds out this months hot list. And one thing I didn’t take into any account are the progressive video slots like Wheel Of Fortune, Price Is Right and so on. The forementioned games have terrible odds at hitting consistent wins, the whole chase of hitting the progressives dropped the statistical odds through the floor. Nor did I recommend any mystery progressive machines. And most of us are familiar with Fort Knox, Jackpot Party, etc. know what I mean.
Data was gathered for this review by surveying 155 people who regularly play slot machines. Let me know what you think of the hot list/reviews and please feel free to comment on what improvements can be made. Maybe next month, I’ll use your comments to base an April 2008 hot list and adjust accordingly. Conclusively, have fun and gamble responsibly!
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Shaun Davidson is an Automotive Consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has been for over seven years. Keeping the consumers informed and educated in finance, car reviews and new sales methods is what’s important to Shaun.
