The 5-line vintage classic penny Slot machine is still one of the most popular Slots games - despite it comes with no bonus rounds to be triggered. The Sizzling Hot relative is one of the most generous Slot machines out there as it features a 1,000x payout when five Lucky Sevens land on a payline. If you want to play slot machines in America, there’s nowhere quite like Las Vegas. Home to some of the biggest and best casinos in the world, let alone in the United States, Las Vegas is virtually synonymous with gambling. And yet, many players who finally make it out to Vegas are overwhelmed by the sheer number of machines.
Sports betting has become one of the most popular forms of gambling on the planet. The lavish casino sportsbooks are drawing in a completely new and unique customer base—the sports fan.
Many of these new customers have little to no previous casino experience. So, how the casinos approach these new gamblers is key.
Slot machines have begun to fill that void. Below, you’ll learn all about why slot machines are fun for sports bettors. We’ll also provide you with the best real money slots that sports fans are sure to get a kick out of, and we’ll share some tips for beginners.
What’s the Point of Slot Machines?
If I’m strolling through a store and see anything golf-related, I get the urge to stop. My curiosity is piqued, and I check to see how badly I need the item. Even if I have zero intention of buying it—because it’s probably useless anyway—I’m still going to give it the serious deliberation it deserves.
And I suspect this is how most sports fans feel when they stroll through the casino floor headed for the sportsbook. I am not the same obsessive sports fan I was in my 20s. I still pay attention loosely, but I’m not the jersey-wearing hardcore fan you would find in sports bars and sportsbooks across the country.
The avid sports enthusiast is every bit enamored with their teams and sports as much as I am with golf. Possibly more so, I’ve never smashed a TV because Tiger missed a 12-footer for birdie.
So, as the sports fans ponder the benefits of casino games versus sports betting, it’s natural to want to get in on a game. Nobody enjoys standing on the sidelines, but where do you even begin?
Some of the sports fans haven’t picked up dice in years. Others couldn’t tell you the difference between blackjack that pays 6:5 instead of 3:2. Still, slot machines don’t require complex strategies or much know-how at all. Enter the sports-themed slot machines.
Why Sports Fans Will Love These Sports-Themed Slots
The simplicity of action is the key advantage of this new wave of sports-themed slot machines. Players get the full effect of the loud sounds and bright flashing slot machine lights without the complicated learning curve.
You can find a sports-themed slot machine that is tailored to nearly any genre you prefer. The wide variety of games available makes these welcoming to everyone. And you will find everything from classic sports like basketball and soccer to adventure sports and auto racing.
Many of these sports-themed games will transport you into a massive stadium full of cheering spectators. Some games will cheer you on as you score a huge goal. Others have fans getting on their feet as you launch the massive uppercut that floors your opponent and launches an exciting and lucrative bonus game.
The slot machine companies have even gotten in on the licensing of real sports icons and leagues. These added touches give the games a more authentic feel. Having true-to-life sports legends also further sells the idea to skeptical or standoffish sports fans.
That’s not to discount the games offering colorful fictional characters. The games do have a way of drawing you into the action. You begin to connect with the characters in the same way you watch players on the field. You become invested more than just financially; it gets your emotions involved, just like you do with sports.
Of course, the games are full of thrilling bonus games that can lead to a decent payday. Unfortunately, they’re still slot machines, and you’ll be looking at a return to player of 93% to 95% on the high end and closer to 90% on the bottom of the scale.
Slot machines are known for their rapid spin cycle, and if you’re not careful, you can wipe out a $20 bill in minutes. The ease of use and alluring graphics draw players to the slot machines, and they can be a nice distraction if your favorite team lost the game. Or maybe they didn’t cover the spread.
Top Slot Machines for Sports Fans
I’ve compiled a collection of the most common sports-themed slot machines I see in the casinos. Return to the player may actually vary significantly depending on where you’re playing. For that reason, I’m going to focus on gameplay and slot machine features.
1. Lucky Angler
This aquatic adventure will pit you against foes from the watery depths below. Lucky Angler brings the great northern tradition of ice fishing to gamblers in every corner of the world.
Your main objective is to get as many matches as possible, making it easier by the game’s 15 paylines. The big catch comes in the form of the golden fish, not to be confused with goldfish.
The prized golden fish stays put until it fails to produce any more winning lines. You’re in for a pretty nice return when you snag this golden fish.
Playing Lucky Angler is a fun and exciting challenge filled with engaging features. The bonus spins seem to rarely end, perfect for refilling the coins after sustaining a losing streak.
2. Super Sumo
I have never participated in a sumo match, not even those giant sumo suits you can rent for parties.
That hasn’t stopped me from having hours of fun playing this sumo-themed slot machine. The game features five unique sumo wrestlers, all portraying different levels of joy and pain.
The cartoon characters of the game are what endeared it to me the most. The giddy Wild Sumo shakes with excitement as you are launched into bonus spins, where the more of his Wild Sumo brothers join, the higher your payout.
Sumo wrestling isn’t at the forefront of many casino patrons’ minds. Still, you don’t have to be a sumo fan or even a wrestling fan to enjoy this enjoyable slot machine.
3. Break Away Deluxe
Hockey began migrating into the United States in the 1990s, and hockey fever was here to stay. Suddenly, high schools across the South began offering hockey as a sport.
Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world. Canada has its own night of the week dedicated to the sport; it’s the country’s national pastime. Even Las Vegas, the desert oasis where temperatures regularly climb into the triple digits, has their own NHL team.
It likely comes as no surprise that the slot makers would recognize the buzz about betting on hockey. Break Away Deluxe sports a unique five-by-five reel layout.
You’ll fight to break away from your opponent’s defense and take your shot at glory. The payoff can be tremendous if you trigger the bonus.
The max payout for the bonus game is 3,200 times your original wager. This can quickly turn your fortunes for the better and fill your pockets with a load of cash.
4. Football Star Deluxe
This soccer-themed game represents the most popular sport on the globe. While the title may be somewhat misleading to American football fans, the game is pretty good.
From striking wilds to bonus spins and multipliers, Football Star Deluxe provides a plethora of ways to win.
This bonus spin trigger multipliers that increase your wins by over 3,000 times your starting bet. Soccer may not be on your list of favorite sports. Still, these games soar in popularity during the FIFA World Cup and Summer Olympics.
Casino Slots Tips for the Newbie
Again, these slot machines can be an excellent way for sports fans to wade into the waters of casino gambling. There are some precautions you should know if you’re new to casino gambling.
- Slot machines eat your money faster than any game in the casino. It’s important to take your time and enjoy the game.
- Don’t play so slowly that fellow gamers are afraid you’re asleep. But if you enable the auto-spin feature, you’re essentially burning money.
- Use the same disciplined bankroll management that you apply to your sports betting. Never play for more than you can easily afford to lose, and resist the urge to chase losses.
Finally, have fun. If you sit down to a slot machine and quickly become bored or aren’t enjoying yourself,walk away.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be a sports enthusiast to enjoy the slot machines that sports fans are sure to get a kick out of. Quite the contrary, these games are entertaining for any slots enthusiasts on the floor, too.
Still, these fun sports-themed games can be an excellent way to kill some time on the casino floor and feel like you’re part of the party.
by John Grochowski
Let’s take a look at what is in store for slot players in 2020 as manufacturers and casinos make changes to their mix of games to better appeal to the players.
Slot machines have paid higher percentages back to players on higher denomination games for decades.
Game manufacturers and casinos would love to be able to signal that to players, who can’t tell from the outside which games pay more than others.
Perhaps IGT will kick off a trend with its Fortune Link progressives, which started rolling into casinos in 2019 and should reach nationwide distribution in 2020. With initial themes Feline Fortune and Egyptian Fortune, Fortune Link games show players on their welcome screens just how playing higher denominations can benefit them.
A word of caution: Even though slot machine payback percentages are higher at higher denominations, you put more money at risk and have higher average losses. Don’t bet more than you can afford in the quest for higher payback percentages.
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That aside, Fortune Link games tell you up front that if you play higher denomination games, you trigger the Fortune bonus more easily. One configuration was spotted that takes you to the bonus with six Fortune Link symbols on 1- or 2-cent games; five symbols on 5- or 10-cent games, and a mere four symbols on $1 and $2 games.
Each machines has multiple denominations. You touch the screen to choose your coin denomination and your Fortune Link trigger requirements.
In the feature, the Fortune Link symbols lock in place and you get three respins to try to add more to the collection. If a respin adds on or more of the symbols, the respin meter resets to three – you can go on respinning until you either fill the screen with Fortune Links or go three respins in a row without adding any.
At the end, you get a bonus for every Fortune Link symbol on the screen.
During bonus rounds on video slots – and on those newer reel slots that have bonuses – you have the opportunity to win credits without risking extra money. Needing fewer symbols to trigger a bonus means higher-denomination players have more bonus play and less time when they are risking money.
If all else is equal, the difference in bonus triggers would mean higher payback percentages at higher coin denominations. We don’t know that all else is equal, but while some players may think that there are secrets to winning on slot machines, revenue reports in various states consistently show higher paybacks at higher denominations. It’s as simple as that.
Fortune Link games are among the latest and greatest to look for in 2020, but the slot machine landscape is ever-changing as manufacturers engage in a constant game of “Can you top this?”
As you explore slot floors, check out these new offerings:
Clinko games, Incredible Technologies: Clinko: King of Bling and Clinko: Winning Wall both feature the Clinko bonus trigger. A Clinko ball falls from the top of the screen on random spins, drops peg to peg, and if it lands on an icon for a game feature, it could bring pumped up symbols, added wild symbols or multipliers – all good news for your credit meter.
The first is the latest version of King of Bling, a longtime Incredible Technologies favorite with a nod toward hip-hop. The base game in the really gets hopping in the Pump Up da Club bonus, where players and a DJ can scratch the record for bigger wins. With three progressive-levels, it’s a thrill-packed game.
Winning Wall also has three progressive levels. It adds to the intrigue by enabling you to win on the wall. Here, the Clinko pegs include jackpot icons. It takes only one Minor peg to win that pot, while you win the Major by accumulating two and the Grand by accumulating three pegs.
Asian themes, multiple manufacturers: The growth of games featuring the sights and sounds of the Far East is among the hottest trends going, and not just because of the enormous growth of overseas markets such as Macau. Americans flock to Asian-themed games, too. Here are some to watch:
Sky Dragons and Fireworks Festival, Incredible Technologies: Fireworks Festival is a 50-line game that makes explosive use of Incredible’s Stack 2 Stack game dynamic. When two stacks of fireworks symbols touch, they pop, bang and sizzle to reveal instant credit awards. Players could also win up to 20 free spins.
The Red Envelope feature offers the chance to win credit awards. When Red Envelopes scatter on the reels, players may pick all but one, with a prize behind each. So if there are five envelopes on the screen, you have four picks to boost your bankroll.
Sky Dragons starts with a typical grid of five reels, each three symbols deep, but when dragons appear in the sky, they can expand the reels, with 5-by-7 as the maximum. All those extra symbols create extra opportunities to win on a game with three progressives and up to 20 free spins.
Jin Ji Bao Xi – Rising Fortunes, Scientific Games: The No. 1 game in Asia, Jin Ji Bao Xi making its North American debut with 5-reel, 243 ways game. Rising Fortunes includes the popular ALL UP bet structure where players can make an extra wager to buy higher-paying symbols.
One game highlight is the Jin Ji Bao Xi Feature where players pick icons to win one of four jackpots.
If six or more Red Gong symbols displaying credit prizes land on the reels, a Feature Selection is triggered and you can choose your bonus. The sum of the credit prizes creates the Shou Bonus, one of the feature selection options.
Players also can choose between a Top Up Bonus and Free Games Bonus where eight free games are awarded. During free games, players can win additional free games while each Gold Gong symbol that lands on the reels award the Shou Bonus.
In the Top Up Bonus, a lock and spin feature, Gold Gong symbols award the Shou Bonus and lucky Green Gong symbols award the sum of all Gong symbols, resulting in a rising fortune.
Shou Hu Shen Xtreme Jackpots, American Gaming Systems: The Asian-themed Shou Hu Shen is based on the good luck and guardian lions along with four progressive jackpot levels. Together, they promise fun and the chance to win big.
Featuring fireworks and sparks animations that add excitement to gameplay, Shou Hu Shen can award massive progressive jackpots. The Jackpot Pick Bonus is randomly triggered any time a Wild symbol lands on the reels during base-game play. Players touch and pick from 12 Lucky Fu symbols until they get three matching progressive symbols to win one of the four jackpots.
During the Free Games Bonus, the number of free spins that can be won depends on the reel configuration selected by the player – 243 ways to win gets 15 free spins; 1024 ways to win gets 10 free spins; and 3125 ways to win gets five free spins.
Pop culture themes: Slot makers have been mining TV, movies, music and board games for decades, with themes including Wheel of Fortune, Monopoly, Elvis and the Beach Boys.
Every year brings new Wheel of Fortune games, and slot players should be sure to look for the likes of Penn and Teller and The Game of Life, too.
Wheel of Fortune 4D Featuring Vanna White, IGT: No new year would be complete with out a new spin on Wheel of Fortune This 75-payline video slot comes on IGT’s new CrystalCurve True 4D gaming machine.
The fourth dimension in “True 4D” is touch. You can reach out to three-dimensional images and get a touch sensation. Instead of touching the screen or pushing a button to spin a prize wheel, you can reach out to the 3D image in front of the screen and give the wheel a spin.
You can bet from 100 to 500 coins, so on a penny machine your bet range is $1-$5. With a bet of at least 300 credits, you qualify for a big-money wide-area progressive jackpot. For those unfamiliar with the terminology, wide-area progressives link multiple casinos so that portions of wagers at different casinos help build the same pot.
Among the game features are original audio and video featuring TV show hostess Vanna White. When you reach out to that 3D wheel to give it a spin, Vanna cheers you on.
The Game of Life – Career Day, Scientific Games: WMS Gaming, which now is under the Scientific Games corporate umbrella, had success with it’s the Game of Life slots a while back, Now, under license from board game owner Hasbro, Scientific Games creates a new slot adventure with a new three-reel game, The Game of Life – Career Day.
Players spin the reels and travel through life while collecting credit prizes, bonuses, and jackpots. Career Day is a 3-reel, 9-line game on the TwinStar J43 with iReels cabinet. The game boasts a life-changing single-level, wide-area progressive jackpot that can be won in the base game and is part of Scientific Games’ Cash Connection or Reel Adventures links.
The game’s centerpiece is the Game of Life Bonus where players are assigned one of four careers – a firefighter, pro athlete, construction worker or culinary chef. You then spin for paydays, raises and spins of a wheel that award moves around the game board.
Stops along the way award credit prizes, additional spins of the wheel, and extra bonuses such as the Weekend Getaway with free spins where reel 2 is Wild and all pays are multiplied by three; or the Groundhog Day Bonus where the reels spin and stop until a winning combination is awarded.
The goal is to reach the Retirement Island Bonus board game where even more prizes, multipliers, and bonuses are available.
Penn & Teller, Everi: The magical duo team up in a 9-payline slot with three mechanical reels, targeted at 25-cent and $1 play.
Loaded with an innovative feature trigger and eight interactive bonuses, players get constant assistance from famous stage magicians Penn & Teller as they wonder what will happen next. Game play incorporates some of Penn & Teller’s most famous tricks, including Vanish a Rabbit, Miser’s Dream, and Shadows. And Everi has added some magic of its own.
In a nudge bonus, a reel nudge may be triggered after any losing reel stop where one “Penn,” “&” or “Teller” lands one position away from a winning progressive combination or where one wheel symbol is one position away from awarding the wheel bonus. Then presto! The symbol nudges into place. Sometimes players may think a “near miss” is programmed into the results, but those in the industry would consider that a slot machine myth.
Smokin’ Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel, Everi: Hot Stuff, the little devil of comic book fame, was a red-hot winner in the original Smokin’ Hot Stuff slot. Now the mischievous imp with his asbestos diaper and trusty trident returns in a 243 ways to win slot, perfect for pennies, packed with multipliers, a progressive pick bonus and progressive jackpots available at all bet levels.
The progressive pick bonus is triggered randomly after any base game spin. Players pick from 25 coins to reveal either a progressive jackpot or pitchfork symbol. Hot Stuff removes the lowest remaining jackpot each time his pitchfork is revealed, thus guaranteeing higher prizes.
Extended game families: When a slot theme really resonates with players and becomes a popular favorite, you can rely on the manufacturer developing a follow-up game. Sometimes they develop into whole families of games.
Here are some newer games that follow up on player favorites:
Mayan Chief Great Stacks, Konami Gaming: Mayan Chief, a Konami favorite, gets a fresh look with six reels, each five symbols deepo, on the curved Concerto Crescent and tall Concerto Stack cabinets.
Mayan Chief Great Stacks is a 60-line game that features Action Stacked Symbols and top free game awards. Action Stacked Symbols are hidden at first, but once all reels are stopped they transform into matching symbols – part of the fun is waiting to see if your Action Stacks will match symbols already on the reels to form winning combos.
A free games feature gives you up to 15 free spins with a 2x multiplier. And for extra bonus excitement, players get to choose their event in the Balance of Fortune feature. When Balance of fortune launches, you can choose regular free games, a random credit prize, or super free games combinations with different combinations of more or fewer free games matched with lower or higher multipliers.
Lightning Zap Jackpots, Everi: With no reels, no paylines and no pay tables, Everi creates a new play experience that builds on the original Lightning Zap game.
Everi calls the jackpot games “innovation on video slots,” available on three game themes: Electric Rush, Power Burst and Super Charge. Each has varying volatility levels and different features, and the series incorporates five linked progressives.
How does it work with no pay tables? Your prizes can vary. Check out the Electric Rush feature where an orb zaps everything to increase prizes by a random multiplier, then zaps away at prizes. In the Power Burst feature, the orb turns into a magnet and sucks in anywhere from four to 22 prizes. Each prize can be upgraded by a random multiplier. In the Super Charge feature, the orb selects four to eight prizes and increases them up to 1,000 times.
Latest innovations: Looking for new ways to play? Try these recent developments:
Blazing X Game Series, Scientific Games: With two game themes – Blazing X – Asia and Blazing X – Las Vegas, this innovative series ramps up player anticipation for the possibility of Blazing X Multipliers on each spin.
Both themes are five-reel, 40-line video slots. There are four progressive jackpot levels available in a jackpot pick feature in which players touch the screen not only to determine their jackpot level but also for a multiplier that can put jackpot winnings into hyperdrive.
The Blazing X Feature, triggered when a Wild Banner symbol lands on reel 3, awards a 2x multiplier for three spins. For every Wild Banner symbol that lands during the three spins, the Blazing X multiplier increases to 3x, 5x, 10x and up to 25x. Blazing X also can be triggered during a Free Games Bonus. And if the Free Games Bonus is awarded during the Blazing X Feature, the current Blazing X multiplier is applied to all Free Games wins. During the free games, additional Wild Banner symbols achieved within three spins increases the multiplier. A Blazing X multiplier streak can really set your credit meter soaring
Most Popular Slot Machines In Casinos
Rakin’ Bacon Xtreme Jackpots, American Gaming Systems: A cherubic pig in a gold coin-filled room is a central figure in this five-reel game with a multi-level progressive that’s packed full of player-favorite features, including free spins, multipliers and scatter pays.
2019 Most Popular Slot Machines In Casinos
As the wins add up, the golden pig gets fatter and fatter, until the player wins the Free Game Bonus and the golden pig explodes to reveals a pick screen. That screen gives you the chance to choose three different reel layouts for up to 3, 125 ways to win. Additional free spins can be won during the Free Game Bonus, making this game even more potentially lucrative. During the randomly awarded Jackpot Pick feature, you touch and select icons until you match three of a kind, which awards a guaranteed jackpot pay.
John Grochowski has been covering casinos and casino games for nearly 40 years. He is the author of six books and
his work appears in newspapers, magazines and websites around the world.
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