HANDPAY JACKPOT On Piggy Bankin Slot Machine, las vegas casino big win, live slot play at casino, las vegas casinos slot machines, high limit slot machine.
1995-2001 (pre-TITO)
Introduction.
First I would like to state that in regards to 1990s Williams slot machines, no one seems to be archiving any informationon these (Williams is not doing this for example). Hence this web page. Even though most pinball people hate Williams slotmachines (because pinball financed slot machine development during the early 1990s,and Wms gaming eventually overtook and closed the pinball division in 1999),I find the Wms spinning reel dotmation slot machines to be the best of this era.(Note WMS Gaming became a publically traded company in 1998.)These are all pre-TITO machines (TITO is 'ticket in, ticket out'). Meaning they take quarters and paper money, and have a hopper to payout quarters. Most new slotsafter 2001 are TITO and don't handle money, only tickets. To me a TITO machinesis not a slot machine, it's a money sucking credit cardish eating device, and is nothing I would want in my home gameroom.
Brief History.
In early 1995 Williams introduced their first spinning reel slot machine of the 1990swith 'Reel Em In' (aka Fishtales slot). This was a very successful game,using great sound and programming to cast (re-spin) the reels with fishingreel sounds for bonus effects. (If a lure symbol lands on the pay line,the reel studders and 'casts' the lure out, hitting the water with soundeffects. Then the reel spins backwards slowly like someone is reeling the lure back.Usually a 'fish' grabs the lure, and the reel shakes and spins like theplayer has caught a big fighting fish).Reel Em In was extremely successful for a first effort, and was well receivedat trade shows and casinos.This was followed up by some other great spinning reel slots like High Speed (themedafter the Williams pinball game, complete with the reels re-spinning like tires burning rubber,and cop chasing sirens), and Top Cat, amoung others.
Towards the end of 1995, Al Thomas of Williams came up with the idea ofadding a 192x64 dot matrix displayto their spinning reel slot machines. These Wms model 40x slot machinesare known as 'dotmation' slots because of the dot matrix display.Though I'm not exactly sure which was the first dotmation slot by Williams,it was probably X-factor or Piggy Banking.Note model 400 and model 401 and model 405 or 40s are Williams reel slots with or without Dotmation, model 250 are Williams sit-down reel slots, model 550are their video slot machines, model 360 are slant top sit-down video slot machinesversion of the 550, and Williams Bluebird is their newest Linix based video slot machine.
If you have a Williams slot machine (dotmation, reel only, or video slot) for sale pleaselet me know. Broken or working is fine (I can fix them). Please email me atcfh@provide.net
ROMs Needed.
Also if you have any ROMs or ROM files for the following Wms Dotmation games,I would really appreciate hearing from you: Batter Up dotmation,Monopoly Advance to Boardwalk dotmation, and Monopoly Roll and Win dotmation.
Advance to Boardwalk
Dotmation slot machine.
What's the 'Best' Game?
I get asked a lot, 'I want a Williams slot machine, but which is the best onefor my home?' That's a hard question to answer, as it's like asking, 'which flavorof ice cream do you like the best?' But I will say this, I like the slots that havesome sort of interactive bonus round. All the Williams slot machines have bonusor dotmation animations that make them much nicer than a 'standard' spinning reel slot.(In my opinion, all other spinning reel slots like IGT are awful in comparison to Wms.) Justsome models get the player involved more than others.
For example, all these games have some sort ofplayer interactive bonus round: Jackpot Party (including Beach and Country), Perfect Match(very similar bonus round to JP Party), Stroke of Luck, Money to Burn, Jackpot Limbo,Mermaid's Gold, and Mermaids Treasure. I would consider all these games to be amoung 'the best'of the dotmation games as the bonus games are interactive (involving player sections and choices).
Next are the spinning reel slots that have non-interactive bonus rounds, hence 'sit and watch' entertainment (these too are incredibly popular and fun). This includesReel Em In, High Speed, Top Cat, Jackpot Stampede (those four are non-dotmation), Winning Streak, Piggy Bankin, Big Bang Piggy Bankin, Mega Multiplier, Palace of Riches, Riverbelle 21, Jackpot Stampede Deluxe, Safe Cracker, and Shopping Spree. And last there are those that don't have a bonus round, but just have lots (often hundreds) of cute dotmation animations that play between spins: Magic Lamp, Pharaoh's Fortune and X-Factor.Note *none* of these Williams spinning reel slots are 'bad'; they are all good. It's just what you like. And again *any* Williams dotmation is better than any IGT model from the 1990s.
Cabinet Styles.
The 400/401/405 upright models came in three cabinet formats: 9' top glass, 16' top glass, and 'round top'(just like IGT). All models were available with or without card-reader strips belowthe top glass (casinos use these to track players). The round top cabinets are considered the fanciest, but personallyI like the 16' square tops the best from a cosmetic point of view. Williams made thedotmation slot machines as late as 2001. (Late models were mostly made forthe Canadian market, as the Canadians put in big ordersfor Dotmation slots around 1999.) Williams also made sit-down versions called the 550 series.These are big things, and generally just too big for the home arcade. (But interestingly the Monopoly series only came in 550 sit-down format.)
Bonus Rounds.
On the dotmation slot machines, if the patron is a 'winner', most games go to a bonus mode whichplays on the dot matrix display (DMD). This was the first useof a bonus game in slot machines with a DMD, and its development is largely due to Williams' involvement in pinball. The creative talent of the pinball programmersand designers really shows through on these dotmation slot machines.Unlike 'regular' slot machines that just have three spinning reels, the bonus games provide a chance to increase the payout, and made the games more interactive and fun. In addition to giving players the chance to win more, these games are more engaging than traditional slot machines, incorporating funny audio and video features on the dot matrix display.
Games that don't have a bonus round instead have random award multiplier (2x to 15x), againincorporated through the DMD. Lots of great animations on the display keeps theplayers more engaged and dropping more quarters to see, 'what it will do next.'The earlier dotmation games generally don't have bonus games. The first dotmations, based on the Williams-assigned game number, are Piggy Bankin, X-Factor, Magic Lamp, Phoroahs Fortune, and have limited bonus features. Later gameslike Winning Streak, Big Bang Piggy Bankin, Jackpot Party, Jackpot Stampede Dlx, Jackpot Limbo, Mermaid's Gold, Shopping Spree, Perfect Match, Money to Burn, Stroke of Luck,Monopoly, etc, have some sort of interesting bonus game.
Even many of the non-dotmation mechanical reels have bonus rounds. For example Jackpot Stampede,High Speed and Short Circuit do 're-spins' when the bonus round is hit. These are incorporatedinto the game's theme very well. Like on High Speed the reels do a 'burn out' like cartires when the bonus round is started, and continues as the cop chases the getaway car. This is all done very well with great sound and speech, and is much more exciting thanany IGT S+ or Bally slot of the same era.
Sound.
The Williams slot machines also have much better sound than their IGT counterparts, withgood music and even speech. The sound is miles ahead of other slot machines ofthe 1990s (most other slots have monotone synth sounds, which is pretty lame compared to Williams slot machines). The familiar Williams pinball 'bong'is used as a Dotmation slot machine is turned on. The sound is so good on Williamsslot machines that it rivals the sound on games made 10+ years later. Even IGT's S2000series and Bally 6000 series can't compete with 1990s Wms slots regarding sound and speech (well unlessyou pay extra and have an additional sound board and software installed,and even then it's debatable if they are better).
Backlit Reels.
Another great feature of Williams slot machines are back lit reels.If a winner is spun, the reels back light showing the winning symbolcombination. Even IGT didn't have this feature until 10 years lateron their S2000 series (and as an upgrade option, not as a stock item).On the Williams slot machines there are 6 lamps behind each reel strip, so even a 5-linegame can show winning combinations. Williams used a lamp matrix much liketheir pinball machines, for a total of 64 CPU controlled lamps (an 8x8 row/column matrix). This is done using TIP102 and TIP107 transistors on theSlot I/O board (same technology used on WPC pinball games).
Dollar Bill Protocol.
Another thing Wms did was to use the JCM dollar bill protocol. This is the methodwhere the dollar bill acceptor 'talks' to the slot machine. Dollar bill acceptorsbecause a big feature of 1990s slot machines, so this is an important item to have working on these 1990s and later slot machines. IGT used their own dollar bill acceptorprotocol, and frankly it stinks! That's why it's so hard to get the dollar billvalidator to work on an IGT S+ machine (I do more repairs related to dollar bill acceptorson IGT machines than any other problem). Compared this to Williams where there israrely a dollar bill validator issue, because Wms used JCM's (the dbv145 and dbv200bill validator manufacturer) protocol.
Reliability.
Every brand of slot machine has its Achillies Heal. For example, in the case of IGT,their dollar bill acceptor never seems to work consistently. And the array of bizzarenumeric error codes and weird procedures to fix them is frustrating. With Williams none of these things are issues (they use english commands on the frontLEDs to display problems), and the dollar bill protocol is far better. Overall IGTslots are not good for a 'home' user, as working on them requires experence and a good understanding of their weird error codes and procedures to fix them. Alsounique set and clear chips are often needed (which are not readily available).In this regard Williams slot machines are far easier to work on.
But Wms slot's can have power supply issues. On dotmation games there are two switching power supplies - one in the top box forthe DMD display, and a lower switcher for the rest of the game. These can both beproblematic. But they are also easily changed out to a single inexpensive ATX computerpower supply (for both upper and lower power), making Williams slot machines pretty bullet-proof.Once this is done, a Wms slot is less problematic than an IGT or Bally slot. And if apower supply problem does happen, 30 seconds later you're up and running with a newinexpensive power supply installed.
Popularity.
Of the Williams dotmations slot machines, certain titles seem to have been made ingreater numbers. For example, Winning Streak, Piggy Bankin, Big Bang Piggy Bankin, and Magic Lampseem to be the easiest to find, and are very popular. Some are pretty rare like Mermaid's Treasure, Shopping Spree, Perfect Match, Palace of Riches, Money to Burn, Riverbelle21, and the two Monopoly games.Williams only had a 1 or 2 percent market share in the 1990s (compared to IGT who basically had 80+% of the slot machine market).So none of the Wms slot machine titles were made in great numbers.
Also some Williams slot machines were made as 'lease only'. This includes thetwo Monopoly dotmation slots. Because they were never sold to the casinos,when the games were 'finished' (when their profit per square foot no longermet casino expectations), the games were returned to Williams. At that pointWilliams would crush the games. Hence very few survived. Some titles were availableas both lease and sale (Jackpot Limbo for example), so they are also 'rare'.
Telneas Patent.
At the time (mid-1990s), Wms was being sued by IGT overpay table calculations (the Telneas patent). This really kept Wms from cranking out machines, as they were tied up in court. The arguement was that a spinningreel could be divided into 72 virtual stops (instead of just 22 'real' stops), andodds were calculated on these 72 virtual stops.
The Telneas patent was originally developed by Telneas of Bally during the early 1980s.The patent was granted to Bally, but gaming commisions would not allow its usage.Because of this, the patent was sold to Universal in the late 1980s and then to IGT in the early 1990s.Somehow IGT was able to convince the Nevada gaming commision that the Telneas patent was Ok,and IGT cashed in on this. Other state gaming commisions followed after Nevada declaredTelneas as legal.
Gaming commisions try to protect the player. For example if a gaming devices usescards or dice, it must react and play like a deck of cards or dice. That is, odds are1 in 52 for any card, and 1 in 6 for any dice position. Slot machines were like thistoo prior to the Telneas patent. There were 11 symbols per reel, so the chances of hitting any symbol was 1 in 22. The Telneas patent made any symbol (or any blank area)have multiple position, which was not obvious to a player, increasing the odds to say 1 in 72 (or even higher). So seeing a 10,000 coin jackpot on a game with 11 symbols was in many respects very deceiving - instead of each reel having the obvious 1 in 22 odds, the odds were really much longer. Because of this the Telneas patent was illegal formany years. It is speculated that IGT bribed or paid-off the Neveda gaming commision to get theTelneas patent approved. This gave IGT the upper hand in slot machines in the 1990s,and this is why IGT had 80% of the slot machine market during this period.
Most games have 11 symbols on eachreel strip. This means there are 22 'stops' on each reel (11 symbols and 11 spacesbetween the symbols). So the chances of hitting any position are 1 in 22. What theTelneas Patent does is to 'divide the pie' into say 72 pieces instead of just 22(even though there are really only 22 visible 'stops' on a reel). This allows for'long odds', where the slot can payout much bigger jackpots. Yes the odds of hittingare reduced, but notice no one plays the lottery when it's at $1 million (but everyoneplays when it's at $50 million!) That's why IGT slots were so popular during the 1990s,since players had the possibility of hitting huge jackpots.
The idea of having many more reel stops than reel symbols was not missed by Williams either.When Wms starting making spinning reel slots in 1995, they also used the Telneas idea.IGT obviously didn't want Wms to enter the slot machine market, so they sued Wms overthe Telneas patent. Manufacturing of Williams games that used the Telneas virtualstop calculations were haulted, and Wms had to go to calculations based on 22 'real' stops.This makes paying out larger numbers of coins more difficult and less lucrative for thecasino, since the potential for big coin payouts is what attracts many slot players. Wms lostthe Telneas lawsuit, which forced them into the video slot machine market (where the Telneaspatent did not apply.) And the Wms spinning reel slot division now did all calculationsbased on 22 'real' stops.
What Williams did to work around the Telneas patent was to increase the number ofsymbols on a reel strip. Instead of 11 symbols, they went to 12 symbols (Jackpot Stampede),and then 18 symbols (Money to Burn, Jackpot Party). This gave Williams36 stops instead of 22 (without violating the Telneas patent), which allowed for longer odds and bigger payouts (though not as long oddsas 72 stops). The reel strips were more cramped, but this compromise helped keepWms in the game and popular amoung players. The Telneas patent also pushed Williams intovideo slots, where the Telneas patent did not apply. This inadvertently made Wms theleader in video slots, where they still are today. So though IGT won the battle of theTelneas patent, they really lost the war of slot machines (since video slots are far morepopular today at casinos than spinning reel slots). Little did IGT know that protectingtheir Telneas patent on spinning reel slots would be the equivalent of shooting themselvesin the foot in the long run.
TITO Video Slots.
Though all the rage at casinos, I personally hate 'ticket in, ticket out' video slots. They just seemso 'unreal' compared to a mechanical spinning reel slot. Casinos love them - less moving partsand less people needed to fill hoppers with coins.Also they can change a game quickly as all that needs to be done is to swap the softwarein the case of a video slot machine.The number of reels and the reel strips obviously change instantly with a software changeon a video slot. But for my basement, only spinning reel slots with hoppers will do.
Williams Slot Machines and Kits for Sale.
Occassionally I have a Williams slot machine or two for sale or some game kits(a 'kit' is the top glass, belly glass, reel strips, and EPROM software so any model 40x canbe converted to another game). Please see thefor sale web pagefor more details.
Titles and Pictures of Williams Slot Machines.
Below is a list of all the Williams Dotmation model 400/401/405 reel slot machines by Williams,and some of the popular non-dotmation slot machines.
| Williams Reel 'Em In Slot Machine (game #??), circa 1995.Reels spin like casting rods, with good sound effects. Game re-made later in model 550 video format.Reel Em In embodied several of the cutting edge pay schemes of the early nineties, including multiplier features and several bonus games. This game became the prototype for later WMS games and the blueprint for its success.NOT DOMATION. | see close-ups. |
| Williams High Speed Slot Machine (game #??).High Speed slot machine has a light animated bonus game in addition to the threespinning reels. Reels act like spinning tires and do a 'burn out' withgood sound effects. NOT DOMATION. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Jackpot Stampede Slot Machine (game #62).Jackpot Stampede slot machine has bonus round where the reels re-spin.When the Stampede symbol lands on the payline, the the voice on the machine calls out, 'it's a stampede', and the sounds of cattle running are heard. Cowboys also call out 'yee-haw', and the reels shake like the earth is movingfrom the stampede. Then the bonus round begins andall three reels spin in different directions and respin until it lands on a winning combination on the payline. Very cute game thateventaully morphed into Jackpot Stampede Deluxe (dotmation).Great sound effects. The original Jackpot Stampede is NOT DOMATION. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Short Circuit Slot Machine (game #??).Williams Short Circuit is somewhat of a copy of the IGT Haywire game.When the game lands on a short circuit, the reels shake (rather violently),plays some confused music, and respins the reels in a bonus round. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Shootin' Stars Slot Machine (game #??).Williams Shooting Stars is somewhat of a copy of the IGT nudge style games(like Double Diamond Deluxe).When the game lands near a 'star', the reel(s) nudge to the payline witha gun shot ricochet. Great sound and music effects. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Jitter Bug Slot Machine (game #??).If the Jitterbug is spun and shows on the last reel, the gameawards a win. The last reel will 'jitter' (shake) and the hopper will spitout bonus coins (even if the game is set to award credits for wins instead of coins).A very cute game with a nice mechanical effect. NOT DOMATION. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Power Sevens Slot Machine (game #42).If you like slot machines with a thunderstorm theme, this is the game for you.Has lots of thunder and lightning sound effects.NOT DOMATION. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Top Cat (game #11 and #80): Game appears to be made twice (hence the two different game numbers), neither are dotmation. With a Buy-A-Pay feature of the Top Cat bonus and a central character players love. During a max bet play, a Top Cat symbol on the payline will make the Top Cat bonus game kick in. Available in a 3 coin version. NOT DOMATION. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Batter Up dotmations Slot Machine:Batter Up baseball slot machine has a 192x64 dot matrix display (DMD) in addition to the threespinning reels. This was the very first dotmation slot machine made by Williams,and was only produced for a trade show (it was never sold). The picture to the right is the only evidence I have seen of the game. If you havethis game I would really love to see some more pictures. Would also love to get the ROMsoftware files for it too. There's one out there somewhere! | see close-ups. |
| Williams Piggy Bankin dotmation slot machine by 'Scott the Dot' Slomiany: The original Piggy Bankin' game does not have the bonus round with thespinning and the bombs (that's a 'Big Bang' feature). The only 'bonus' was the bank, which would beawarded and reset when you spun three 'Break The Bank' symbols(spinning 3 blanks would add the player's wager value to the coinbank). Available in 2, 3 and 5 coin versions. Later updated and re-released asBig Bang Piggy Bankin. | see close-ups. |
| Williams X-Factor dotmation slot machine (game #43): During Max Bet Play, players collect Power Points when the symbol appears in the window. Every 10 Power Points collected increases the X-Factor multiplier. When the X-Factor symbol is part of a winning combination, the player collects the payout times the X-Factor. Available in a 3 coin By-A-Pay version. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Mermaid's Treasure dotmation (game #56) dotmation slot machines. The Mermaid's Treasure idea was conceived by Steve Ritchie, but Ritchie left the project before the game was really started. Lyman Sheets and Adam Rhine picked up and finished the game. Unfortunately Mermaids Treasure got caught up in the Telneas/IGT lawsuit, and very few MT games were made. After Wms lost the lawsuit, Larry Demar and Erica Frohm reissued Mermaid's Treasure as Mermaid's Gold (using calculations based on 22 reel stops, instead of 72 virtual reel stops). Hence the two games are very similar except for the code that does the payout calculations(and the payout table is obviously different). Also the artwork is similar between the two games (Mermaids Treasure is a bit nicer). On either game when the correct reel symbols hit the payline, treasure chests of gold, silver and bronze with random coin amounts appear on the DMD. The chests hinge close and swirl through the sea. The player selects one treasure chest hoping to choose the most valuable. And with just the right combination of mermaids and treasure symbols, multipliers splash in. It's sort of a classic shell game that the player gets to pick the shell. Available in 2 coin version only. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Magic Lamp dotmation slot machine (game #66) by Greg Dunlap: bigger payouts and jackpots won through Dotmation sequences with multipliers emerging from the magic lamp (which sometimes morphs into a lava lamp). Lots of good animations include UFOs shooting a 15x multiplier. Unfortunately no bonus game though. Available in 2, 3 and 5 coin versions. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Mermaid's Gold dotmation (game #68) dotmation slot machines. Started life as Mermaid's Treasure (conceived by Steve Ritchie), but Ritchie left the project before the game was really started. Lyman Sheets and Adam Rhine picked up and finished the game. Unfortunately Mermaids Treasure got caught up in the Telneas/IGT lawsuit, and very few MT games were made. After Wms lost the lawsuit, Larry Demar and Erica Frohm reissued Mermaid's Treasure as Mermaid's Gold (using calculations based on 22 reel stops, instead of 72 virtual reel stops). Hence the two games are very similar except for the code that does the payout calculationsand payout table. Also the artwork is similar between the two games (Mermaids Treasure is a bit nicer). On either game when the correct reel symbols hit the payline, treasure chests of gold, silver and bronze with random coin amounts appear on the DMD. The chests hinge close and swirl through the sea. The player selects one treasure chest hoping to choose the most valuable. And with just the right combination of mermaids and treasure symbols, multipliers splash in. It's sort of a classic shell game that the player gets to pick the shell. Available in 2 and 3 coin versions. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Winning Streak dotmation slot machine (game #69) by Larry DeMar: When 3 Winning Streak symbols appear in the window, the bonus round starts a three reel slot game on the Dotmation display. With a winning combo of symbols, the dot matrix reels continue to spin, increasing the winning amount. No limit to the number of bonus round spins, goes until a 'loser' is hit. Available in 2, 3 and 5 coin versions. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Big Bang Piggy Bankin dotmation slot machine (game #70) by 'Scott the Dot' Slomiany: Updated version of Piggy Bankin. Has a spinning/bomb bonus round (in addition to the'Break The Bank' coin bank bonus like the original Piggy Bankin').Also there is a 'next pig bonus' for each additional pig once you'veeliminated a certain number, based on your wager.In Big Bang, three blanks adds one coin to the coinbank, but only if you were playing the maximum bet Available in 2, 3 and 5 coin versions. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Pharaoh's Fortune dotmation slot machine (game #71): During each spin of the reels, the desert sands will blow and swirl to reveal a multiplier. (Similar to Magic Lamp.) Sometimes the big Spinks cat blows up and a small cat meows and appears (cute animation). Available in 2, 3 and 5 coin versions. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Mega Multiplier dotmation slot machine (game #72): line up the Mega Multiplier symbol on the payline. Then a second set of bonus reels appear on the Dotmation screen. Each Dotmation reel contains a multiplier and times the base win. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Palace of Riches dotmation slot machine (game #73) by Greg Dunlap: designed around a theme of entering a Palace where the player is awarded bonus coins. This occurs by getting three 'ENTER THE PALACE' symbols scattered in the reel window. Above the dot matrix display, there is a grid of coin awards that light up. An arrow in the display picks a column of coins from the grid, award the player the lowest unlit coin value, and then multiplies that value. This process continues until the arrow chooses a column where all of the coins have been collected, at which point the bonus game ends. If the player is playing max coins, and the player collects all the columns, the player will also collect 5000 bonus coins in addition to the coin amount won from the individual coin wins in the Palace. This represents the 5000+ value in the Top Award column in the chart above. Available in a 3-coin version. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Monopoly: Advance to Board Walk dotmation slot machine (game #74). A 3-reel-spinning slot machine features a full-size Monopoly game board with all of the classic Monopoly elements. Millionaire Rich Uncle Pennybags is back to guide players through familiar Monopoly game play with some new twists and turns on the way to Boardwalk. With three Rich Uncle Pennybags in a scatter pay position, the player starts the bonus round on the famous 'GO' space. The animated Dotmation display gives Rich Uncle Pennybags the opportunity to talk, sing and dance as he guides the player through the bonus game full of multipliers, bonuses, and just like the board game, CHANCE and COMMUNITY CHEST CARDS full of surprises. A lease only game, never for sale to the casinos. This makes the game hard to find today. | more details. |
| Williams Jackpot Party dotmation slot machine (game #75, #75b, #75c): a multiline slot with a feature theme of going to a party. By collecting three party favors anywhere in the pay window, the player enters a second party bonus round. The party consists of choosing titles in a grid on the dotmation display board to win coins. The party continues until a title hiding a party pooper is chosen (screen says 'poop'). As a special feature, the player will get an extra 'Surprise Party' from a certain losing combination. The coins values behind the tiles range between 1 to 20 for a 1 coin bet. For multiple coin bets, the coin values behind the titles are multiplied by the coins bet (i.e. tile values range from 5 to 100 for a 5 coin bet). Also available in Jackpot Beach Party (#75b) and Jackpot Country Party (#75c). The reel strips are the same for Jackpot Beach, Jackpot Country and Jackpot Party, only the top glass is different for the three games (JP Party is aqua, JP Beach is blue, JP Country is brown). They all use the same reel glass with a small party pooper noise maker just above the reels. The XU2/XU3 processor software is the same as Jackpot Party too (DMD and sound files are different for the three games though). | see close-ups. |
| Williams Monopoly: Roll and Win dotmation slot machine (game #76). A 3-reel-spinning slot machine features mechanical dice and a mini Monopoly game board. With the 'Wild Dice' symbol on the middle reel on a winning combination, the mechanical dice in the top box spin. The sum of the dice acts as a multiplier for game awards. On max bet, 3 Rich Uncle Pennybags on the payline can really make things swing as he takes the player into the top box bonus round for a trip around the Monopoly game board. When the lights stop on a randomly selected Monopoly square, players might draw a Chance Card, win a multiplier or collect bonus credits. Animated Rich Uncle Pennybags helps guide the player through the game. A lease only game, never for sale to the casinos. This makes the game hard to find today. | more details. |
| Williams Stroke of Luck dotmation slot machine (game #77): Offering a unique twist, every pay becomes a scatter pay. A Mystery Multiplier bonus game built into the display. (Much like Magic Lamp.) There is a bonus game too, when three 'mystery' symbols are received on the reels. As the game highlights five different bonus values, the player must hit the 'spin' button to try and get the best bonus. Another game only available for lease to casinos (not sold), and hence is fairly rare. Available in 4 coin version. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Jackpot Stampede Deluxe dotmation slot machine (game #78): This game takes the theme of Jackpot Party and beefs it up. Player rounds up bonus points as they corral cows and cash cows to the exciting sounds of the old west. During stampede mode the reels shake (neat feature),and then the game goes to a cow corral bonus game on the dotmation. Available in a 3-coin version only. Note the 'Jackpot Stampede Deluxe' version has dotmation (where the original 'Jackpot Stampede' is the non-dotmation version). | see close-ups. |
| Williams RiverBelle 21 dotmation slot machine (game #79) by Greg Dunlap: River Belle 21 with jackpot symbols across the payline, the player wins the base game award and heads into the bonus round. A blackjack dealer with a handlebar mustache deals two cards. A blackjack means big multipliers and big awards. Available in 2, 3 and 5 coin versions. Can't find any more pictures of this game. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Jackpot Limbo dotmation slot machine (game #81): a 5-line game which gives the players a chance to see a flamingo limbo. Three Jackpot Limbo symbols anywhere in the pay window activates the bonus round. The player hears 'It's limbo time' and then sees a pink flamingo limbo in the Dotmation display above the winnings. Player may wager some credits and limbo. Three successful limbos in a single bonus round and the players win the limbo contest. The limbo contest lasts for up to three rounds. Hard game to find because only available to casinos as a lease (not sold). Completely different software than Jackpot Party, and has different reel strips too (flamingos with sunglasses). Reel glass is slightly different too. Available in a 5 coin version. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Perfect Match dotmation slot machine (game# 82): has a TV game show feel where three of a kind earns bonus credits for the player, complete with swinging theme song, cheesy game show host, and glamorous assistant. Three Perfect Match symbols on the pay line and the game kicks into the Perfect Match bonus round. Host Phil Hopper pops up in the corner of the Dotmation display and reveals a grid of 30 tiles. He encourages the player to 'Choose tiles until you match three identical symbols.' The player hits 'SPIN' to select tiles. Once three symbols match, both Phil and his glamorous assistant, Hanna Pull, congratulate the player. In the Super Match bonus, 'wild' tiles can have a 2x, 3x, or 5x multiplier associated with them. Selecting three '5x Wild' tiles on the first three picks awards the top award of the game (40,000 coins on the 3-coin version). Available in 2, 3 and 5 coin versions | see close-ups. |
| Williams Money to Burn dotmation slot machine (game #86). Five coin, five line game with a very creative bonus game. If three fire bells are spun on a payline, player goes to the bonus round. Then a ladder fire truck pulls up on the screen where the player can choose one of three building floors to 'save'. Then six burning windows are shown, and the player much press the 'max bet' button to select a window. Behind the flames are bonus coins. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Shopping Spree dotmation slot machine (game #88). Rare game, hard to find. Player gets 'frequent shopper points' as the game is played. Every 10 points and the player goes up a floor. Once fifty frequent shopper points are received, the player enters a bonus round. The bonus round respins the reels, and the player gets bonus coins as they run through the store collecting them. Very unique dotmation animations and cute elevator shopping music during game play. Very nicely done game. | see close-ups. |
| Williams Safe Cracker dotmation slot machine (game #??). Rare, only available as a lease game (not sold to casinos), so not too many around. Williams' slot machines with pinball themes (like Safecracker) were considered 'high end' and were only leased and not sold to casinos. The object is to get the combination to the safe (a five digit number), gving you a bonus round where you bust into the safe. Excellent animations. Available in 2 coin version only. | see close-ups. |
Free slots are a great way to play your favorite titles without risking any money. While you’ll only win site credits rather than real money, you can still experience the thrills of the perfect match and bonus games. There are also opportunities, though, to play slots online for real money and cash prizes.
The decision as to whether to play slots for free, for cash prizes, or for real money often depends on which state you live in.
Here are some of the best ways to play slots online:
- Play free slots online – Available in all states
- Play slots for cash prizes at online sweepstakes casino sites – Available in all states except Washington
- Play slots for real money – Available in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia
Free Online Slots – Double Jackpot
Playing free slots online is a great way to hone your skills before taking your cash to the real thing, be it at an online casino, a brick-and-mortar casino, or on a sweepstakes casino site. Playing free slots online doesn’t cost any money, it’s completely legal, and you can do it on desktop or mobile device, your choice. What could be better than that?
Play Free Slots Online (No Download Necessary)
Here are some other free slots to play at GamblingOnline.com:
How To Play Free Online Slots
It couldn’t be easier to play free online slots. For one thing, you’re on a website that has a nice variety of options that covers every type of gameplay style.
Whether you’re on a mobile device, a laptop, or a desktop computer, you’re just a click or tap away from the action of free online slots.
Unlike at an online casino, you don’t need to create an account. You also don’t need to deposit any money. All you have to do is click the game, and you’re set to play. You’ll receive plenty of free credits, which can be instantly replenished by refreshing the page.
However, the setup is otherwise the same. You choose the lines or coins you want to play, their value, and you spin. You can even do auto-play. The symbols and bonus games are unchanged as well.
If the real-money version of a slot has a progressive jackpot, that won’t be presented in the free version. But the game won’t be affected, and a placeholder progressive will be used in place of a real-money jackpot.
At many online casinos, even those not legally available in your area, you can often play the slots in free play (AKA demo) mode. This is a great way to try out a game before risking real money.
Best Online Slots For Cash Prizes
Best US Online Casino
on Chumba Casino's Website
Available on Web Browser - No Download Necessary
Best US Online Casino
Chumba Casino
4.9
Chumba Casino ReviewSign-up Offer
Purchase Offer
Chumba Casino is available in almost every state and is our editor’s choice for best US online casino. Their unique sweepstakes model gives players the ability to play their favorite online casino games and win real cash prizes.
Pros
- 2 Sweeps Coins Free!
- Over 100 casino games
- Real Cash Prizes
Cons
Best US Online Slots
on LuckyLand Slots' Website
Available on Web Browser & Android
Best US Online Slots
LuckyLand Slots
4.8
LuckyLand Slots ReviewSign-up Offer
Purchase Offer
LuckyLand is a favorite online casino among slot players. LuckyLand Slots allows players to win real cash prizes using the sweepstakes online casino model. LuckyLand offers over 50 unique slot games.
Pros
- 10 Sweeps Coins Free!
- Over 50 Slots Games
- Real Cash Prizes
Cons
Best US Online Slots
on Funzpoints' Website
Available on Web Browser
Best US Online Slots
Funzpoints
4.6
Funzpoints ReviewSign-up Offer
Registration Offer
Funzpoints is an online sweepstakes casino, which allows you to enjoy casino-style games like slots and Keno for fun and for a chance at real cash prizes.
Pros
- 1000 Funzpoints Free!
- 250 Premium Funzpoints After Registration
- Real Cash Prizes
Cons
Online Slots At Sweepstakes Casinos (Best Option For Most States)
Available in: All states except Washington state.
If you don’t happen to live in NJ, PA, or WV your best bet is a sweepstakes online casino where you can play your favorite online casinos for real cash prizes. Sweepstakes poker sites allow players an opportunity to play online poker for cash prizes.
How To Win Cash Prizes Playing Free Slots? Sweepstakes Casinos
The Best Online Slots For Cash Prizes:
Too many slot lovers are unaware of sweepstakes casinos, which are a legal, trustworthy, and legitimate way to win cash prizes and gift cards playing online slots.
Sweepstakes casinos like Chumba Casino, LuckyLand, and Funzpoints do not take real-money deposits. Instead, you play using Sweeps Coins, and you can exchange the Sweeps Coins you win for cash prizes or gift cards.
Sweeps Coins are directly redeemed, meaning the more you win at Chumba Casino or LuckyLand, the bigger your cash prize or gift card. At Chumba Casino, you need to win at least 100 Sweeps Coins to receive a cash prize while LuckyLand’s minimum is 50 Sweeps Coins.
Best of all, you can play these slots for free, no purchase required. Just for signing up, you’ll receive Sweeps Coins, and you receive additional Sweeps Coins just for logging in.
While you do also have the option to purchase Gold Coin packages that include Sweeps Coins, it’s not required to win cash prizes for free at Chumba Casino or LuckyLand.
Everything You Need To Know About Online Slots
Why Play Free Slots Online?
Discovering Your Favorite Game
Like anything else, slot machine gaming is more fun if you understand the ins and outs. There are multiple types of games, and some of them are more suited for some players than others.
For example, you might be happy with a high-volatility game that pays out less often but has a higher jackpot, like a progressive. But someone else may prefer to get paid more often, even if it means the top prize is lower, which is offered by the low-volatility slots.
Practice Makes Near-Perfect
Beyond discovering the type of game you like to play, free slots also allow you to practice strategy and hone your skills.
Playing a slot without knowing how it works is a great way to lose money unnecessarily.
But when you play with intimate knowledge of the game, you set yourself up for the highest likelihood of success.
Playing Slots Online Is Fun
If you love to play slots, it’s a good idea to mix things up with some free play spins. It’s an entertaining and exciting way to pass the time without any chance of losing money.
You can’t play a traditional slot machine for free. All the options at the brick-and-mortar casinos require you to insert money. But thanks to the internet, you can just pull out your phone and play instantly.
Best Online Slots For Real Money
Best New Jeresy Online Casino
on Golden Nuggets' Website
Available on Web Browser, iOS & Android
Best New Jeresy Online Casino
Golden Nugget Online Casino
4.7
Golden Nugget ReviewNo Deposit Offer
Deposit Offer
Golden Nugget is the very best online casino in New Jersey. Golden Nugget has an amazing assortment of online slots with many of the same titles as you would find in las Vegas. They offer over 700 online slot games, one of the most of any online casino.
Best Pennsylvania Online Casino
on DraftKings Casino's Website
Available on Web Browser, iOS & Android
States Accepted Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia
Best Pennsylvania Online Casino
DraftKings Online Casino
4.7
DraftKings Casino ReviewDeposit Match
DraftKings Casino is one of the fastest-growing online casinos in the United States. DraftKings Casino has live dealer games along with many of your favorite casino games including online slots, blackjack, roulette, and more!
Best West Virginia Online Casino
on BetMGM Casino's Website
Available on Web Browser, iOS & Android
Best West Virginia Online Casino
BetMGM Online Casino
4.6
BetMGM Casino ReviewNo Deposit Offer
Deposit Offer
BetMGM casino is brought to you by the same company that operates MGM casinos across the United States including Las Vegas. BetMGM offers over 100 casino games including slots, blackjack, roulette, and more! All of your Las Vegas favorites are there.
Which States Have Legal Online Slots for Real Money?
Currently, very few states offer both online casinos and online sports betting. However, online gambling is trending upwards and we expect to see many states jump on board in the coming years.
One form of gaming that is allowed in 49 states is sweepstakes gaming. Sweepstakes casino sites allow players in most states to play online casino games for cash prizes. Otherwise, if players are looking to play slots online for real money, they are limited to only a handful of states.
- Sweepstakes Online Casinos (All US States but Washington)
- Michigan Online Casinos – Launching November 2020
Any real-money online casino that’s accessible from a state without legal online casinos is an illegal, offshore site. We highly recommend avoiding those; otherwise, you risk your finances as well as your personal information. With a lack of regulations and oversight, these sites are generally unsafe.
Before playing at a real-money online casino, make sure it is legally available in your state.
How To Play Slots: The Basics
Generally speaking, you play a slot by spinning three to five reels that feature various symbols. The goal is for those symbols to line up in a combination that triggers a payout when the reels stop. It’s that simple.
Unlike games like blackjack or poker that require strategy, slots is based almost entirely on luck. However, there are some ways to give yourself the best odds of winning.
Paylines/Playlines
Paylines (or playlines) are the different patterns that symbols line up across to create winning combinations.
Each one can win independently, so the more paylines you play, the higher your chances of winning. And because you win multipliers, higher value paylines mean bigger prizes.
Pro-Tip: It may be required to play all paylines (or Bet Max) to qualify for the progressive jackpot. Check the info on the specific game to find out.
Return to Player (RTP) or Payback
Payback (or RTP) is the average amount a slot pays out in relation to how much the player put in. For example, a payback of 75 percent means that you can expect to win $75 for every $100 wagered.
Of course, this is simply the average, and payback stats will rarely occur exactly as expected.
For example, wagering $100 on a slot with a payback of 96 percent could mean losing the full amount. At the same time, wagering $5 on a slot with a 75 percent payback could mean winning a million-dollar jackpot.
“Max Bet”
Max bet is betting the maximum number of lines at their maximum value. This can range from $20 to $125 or more depending on the casino. In some cases, Max Bet is required to win the progressive jackpot or trigger certain features.
Warning: Selecting Max Bet can sometimes both set the highest values and automatically spin the reels and place the bet. So don’t click Max Bet unless you’re planning to do exactly that.
Slot Features, Free Spins, and Bonus Games
Five-reel slots (and some three-reels) will often have features and bonus rounds. The most common is a Free Spins Feature, but some have cascading symbols, pick ‘em games, and beyond.
Further, the games will usually have additional twists. As a random example, double the wild symbols during the free spins feature.
How Wild Symbols Work
Wild symbols take the place of any other regular symbol to create winning combinations, which is why they’re also known as substitute symbols. They may also double or triple wins.
Wild symbols do not normally replace scatter symbols, which usually trigger features. The game description will let you know exactly what the wild symbols can and cannot replace.
Piggy Bankin Slot Machine
How Progressive Jackpots Work
In a progressive slot, a portion of every bet is added to a jackpot until it’s won. Usually, the progressive jackpot is awarded randomly at the end of a spin, but sometimes it’s triggered by certain symbol combinations or through an in-game feature.
In some cases, a progressive jackpot is part of a shared network of slots. That means you can win the same jackpot while playing one of two or more different games.
Some progressive jackpots are also tiered, meaning there’s a grand prize as well as smaller progressive payouts that are slightly easier to win.
Each Type Of Slot Machine
| Slot Type | Free Version | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Slots | Double Jackpot | A classic slot is a three-reel game with one to five lines. Choose to play with one to five coins. Setting the coin value determines the value of the coins wagered as well as the coins won. |
| Video Slots | Divine Fortune | A video slot usually has five reels but can have anywhere from four to seven. This is an umbrella term that encompasses 3D slots, All-Ways-Pay, and any slot that would require a screen rather than physical reels. While no slot has physical reels these days, the video slot moniker remained. |
| 3D Slots | Wheel of Fortune | 3D Slots are a form of video slot that features 3D symbols, backgrounds, and animations. The quality of some of them are on-par with 3D animated films. |
| Fruit Machines | Cash Wheel | Colloquially, a fruit machine is a slot that features fruit symbols, like cherries and lemons. However, in the UK, fruit machines (fruities) are a specific type of slot with special rules that add some strategy to the game, such as bumping symbols and stopping one reel before the rest. |
| All Ways Pay | Wheel of Fortune | An All Ways Pay slot has all the paylines preselected, so you determine your wager based on coin play. All Ways Pay slots can have 243, 720, or as many as 1024 lines, all of which can trigger a payout. |
| Progressive | Hot Shot Slot | A progressive slot features a jackpot that continuously grows as people bet on the game. Progressive jackpots can be won independently from fixed jackpots. |
Playing Slots: Where To Go And What To Play
Slots Capitals Of America
The most famous places to play slots are famous for a reason. Few cities have a slot machine every few feet or so, making them essential destinations for any slots enthusiast. These are:
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Reno, Nevada
- Atlantic City, New Jersey
- New Orleans, Louisiana
However, the states of Colorado and North Dakota also have dozens of land-based casinos across the state.
For those looking for an international casino excursion, Macao’s Cotai Strip rivals the Vegas Strip for best gambling on the planet.
Slots With The Biggest Prizes
Progressive jackpot slots have the biggest possible prizes. The Megabucks slot at Excalibur Hotel & Casino (part of MGM Resorts) on the Vegas Strip once paid out a massive $39.7 million, a Vegas record. No slot will have a fixed jackpot that’s even close to that number.
Slots With The Best Odds
If you’re a more conservative bettor looking for consistent wins, we recommend playing slots with a high return to player (RTP).
If you don’t have access to legal online casinos, that means you’ll need to go to Vegas, Reno, or AC, where casinos actually have local competition. In areas where the closest competing casino is a hundred miles away, you likely won’t find very high RTP slots.
But you should still be able to look up some of the titles before going and find the highest RTP options. A good RTP at a land-based casino (relative to the market as a whole) is 85 percent or higher.
Why Are Slots The Most Popular Casino Game?
Slots are the most popular casino game by far. In fact, they make up more revenue than all the other casino games combined. The reasons are because slots:
- Are easy to learn.
- Are fast-paced, flashy, and fun to play.
- Have huge win potential.
- Can be played for pennies.
Basically, slots are approachable and might make you an instant millionaire. That’s tough to beat.
What Else Do You Need To Know About Online Slots?
Free Online Slots Are Legal And Completely Safe
Free online slots may be the safest form of casino gaming. You do not need to make an account or register (more on that below), you don’t need to deposit, and no real money can be won.
Because you’re playing with free play credits, it’s also legal everywhere in the United States without exception. While real-money online slots mean risking some money, free slots mean nothing more than having fun.
There Are Two Legal Ways To Win Money Playing Slots Online In The US
You can play free slots online to your heart’s content. There’s no limit whatsoever, and you can refresh your credits at any time. However, if you want to play slots online for a cash prize in the US, you have two options.
If you’re in a state with legal online casinos (NJ, PA, WV, MI, and DE), you can join one of the licensed sites and apps in your state.
If you’re in any US state except for WA, you can play sweepstakes slots on Chumba Casino or LuckyLand for your chance at cash prizes, no purchase necessary.
You Don’t Need To Register Or Create An Account To Play Slots Online
No need to share your email or log in through your Google or Facebook account. You don’t need to create a password or give any personal information. To play an online slot for free, you simply select the slot and play. There’s nothing more to it than that.
You Can Play Slots Online Several Different Ways
You have your choice of a handful of different options when it comes to playing slots online. These include:
- Legal online casinos in states that allow it.
- Sweepstakes casinos like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand.
- Sweepstakes poker site Global Poker, which has a couple of slots as well.
- For free online at trusted sites like this one.
- In free casino apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play with free-play slots.
- On Facebook through slots apps offered by developers within the social media site.
- Video games with casino minigames such as The Sims, Far Cry, GTA, and Pokemon.
Some Of The Most Popular Slots In Las Vegas Are Free To Play
You can play some of the most popular slots on the Las Vegas Strip right here. From in-depth video slots to classic three-reel slots and everything between, you can find the best in gaming without signing up or making a deposit.
FAQs – How To Play Slots Online
Absolutely. We recommend the best free slots online above. These are available in all 50 states. Even in states with legal online casinos, many casino sites will also offer slots in demo mode, allowing you to learn how to play the slot machine before depositing money.
No, not really. Most legal online casinos and online sports betting sites offer new player bonuses. Because you are not betting with real money, there are not bonus offers for playing free slots. Instead, you get the benefit of playing slots for fun, for free.
Yes. Legal online casino apps that offer slots to play in demo mode can be played using an app from either the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Most free online slots, though, can be played on a mobile device using the phone’s browser. Many are optimized to play well on a mobile browser.
Legal online casinos can offer dozens, if not hundreds, of options of slots online. Sometimes more than would normally be on a casino floor. Some of the best slots for real money include options from BetMGM and the Golden Nugget.