How Did Online Slots Get Started in the US?
The first online slot games began appearing around 1996, at a time when the first online casinos were just starting out. Microgaming was among the first online casino software providers to be commercially successful, soon followed by others like RTG and Boss Media.
As the Internet use became more widespread, millions of people over the years have played a variety of slot games online. There are currently tens of thousands of slot games available to play online and new ones are being developed on a regular basis.
Casinos that use software provided by RTG, accept US players and offer a variety of real money online slots, like the three-reel Sevens and Stripes, or video slots such as Cleopatra’s Gold.
Another software provider that welcomes US players is WGT, which created some of the best online slots like Cash Grab, Lucky 7’s, Cool Bananas and La Fiesta.
How Real Money Online Slots Work
Online slots work in a way that is very similar to the slot machines you would find in a casino in Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Just like their real-world counterparts, real money online slots come in a variety of types. You have classic slots, which typically have three reels and a single payline, plus 5-reel video slots, which can have dozens of paylines as well as additional winning combinations that could include wild or scatter symbols.
Some real money online slots have bonus features, in which a mini-game is activated whenever the right combination of symbols appears. This mini-game gives a player the chance to win more money.
Finally, you have progressive slots, which come in either classic 3-reel or 5-reel varieties. Progressive slots have a jackpot that keeps on growing until it is won by a player. Some progressive jackpots can reach very high amounts and are typically in six figures.
Advantages of Playing Online Slot Machines
Online casinos offer numerous advantages for slot players when compared to land-based casinos. At an online casino, you have a lot more control over the slot features, like the ability to choose how many coins you bet for each payline and how many paylines you activate.
Most casinos also offer an auto play feature that will keep spinning the reels for a chosen amount of times without having the player press the “Spin” button each time. Also, online casinos are now available on many mobile devices, plus give players very generous bonus offers, while it is rare for a land-based casino to give free money to new players.
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Is Playing Real Money Online Slots Safe and Legal?
The best way to ensure that you stay safe while playing real money online slots is to check the reputation of the online casino you want to play at by doing a quick online search and to make sure that they are properly licensed.
Legitimate online casinos will always display their licensing information on their websites. There are various legal restrictions on online gambling in the US.
It is generally illegal for private companies to operate an online casino on US soil, which explains why all online casinos are located in foreign countries. After the 2006 passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), financial institutions are prohibited from letting US clients send money to foreign online gambling operators, which explains why many have preferred to close their doors to US players.
However, many methods are still available for US players to deposit and withdraw money from online casinos. Some countries, like the United Kingdom, have legalized online gambling. Others, like Brazil and Japan, continue to prohibit it.
Best Online Casinos For US Slots Players
The top online casinos for real money online slots players are: Lincoln Casino, which is powered by WGT software and offers a 100% welcome bonus of up to $5000, Liberty Slots Casino, which offers dozens of WGT slot games like Fairies Forest and Safari, Raging Bull Casino has over 120 slot games and is powered by RTG software. They also offer generous no-deposit bonuses from time to time.
Onbling and Slotocash are two other RTG casinos that offer more than 100 different slot games, plus some very generous free chip offers and deposit bonuses to new players.
All of these online casinos are properly licensed in a jurisdiction that allows online gambling, welcome US players and make it easy for them to deposit by accepting US credit cards. They have also been operating for several years and have very good reputations for treating their players fairly.