Slot machines have come a long way, with the presence of online casinos bringing players numerous options to choose from. Even though virtual casinos offer a vast variety of games one could enjoy, many players find the old-school classics most appealing.
For those who enjoy a standard casino experience, there are plenty of classic slots to play online. They ensure easy gameplay, less risky bets, and a great casino time that can still be very fruitful. If you are wondering what the advantages of classic slots are and whether it is worth playing 3-reel options, we advise you to continue reading this article.
History of Classic Slots
Classic slots that we are used to seeing nowadays have come a long way since the first slot machines that were ever created. It was at the turn of the 20th century when the first slot machine was created in America. Later on, slot machines took over other parts of the world like England and Australia.
The Simplicity of the First Slot Machines 
Improvements on Slot Machines and Modern Classic Slots The Simplicity of the First Slot Machines
Understandably, the first slot machines were rather simple, with standard playing cards being used for the symbols of the games. These old-school machines would have 3 or 5 reels, with some of them incorporating as many as ten symbols on each reel. Slots were triggered to spin by inserting a coin and pulling a lever on the side of the machine. To win the game, symbols had to match across a single line.
Back in the day, slot machines did not offer any cash prizes but rather players would get tokens to purchase chewing gums, soap, cigarettes, and other types of small prizes. The earliest slot machines were not considered a serious form of gambling which is why they could often be found at pubs, trading stores, and convenience stores.
Improvements on Slot Machines and Modern Classic Slots
As years passed, the design of classic slots was improved, replacing the old-school springs and lever with mechanical parts. In the 1960s, the slot machines were already much faster and were extremely flashy when someone was lucky enough to win a jackpot. The newer classic slots were named one-armed bandits by players as they would still use a mechanical lever to trigger the spin of the reels.
Fruits, BAR icons, golden bells, and 7s were among the usual symbols used in modern slot machines. Nowadays, online classic slots are often inspired by old-school fruit machines and tend to use symbols reminiscent of old slot machines. If you enjoy playing classic slots, you have the opportunity to do that at most land-based casinos, virtual casinos, and even on mobile apps. With software developers striving to offer entertaining options to players, nowadays, the choice of classic slots online is endless and can satisfy any slot fan.
How Classic Slots Compare to Video Slots
The easiest way to understand the features that a classic slot is offering is to compare it to video slots. This way you can see the differences between them and pick the type of slot that fits your preferences the best.
Classic slots feature 3-reel grids
Video slots feature 5 or more reels
Classic slots tend to have a single or just a few paylines
Video slots have multiple paylines or ways to win
Classic slots tend to pay only from left to right
Some video slots pay both ways
Rarely do classic slots feature bonus games
Most commonly, video slots have bonus games and features
Not many classic slots incorporate any special symbols
Most video slots incorporate special symbols like Scatters and Wilds
Classic slots require smaller, less risky bets
Although offering bigger payouts, video slots tend to require riskier bets
Classic slots mimic the design of old-school slot machines and have simpler looks, with symbols like fruits, bells, and BAR icons
Video slots are often inspired by popular movies, TV shows, celebrities, books, fictional characters, etc.
Most classic slots follow a uniform look and gameplay, making them less exciting to play for a long time
Some players find video slots more entertaining as they offer different gameplay and can be extremely entertaining
Bonus Features Some Classic Slots May Offer
Although bonus features are typically incorporated in video slots, there are some classic variations that also offer special features. This being said, do not expect anything too intricate if you are playing classic slots as their bonus features tend to be rather simple.
The bonus features that can most commonly be seen in classic slots include:
Free Spins and Re-spins 
Gamble Feature 
Nudge and Hold Features Free Spins and Re-spins
Some classic slots may award re-spins whenever a winning combination is landed. This gives players more opportunities for bigger payouts, wagering only their original stake from the previous spin. It is also possible to play a classic slot that may award a few rounds of free spins, giving players more opportunities to rack up bigger wins.
Although classic slots are mostly preferred due to their simplicity and less risky bets, there are some classic slots that can add a bit of thrill to the gameplay. In some cases, whenever players hit a winning combination, they will have the opportunity to boost their profit by wagering their win.
Gamble Feature
Nudge and Hold Features
When you play some classic slots, you may notice that they feature another type of special feature. There are some fruit machine-inspired games that incorporate a nudge feature. It will allow players to move the reels with a single position down. This may help them land a winning combination they would not otherwise hit. It should be mentioned that since the nudge feature is not available on every spin, players have to determine when it is the best time to make use of the option.
Often, the classic slots that offer the nudge feature also have a hold option. Instead of moving reels, the hold feature will allow you to freeze a reel so it does not move any positions. It is up to the players to decide when it is the right moment to stop one of the reels from spinning but most slots fans prefer this feature when a high-paying symbol appears on the reels.
Popular Classic Slots to Play Online
If you are interested in playing classic slots online but you are not sure which options to try, you can take a look at the several games we will list below. These variations are created by some of the most innovative software providers in the iGaming industry. While staying true to the simplicity of old-school fruit machines, the classic slots on our list can still be very entertaining and rewarding.
Break Da Bank 
Couch Potato 
Alchemist’s Lab 
Route 777 
Jackpot Jester 50,000 Break Da Bank
Break Da Bank is a great classic slot variation to play online. It is provided by Microgaming, which is one of the biggest gaming companies in the iGaming industry. The slot is spread on a 3-reel grid and has 5 paylines, with the biggest prize that can be rewarded being capped at 2,400 coins and the RTP being 95.43%.
The slot is using dollar signs and BAR icons for its paying symbols that ensure payouts when matched 3 times across any of the 5 paylines. While there are single, double, and triple BAR icons, even a combination of different BAR symbols will ensure players a payout.
What makes Break Da Bank a great classic slot variation is the presence of a Wild symbol. The Break Da Bank logo acts as a Wild that can replace other slot symbols. Not only will the Wild help players complete winning lines but it will also apply a multiplier on the win. A combination with a single Wild will award 2x your win, while a combination with two Wilds will apply a 4x multiplier on the win.
The Wilds of Break Da Bank can also award the highest payout of the slot. When three Wilds land on the fifth payline, the game will award its fixed jackpot prize of 2,400 coins. The betting range of Break Da Bank is wide enough to suit the preferences of different types of players. This being said, the least amount one could bet per line starts at $1, which may be a bit higher for players who prefer smaller bets. This is a high-variance classic slot, indicating that smaller wins are less frequent but there are good opportunities for higher payouts.
Couch Potato
Another classic slot by Microgaming includes Couch Potato, giving fans of this type of casino entertainment the chance to have a superb slot experience. Staying true to the old-school slot machines, Couch Potato has only 3 reels and a single payline that goes through the middle of the slot.
The slot incorporates a bunch of classic symbols, including cherries, 7s, and BAR icons. The great thing about the cherries icon is that players can enjoy a payout even if it appears only once on the single payline in the middle of the slot. In addition to the basic symbols that grant a payout when they land on the middle payline, there is also a Wild. The Couch Potato log acts as a Wild that substitutes the rest of the icons in the game.
Not only can the Wild complete a winning combination but it also applies a multiplier to the win. When a single Wild is a part of a winning combination, it will grant 5x the win. If two Wilds appear on the payline, they will pay 25x the win. Keep in mind, however, that the special feature of the Wild applies only when it is a part of a winning combination and does not appear alone on the payline.
Couch Potato is a high-variance slot which means that when wins are landed, they can be very generous. This being said, you will need a bigger bankroll as you might end up spinning the reels without any wins for quite some time. This classic slot has an average RTP of 97.43%, with players increasing their chances for bigger wins if they opt for the maximum bet of 3 coins.
Alchemist’s Lab
While staying true to the simplicity of classic slots, Playtech has made sure to offer a slightly different slot experience with Alchemist’s Lab. This is a typical 3-reel slot, with just a single payline that awards payouts for matching identical symbols. The RTP of the slot is 96.39% and since it is a medium-variance game, it offers pretty good chances for regular payouts.
Instead of the regular classic slot symbols, Alchemist’s Lab uses gold coins and rings, as well as potions with different colors. The gold coins are probably the most generous icons in the game as players can enjoy a payout even if a single coin lands on the single payline of Alchemist’s Lab.
While the slot does not incorporate Wilds that can replace other symbols, a special Book will act as a Scatter that can trigger the slot’s bonus feature. When three books appear on the slot grid, this will trigger a side game where players will need to pick from three different vials with potions. The amount they will win depends on their choice during the bonus game.
Route 777
If you want to experience something fun and still inspired by old-school slot machines, you can test your luck on Route 777. This is a classic slot by ELK Studios that still resembles the design of fruit machines but incorporates different special features that can lead to very rewarding outcomes.
The slot has 3 reels and 17 paylines, with symbols on the grid being reminiscent of old-school fruits, BARs, and 7s. In addition to the regular paying symbols, the classic slot also incorporates Skull symbols that can trigger one of the special features of Route 777. Whenever three Skull icons appear anywhere on the reels, players will enjoy five rounds of free spins.
During the free spins game, when two Skull icons land on the reels, this will trigger a random number of additional free spins. Meanwhile, three Skulls during the free spins feature will trigger the Route 777 Fortune Wheel. This will load a new grid with multiple 7s on the reels. The feature will continue until three identical 7s are matched on the reels or the STOP sign hits.
Route 777 also has another bonus feature that can be triggered while playing the base game. Whenever the symbols on the first and second reels are identical, this will start the Overtake Respins feature. It will have the third reel spin for five rounds, while the first and second reels will move only one position down with every respin.
Route 777 is a high-volatility slot, meaning smaller payouts are not that common but there are great chances for bigger wins that can be quite generous. The RTP of this classic slot stands at 96.3%.
Jackpot Jester 50,000
Fans of classic slots can also have a very enjoyable experience with NextGen’s Jackpot Jester 50,000. When you launch the game, you will immediately feel as if you have entered a real casino. The slot’s design is inspired by classic fruit machines, allowing you to enjoy a very authentic slot experience.
The slot has 3 reels and 5 paylines and its symbols are reminiscent of old-school fruit machines, with cherries, strawberries, watermelons, and other fruits spinning on the reels. In addition to the regular paying symbols, the slot also incorporates a Jester Wild that can substitute for other symbols.
You will notice that the game incorporates two separate 3×3 slot grids. When players bet at least 20 coins and win the lower slot game, they will have the chance to move to the slot above and play the Super Game. It should be noted, however, that to play the top slot, players will need to bet at least 5x their base stake. The potential payouts of the top slot, however, can be much higher, making the game even more rewarding.
Jackpot Jester 50,000 has an RTP of 95.1% and since it is a medium-volatility game, smaller payouts are not that uncommon. What is more, those who are willing to take additional risk may end up sweeping major payouts thanks to the Super Game of this classic slot.