If you are familiar with slots, you would have noticed that slot machines have a “BAR” symbol as one of the many symbols on their reels. To know why this came to be, I would have to take you on a historical ride to let you know why you will find slot machines saying BAR on their reels. But first, what are these BAR symbols?

The “BAR” Symbol – What is it?

The symbols on a slot reel are often traditional. These symbols include stars, numbers, fruits, and of course, the bar symbol.

You will usually find the BAR symbol on fruit slots’ reels as a common payout symbol. This BAR symbol, most of the time, looks like a small box with the letters B-A-R inside it. In other slot games, you might find the BAR symbol as two BAR words stacked onto each other into one symbol. In fact, some other slots have three BAR words as a single symbol.

There are different fruit slots with varying values for their respective BAR symbol. In most games, the BAR symbol is the second-highest or mid-range payout symbol between the 7 and fruit symbols. For slot titles that have multiple BAR symbols, the double and triple-layered ones usually have higher payouts than the single BAR symbols. Now that we know what the BAR symbol is, let’s now have some history class.

History of the BAR Symbol

To go straight to the point, the BAR symbol on slot reels has to do with gums. The symbol represents a pack of gums that you could have easily gotten from the grocery store if you were around in the early 1900s.

There are quite a number of theories that suggest how the BAR symbol came to be. According to one of the most accepted theories, the BAR symbol came to be as a result of the strict gambling restrictions in the US during the early 1900s. Slot machines in those days were referred to as one-armed bandits, and they were banned in the United States. However, establishments still found a way for their customers to keep spinning the reels by offering chewing gum as a payout. This is why fruit slots usually have cherry and lemon symbols since they are gum flavors. These slots were usually found in bars and speakeasies.

The first establishment to create mechanical fruit slots was the Industry Novelty Company in the year 1909. Shortly after, a Chicago-based enterprise, Mills Novelty Company, made their slots with just one difference – a BAR symbol on its reels. The BAR symbol as we know it today was originally represented as a photograph of a chewing gum pack.

Another popular historical theory suggests that the BAR symbol was the logo of a chewing gum company called Bell-Fruit Gum Company which looks like an elongated version of the well-known BAR symbol. Anyone who matched winning symbols on the lines got chewing gums from that company as payout from slot machines of that era.

Top Online Slots with the BAR Symbol

Let’s go through some of the most popular online BAR slot titles that you can check out right away. I tried a number of them and came up with three titles based on the features they have. In no particular order, here they are:

• Retro Reels: Diamond Glitz (Microgaming): This is one BAR slot game by Microgaming that speaks riches and luxury. The BAR symbols come in single, double, and triple-stacked types with an accompanying diamond symbol. Matching three BAR symbols give you a payout of 5 coins, four symbols earn you 20 coins, and five symbols land you 75 coins as a payout.
• Progressive Diamond Jackpot (Betsoft): With Betsoft’s Progressive Diamond Jackpot, you get to experience the Las Vegas single pay line slots of the 70s. BAR symbols are available in one, two, and three stacked types. The triple-stacked version pays the most while the single stacked version pays the least. If you match any three BAR symbols, you win four coins.
• Twin Spin (NetEnt): The defining feature of NetEnt’s Twin Spin is the “Twin Reel”. When triggered, the Twin Reel feature makes two to five random reels to have matching symbols appear on them. When you successfully match 3 BAR symbols, you win 15 coins. Matching four BAR symbols give you 100 coins, while five matched symbols deliver 400 coins to you.

Conclusion

I am glad we have been able to go on a ride down memory lane to discover the origins of the BAR symbol we find on slot machine games. Now that you know the history of the BAR symbol, you see on many reels you spin, I see you playing slots (both physical and online ones) with fresh eyes.

Who wouldn’t love to walk out of a brick-and-mortar casino or log out of an online casino with something huge as a jackpot prize? That’s the dream of every slot player – to win millions spinning the reels. But what are the odds of being among the history makers in the world of progressive slots? Is there a way you can better your chances of winning the largest slot payouts? In this article, I’ll tell you the odds of winning and how you can improve your winning likelihood.

The odds of Winning Huge Jackpots in Slot Games

To get straight to the point, the likelihood of any player winning a major jackpot ranges from 50 million to over 100 million to one. Your odds of winning a slot jackpot is dependent on two things – the RTP rate and the variance of the slot game.

You should note that odds are set by software providers, and they tend to differ from the actual probability of a slot game. As a matter of fact, some slots can have odds of hitting the jackpot as high as 600 million to one.

The jackpot probability referred to here is from local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) progressive slots instead of slots with fixed jackpots. The more people spin these slot reels, the more the jackpot amount increases. LAN progressives count spins from slot machines within a vicinity, while WAN progressives count spins from slots around the world. Obviously, the former will have a lower jackpot prize than the latter due to the availability of the games.

For us to understand how slot games determine who wins the jackpot or not, we need to get a basic grasp of an algorithm known as the pseudorandom number generator or PRNG. All online and video slot games use a PRNG algorithm to determine the outcome of every spin. To create multiple authentic results every time, the algorithm makes use of entropy data and seeds and entropy data. This real randomness that entropy achieves is derived from real-world factors like the system clock.

If you want to have a shot at the jackpot, the reels have to be spun with the exact seed and entropy data set. Understand that this is only going to give you a winning chance. In addition, you have to get one of the many results generated by the exact entropy and seed.

Now that you know these let us now advance to how you can improve your odds of winning slot jackpots.

How to Improve your Winning Odds for Jackpots in Slots

One sure-fire way of winning the jackpots is by playing higher denomination games. When you do so, you achieve a better payout from your winnings as well as a more favorable edge over the house. Playing 1 to 5 penny denomination games only gives you a payback rate of 84% to 89% coupled with a player edge that ranges between 84% and 88%. If you play slots that require a pound sterling to spin, you get a return to player (RTP) of about 93% to 95% and an edge that can be up to 95%.

The strategy of playing higher denominations is one of the achievable methods of winning progressives since players are increasing the total number of chances or spins. With this strategy, it is important to understand that the higher the risk, the better the odds of winning a jackpot. This strategy might mean you will lose more spins over a period, but the gigantic jackpot prize is worth the higher risk rather than making small bets just to play it safe.

I have shown you a good way of bettering your chances of winning jackpot slots. However, you might still have some myths that you believe in that might affect your play. I’ll touch on them briefly now, and hopefully, once these myths are debunked in your mind, you will probably have an even better chance of hitting the jackpot.

Common Jackpot Slot Myths

Here are some unscientific imaginations that run wild in the minds of casino bettors that need to be addressed so you can have the right frame of mind when trying to hit the jackpot.

• There are slots that are loose, and they are hidden in plain sight.
• You can trigger the jackpot using a sequence of button presses.
• Hackers can break into online slot algorithms.
• Slot machines usually have hot streaks.
• Casinos remotely adjust the chances of winning.
• Casinos become greedy after they pay out a jackpot prize.
• Casinos hide their slot games with high RTPs.
• Slots payout in a cyclical manner.
• Betting patterns have an impact on slot payouts.
• Physical slots are fairer in play than online slots games.
• You can only win huge amounts of money if you bet the maximum.
• Slot games pay out more in the mornings and afternoons.
• Slots are completely random and are not affected by a house edge.
• VIP customers enjoy more payouts from casinos.
• You should not bother about paytables.
• All slot games payout the same amount of cash.
• You get more pay-out from manual spins.

Summary

In conclusion of this article about the odds of winning slot jackpots, I touched on the probability numbers, factors that affect the odds, how to better your chances, and myths that you should debunk.

Live Blackjack is arguably the most interesting game blackjack players can play online. It has all the advantages of RNG blackjack but none of its disadvantages. If you’re wondering whether the RNG generator is indeed random and fair, you’ll never be completely certain with regular blackjack. At the live table, however, you see what it happening – you see the dealer change the shoe, deal the cards, and then put them away after each round. One important note, though. Before you start playing with your hard-earned cash, you want to make sure the games and the casino you’re playing at are safe. For other things to pay attention to when playing real money games, have a look at www.liveblackjack.org.uk/.

I know it sounds strange but I believe that certain blackjack games are more interesting to slot lovers than others. What kind of games would those be? Well, slots are famous for having a lot of colours and bonus games and surprising payouts that really make a difference. It goes without saying that a regular game where you simply stare at the felt won’t do. You’ll need side bets and unusual settings. You’ll need the most creative variations out there to spark an interest in a slot fan. So, here are my top 3 suggestions for you, slot addicts:

Blackjack Party (Evolution Gaming)

To paraphrase 2Pac from his hit single “Gangsta Party”, ain’t nuthin’ like a Live Blackjack Party. There’s not only a a real dealer but also a female presenter. There’s party music on and the two are discussing all kinds of topics and the players can engage in that conversation as much as they wish. The party welcomes everyone because thanks to the “bet behind” option there’re no resrtictions to the number of players. The presenter and the host change regularly, supplying a variety of eye candy. Side bets “Perfect Pairs” and “21+3” are available.

Unlimited Blackjack (Playtech)

Unlimited Blackjack follows the same idea – there is the ability to play at the same table together with an unlimited number of players – unlike the traditionally restricting 5- or 7-seat blackjack tables. Since Playtech have two different sets of tables – with Asian and European dealers respectively – you have two Unlimited Blackjack tables. The Zirconia table is perfect for those who prefer Asian beauties, while the Pegasus table is ideal for European beauty connoisseurs. There are chances for even greater payouts with the side bets “21+3” and “Perfect Pairs”.

Live Blackjack (Extreme Live Gaming)

Extreme Live Gaming is a much younger software company than the other two I’ve mentioned but they are already showing great potential. Though their Live Blackjack doesn’t offer anything strikingly different from most common live blackjack tables, I believe there will be something truly awesome from them in the future. I make that assumption based on their exclusive live roulette games, which are pimped out with none other but our favourite slots. Yes, their live roulette variations feature side bets, the success of which are determined slot machine style.

Progressive jackpot slots are hugely popular with players at online casinos. It’s hardly surprising given that you can win millions of pounds and change your lifestyle in an instant. The best casinos for online slot machines will include a good selection of these types of games. To help you decide which slot will be the right fit for you, here are my top 3 recommendations.

Gladiator Jackpot

This slot is based on the epic multi-award winning film starring Russell Crowe. It boasts cutting edge graphics and sound, plus a number of clips and animations from the movie. The game features two bonus games. The Coliseum bonus is triggered by 3 or more scatter symbols. Here, you take your pick from the stones across 4 rows, with each row containing a different prize type. These include free games, with the possibility of adding extra wilds, multipliers and scatters.

Of course, the main highlight of the game is the Gladiator Jackpot Bonus. The jackpot game is triggered by 3 helmets on reels 2, 3 and 4. Here, the game randomly selects 9 helmets, which each hold a different prize value, either bronze, silver or gold. These are added together and awarded as prize money. If you are given 9 gold helmets, then your luck is in, and you will walk away with the huge progressive jackpot prize.

Mega Moolah

Any jackpot fan should try out Mega Moolah. This slot is the jewel in the crown of the Microgaming game selection. With colourful, cartoon like graphics, it is great fun to play. What’s more, it is jam packed full of rewarding features to help you win big. The lion symbol is wild, which substitutes for other symbols and doubles payouts. What’s more, 3 monkey scatter symbols will award 15 free spins, with a 3x win multiplier.

As for the progressive jackpot, there are actually 4 to play for. The bonus round is randomly triggered, and consists of a spin the wheel game. With each successful spin you move one step closer to the biggest Mega jackpot prize. The jackpot is always guaranteed to be a minimum of £1million and has paid out record breaking jackpots in excess of £13million.

Hall of Gods

This NetEnt slot has a Norse mythological theme, with superb graphics and authentic symbols. The game actually features 3 progressive jackpots – mini, midi and mega. For your shot at one of the prizes you need to line up 3 bonus symbols, which activate the jackpot game. Here, you will see a wall of shields, which you strike using Thor’s hammer. Behind each shield is a coin prize, or a jackpot symbol. You keep hitting the shields until 3 matching symbols or coin prizes are revealed, which then become your prize.

There are plenty of other rewarding features in this slot aside from the jackpot. The dragon wild symbol substitutes for the other regular symbols. What’s more, when it appears on reels 2, 3 or 4, it expands to cover the entire reel, boosting your chances of extra payouts. The crow scatter symbol awards between 10 to 20 free spins. Plus, additional free spins can be activated during the free games. Another highlight is that free spin wins are tripled.

Playtech are perhaps the biggest and most popular developer of online casino games in the world right now. They are also the company that holds the exclusive licence to produce Marvel Comics-themed casino games – and they take full advantage of that. Their Marvel slot games are among the best and most played in any online casino that features them. In this article, I will talk about my personal top three best Marvel online slots.

The Incredible Hulk

This awesome slot comes in two variations – one with 25 paylines, and one with 50. It is a classic 5 reel, 3 rows game with an average RTP of 91.00%. The Incredible Hulk stands out with awesome graphics, animations, and unique bonus games. The titular character is heavily featured, and looks as scary and intimidating as ever.

There are several bonus features in the game, including expanding Wilds – this is where the Hulk emerges and takes over one or more reels, effectively working as a Wild symbol. Another cool thing is the ‘Smash Bonus’, which is activated when you get the corresponding symbol on reels 1 and 5 simultaneously. In this mini-game, you get to smash police cars and helicopters for cash awards and multipliers.

Iron Man 3

In addition to being my favourite Marvel superhero, Iron Man is also at the centre of one of my favourite slot games. Based on the third movie from the successful franchise, Iron Man 3 is a 5-reel, 3-line slot with 25 paylines. The great visual style of the game is complimented by its awesome bonus features, including free spins, freezing Wilds, and the awesome progressive Marvel jackpots.

If you manage to get Iron Man, War Machine, and Iron Patriot at the same time, you will activate the All Systems Go Re-Spin feature, where each of the three symbols double the winnings you get! In addition to that, the Iron Man Scatter symbol can bring you up to 100 times your bet if it appears from 3 to 5 times anywhere on the reels.

The Amazing Spider-Man

Perhaps the most popular Marvel superhero, Spider-Man is also the star of one of the most popular slot games in recent years. Your friendly neighbour goes up against the extremely dangerous Green Goblin in this 5-reel, 3-line slot machine with 25 paylines and a whopping 95.18% RTP! The game also offers free spins, multipliers, and an awesome animated Spidey who swings around while you spin the reels. The Web Slinger will also turn some of the symbols into Wilds every once in a while, making it easier for you to win!

Another randomly activated feature is the Spidey Snapshot, which rewards you with 3 to 10 times your bet. If you manage to get Bonus symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5, you will get a choice between 5 different bonus games! My favourite one is the Ultimate Fight, where you can actually see Spidey fighting the Green Goblin on a rooftop.

Try Out These Awesome Games Today!

This pretty much summarises my favourite Marvel-themed slot games by Playtech. This developer has many other awesome games, and I am sure that I will review more of them in the future. Until then, make sure you give them a try!

Hello there! My name is Adam Ellis, and I would like to welcome you to my website – the European Slot Player Network! I am a simple Englishman with a passion for everything related to slot machines, both physical and online ones. For many years, it has been my dream to run a casino blog, where I can discuss everything I find exciting about slots these days. Finally, I have the chance to do that – and I am more motivated than ever!

On this website, I will regularly post news, reviews, and informative articles about the online casino industry in Europe. The focus will be, of course, slots – I plan on writing reviews for the best and worst games out there, top games in a particular genre, best jackpot slots, and much more. If you are a fan of slots and would like to see a post on a specific subject, do not hesitate to get in touch with me via the provided contact form.

I will do my best to post as often as possible, and keep my articles fresh, informative, and entertaining. The goal here is to create a useful database of reliable information on slots, jackpots, and other casino games. I hope you enjoy the content and check back often for more!

Yours truly,
Adam