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Uncovering the Different Types of Slot Games

Slot games have evolved significantly since the days of traditional pokies, now offering a wide variety of formats, each with distinct mechanics and unique ways to win.

This guide explores popular slot styles, clearly explaining how different reel layouts, from classic three-reel pokies to innovative Megaways™ and Cluster Pays, influence gameplay.

We also delve into game-driven formats, such as Hold and Win, cascading reels, jackpot slots, and the unique hybrid experience of Slingo.

Each section provides a straightforward overview, making it easy to understand how these games function and how wins are determined.

Different Slot Styles

Slot formats are categorized by the arrangement of the reels and the manner in which wins occur.

Some games have fixed paylines, while others feature expanded layouts or alternative mechanics, such as cluster-based combinations. This section clearly outlines the main slot types, highlighting their reel structures and how winning combinations form.

Traditional 3 Reel Slots

Three-reel slots follow the most straightforward format found in slot machines. With a limited number of symbols and typically one to five paylines, the outcome depends entirely on matching symbols across a central line or designated pattern.

These machines trace their roots back to early mechanical slots and remain popular for their simplicity.

The appeal lies in their clarity. There are no layered bonus features (though modern versions may include some), animated cutscenes, complex mechanics, or screen-filling modifiers.

What shows on the reels is what counts.

This can also be a drawback if the format feels too limited or predictable. Average returns are usually lower, and the pace tends to repeat more often than in slots built around multiple features.

Several three-reel slots are available at LeoVegas Canada, including titles such as:

Modern 5 Reel Slots

Five-reel slots have become the standard format in most online casinos. They offer more space for symbols and greater flexibility in payline design, often featuring between 10 and 50 lines or, in some cases, using ways-to-win systems that can exceed 1,000 combinations.

Reels are typically arranged in a 3x5 or 4x5 layout.

This structure allows for a variety of mechanics. Wilds substitute for other symbols, scatters trigger features from any position, and many games include elements like expanding wilds, stacked symbols, modifiers, pick bonuses, and multi-stage free spins. The variety available in five-reel slots is a major strength, with themes that span mythology, adventure, branded content, and more abstract ideas. That diversity extends to the mechanics as well, which include line-based wins and collection-style features.

On the downside, increased complexity can sometimes reduce clarity. Some games include dense feature sets or unclear win mechanics that take time to understand. Five-reel slots available at LeoVegas Canada include:

MEGAWAYS Slots

Megaways slots use a reel modifier system that changes the number of symbols on each reel with every spin.

Instead of fixed paylines, this creates thousands of ways to win on each round. The mechanic was introduced by Big Time Gaming in Bonanza Megaways (2016) and has since been licensed by several major developers.

What sets this format apart is how the shifting reels reshape the grid on every spin. Many Megaways games include cascading wins, rising multipliers, retriggerable free spins, and variable wild mechanics, creating a format that constantly shifts.

One slight disadvantage is the amount of information that appears on screen at once. With constant changes in layout and motion, it’s not always clear how a winning combination was formed.

Megaways titles available at LeoVegas Canada include:

Cluster Pays Slots

Cluster Pays slots remove paylines altogether. Instead of matching symbols across fixed lines, wins form when a group of identical symbols lands in a connected cluster. Most games require a minimum number of symbols to be touching horizontally or vertically.

Once a win occurs, the symbols involved typically disappear, and new ones drop in, allowing combinations to continue without the need for a separate feature.

This setup shifts the focus from line-based planning to broader pattern recognition. With more symbols on screen and variable grid layouts, there’s greater potential for movement and overlapping wins. Cascading mechanics often help extend each round.

As far as drawbacks go, the action moves fast, and with multiple clusters forming at once or in sequence, it can be difficult to track how each result was triggered.

Cluster-based slots at LeoVegas Canada feature games like:

Different Types of Slot Gameplay

This section focuses on slot types defined by their gameplay mechanics rather than reel layout or count. The emphasis here is on elements such as respins and jackpots, and how these features shape each spin.

Hold and Win Slots

Hold and Win slots use a format where bonus symbols trigger a respin round. Once the required number lands, they lock in place while the other positions spin again. Each new bonus symbol resets the spin count, and the round continues until either the grid fills or no new symbols are added. Outcomes are typically based on fixed values or jackpot amounts shown directly on the reels.

The appeal comes from the structure. The objective is straightforward: collect bonus symbols. As they lock into place, each spin builds anticipation. These games typically deliver a mix of modest outcomes with occasional access to higher-value prizes through jackpot features.

As for limitations, over time, the format can start to feel repetitive.

Several Hold and Win titles are available at LeoVegas Canada, including the following:

Slingo Games

Slingo combines elements of slot mechanics with a bingo-style grid. The game is typically played on a 5x5 number grid, with a single reel below it that spins to reveal numbers.

Matching these to the grid completes lines, or "Slingos," which unlock prize levels or trigger additional features. The number of spins is usually fixed, with opportunities to earn extras depending on the symbols that land.

Unlike traditional slots, Slingo focuses on completing lines rather than following paylines. Progress depends on how quickly numbers are matched across the grid, creating a more deliberate pace. Some versions introduce wilds/jokers, super wilds, devils (which block potential matches), or free spin symbols that influence the round as it unfolds.

One trade-off is the fixed number of spins. Without early matches or helpful modifiers, progressing through the prize tiers becomes less likely. The format also leans on progression rather than moment-to-moment action, which can feel slower compared to traditional reels.

Below are some popular Slingo titles that showcase the format’s variety:

  • Slingo Riches (Slingo Originals): Classic 5x5 setup with jokers and multipliers.
  • Slingo Rainbow Riches (Slingo Originals/SG Digital): Adds scatter bonuses and themed features.
  • Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania Slingo (Slingo Originals/Light & Wonder): Offers bonus rounds and up to 240 free spins.

Jackpot Slots

Jackpot slots feature a reward tier that sits above standard paytable wins. Most fall into one of two types: fixed jackpots, which offer preset amounts, and progressive jackpots, which grow steadily as bets are placed across a network of games.

The appeal comes from the scale of the top tier. Some jackpots are triggered through bonus features or by matching specific symbols, while others activate at random. In progressive formats, the pool continues to grow until it’s won, then resets to a predetermined starting amount. The gradual buildup and unpredictable timing are part of the overall appeal.

Below are some jackpot-focused slots available at LeoVegas Canada:

Cascading Slots

Cascading slots clear winning symbols from the grid and drop new ones in, allowing fresh combinations to form. This repeats as long as new wins continue. Most titles use fixed grids, often 5x3 or 6x4, which let several cascades play out from a single spin.

This setup shifts the focus to chains of wins. Each tumble can lead to another, and some games add multipliers that grow with each step. The round builds naturally, keeping the action moving without breaking into separate features.

Cascading slots available at LeoVegas Canada include titles like:

  • Reactoonz (Play’n GO): Replaces winning clusters and fills a metre to trigger features like wild transformations and the multi-stage Gargantoon.
  • Temple Tumble MEGAWAYS (Relax): Combines cascading wins with a free spins feature where stone blocks clear to expand the grid, unlocking bonus modifiers like multipliers or extra spins.
  • Gates of Olympus (Pragmatic Play): Uses tumbling reels and a pay-anywhere system, with multipliers that stack in the base game and carry over between spins during the bonus round.