Playing Together Adds to the Fun of Slot Playing

In the past, playing the slot machine has always been a solitary endeavor. It has been player versus the machine and, other than occasionally making conversation with the player seated next to you, there was not a lot of social interaction amongst slot players. Some players prefer this solitude of slot playing but others miss the camaraderie that can be found at the gaming tables.

The reason that many players avoid the table games is because they feel that the games are complicated to learn and they do not want to become embarrassed if they make a mistake. So they settle for the simplicity of the slot machines and the lonely existence of the slot player. For these players the newest technology in slot machines will bring a welcome change with the introduction of community slot games.

Server-Based Slots

Wide Area Progressive games such as Megabucks, Wheel of Fortunes and others have been on the casino floors for several years. These progressive slot machines located at different casinos across the country are linked together to create a single large jackpot that will eventually be won by a single player. This technology of being able to link machines together is making it possible to design games that can link players together so they can share in a communal playing experience. Several of these games are on the casino floors around the country and there are two different types of games being offered.

Shared Jackpots

Some of the community slot games consist of a bank of machines that contain the same game. Each player is playing on their own machine but at random times there will be a bonus event in which all players take part. The event is usually shown on a separate screen connected to the bank of machines. All players taking part in the bonus event will share in the jackpot. The amount won by an individual player is based on the amount they are betting per spin. IGT's eBay machine is a perfect example of a shared jackpot community slot machine. WMS Gaming has produced community games based on their popular "Monopoly Big Event" and "Press Your Luck" games with more on the way. Many players like the shared jackpots because when one player wins, everybody wins.

Single Winners

The progressive slot machines have always been a "community" game because everyone playing contributed to the jackpot. However they are rarely hit and there is not much interaction between the players because they are competing with each other for the big jackpot. Several of the leading slot makers have introduced slot games in which players compete against each other for the top jackpot within a bank of machines on the casino floor.

AC Coin & Slot has modified their popular "Empire" game that simulates King Kong climbing the Empire State Building to collect a bonus into a community game. The player who gets Kong to the top first, wins the jackpot. WMS Gaming has made their "Reel'em In" game into a community fishing derby with a single player winning the bonus event. IGT offers the players the chance to compete against each other in their Wheel of Fortune Super Spin game. These are just a few of the new community games you can find on the casino floor.

Shared Fun

I like to play table games, but many of my friends who join me at the casino are slot players. Because of this, we usually separate from each other as soon as we arrive at the casino and we don't get a lot of time to socialize with each other. We recently started playing a few of these new community slot games and we are having a lot of fun being able to play together as a group.

I think that the community slot games are going to continue to grow in popularity in the future. We are social creatures and most of us enjoy the company of others who share our interests. Playing together adds to the excitement of the game and makes our casino playing experience even more entertaining.

If you visit the casino with friends, you should definitely try some of these new community slot games that will allow you to play together. If you play by yourself, you may meet some new friends with these games.

Until Next time remember:
Luck comes and goes.....Knowledge Stays Forever.