Wheel of Fortune Slot
Wheel of Fortune Slot Machines are all the rage at land-based casinos all over the United States. There are quite a few different versions of the machines. They come in Five x Pay, Double Diamond, etc and have the traditional three reel format with the traditional payout tables. There are also several denominations out there. There is the .05 Special Edition version, along with .25, .50, $1 and $5. The most common machines are the .25 and the $1.
In addition, you’ll find stand alone machines and also machines that are linked up to the progressive jackpots. For example the $1.00 progressive machines have a minimum Million Dollar jackpot. Historically they have paid out at least once a month with the highest jackpot in recent history being $5M+ in May of 2005. The promise of a big jackpot is pretty alluring, but with rumors of 50Million to one chances of winning the jackpot, there has got to be something else that attracts the throngs of players that casinos want.
Sure enough, like fish to the lure or squirrels to a coin, it’s the shiny object that attracts us. The Wheel of Fortune game somehow has the right combination of flashing lights and sounds that generates excitement on the casino floor.
The game features a free spin symbol. When this appears on the line, a bonus feature is activated. You push a button and spin the trademark Wheel of Fortune. There is a wheel of lights above the reels that is patterned after the timeless tv game show. When you hit that button, wait a beat…you’ll hear the audience shout “WHEEL…. OF…. FORTUNE”, take a breath, and then the wheel begins to spin. You’ll not only be fixated on the wheel yourself, but you’ll also grab the attention of the players around you, vicariously enjoying the thrill of the chance. Your bonus could be from 25 to 1000 coins. It’s the lights and the rhythm of the whole thing that somehow speaks to us. You know how a song can evoke memories of a certain summer? It must be the same with that “Wheel of Fortune” sound bite! Add to it the thrill of a win on your part and it’s a real winning combination.
This super-popular game isn’t available online—can you believe it? No matter, there are enterprising online gaming software companies who know a good thing when they see it and have produced some relatively good knock-offs.
Microgamming has the Wheel of Wealth. This is a three reel traditional slot machine. It has a wild symbol which is also a multiplier and it also has a free spin feature. When the free spin symbol appears on the third reel, it activates a bonus feature similar to the one you’ll find on the Wheel of Fortune slot.
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