Across the United States, certain tribal casinos offer gambling terminals that resemble the games you’ll find in online slots, but they only resemble such gaming. As with many aspects discussed in BetMGM Casino’s guide to online slots, differences between types of gambling may not be obvious to inexperienced players, but are still important nonetheless.
The “slots” in those places are actually not technically slots, but are actually Class II bingo-based games. The mechanics of playing them might be similar from a player’s perspective, but their function is quite different.
Weighing Class II vs. Class III slots for qualities like amusement and potential payback requires an objective look at how these games work and a subjective assessment of what you value in your gambling experiences. BetMGM Casino has stellar examples of Class III slot machines to help you in this assessment.
A Brief Look At How Online Slots Work
Regardless of class, slots are digital or electronic games of chance in which you wager money and either lose or win your bet depending on the result. Modern video slots utilize animations, graphics, music, and sound effects to make the experience more engaging.
Most games feature numerous bet denominations you can choose from. While some older or land-based machines may tie higher payouts to higher bets, most modern online slots allow access to all features and jackpots regardless of denomination.
The methods in which slots pay back part of the money they take in to winners can vary, with creative game designers using many different slot bonuses to make things more interesting. The classification system for these games is all about the regulated status of gambling in the United States.
Why Are Slots Separated Into Classes?
The United States government separated legal gambling into classes with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988. That law made clear distinctions between slots with random number generators and bingo machines, along with the licensing procedures necessary to offer each type of gaming to players.
Under the IGRA, sovereign tribal nations may offer Class II games independently, but can only offer Class III slot machines if they have a federally approved gaming compact with the state in which they operate and approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Class II slots, or electronic bingo, only require oversight from the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). Both classes are forms of gambling, though.
Class II vs. Class III Slot Machines
There is one crucial difference between Class II slot machines and Class III slots online or at physical casinos. Class III slots utilize the well-known slot random number generator or RNG system to determine the results of bets.
Meanwhile, Class II slots are essentially a digital or electronic game of bingo. It is possible to find Class II slots online, but these games are far less abundant.
What Are Class II Slots?
If you’ve ever played a game of bingo with physical cards and a person drawing numbers to call, you’ve experienced the premise behind Class II slots. These machines encapsulate that experience into a form you can easily interact with as an individual. However, even though you’re playing solo, the outcomes are derived from a bingo game against other participants. This is because Class II games require a pool of players to play against, even if others are invisible to the player.
The history of slot machines isn’t complete without the inclusion of the development of these games, though. For some tribal casinos, these slots have made a massive difference in the success of their businesses, too.
Examples of Class II Slots
If you visit a tribal casino that doesn’t operate under a compact with a state, you’re likely to encounter Class II slots. Examples of popular titles in these destinations include Mr. Money Bags, Lucky Ducky, and Red Hot Ruby.
What Are Class III Slot Machines?
Although there are many types of online slots, most of them belong to the Class III category. These are RNG slots.
Class III slots have become the most popular online casino games due to the stellar diversity that the RNG system allows for in terms of features and themes. BetMGM Casino is home to thousands of such titles.
Examples of Class III Slot Games
BetMGM Casino’s huge library of games includes many of the most popular slots of all time and new titles that famous developers have released. Divine Fortune, MGM Grand Millions, and Starburst are examples of a few games that players love.
The Difference Between Class II and Class III Slot Machines
The most important difference between Class II and Class III slots is the regulatory structure for each class. When Congress drafted the IGRA, the logic was that RNG-based games required more oversight than bingo.
That is why Class III games remain more heavily regulated. The different regulation threshold for Class II games also gives smaller tribal nations with fewer resources more opportunities.
Payout Structures and RNGs
Slot game RNGs are what make Class III slots work, while Class II slots function on bingo logic. Online slot paytables break down online slot paylines in Class III slots.
In Class II slots, each player is assigned a virtual bingo card, and winners are determined based on bingo patterns, not random spins. However, players won’t know whether they have the winner until they place their bets and the game resolves.
Game Mechanics and Outcomes
Class III slots are famous for their utilization of numerous different slot features. Class II slots can replicate that experience to an extent.
The bingo logic limits that variety significantly, however. RNG mechanics benefit from the exponentially higher number of possible results in each spin.
Graphics, Features, and Design
When it comes to the best online slot graphics, both Class II and Class III games can deliver a high-definition and immersive experience. Developers of games in both classifications utilize the latest software to create captivating aesthetics.
Technology has played a big role in how slot graphics have evolved. Players find that many of these slots have presentations rivaling the latest non-gambling video games.
The Location of Class II and III Slots
If you want to play Class II slots specifically, your best bet is to visit a non-compact tribal casino. These businesses cannot legally offer Class III slots.
Most tribal casinos that operate under a compact, as well as commercial and legal brick-and-mortar and online casinos, prioritize Class III slots. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t find digital or electronic bingo, but such games are less common in those circumstances.
Bigger Jackpots and Prizes
The wide variety of types of jackpot slots technically includes both Class II and Class III games. However, you are more likely to find higher-value jackpots in establishments with Class III games.
Progressive slot games, for example, are more typical of Class III titles. At the same time, some bingo operators will offer progressive jackpots for customers, but perhaps with lower caps. Some Class II games feature progressive jackpots, though they function differently from traditional RNG-linked progressives.
Do Online Casinos Use Class II or Class III Slots?
Legal online casinos can offer both classes of slots in accordance with regulations. Such operators tend to prioritize RNG slots over bingo games, though.
BetMGM Casino mostly gives players in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia chances to bet on Class III slots, but also has a fun innovation for bingo lovers called Slingo games. Slingo is a hybrid of bingo and slots that utilizes an RNG but rewards players for completing a sequence.
Regulatory Considerations for Online Games
In the US, there are land-based and online casino regulations for Class II and Class III slots. For Class II games, individual operators are accountable to the NIGC.
In regard to Class III slots, the structure to uphold fairness and security in online casinos is more complicated. Operators are accountable to the tribal nation gaming authority (for tribal gaming) and/or the relevant state gaming authority, along with potentially the US Bureau of Indian Affairs (for tribal gaming) and federal gambling laws.
How Online Slot Mechanics Mirror Land-Based Games
When you play online slots, the logic behind the games is identical to the slots you’d find in a physical casino. That applies to both Class II and Class III games.
Even physical gaming terminals use a computer and a number system to determine the results of wagers. The big difference, obviously, is that you have to actually travel to a specific building to play land-based slots, while you can play online slots anywhere it is legal to do so.
Which Slot Type Is Better for Online Casino Players?
Whether you should devote more of your gambling bankroll to Class II or Class III slots is mostly a subjective consideration. Factors can include ease of access, the size of your bankroll, and your taste in games.
If you need to travel a significant distance to access one type of slot, that expense adds to the cost of your entertainment. In that instance, you need to win more to come out ahead in your gambling.
As long as you’re at least 21 years old, you can register for BetMGM Casino and sample its collection of slots to identify your preferences. Whether Class II or Class III games are your ask, BetMGM Casino is nothing but class.
