There is really not a great difference between land-based slots and online slots. This is because they now both rely on digital computer chip technology to generate their reels and slots, and the outcomes of spinning a reel. In earlier times, slot machines had an actual handle that you pulled to manually spin the reels. These days, while slot machines may still provide a handle for the sake of nostalgia, the inner workings of the slot machine are computer-based. In many cases the handle has also been replaced by a button that you press to start the reels spinning.

Some land-based slot machines have actual spinning reels that spin inside the machine and stop at a certain point, much like a roulette wheel. However, there are increasing numbers of land-based slot machines that have a digital interface, meaning that the reels are represented virtually, in the same way as they are on your computer screen when you play online.

Thus the main difference between land-based slots and online slot machines is the way you interact with them. You physically take some action with a land-based machine, such as pulling a handle or pushing a button. Online everything is accomplished by clicking your mouse button.

There is one other area - which will be of great interest to you where there is a subtle but important difference between online slot machines and ones in land-based casinos. This is that the payout percentage at online casinos is often higher than at real-world ones. This means that the casinos hold or its advantage over you is slightly less, making your time spent online more profitable over time.

The difference is small, often not more than one percentage point, but it all adds up in the end, and can be the difference between ending up slightly ahead or slightly down.