
Since the dawn of time, slots have been an integral part of gambling. They have been a popular casino game option for players for a long time and it’s easy to see why. For starters they all feature easy gameplay.
Over time, slots also have also had interesting themes and extra features that enhance gameplay. In this guide, we take you to the basics, and take you through how to play slots. We’ll not only go over how to play slot games, but we’ll also touch on the types of slots, common additional features, and more. Well, let’s begin!
Let’s start this guide on how to play slots by first getting to understand the types of online slots.
Classic slots are pretty much the most basic type of slots. They are usually characterized by having a simple gameplay and limited paylines. Most classic slots you’ll come across have a 3×5 grid and few bet ways, as little as even one payline.
The main characteristic of progressive slots is that they have a jackpot prize that keeps on increasing until a player finally hits the jackpot and wins.
Unlike classic slots, Megaways slots are more flexible with a high number of paylines, going as high as over 200,000. In most cases, Megaways slots utilize cascading reels. So, when you land a winning combination in a Megaways slot, the cascading reels cause the winning symbols to disappear paving way for new symbols to appear. This enables bettors to potentially land more than one winning combination in one spin.
Next up, we have Hold and Win slot games. These are basically slots with the Hold and Win feature. When playing a slot with this feature, and you have at least six value symbols (like multiplier symbols), the Hold and Win feature is activated. This enables these value symbols to “hold” their position in the reels, increasing your chances of landing a winning combination with these value symbols, which means better returns.
There are a couple of terms used when playing slots, or just in regards to slots in general that’s it’s important you know. Let’s quickly take a look at them, shall we?
An RTP represents a theoretical value of what a slot is expected to return to players over a prolonged period of time. Note that a higher RTP value does not automatically guarantee that you’ll win more. It is simply an indication of how much players would be expected to see returned if a slot was played over a long period of time.
What does volatility mean in slots? You may ask. Volatility is basically the frequency of potential payouts when playing a slot game. So, a slot with high volatility means it has less frequent but bigger payouts, while those with low volatility have frequent but smaller payouts.
Usually, online slots have several features/add-ons that enhance one’s gameplay. They include:
These are symbols with values attached to them. These values represented the number of times your final payout will be multiplied
These are often referred to as substitute symbols as they match other regular symbols to form a winning combination. So, if you land 3 or 4 wild symbols on a reel, they’ll match the other symbols on a reel, enabling you to land a winning combination
This is a bonus features that when activated, allows bettors to take spins in the slot game, well for free
This feature enables players to skip ahead into a bonus round when playing slots rather than waiting for nature to take its course. However, this feature comes at a cost
As their name suggests, scatter symbols don’t have to be in a payline to activate other features, like free spins
Now that we’ve looked at pretty all we need to know about slots, let’s now go through how to play this game.
Let’s now get into the tips for playing slot machines online.
Usually, a slot game’s different symbols have different values and potential payouts. So, it’s crucial that you first begin by understanding a slot game’s paytable before playing. That way, you’ll be in the know of what you stand to win when you hit a winning combination with a set of particular matching symbols.
Another crucial tip while playing online slots, is to find out about a slot game’s additional features beforehand.
As we explained earlier in this guide, each feature has its way of enhancing your gameplay.
It’s also important to pay attention to a slot game’s RTP and volatility. That way, you’ll know your potential payouts over time and how frequently you’ll win.
We didn’t mention this earlier, but a slot’s RTP in most cases is directly connected to its volatility. So, the higher a slot’s RTP, the lower the volatility, and vice versa. Therefore, a slot game with 97% RTP will have frequent but smaller payouts while a 94% RTP slot will have less but bigger payouts. However, it’s important to note that this is not always the case and these values are theoretical only.
Another great tip for playing slots online, particularly at online casinos, is to take advantage of the offers on the site. There are several offers a casino site may offer, enabling you to play slots practically for free. A good example are casino free spins with no deposit required.
So, claim as many offers as you can, enabling you to play your favorite slots without digging into your bankroll.
One of the highlights of playing slots is that each game has a different theme, or a unique twist to a particular theme. So, don’t be shy to play slots with different themes as it’ll make your slot gaming experience more fun.
While playing slots, also pay attention to your bankroll. Try and set a budget on how much of betting funds you want to use on slots, and stick to it. You can also go as far as setting a wager limit per spin.
After all, the last thing you’d do is to misuse your funds, and end up getting frustrated.
One more thing when it comes to bankroll management: Avoid chasing losses as it’ll most likely deplete your bankroll, which will leave you frustrated.
Here’s a recap of what we’ve discussed about online slots.
Types of slots |
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Relevant terms in slot games |
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Features in slot games |
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We’ve come to the end of this guide on how to play slots online. You can agree that this is an easy game to play, that’s also fun and diverse in options. We hope this guide has explained all you need to know about slot games. Once again, remember to keep in mind the tips we’ve discussed for an enhanced gaming experience.
As we mentioned in this guide, there are several types of slots. Some of them include classic slots, progressive jackpot slots, and megaways slots.
While there isn’t a sure way to increase your chances of winning when playing slots, there are tips, like knowing the game’s paytable and taking advantage of the special features that boost your overall gaming experience though.
There isn’t a particular slot that’s easy to win. You just have to find a slot type and features that work for you best.