Slots are among the most popular casino games online and with good reason – they offer a wide variety of themes, exciting features and a thrilling experience. They are a fun way to pass the time and even win money, but it’s important to play for fun before you start gambling with real cash.
The basics
Most slots have a number of pay lines which indicate the path for winning combinations to take. These can be straight across, vertical, horizontal or a funky zigzag shape and are drawn on a slot screen. The symbols on the pay lines will determine which combinations are considered winning and how much you can win in each spin.
Variance
The volatility of an online slot machine depends on a number of factors such as the RTP and how many paylines are present. Generally speaking, lower variance slots are more likely to pay out big rewards.
Bonus feature: A great way to boost your chances of winning is by taking advantage of bonus features such as wilds, scatters, re-spins and multipliers. These can trigger extra rounds or even a progressive jackpot. The paytable and rules overview should also provide more information about these features, including how to activate them.
Free game mode: Most online casinos and affiliate sites give you the chance to try out a new slot before you deposit any money. This is a great way to get to know the game before you put any money down and can help you decide if you like it.
Mobile slots: The vast majority of the online casino market now supports mobile devices. These machines have touchscreen controls and can be played anywhere with a good internet connection.
Progressive slots: A progressive slot is one where each player contributes a portion of their wager to the overall jackpot. These jackpots can be won by matching symbols across a specific number of paylines or by hitting the highest possible payout in the game.
Bonus feature: In most slot games, you can find bonus features such as wild symbols, scatters and re-spins. These bonuses can be triggered by getting three or more of the same symbol on a single spin and can increase your winnings significantly.
Depending on the game, there may be other bonus features that you can unlock such as gamble/double ups or quirky visual effects. These can be a great way to boost your winnings and are often worth playing for, so make sure you read the paytable and rules overview carefully before you play.
Payouts and jackpots
Slots are a fast-paced game with an unpredictable outcome. Unlike land-based casinos, where you can manipulate the lever or track orders in which symbols appear, there is no way to fool an online slot. The Random Number Generator (RNG) and a fixed Return to Player are all that determine your winnings and losses.
If you want to play a game without spending any money, all online casinos, affiliate sites and select review and forum pages have free demos. The only difference is that you won’t be able to keep your winnings and the coins you win are shown as virtual currency.