Slots make up the most popular casino games of all time, which is why you’ll find them at pretty much any online casino in the United States. Slots are a game of chance that requires you to align matching symbols in specific positions. The online versions come with exciting features, graphics, and video elements that make them more exciting than the slot machines at brick-and-mortar casinos.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with a detailed guide to how to play online slots as told by our casino experts at BettingLadies.com.
How Do Online Slot Machines Work?
Online slots are what make up 80% of most online casinos in the United States. They come in all shapes and sizes, meaning you’ll find everything from classic slot machines to intense adventure themes with bright graphics that offer a close-to-cinematic experience.
The variety doesn’t stop with the themes. Online slot machines offer a variety of reels, paylines (both fixed and adjustable), and bet options. Some come with fixed bets whereas others give you more flexibility with your bet by asking you to set both line bets and bet levels.
Having so much choice can be overwhelming, which is why many online casinos provide demos of their games. Playing the free versions of the slots gives you the opportunity to test different games before settling on the ones you want to stake real money on.
A Closer Look at Online Slots
With so much choice out there, it’s important to understand what you want and need out of an online slot. First off, you’ll want to know which software providers you like. Each one is known for a different game style. Some providers also have signature features that you’ll only find within their games.
Next, you’ve got themes, which include Greek to fruit, Asian, animals, adventure, crime, and so many others. You’re guaranteed to find something you enjoy.
Of course we mustn’t forget about the different features you’ll find in online slots. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common ones.
RTP
RTP stands for Return To Player, and refers to the amount you’ll receive for every dollar over time. Let’s look at an example:
A slot that has 97.00% will pay back 97 cents for every one dollar you play over time.
The average RTP is 96.00%. Anything above that is considered to be high RTP. You can usually find this within the slot machine’s paytable.
Volatility
Volatility is how likely the online slot is to pay, and by how much. The volatility scale goes from low to high (and extreme in some cases). The higher the volatility, the less frequent wins are. However, when they do occur, they’re usually quite high. With low volatility slots, wins are more frequent but come in smaller amounts. You’ll find some online slots that allow you to adjust the volatility to your liking.
Cascading/Tumbling Reels
Cascading or tumbling reels trigger with any winning spin you achieve on the online slot. Winning symbols disappear and any symbols above them fall into their places. Next, new symbols fall into the empty spaces. The movement may create a second win, at which point the feature repeats. This continues until a tumble doesn’t create a new winning payline.
Wilds
You’ll find wilds in almost every online slot’s paytable. These are the ‘joker’ of the games as they substitute for symbols to complete or enhance a winning payline. Wilds generally only take the place of regular symbols. You’ll find variations of wilds, such as:
- Walking Wilds: These stick to the reels and walk one position to the left or right with every spin until they leave the reels.
- Sticky or Locked Wilds: These wilds lock into position and do not move until the end of the free spins round or until their counter reaches zero.
- Exploding Wilds: These wilds explode and drop new wild symbols in random positions.
Multipliers
Multipliers are among the most common features of online slots. The most basic form is a symbol that drops on the reels, multiplying any win it forms part of by its value. You’ve then got win multipliers that increase with cascades or wins. Other multipliers include those attached to wilds (wild multipliers) and special multipliers that accumulate through special symbols in the base game, free spins, or bonus round.
Free Spins
Most online slots come with free spins round, which you’ll get to by collecting scatters during the base game. Free spins are a set of games you’ll play as a bonus, that is to say, without touching your bankroll. This bonus feature often comes with additional features and modifiers such as multipliers or expanding reels to make the experience even better. Some slot machines offer you a choice of different free spins round where you’d get to choose the number of free spins and the features you get with them.
Bonus Games
Bonus games typically reward you with multipliers, cash, or other prizes. Some online slot machines offer these games on top of the regular free spins bonus. These may include mini-games, jackpot games (such as the Hold & Win Jackpot Bonus) and Pick Me Bonuses. The latter may occur as an individual bonus game or just before the free spins round, in which case you’d receive multipliers or other perks to take with you to the free spins.
Gamble Features
The gamble feature allows you to gamble any win you achieve of an amount equal to or below a certain amount.
The three most common types of gamble are:
- Guess the card’s color
- Guess the card’s suit
- Achieve higher positions on the ladder
You’ll increase your prize if you complete the task and you’ll lose it all if you don’t. Some gamble features allow you to only gamble half your prize.
Jackpot Slots
You’ll find plenty of jackpot slots within the jackpot section of your chosen online casino. These are most commonly one of two types listed below:
- Fixed Jackpots: This jackpot type is a multiplier prize that is applied to your bet when you win it. For example, a Grand Jackpot of 2,500x your bet will pay $2,500 when won with a $1 bet and $5,000 when won with a $2 bet. You can generally win these through Hold & Win bonuses or free spins.
- Progressive Jackpots: These take a percentage of every bet players place on the progressive jackpot slot. The pot keeps increasing until someone wins it through a random drop or a bonus round. It then resets to its original starting amount.
Top Strategies to Beat Online Slots
Online slots are games of chance and there is no strategy that will guarantee you prizes. However, they do help increase the odds. Here are a few to get your started:
Use Bonuses
Using bonuses is a great way to familiarize yourself with the online slot. This allows you to experience the special features without asking you for a major financial commitment. Remember that bonuses generally come with wagering requirements, so you won’t be able to withdraw winnings immediately.
Use the Demo Mode
Dive deep into the online slots you like by using the demo mode. This gives you the chance to get used to how it works without staking real money. Remember that your winnings will also be demo, so you won’t be able to claim any of it. Once you’re sure of which games you like, you can place a real money bet more confidently.
Play Simpler Online Slots
If you’re new to online slots, we recommend opting for the simpler games first. This will help you get a feel of how the games work without complicated mechanics. What’s more, complex slot machines typically cost more to make, meaning the RTP and/or volatility generally won’t be in your favor.
Aim for Smaller Jackpots
Six-figure progressive jackpots are attractive, but keep in mind that it took the slots a very long time to reach those six figures. Smaller jackpots are smaller because they hit more regularly, as are fixed jackpots. Opting for these types of games will increase your chances of taking home a jackpot prize.
Know When to Stop
Always remember that online slots are games of chance. There is nothing that guarantees prizes and there is no such thing as ‘it has to hit sometime soon’. Set a budget and stick to it. Know when to throw in the towel and call it a day. If you feel like your gambling is becoming excessive, reach out to a customer support agent via the casino’s live chat or email services.
FAQs
How do I beat online slots?
There is no foolproof way of beating online slots. However, you can implement strategies to increase your chances. These include playing the demo version first, familiarising yourself with the paytable, and setting and sticking to a budget.
Can I play online slots for free?
Of course. Most online casinos offer demo versions of their games. This means you can try out the slot machine without making any financial commitment. Once you’re sure which games you enjoy, you can switch to real money.
Can I win real money on online slot machines?
Definitely. You’ll have the chance to win real money every time you place a real money bet. Keep in mind that if you claim a bonus, you may need to wager your winnings before being able to request a withdrawal.
What is volatility?
Volatility is how likely you are to achieve a win and how much. Online slots with low volatility hit paylines more frequently than those with high volatility. However, the prizes for low volatility slots are generally lower than those of high volatility games.
Are online slot machines rigged?
No, they are not. All online slots have an RNG (Random Number Generator) that ensures that the results of each game round are just and random. This feature is audited regularly to make sure you always get the fairest game possible.
