What Are Slot Games And How Do They Work?
There are literally thousands of online slot games. Slots are so simple. You spin the reels and if they stop in a certain sequence, you’re a winner. That’s it, right?
Well, not quite. If you’re revolving the rollers, scrolling the spindles or lining up the lucky wilds, scatters and multipliers, it pays to understand just how online slots work and know what your chances of winning big really are.
Slot machines have been around for over 100 years. The clanking levers, mechanical reels and plinking pay tables have been replaced by glorious graphics in today’s online casinos and mobile slot games, but the principles of playing slots remain the same.
Slots come in an infinite array of styles with levels to suit any budget. From millionaire-making high rollers to fruitful dime slots, the reels are the most popular online game of chance in the world.
How Slots Work: The Basics
Every slot game you will play abides by the same principles. A computer generates a random number every millisecond which determines the outcome of each spin.
This random number sequence ensures a fair gaming experience for every player for every turn of the reels.
The random number generator (RNG) means there is no sequence. Each previous spin – win or lose – has no bearing on the next one. The odds of a win remain the same throughout every series of plays.
That’s why slots are so popular. They require no skill, judgement or previous experience. Slots are simply a game of luck. But with so many different versions available, you should know how much to stake, what your odds of a profit are and how to cash in on online slot bonus features.
You will usually find online slot games ranging from three reels up to five reels but some can have more. Some even have multiple windows active with three to five reels rolling at any one spin.
Classic slots will feature three reels just like the original machines from the 19th century, while progressive slots add a percentage of every player’s wager to the overall total until someone hits the jackpot.
What Are Paylines In An Online Slot?
Paylines determine whether you’ve won or not and what sort of win occurs.
The original slot machines had a single payline, requiring players to line up symbols right along the centreline of the three drums.
Modern online versions and mobile slot games have transformed the payline and can offer anything from single figure paylines right up to paylines in the thousands.
Some slots have fixed paylines. This means that all paylines are active on every spin. If the game allows you to select how many lines you want active, you are essentially wagering one coin for every payline that you activate.
How To Win At Online Slots
So online slot wins are nothing more than a chance result. But how much you can win depends on which game you pick and certain games offer a better potential return than others.
What Is The RTP For Online Slot Games?
The game’s payout percentage is the single biggest determinant of the likelihood of generating a profit.
This is known as the Return to Player (RTP). The payout ratio is expressed as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the better the return to players.
The RTP on online slots is usually not less than 90%. The RTP is calculated for each slot as a whole and not for individual players. The RTP is not affected by how often the particular game is played.
In simple terms, if an RTP is stated as 95% it means that the game returns 95 cents for every dollar staked. The casino keeps the rest for its own profits. This is sometimes known as the “house edge” for the slot game.
What Is The Highest RTP For An Online Slot?
Looking for the highest RTP around can be a bit of a hassle. There are literally thousands and thousands of slot games on the market provided by hundreds of betting companies. Most casino sites won’t let you sort their slot games by RTP either.
As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t accept less than 95% RTP and some games will have a listed RTP over 99%. You should always check that the casino site is licensed to ensure the games you are playing are regulated, checked and fair.
How Do I Find The RTP For A Particular Slot?
You will usually find the RTP clearly stated on the game itself. Or there may be an information icon located on the page which you can click to find the RTP.
The information will also display things like the sequences required to win and which special symbols are in use for elements like Wilds, Scatters and Multipliers.
What Coin Value Should I Play With On An Online Slot?
Before you can spin your chosen slot, you will need to decide how much of your bankroll you would like to put on each line.
Every slot game comes with a minimum and a maximum coin value. These limits can vary a lot between each different game. Some start as a little as 0.01 and can go up to 100.
You need to understand the difference between Coin Value and Bet Level before you pick your bet size.
Coin Value is based on the actual coins that you’re playing with. Bet Level is a customisable multiplier that increases the amount required to make a bet but also increases the potential winnings.
You may be eligible for certain jackpots or bonuses only when you opt for a higher stake. If you think the stake is too high for you, then you should probably pick a different slot.
Betting ‘max’ won’t improve your probability of spinning a win but it will increase the potential returns you can receive.
Special Symbols – What Are Wilds, Scatters And Multipliers?
Wild symbols do something special in-game. For example, if you only land two matching symbols along a payline you can still score a win if you also have a Wild symbol sitting on that same payline.
Wild symbols also do different things in different games. A Sticky Wild will stay stuck to the reel that it appears on. While other wheels spin it will stay in position, creating more winning combinations in a row.
Some Wilds feature as Stacked Wilds, which means they can fill an entire reel with Wilds and help you to stack up wins in that way.
Scatter symbols do all sorts during gameplay depending on how the slot is designed. Scatters can award special prizes like free coins, free spins or bonus games. They can also trigger special bonus rounds. Scatters usually require a minimum of three to show before they do anything of value.
You could also land a Multiplier which multiplies your winnings by a certain amount. This gives an instant boost to your winnings which can be quite significant depending on the level of the multiplier.
Are Online Slot Games Fixed?
There are a lot of myths surrounding almost every casino game, including online slot machines.
Some people may claim they have a strategy for winning online slots but there is no such thing. There is no wagering system which will allow players to consistently beat the house edge. There are ways to play smart but ultimately, it all comes down to the luck of the spin.
Some players will say that certain games at certain casinos are fixed but this is not true. Online slot machines hosted on licensed online casinos cannot be fixed.
Another myth is that casinos can alter payouts and other factors remotely. Online casinos have no control over games as they are built, developed and provided by third-party gaming companies.