Guide to using Online Slots Casinos
Slots games are probably the most popular type of online casino entertainment, due to the simple rules and large variety of themes available. There are plenty of casino sites offering or even specialising in the best online slots, so you’re spoilt for choice.
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Whether you want video slots, fruit machines, 3D slots, classic slots or mobile slots, there’s a lot to consider. On top of the type of slots, there is RTP, number of reels, amount of paylines, wagering options and more that should be evaluated before signing up with an online slots site. With this in mind, read on to discover all you need to know from the various slot types, tips and tricks to the bonuses, promotions and offers.
History of Slots
The first slot machine came into existence back in 1891, when New York company Sittman and Pitt created a game with 5 drums and 50 playing cards. They were located in many bars, and cost only a nickel to play, making them a popular choice for those who had had a drink or two and fancied a flutter. To play, people would simply insert their money, then pull the lever. To receive a payout, poker hands needed to be lined up on the reels. There wasn’t a direct payout mechanism, so back then, winners were paid at the bar, and these prizes were usually in the form of free drinks and cigars.
Many people believe that Charles Augustus Fey is the inventor of the first slot machine, although there isn’t a precise date when said machine was created. It was most likely at some point between 1887 and 1895. The creation of the machine had a key feature that allowed automatic payouts. This was done by making it easier for the machine to work out when a win came up, and Fey achieved this by replacing the 5 drums with three reels. The playing cards also got replaced – with the 5 symbols of diamonds, spades, hearts, horseshoes and a liberty bell. This liberty bell would allow for the highest payout if three appeared at once, so this naturally led to the machine being named the Liberty Bell. It became hugely popular, but because Fey didn’t get a patent for this setup, it got copied by other slot manufacturers.
In 1902, slot machines were officially banned, but this didn’t stop the Liberty Bell from being manufactured. They got around the fact that cash prizes couldn’t be given out anymore by creating fruit machines. Fruit symbols were used instead of the previous five symbols, and the prizes were sweets and chewing gum which matched the fruit that landed the win. At this point, slots had been purely mechanical from the outset, and they continued to be operated in this way for many years. Players would need to pull down a lever, which stretched a spring inside the machine and set the reels in motion, going quickly at first but gradually slowing down before landing on a particular combination at random. Due to this manual operation, players were under the belief that they could control the results by pulling down the lever in a certain way. The lever led to the slang term ‘one armed bandits’ to come about, describing the machines.
Money Honey, the first electromechanical slots machine, was released by Bally in 1964. To avoid alienating fans, the lever mechanism was still present, which means games continued to be started by pulling it. However, the reels ran on an electronic system. This machine was the first one to make use of a bottomless hopper, allowing it to pay up to 500 coins automatically if a player won. As this type of machine grew in popularity, the lever was removed from newer versions.
During the 1990s, the online casino also began to rise in popularity. Although only classic games, such as roulette and blackjack, were available at first, slots got added before too long. As with the trend seen in land casinos, slots skyrocketed in the online sphere, and became more popular than these traditional options. As a result, many casino sites offered slots as a large proportion of their games library. At first, online slots were similar to those seen in brick and mortar casinos – they had the same number of reels and selection of symbols. This wasn’t the case for long, as coding allowed for a huge variety of game styles and themes to become available. Nowadays, there is a massive choice of themes, symbols, bonus rounds and additional features to browse on every casino site.
With each year that passes, the number of slots developers and the amount of slots games they create increases. There are over 100 online slots developers, compared to the much smaller number of those who create fruit machines for land casinos. With the advent of online casino slots came the development of jackpot slots, and Microgaming were first to the table with Cash Splash. However, this didn’t provide as large a payout as we see these days. For example, Mega Moolah regularly pays out jackpots that rack up to millions, and it holds the world record for the largest payout from an online slot – 17.9 million Euros.
Types of Slots
3 Reel slots – When slot machines first started being developed, they had three reels. It’s common for people to refer to classic slots as 3 reel slots. It’s a good option for those who want a quick and easy game without bonuses and extra features to contend with.Those who like traditional slots will also prefer this option. Essentially, reels are the vertical sections which roll over whenever the lever is pulled (or you press ‘spin’ in an online casino).One example of a three reel slot game is Double Diamond, which was created by software provider IGT. The disadvantage of three reel slots is the fact that the payout will usually be lower than five or seven reel slots, and it can easily get boring for those who tire of the repetitive action. However, the game is quick and easy, so it has a loyal fan base for that reason.
5 Reel slots – Five reel games are the most popular when it comes to online slots, and players will often find these carry the most varied and exciting themes, bonuses and mini-games. This therefore makes five reel slots a good option for those who want to have a wide selection of themes to get stuck into, or dedicate themselves to one kind of game and increase their payout with bonus rounds and other special features. Although the number of paylines varies according to the game you play, on average there will be 20 paylines as a standard setup.
6 Reel slots – Now that pretty much any variety of online slots can be created, software developers have decided to go one step further and add an additional reel to the popular 5 reel slots. It will be hard to find a six reel slot in a brick and mortar casino, but you will certainly find a good selection in the online world. For example, Microgaming released the game Germinator, and WMS Gaming put out a machine called Red Flag Sheet. There are more opportunities to win a payout with an extra reel, but as with all online slots games, the winner is completely down to luck and chance.
7 Reel slots – Players who want to try something new or play at a different speed can try the seven reel online slots layout. It is a relatively new trend, but there are many people who believe in the power of the number seven – so they will be drawn to this number of reels. Real Time Gaming and WGS Technologies offer a number of 7 reel games, but those who love this game will need to wait for more developers to catch onto the trend. So that there isn’t too much complexity in the game, the average seven reel slot will have a matching seven paylines. Although they won’t always have videos and animations, players can enjoy extras such as multipliers, free spins and bonus symbols.
- Classic slots – Also known as three reel slots, these games recreate the feeling of being in an authentic Vegas casino. They are designed to be the digital version of the original slots, which have a small number of reels and one payline. Developers spice things up by adding additional features such as bonus games, multiplier symbols and scatter symbols.
- For those wanting a simple betting option, classic slots are the way to go. Players just have to bet either one coin or the maximum per spin, then wait to see the result. There will usually be a paytable next to the reels, available to refer to throughout the game, and all you have to do to win the prize is see if your payline matches the pictures on the table.
- Video slots – There are thousands of video game slots available, and it can be hard to decide which one to play. This is because software providers go all out with their provision of exciting designs and varied game play. It’s possible for video slots to have over 100 paylines, loads of mini games and lots of bonus symbols.
- This can keep an online slots player entertained for hours. The graphics are usually high quality, and achieving a winning spin will often result in unique animations being displayed on screen. TV programmes, comics, films and cartoon characters often feature in video slots, as big slot makers like Bally and Netent will be able to license the brands for use in their libraries.
- AWP slots – Online slots aren’t often spoken of using this term, but it’s worth knowing what it means in case you stumble across it. AWP is short for ‘amusement with prize’, and these machines are pretty similar to one-armed bandits. This term could be used in some venues but not others, depending on your exact location.
- If a game is in a casino, it’s usually called a slot or fruit machine, while those in pubs or arcades will be described as AWP slots machines. These are available online as well as in physical venues – they will be games which allow the player to take part in features such as second screen games and prize tracks. They offer an exciting twist on the classic slots from the past.
- Progressive jackpot slots – These games offer an exciting background buzz for players, as the jackpot increases in small stages as they continue to play the game. They come in a few versions – there are either standalone games which involve an ever-increasing jackpot that is applied just to that machine, or there are progressive jackpot networks, where multiple machines across a network will have the jackpot increase over time for those playing on all of them combined.
- Progressive slots will have a jackpot meter, which shows how large the jackpot value currently is. It’s possible to watch the jackpot grow as other players continue with their games, and it’s exciting to keep playing, wondering if you’ll suddenly be awarded a massive payout.
Fruit machines – This style of machine was originally created for use in arcades, bars and pubs, after slot machines were banned from these locations and were only allowed in casinos. They seem to have a similar setup to classic slots, but to play fruit machines, the player is required to be more involved in the game, as there are lots of features to harness within each round. An example of such a feature is the cash ladder, which gets activated at random stages during gameplay and requires the player to decide their next move by choosing higher or lower. This results in a bonus prize being won on many occasions, which enhances the basic gameplay.
3D slots – In order to remain competitive, software providers will do their best to provide as authentic a slots gaming experience as possible. This has lead to the rise in 3D slots, which deliver high quality graphics as well as smooth and efficient gameplay.It’s usually required for the player to download these games, so the full set of graphics and features can be experienced without any problems caused by an unstable internet connection. However, it’s possible to try the games for free at many online casinos, using virtual credits, before deciding to play with real money.
- Age of the Gods – This game takes its inspiration from Ancient Greek mythology, featuring many gods from the legends such as Poseidon, lord of the sea, Athena, goddess of peace, and Hercules. The premise is that the titans have fallen and it’s now the age of the gods. If you press Bet Max, this enables you to activate all the paylines with the bet per line you’ve currently got selected, and the reels will start to spin. Clicking on Spin enables the wheels to do just that.
- Thunderstruck – Like Age of the Gods, Thunderstruck is an online slots game focused on a god. However, in this instance, the god in question is Thor, the Nordic god who rules over storms, thunder and lightning. This game has 5 reels and 9 paylines, with many storm-themed symbols that match the legend of Thor.
- Gonzo’s Quest – This game was developed by NetEnt and can be played with both real and virtual money. This game is good for those who like high quality graphics, as the theme involves lots of green, a fountain pouring out of a stone carving and an Inca temple in the background. Each symbol features an intricate carving of a human or animal face, and each one is a different colour to represent its value.
- Progressive jackpot slots – These games offer an exciting background buzz for players, as the jackpot increases in small stages as they continue to play the game. They come in a few versions – there are either standalone games which involve an ever-increasing jackpot that is applied just to that machine, or there are progressive jackpot networks, where multiple machines across a network will have the jackpot increase over time for those playing on all of them combined.
Starburst – This online slots game is massively popular because it is so easy to play. You can consistently expect 10 fixed lines, 5 reels and 3 rows from the setup. Players can adjust the coin value by clicking the button on the right of the spin button, and to change the bet level, simply click the green arrow buttons either left or right located next to the Level display.
Wheel of Fortune – This game has a unique design that differs from other online fruit slots, as when you load it on your screen, you’ll see the bottom half is set up like a traditional arcade slots game, with big reels and a payable featuring classic symbols such as cherries, lemons and bells. It will appeal to anyone who enjoys classic slots, and there are two separate games – bottom and top – and the same three reels are used in both.
Deal or No Deal – Fans of the iconic TV show will enjoy the slots version of this game, where you aim to turn the red boxes into huge cash prizes. There are three bonus games available with these slots, plus a massive progressive jackpot, providing players with multiple chances of winning. To get started, all you have to do is click ‘spin’ or ‘bet max’. To access the Deal or No Deal bonus game, click ‘bet max’ and then land three Deal or No Deal Bonus symbols on a paid payline. This game provides you with the chance to win the massive progressive jackpot.
Double Diamond – This slot game was originally created for land casinos, but has since moved online. The three reel game was developed by IGT and is attractive to players due to its simplicity and low wagering requirements. There is a multiplier feature which offers up to 4 times the original wager, and the payout is 85-98%. There is a single payline in Double Diamond, and the maximum bet is just three coins – however, the biggest prize you can receive is 2500 coins. There are several distinctive symbols on the reels – the BAR, the number 7, triple and double BARs, the Double Diamond logo, an ANY BAR symbol and cherries.
- Megabucks – Many will be familiar with this game if they have visited a land casino in Vegas, as it is responsible for a large portion of Nevada’s biggest money jackpots. This simple game has a huge progressive jackpot, making it eye-catching to many players. This game has three reels and one payline, with many classic slot symbols such as 7’s, bars and cherries. While all you have to do is match three identical symbols to the payline, the appeal lies in the fact that the minimum prize is $10 million. Players have been known to win $20 or $30 million jackpots before, which is enough to incentivise people to get betting.
- Cleopatra – IGT is the software provider behind Cleopatra, a well-known slots game with huge payouts and a unique historical atmosphere. It comes with five reels and has 20 pay lines. Each coin dropped into the slots activates a certain pay line. The minimum bet is one penny, and the maximum is $10 per line. Usually, people bet between $0.10 and $5. The maximum payout is 10,000 credits.. The sphinx is the scatter symbol, and if you get three or more of these on the reels, the bonus free spin round is activated, whereby a player is entitled to 15 free spins.
- However, it’s possible for players to make the most of a bonus round and get up to 180 free spins in total. The wild symbol is Cleopatra, and if a winning combination is made, the player receives double the payout amount. If five wild symbols appear during gameplay, 10,000 credits are awarded, and you have the chance of winning up to 100 times the amount wagered.
- Sphinx – This 3D online slots game was invented by GTech, and features both high tech features and a simple layout. There are free rounds, bonuses and multipliers available. In the Sphinx Bonus, a player lands up to 3 sphinx symbols and five bonus rounds are added to the game.
- This is activated if the maximum bet has been used. When this happens, you are entitled to five additional bonuses. For the Box Bonus, the player will collect real money in the game, then click on the box bonus and see if they get a large gold box on the reels. In the Coin Bonus, once you get a coin symbol on the reels, a second screen appears, and there are several options on offer. Three coins can be selected, which reveal wild symbols. These wilds take you to your first screen, where they replace other symbols.
- The Wizard of Oz – This movie-themed online slot game has 5 reels and 30 bet lines; the highest payout is a whopping $50,000. If you have Adobe Flash on your phone, there is also a mobile version available to play. There are many features that come with this game, such as expanding wilds, the jackpot, free spins, scattered feature symbols and the pick feature.
- The wild can be swapped in for other symbols to create winning combinations, and expanding wilds are triggered by Glenda the Good Witch. This witch appears on any reel, turning five of them into expanding reels. The scattered symbol triggers the Oz Pick Feature, which is available on the first, third and fifth reel. The player can have either a cash prize, the Road to Emerald City feature or the Winged Monkey feature. The Road to Emerald City feature allows the player to play the bonus round, while the Winged Monkey feature grants entry to the free spins round.
- Monopoly – This online slots game is based on the popular household name, and the machine has 5 reels and 15 paylines. Players aim towards winning tokens by landing winning combinations on the reels. This enables the mover to go forward and land on properties.
- Another goal is to win in the bonus games on offer. To get started, place a bet by choosing the paylines you want to wager on. Press the ‘select lines’ button to do this, and choose to play between one and fifteen paylines.
- Book of Dead – This online slots game is often confused with Book of Ra as the two are very similar. It has been developed by Play’n’Go, and offers players five reels and ten paylines. The jackpot is 250,000 coins, and the graphics are of the highest quality. As with Cleopatra, you can enjoy ancient Egyptian elements with this game, as music styled from this era plays in the background. The book of dead is both the wild and scatter card, and if you land three of them, this will activate the free spins feature. Players are drawn most strongly to the bonus spins game within Book of Dead, which is triggered by landing its wild/scatter symbol.
- If you match five Riche wild symbols – the highest value ones – during this round, you will receive a maximum win of 5000 times your original bet. Along with this jackpot-style gameplay is an actual standalone jackpot of 250,000 coins, which regularly draws in many punters.
Jumanji – This popular online slots game is based on the classic adventure movie which was released in 1995. Decades later, it is still a cult favourite, and key themes from the movie have made it into other parts of life, such as casino games. It has an unusual layout, as although it’s a five-reel game, the reels on the outside are stacked three symbols high. Going inwards, the following two reels have four symbols, and the middle reel has five. The background is the Jumanji board game, with monkeys, stairs and bookcases adorning the corners.
There are 36 paylines across the reels, and the low value payouts come from the icons J, Q, A and K, which are playing card symbols. The higher payouts come from the Crocodile, Rhino and Pelican, and the Lion awards the highest prize, being worth 140x the total stake upon filling an entire payline. There is also a Sticky Vine feature, whereby the symbols from a winning spin are stuck in place for one more free spin. The Monkey Mayhem feature involves these animals taking symbols and placing them into different combinations on the reels. There is also a Wild Stampede feature, which involves charging rhinos marching across the reels and turning a number of symbols into additional wilds.
Planet of the Apes – This movie-based slot is a hit with fans of the movies Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. It’s a 10 reel online slot game, featuring 40 paylines, which was developed by NetEnt and 20th Century Fox. There’s a huge range when it comes to how much players can bet, varying from 20p to $/€200 a spin. When it comes to gameplay, players can enjoy watching real scenes from the movie, as well as stunning animations and high quality graphics. The dual reels combine elements from both movies, and the wild symbol is Caesar’s attic window. When it appears on a reel in the Rise play area, fully stacked, this activates the Stacked Wild feature, which duplicates the reel onto the Dawn play area’s reel.
The Rise Bonus feature is triggered when this symbol lands on the first reel. It provides a player with a cash bonus for every human and ape symbol which lands on the screen. Additionally, the Dawn Bonus feature allows for up to 1200 times your stake possibly being won, and the Dual feature activates respins, plus up to 1000 times your stake to be won.
How To Sign Up For Slots Games
It’s a quick and easy process to sign up for slots gaming in any online casino. Generally speaking, all you will need on the sign-up form is your name, date of birth, email address, identification (this will be photo ID like a passport or driver’s license) and proof of address. The creation of an account usually doesn’t take more than a few minutes, and once you have signed up, it’s often possible to play slots in demo mode, for play money. To start using real cash, you will need to connect a payment method to your account and transfer money to your virtual wallet.
Slots Bonuses, Promotions & Offers
Depending on which online casino site you sign up with, there will usually be a range of bonuses available that are centred around slots games. This is because slots are one of the most popular games to play on casino sites, making up the bulk of many virtual libraries. Often, slots bonuses come as part of a welcome bonus, so players may be entitled to a number of free spins on a specific game. The amount is typically between 10 and 100 spins. The welcome bonus is offered to players simply for signing up, so if you choose wisely you could have 100 free spins without needing to deposit cash. However, read the small print on such offers, as they are usually subject to wagering requirements, and as with most things in life, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Sometimes you can make the most of a welcome bonus to land free play on a slots game. For example, if you receive a 100% welcome bonus up to $/€500, you can use this additional cash to play extra rounds of slots. But for those who want to receive a more straightforward option, there are many casinos online which will offer bespoke promotions and offers for slots players. These will be featured on the promotions page of a casino site, or they could be emailed to loyal customers. To add to the excitement and keep players logging into the site regularly, promotions can be packaged as available daily, so that if players log in each day, they will receive a perk such as a cash sum to spend on a slots game.
Slots RTP
RTP is an important feature of any casino game, including online slots and slots machines, so it’s worth finding out more about what it means and how it can impact your gameplay.
In short, RTP is short for Return to Player, and it delivers a percentage that will tell you your odds of winning when playing an online slot. It indicates the percentage of total wins over a long period of time – in fact, over the total stakes played. So, for example, if the online slot you choose has an RTP of 96%, and you play 100 rounds at $/€1, you can expect to win $/€96 back. The $/€4 remaining is the house edge; what the casino will earn from your wagers in total. It isn’t quite as black and white as this, as the RTP is calculated over huge amounts of spins – going into the millions. So, for example, it wouldn’t be a given to win that $/€96 back every time you wagered $/€100. But, if you wagered that much over a long period of time, that’s the average you would begin to see. The figure has been formed as a general indicator of how reliable the game is. Generally speaking, if the house edge is high, people will be put off playing a certain game, as it means that you’ll be paying the casino a fairly high percentage of your bankroll. You’ll always know what the RTP of a game is, as slot game developers are required to inform punters of how likely they are to win. This information is typically found in the information section of a slot, or on the paytable. It’s good to know what the RTP of a slot is as, besides indicating the quality of a game, a slot with a high RTP will be more likely to offer a player features such as bonus rounds, mini games, wilds and multipliers. As many slots these days are offering a high RTP, it’s an ever increasing competition for software developers to come up with additional features that players will enjoy. It’s typical for most popular online slots to have a RTP of around 96%.
Other factors influencing the RTP are house edge, hit frequency and volatility. The house edge is important to consider, no matter what casino game you are playing. It will inform you of the percentage of your wager which is automatically going to be paid to the casino. Even if you have found the highest RTP slot you think it’s possible to find, there will still be a few percent going to the casino, so that they earn something from the gameplay. The hit frequency, like the RTP, is calculated over a long timespan. It’s a percentage which explains how often a slot will provide a win. However, game manufacturers are not required to provide this information, so if you can find it out, you are at an advantage in the sense that you have additional assistance in working out how favourable a slot will be for a player. The volatility is widely considered to be the most important number when it comes to thinking about the RTP of an online slot. It’s either described using a scale between 1 and 10, or using the word low, medium or high. It will tell you about how often wins can be expected, and how high they will be when they do occur. So if a slot has low volatility, you can expect small but regular wins. With a high volatility, there may be many rounds with no wins, then once in a while you will land a big one. Many players opt for a game with medium volatility, as it strikes a balance between how often the wins are and how much is in them.
Slots Tips & Tricks
- Don’t spend beyond your limits – The nature of online slots means it’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of repeatedly pressing that ‘spin’ button and believing that just one more turn of the reels will get you the payout you desire. However, this is exactly how casinos make their money, and if you want to stay within your budget and avoid putting yourself in financial trouble, it’s worth setting a loss limit so that once you reach it, you walk away.
- Move to another slot if you’re losing – It can be frustrating to spend time on an online slots game and find that you keep losing. In such a situation, it could be time to switch to another game. Slots vary in terms of how easily they pay out, so maybe another option will be a ‘looser’ set of slots. If you move to a machine that is warmer than the cold one you’re experiencing a losing streak on, you could find that your play time increases, your wins become more frequent and you won’t face your loss limit as readily.
- Choose the smallest jackpots – Although it can be difficult to resist the allure of a massive jackpot, it’s actually wiser to stick with a more achievable prize. These are the smaller jackpots, as the more you decrease in size, the more you increase your chances of winning. This is because the bigger jackpots take many playing hours to create, which reduce your odds of winning.
- Play the less popular slots – There may be lots of people playing the most popular online slots, but it’s likely that they may not have as high a payout rate as games which are buried on the third or fourth page. Taking the time to search for an online slots game and not just going for the first game you see could net you more wins and cash.
- Pay attention to wagering requirements – It’s easy to be lured in by a welcome bonus which offers deposit matches, free spins or other lucrative promotions. However, before signing up at an online casino site based purely on these benefits, it’s worth checking the terms and conditions first. Wagering requirements on welcome bonuses can be heavy – for example, if wagering requirements are 30x, the casino will not release your funds until you’ve reached $/€3,000 in betting wins.
- Play according to your personality – If you are a person who likes immediate gratification, go for a slot with low volatility, as these will ensure more frequent wins. But if you like the suspense of seeing if you’re going to achieve a big win, and you have a more patient personality, then a high volatility slot or progressive jackpot may be the choice for you. Whatever you choose, ensure that your game setup matches the way you think and like to play, or you may find your bankroll runs out or you get frustrated very quickly.
Maximum & Minimum Wagers
The good thing about online slots is that there are so many out there, you will easily find one that suits your budget. Whether you’re a slots newbie or a high roller, there will be a maximum and minimum wager combination that fits your bankroll. In terms of what the average is, there isn’t really an answer to this – it varies hugely depending on what casino site or type of slots you are browsing.
But what are maximum and minimum wagers? This essentially refers to the amount that each coin you bet will hold. For example, 25p per coin. You can choose to raise or lower the amount, use the bet on all or some of the paylines, and more, depending on what suits you. If you place a maximum bet, this will be a bet making use of all the paylines, wagered at the highest number of coins per line. Additionally, it will be set at the highest wager amount too. This is often an option for those with a bigger bankroll, as max bets can sometimes equate to hundreds per spin. This option is taken by those who may want to be in for a win on the jackpot or progressive jackpot feature, which is only available for those who bet max. It’s recommended by many to bet max where possible, as the payouts will often be more generous. This doesn’t have to mean running out of money right away, though, as if you’re not a high roller, you can find a lower wager slot – perhaps even a penny slot to warm up.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
Mega Moolah – This online slot game has 5 reels and 25 pay lines, offering players a whole host of ways to win. There are 4 progressive jackpots available to win big on, as well as wilds, scatters, multipliers and free spins. As a low volatility game, this offering from Microgaming is one of the most popular progressive jackpot slots to play. It has an African Safari theme, which features animals such as antelopes, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, monkeys, lions and elephants. These are spread throughout all of the available reels, with animations and sound effects enhancing the experience. You can bet between 1 and 5 coins per line, and the values can be adjusted to either $.01, $.02 or $.05. The wild symbol is a lion, and can be swapped in for any other symbol on the screen – except the scatter – to form winning patterns. What’s more, this symbol will double wins it helps to achieve. The scatter symbol is a fortune-telling monkey, and when three, four or five show up during gameplay, the Mega Moolah bonus feature is activated. This feature provides players with access to four progressive jackpots, and they can be won if bonuses are randomly triggered upon spinning the wheel. The Mega Moolah Jackpot wheel has 20 segments and operates a colour scheme to decide which jackpot a player will win.
Jackpot Giant – This progressive jackpot game is operated by Playtech and provides players with 5 reels and a whopping 50 paylines. You can play from a minimum of 50p per spin, and there are two bonus features available, plus 5 wilds which will win a massive jackpot if they land across the first payline. This historically themed game is set in the Stone Age, and the objective is to have volcanoes erupt and bestow incredible rewards. Stacked symbols are a lucrative feature, as they will take up two vertical reel positions and offer bigger payouts. The bonus symbol is a volcano, and it only appears on the first and fifth reel. If both appear at once, the Giant Bonus feature is activated, which comprises six volcanoes. The player chooses three of them, with each one offering a cash prize, extra pick or win ‘em all option. However, the main attraction is the Giant Jackpot feature, which becomes active when a player lands a five of a kind combination with the wild along the first payline. In order to win the progressive jackpot, you need to be playing at the maximum stake, which is $/€4. Landing five wilds on paylines not including the first one will net you 50,000 times your like bet (or 1000 times your stake).
Major Millions – This progressive slot is a big name in the video slot world, and was developed by software provider Microgaming. It was released in 2000, and provided a simple, straightforward style of gameplay that appealed to players around the world – particularly in Canada and Australia. It has five reels and fifteen paylines, which is an unusual combination. Microgaming joined all the video slots from the total online casinos it works with for this game, meaning that massive wins can land in players’ pockets. On average, the winnings are half a million, and this is paid out to a lucky winner around every three months. The theme is guns and military, which will appeal to certain players, but largely, people will play it in the hope of landing that big win.
Cash Splash – This slot was also developed by Microgaming, and it has five reels and fifteen paylines. Its traditional-looking setup means that the symbols take up the screen, leaving little room for a backdrop of any sort. Following with this theme, the symbols are also traditional – bars, sevens and cherries feature on the reels. The most valuable one is the Cash Splash logo, which is worth 6000x the line stake for five on an active payline. The wild is the Cash Splash symbol, and it takes the place of everything except scatters. If you land five of the Cash Splash symbols on the 15th payline, with all paylines active and playing at the maximum bet, you’ll be in for the big wins.
Arabian Nights – This jackpot slot was developed by NetEnt, and provides players with a medieval Arabian theme. It has somewhat of a higher minimum bet than many slots games, as it can be played from $/€5 a spin. The free spins feature allows a player to be in with a chance of receiving up to 30 free spins with a 3x multiplier, as well as being in the pool of prospective jackpot winners. The game has five reels and ten paylines, and the minimum bet of $/€5 is also the maximum bet, which ensures that all players have an equal chance of landing the jackpot. If five Arabian Nights symbols appear on a payline, the player could be winning big money.
Real Money vs Play Money Slots
One of the benefits afforded by the digital world of casino gaming is the opportunity for players to start out with a play mode when they load up their slots game of choice. This will often be a method that newbies love, as it gets them used to a game, but others prefer to go straight in with real money for an authentic gaming experience.
By playing in fun or demo mode, players new to the world of gambling can experience what is involved in a game before risking losing their bankroll due to not understanding a setup, or making rookie errors. It will let a player see what free spins involve, what bonus rounds look like, how scatters, wilds and multipliers impact a game, and whether it’s more beneficial to set coins at lower or higher value. Due to the amount of online slots types available, it’s a good chance for a player to work out if they prefer fewer or more reels, the number of paylines they prefer, the pace of gameplay, presence of bonus features and more.
However, playing in demo mode can’t substitute for the real experience, which many people prefer to dive into upon deciding they want to experience online slots gameplay. This means that you can fully enjoy the random chance of the game, and if you don’t fully understand the setup just yet, you could still win on your first few spins. It’s also inherently more exciting, as you’ve put money behind each spin, so the chance of winning feels much more real, whereas spinning in demo mode could soon become dull.
Online Slots vs Casino Slots
- Playing slots at home or on the go – The main appeal of online slots is the fact that you can play them from the comfort of your own home, on the go and at any time of the day or night. With a land based casino, you will be restricted by the opening hours of the operator, as well as your own schedule and ability to get to the casino.
- For example, someone working full time won’t be able to travel to a casino regularly if it’s far away from their home, unless they take time out to go on holiday. This also incurs additional costs such as travel and accommodation. But with online slots, these games can be played on a desktop or mobile devices during work breaks, on the commute or during the evenings and weekends.
- Huge range of slots to choose from – Land based casinos will be restricted by floor space, meaning they have to be selective about the machines they include in the casino. Due to the fact other table games such as baccarat, poker and blackjack will need to be included in this mix, this means that only a limited number of slots machines will be available to players.
- In an online casino, though, there will often be a huge library of games available to play, with numbers going into the hundreds if you choose a large casino or a site dedicated to slots games. This means online players are often spoilt for choice.
- Spend longer dedicated to a specific game – Due to the flexibility an online casino offers a player, they can spend time focusing on one specific game. If this is attempted in a brick and mortar casino, it could annoy other players who want to have a go on the machine, and due to time restraints such as casino opening hours and personal schedules, it’s not going to be as easy for players to dedicate time to a certain game.
- While this is true for those playing a slots game and wanting to increase their chances of winning more, experiencing bonus rounds, scatters, wilds and multipliers, it is particularly true for those playing progressive jackpots, as being present more often on a jackpot and placing max bets will increase a player’s chances of landing the big win.
Experience social aspects of a casino – While classic casino table games such as blackjack, roulette and craps are increasingly offering live dealer options, allowing players to interact with others and play live versions of the game, this isn’t as readily available with slots, meaning that if you are playing online slots, there isn’t usually as much of a chance to interact with people as there would be in a brick and mortar casino. Many people will visit a land based casino for the enjoyment of being with friends and meeting new people, so this is where the traditional casino has an advantage over online operators.
Discover the latest releases sooner – It’s often the case that the latest slots games releases are revealed in land based casinos first, meaning that those who travel to the physical operators will experience them first. So if you want the perks of seeing what’s coming out next first and being front of the queue, it may be worth at least the occasional visit to a land based casino.
Best Slots Games For Mobile
- Aliens mobile slot – NetEnt produced this online slot, which is based on the movie Aliens by James Cameron. It’s an action science fiction thriller which sees the player stranded on a spaceship, with flesh-eating aliens everywhere.There are stunning graphics and various symbols, of which the lowest value ones are the unhatched eggs.
- The highest paying symbol is the fully grown alien, and the wild is the Weyland-Yatani Corp logo, which helps to create winning combinations to increase your bankroll.There are several stages, including an exciting shooter game where you progress down a dark corridor, shooting aliens along the way.
- Game of Thrones mobile slot – This slot game, based on the popular TV franchise, can be played either as a 15 payline or a 243 ways to win. With the paylines mode, you can bet between 0.01 and 0.10, and the highest win is 200 in cash. Multiple wins are possible in this mode, as there are stacked wilds across all the reels, and wins of over 400x your initial bet are possible. It’s easier to get more lucrative wins through the free spins in the 243 ways mode.
- Rapunzel’s Tower mobile slot – This 5-reel online video slot allows you to enter a world of fairy tales. The aim is to help Prince Eugene rescue the girl with the long blonde hair. If he reaches the top during bonus mode, your wins get doubled. Features include sticky wilds, extra re-spins and a generous RTP of 96.25%.
- The background is a peaceful countryside setting, with rolling hills and a high tower made of stone. There are only subtle sound effects, such as birds tweeting, making it a relaxing experience.
- Dead or Alive mobile slot – This slot has 5 reels and 9 paylines, and the betting range goes from as little as 0.09 euros up to 18 euros a spin. Based on the Wild West, the reels are framed by wood and there is rumbling thunder in the background. High value symbols include a sheriff’s badge, a cowboy hat, a shot glass, a pair of cowboy boots and a gun holster.
- Lower value symbols are casino card icons. There are two bonus games available – free spins, where 12 are awarded upon landing three or more scatter symbols, and sticky wilds, where you can receive a rewarding boost to your bankroll.
- Aloha mobile slot – This online slot has been produced by NetEnt and has a RTP of 97%. It’s set against the backdrop of a tropical island, and has six reels and five rows. There are ten bet levels, and you can bet anywhere between $0.01 and $2. The minimum bet per spin is $0.10 up to $200.
- When three Tiki symbols of different colours appear on the reels, they become sticky, awarding the player a respin. There is also a free spins round, which is triggered when three or more free spins symbols appear on the reels.
Frequently asked questions
There are a range of payment methods available for people who play games using online casinos. As slots are the most popular game on casino sites, with many operators offering slots as the majority of their library, it’s important for them to ensure players can deposit and withdraw in a multitude of methods. There are traditional methods available, such as cheque, bank transfer, Visa, Maestro and MasterCard. As these banking methods are widely used around the world, they are a good option for those who want to use the payment method they’re used to. There are also e-wallet options available, such as PayPal, Neteller and Skrill. These offer quick and convenient ways to move money around, making it easy to make transactions on mobile and avoiding the need to enter long card numbers or personal security information. Finally, some players prefer to use Bitcoin, a relatively new and highly secure form of cryptocurrency that is increasingly being offered as a payment method by online casinos.
Some slots games can be downloaded in order to be enjoyed in a higher quality format, and this is especially useful for those without stable internet connections. Graphics and sound packages are downloaded at the outset, meaning that there is no risk of lag or stuttering during gameplay. However, some people can be put off by the concept of downloading a large file or set of software in order to play online slots, especially if they are not a regular player. The good news is that you don’t have to download software to play online slots, although this option will be available if it’s what you would prefer.
This answer depends on the kind of gameplay you are looking for. Fortunately, there are many bonuses that are applicable to slots games, as operators know that most players like to play this game on casino sites. With free spins on specific games, you can gain an advantage from the get go, provided you enjoy the game. If you don’t want to be restricted to a specific game, it may be worth finding a more flexible bonus. For example, a match bonus will offer you virtual credit depending on how much real money you deposit. If you want to spend a lot of time on a particular online slot, this can be a useful bonus to take advantage of, as you will have more money for your wagers. If you can place more max bets and last for longer, you will have more of a chance of landing the big wins.
There are arguments for and against every kind of volatility, and a lot of this decision is down to a player’s personal choice. If you like the thrill of being in for big wins, and don’t mind going through a potential losing streak, then high volatility slots are the choice for you. But if you want to play it safe, and have small, regular wins, then low volatility may be the best option. As most people like to strike a balance between these two extremes, medium volatility slots are often opted for by slots players. Essentially, it’s best to experience each type of volatility for yourself before making a decision, so you know which type you enjoy the most.
When it comes to online slots, a payline is one of the most important features. It is the line which decides how a payout will be awarded depending on winning combinations. The number of paylines can vary according to slot machine, but it’s only when they are active that payouts can be earned. In other words, you only win payouts on lines that you bet on, which is why many people advise to bet max in online slots – in other words, to bet on all available paylines with every wager.
Ever since the first slots machine was invented, this game has operated based on the principle that revolving reels will determine the results of a spin. There can be a number of reels available, and originally, a slots machine had five reels. However, three reel machines became the standard after just a short amount of time. Digital reels replaced physical ones when online slots came into existence, which means a lever no longer has to be pulled by the player in order to set them in motion. Without the reels, a game of slots could not take place.
The paytable is a useful source of information for those new to a game of online slots. It lists the number of symbols a game has, what the payouts are, and how to play the bonus features. While for new players, it can be a good way to learn the basics, it’s also a way for more experienced players to see if a game is low or high volatility.
Every online slots player is a fan of scatter symbols, and this is because they are essentially the way you unlock in-game bonuses and additional games. They do not have to be lined up on a payline to result in a win – they simply have to land on the reels to land fun bonuses and extras. They are often the most highly paid symbol in a slot game, and usually a specific number have to appear on a single spin to allow a player access to a feature.
Some compare wild symbols to the joker in a pack of cards, as they can be used in combination with any symbol on the reels to create a winning combination. In some online slot games, the wild symbol will also come with unique prizes. The wild can’t replace scatter symbols or other bonuses, but is capable of substituting for all other standard symbols on a reel. It can vary in value, and is worth nothing in some games, but is the highest paying symbol in others.
Multipliers have the ability to multiply your winnings by a certain amount. Not all slots have them, but they are very lucrative in those that do. They will usually double or triple your wins, sometimes adding 1000x your stake amount. While some games offer multipliers in the base game, others will offer special edition multipliers that are triggered during bonus rounds or free spins.
There is a difference between class II and class III when it comes to online slots. A basic definition of class III gaming is the traditional Vegas or casino gaming. When it comes to slots machines, this refers to RNG based games which are completely random and programmed to pay back a specific percentage of what it takes in earnings. Meanwhile, a class II slot machine involves the results of each spin being based on electronic bingo games, which incorporate many machines throughout the casino.
There is no secret to winning a slots jackpot. However, there are measures you can take to enhance your chances of winning. These include choosing slots with the highest payouts, picking a good volatility, not going with an obvious choice and making higher bets where possible.
It’s certainly possible to play online slots on your mobile device. All you have to do is load the casino site of your choice in your web browser, or search your application’s app store for the related casino app to download. Most casinos offer a large library of mobile slots, optimised for a smaller screen, making it easy to spin the reels on the go.
If you are playing an extensive amount of slots games and feel unable to stop, this could be a sign you’re addicted. When the usual limits such as spending your allocated bankroll don’t prevent you from continuing to play, and your habit starts to impact on your finances and relationships, it’s time to seek help. Being honest with a trusted friend or family member, or contacting a support service such as Gamblers Anonymous, can help you to get the assistance you need.
This will depend on your location. Normally the legal age to gamble is 18, but in parts of America or Portugal, this age is 21.
The licensing information of an online casino can usually be found at the footer at the bottom of the homepage, and is often available in this location on every page of the site. It will typically be written in small text, describing where the casino is licensed and whether a third party regulator undergoes audits of its games and practices. Being aware of the main licensing organisations and checking your online casino is licensed correctly is hugely beneficial in the long run. This means that you won’t have to worry about having nowhere to complain to, should you experience any issues or negative treatment during your gameplay.
A slot machine tournament can be an exciting and competitive twist on standard gameplay for gambling fans. Often held in brick and mortar casinos, these tournaments can involve hundreds of players and usually require a ticket for entry. You are provided with a certain amount of play money to use in the tournament, which is typically divided into several rounds. Groups of players participate in each part of the round, and this can last up to several hours. Once there are two players who come out on top, having won the most money in their group, they move on to the next round, until the overall winner is crowned.
If you want to play a jackpot with online slots, there is more than one option to get stuck into. A common choice players have to make is whether they are going to play a standalone progressive or network progressive jackpot. A standalone progressive is a single machine that racks up a jackpot over time, while a network progressive comprises potentially hundreds of slot machine games which combine to create an enormous jackpot. The decision of which jackpot to go for depends on what you are in the mood for. If you want a higher chance of winning, but a lower jackpot, go for the standalone progressive, but if you like the buzz of seeing an enormous jackpot increasing in size as multiple people keep playing, then try your hand at a network progressive. Whatever your choice, the outcome will be completely random.
Glitches can sometimes happen in games, as with most technology, and a lot of problems can be linked to a poor internet connection. Some slot games will require you to manually press the stop button when the reels are spinning, but on other occasions, for example if you have autoplay set, it can be confusing when reels continue to spin. One option is to check your internet connection, as if it goes down, this can cause the game to remain in the state it was at the time of disconnection. Alternatively, click out of the game, then back in, to see if this resolves the issue. In a worst case scenario, abandon that particular slot game and find another to play.
If your internet disconnects during a game of online slots, you will often find that when you reconnect, the game will have landed on a specific spin combination and awarded you any relevant earnings while you were logged out. This information can be obtained by checking your virtual wallet and game history.
Slots Glossary
