All You Need to Know About Online Slots
Slots make up over 65% of all online casino games today. Such a high percentage is a pointer to their popularity. If you are interested in casino gaming, the chances are that you will come across an online slot and try one.
Slot machines were invented in the late 19th century. They had reels and different symbols. Users would rotate the reels and make cash whenever the symbols matched. In recent years, the online versions have been adapted from the land-based ones.
Here is a quick review of online slots and a few tips to help you have a better gambling experience.
What Are Online Slots?
Online slots are digital reel machines where players make cash by spinning the reels hoping to match symbols. The number of symbols you are supposed to match varies from one game to another. Random Number Generator (RNG) software determines the next symbol on the reel. It’s random and cannot be manipulated to ensure fairness.
There are different types of slot games, some of the popular ones include classic slots, video slots, branded slots, progressive slots, and interactive slots.
Slot Themes and Symbols
Software providers design slot games to deliver a particular theme, such as fruits, stars, ancient Egypt, mythical beings, gold, and money, among many others. The theme of the slots determines the kind of symbols and music that will play in the background.
For example, fruit-based games may feature mangoes, bananas, oranges, and maybe a bonus symbol of a monkey to add to the fun.
Each slot has a payout value if you get a certain combination of symbols. Check the information tab of your selected slot game to determine the payout for each symbol indicated on the screen.
Paylines and RTP
The paylines are the number of ways a slot gets paid. A slot may be paid backward, to the left, diagonally, or in any other fashion when the symbols align. A slot may have as few as three paylines or as many as a thousand. Gaming software providers determine the number of active paylines on a slot. Each bet per line will be multiplied by the said number of paylines to determine the total amount you wager per spin.
Other titles have fixed paylines. These don’t allow reducing the number of active lines, and the bet amount is multiplied by all the available lines. On the positive side, you get a chance to win on all available lines on the slot.
The RTP (Return to Player Percentage) is the percentage the player gets back after wagering. This measures how good the slot is in terms of returns to the user. Most slots have an RTP of between 96% and 98%. Those with higher RTP have a chance of giving higher returns to players. However, because they are all games of chance, you can still win big even if they have lower RTPs.
Real Money and Free Bets
You can play slots for real money or for free. The free or demo mode allows you to enjoy all the features of your selected slot but does not give you a chance to withdraw the amount that you win. It is a great way to enjoy casino games without risking your cash or getting to experience a title before you wager real money.
On the other hand, playing real money online slots gives you a chance to make cash from the game as you enjoy it. You choose your wager amount from the limits provided and start spinning your reels. Every round on the reel deducts the set amount from your balance.
When planning your bankroll, ensure that you determine the bet wager amount that will allow you to spin the reels for a reasonable period without causing you to lose lots of cash.
Slot Volatility
The volatility of a slot is the period within which you can get the first payout. High volatility slots take a long time before giving out any wins, while low volatility ones give small wins regularly.
Jackpots
Jackpots are the maximum win that you can get from a slot machine. A slot may have a fixed amount that players win on making a particular symbol combination. There are also progressive jackpot slots where the maximum win is pooled from all online casinos that offer the said gain. This amount keeps growing until there is a winner.
Conclusion
It is important to select a slot that offers the characteristics you wish to experience. Then, plan your wagers effectively to last long enough for a win.