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Learning how to play online slots includes understanding everything from reels and paylines to bonus features and progressive jackpots. Here, you’ll discover how the RTP of a slot impacts returns, how winning combinations form, important information about different slot features, and more.
How to Play Slots
Understanding online slots and how to play is a must for those of you who are interested in spinning the reels. The good news is that the overall gameplay is pretty basic. To show you how simple it really is, we’ve provided an overview below.
- Choose a Slot: Browse available slots and select your favorite. Look at the number of paylines, min/max bet, top win, and theme.
- View the Paytable: Launch the slot and access the paytable. Here, you can view winning combinations and how much they are worth.
- Set Your Stake: Use the arrows to set your stake. This is the amount you wish to gamble per spin. Consider using the “Max Bet” option if your budget allows.
- Spin the Reels: Select the “Spin” button to start the reels in motion. Any winning combinations are clearly displayed on the screen. Some slots feature bonus games that can be triggered in different ways.
Basics of Slot Machine Gaming for Beginners
Online games are ideal for casino beginners to learn how to play. Not only are they simple to learn, but they also come in various varieties, suiting most tastes.
Before we go into “Can I play slots online for real money?” let’s begin with the available slot types. Since several slot machine features are available online, we will not attempt to exhaust them all here. Instead, we have included only the basics in this guide to give you a firm starting point.
Reels
When playing slots at online casinos, you will find symbols on the reels. Depending on the machine, a slot can have 3, 5, or 7 reels, or any combination as shown in the image above.
Random number generators (RNGs) control the outcome once slot reels spin. These RNGs may be mechanical devices, as with physical slots found in Las Vegas, or software algorithms baked into an online slot game.
Rows
Rows complete the slot display: where reels run vertically, slot rows are horizontal, covering the space from left to right of the display. A slot description includes details of both reels and rows. For example, if a game plays on a 5×3 grid, it has five reels and three rows.
Slots can have several rows, with classic slot machines usually having three rows, matched with three corresponding reels. But the latest games like Gangsterz and Potion Spells by Bgaming have seven rows.
Slot Symbols
Slots symbols are the images resting on the reels. They provide a customized look that gives the game its overall theme. For example, a fruit-themed slot machine can have fruit symbols like cherries, strawberries, and so on.
These symbols can also have different functions in the game, like multipliers, scatters, and wilds (Explained in more detail later)
A slot machine like Gangsterz from Bgaming might have characters and elements, as you can see highlighted in the white boxes below.
Paylines
Paylines, or payout lines, are essential to understanding how to play slots online. They are a winning sequence of symbols displayed on the reels. Every slot machine will have information on the available paylines and which symbols you must get to have a winning payline.
Paylines can pay from left to right or both ways, depending on your slot. They can also display vertical, horizontal, or zig-zag patterns. You don’t need to identify paylines to win; the slot will do it for you while also showing the outcome and payout on the screen.
Paytables
The paytable lets you view every combination of symbols and how much they pay out. You may also find useful information regarding bonus features. These details must be understood before you fully know how to play online slots.
How to Choose a Slot Machine to Play
If you are wondering how to play slots online and win, the journey starts by selecting the right game. There is no one-size-fits-all here, so you must pick a slot that works for you. Consider the number of reels you want to play, the jackpot available, the slot theme, and if you wish to go for traditional or cutting-edge slots.
Next, remember every slot machine game is different and has a collection of unique symbols and bonus features. You must familiarize yourself with these features when learning how to play slots. Let’s look at three of the most common slot features you will encounter online.
How to Play Different Types of Slot Machines
There are now multiple types of online slots to play. They include traditional games and modern adaptations. The rules and gameplay differ between the following variants.
- Classic Slots: This is the simplest form of online slot. Generally featuring just 3 reels and 1 payline, classic slots are suited to beginners.
- Video Slots: Video slots are more modern in their appearance. They feature 5+ reels and multiple paylines. Bonus rounds, free spins, wilds, and scatters make video slots appealing.
- Progressive Jackpot Slots: With this slot type, a proportion of every bet placed goes towards the jackpot. It continues to grow until one lucky player walks away with significant earnings. The odds of winning are lower than other slot types.
- Megaways Slots: The number of symbols on each reel changes with each spin when you play a Megaways slot. This is because of a modern mechanic created by Big Time Gaming.
How Many Reels on a Slot Machine
Slots can have a varying number of reels. For instance, classic slot machine games like Mega Joker above, have only three reels. These games are usually straightforward and fantastic options to start with if you are thinking about how to know what slots to play.
Some slot machine games have four, five, six, or even seven reels. Now, the more reels available, the more possible ways to win. Since paylines are not horizontal and can take many zig-zag patterns, some slots, like Megaways, have over 100,000 ways to win. Note the image below just shows a zig-zag pattern. If all symbols here were the same, this would be a winning payline.
Playing Slots in Demo Mode
How do beginners play slots? The best way to learn to play online slots is through demo games. You don’t want to spend your hard-earned money prematurely before you know what you are doing. You can play for free without risking your money. Since you are playing for free, you will not win any real money when you play.
But you can at least get a feel of what the games are like. Demo games allow you to monitor how much you are wagering and the payouts you might receive. Both fiat casinos and Bitcoin slots sites have demo games for free play.
Slot Bonus Features for Beginner Players
Our guide to online slots has, so far, given you a basic understanding of how to play. But this section focuses on more exciting elements of these games, such as bonus types.
The best online slots have several bonus features. You must understand these to appreciate how to play slots fully. Let’s look at some of the most popular slot bonus features.
How to Play Slots Online for Dummies
If you have read our guide to online slots this far, you now understand how to play online slot games, the components of a slot machine, and the bonuses you can expect. More importantly, you can pick the games you want to play like an expert.
In this section, we unpack some advanced terminology you will encounter when learning how to play slots. This will deepen your understanding of these games to get the most out of them.
Placing the Correct Stakes
Stakes are wagers or bets you place on a spin when playing slots. These stakes can be anything from $0.01 to $250 per spin, so you must have a clear strategy on how much you are wagering and when.
The number of bet lines also influences slot stakes in a slot machine game. Here is an example of what they might look like for slots with three, four, and five lines.
Here is a table showing the relationship between your bet, the number of lines, and how it affects the total stake.
| Bet | $0.01 stake | $0.05 stake | $0.25 stake | $0.50 stake | $1.00 stake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Lines | $0.03 | $0.15 | $0.75 | $1.50 | $3.00 |
| 4 Lines | $0.04 | $0.20 | $1.00 | $2.00 | $4.00 |
| 5 Lines | $0.05 | $0.25 | $1.25 | $2.50 | $5.00 |
Understanding RTP (Return To Player) and Slot Volatility
Two other concepts are critical in understanding how to play slots: the return to player percentage and volatility. Both will impact the regularity and size of payouts. They vary between slots, with most providers making information clear to players. Slot RTP and volatility are explained below.
Understanding RTP (Return To Player)
The return to player (RTP) is the theoretical return that players can expect over the useful life of a slot machine. RTP is expressed as a percentage and higher RTP games pay more when compared to other titles.
However, RTP is a long-term average, so it should not be used to inform short-term playing decisions. Take a video slot like Wanted Dead or A Wild, for example.
This game has an RTP of 94.55%, but that doesn’t mean if you play ten spins, you will win over nine times. It just means the percentage will balance out to 94.55% over the life of the game.
Understanding Slot Machine Volatility
You can understand a lot about a slot machine’s payout nature by looking at its volatility. This is how you can tell the frequency with which wins are triggered in the game. There are three different levels of slot volatility: low, medium, and high.
Low volatility slots like Super Dragon Golden Inferno are a perfect starting point for you if you are learning how to play slots. They offer regular small wins, so you are always engaged. But you can also find other more volatile slots; just be prepared to go for relatively longer stretches without winning anything.
Wild Casino has a mix of games with various volatility levels. You can start your learning journey here and select the type of slot that works best for you.
Tips on How to Play Online Slots
Knowing how to play online slots will improve your chances of winning. You must do your homework to ensure you are familiar with paylines, bonus rounds, jackpots, multipliers, and everything in between. Our top tips on how to play online slots are found below.
- Master the Rules – Read our guide to fully understand how to play online slots. Select the “i” feature on slots to find the exact rules for the specific game.
- Play in Demo Mode – Always check to see if the slot you’d like to play is available in demo mode, especially if you’ve never played it before. This will give you time to become familiar with how the game works, what payouts you can expect, and it will help you determine if you enjoy the overall theme or not.
- Utilize Extra Features – Autoplay, turboplay, and other modern features have been designed to make things easier for you. We suggest taking advantage of them when it suits.
- Use All Paylines – Beginners should lower their stake, rather than the number of paylines bet on.
Pros and Cons of Playing Online Slots vs Offline Slots
Our online slots guide has focused on the game’s web version found at many offshore casinos, but you can also play offline at land-based casinos. Here, we will consider some pros and cons of playing online slots versus offline.
Pros
- You can play online slots with dummy cash
- other features like Progressive jackpots, bonus buys, and so on
- Online slots are more convenient and available 24/7, even in the comfort of your home
- Online casino slots usually come with more variations, with games like Megaways, and
Cons
- You can only play online slots when a reliable internet connection is available
- The relative lack of interaction compared to playing at a land-based casino
Mistakes to Avoid When Learning How to Play Online Slots
Avoid making one or more of these common mistakes when you place bets on slots.
- Failing to Read the Rules – You are preparing to fail if you do not arm yourself with all available information. Read the game rules, learn the paytable, and play for free to avoid any unnecessary pitfalls.
- Not Managing Your Bankroll – It is easy to get caught up in the emotion of things and blow your budget in a short amount of time. Instead, manage your bankroll to leave funds available for future sessions.
- Searching for “Hot” Machines – Some players believe that a payout is on the cards if a slot has not paid out for a while. This is not true. Random number generators (RNG) ensure that wins are random.
Conclusion
Now you know how to play slots correctly, you can select a game and start playing now. But even with all this new knowledge, we encourage you to start slow with dummy cash games using free casino bonus credits.
Only when you are comfortable playing slots online should you progress to real money games. As mentioned in this slots guide, find low-volatility games that promise small but frequent wins. This way, you won’t have to worry about chewing through your limited bankroll with nothing to show.
FAQ
How do online slots work?
How do you tell if a slot machine is loose?
What are some tips for beginner players?
Can you win real money playing online slots?
Responsible Gambling
The thought of winning a massive jackpot can be enticing, but this is a wrong motive for learning how slot machines work. Instead, ensure you gamble responsibly and only use slots as a fun way to pass the time. If you find that you are someone you know can no longer do this, help is available through your casino customer support.
References
Here are some great resources for playing slots, industry statistics, and getting news on the latest games.
