Slots represent the most popular gaming option in a casino and online sites can have more than 1,000 games for this one category. While the games cover an endless variety of themes and styles, most slots follow the same core mechanics. As a result you can easily learn how to play online slots and take full advantage of the spinning reels for large wins.
In this slots guide, we will cover all of the basics so that you can have a complete understanding of the game type. Learn about the slots rules, the different symbols, how the paylines work, and what features are available.
How Online Slots Work
Online slot machines are casino games that can come in many different shapes and sizes. Most options however work the same way. The display will present a set number of symbols on a fixed layout. After placing a bet, random symbols will appear on the screen and these can award payouts based on their rarity.
The best way to understand the rules of slots is to go through the layout and the core mechanics. Most slots are made out of reels with rows of symbols, paylines, and a paytable.
Understanding Slots Wins
To form a winning combination when playing the US, the symbols usually have to be in adjacent positions and on active lines. The size of the payout depends on the number of symbols in the combination and on the value of the symbols. Since some icons are rare, they provide larger prizes when they form a combination on the screen.
For example, let’s take a look at NetEnt’s Blood Suckers II, a 5-reel slots game with 25 lines that pay left to right. This means that matching symbols must land on adjacent positions on the same line, starting with the leftmost reel. The payout is determined by the size of the bet and the symbol paytable.
The results of a round are determined using random number generators (RNG) to ensure that everything is fair. Although the player cannot influence the outcome of a spin, there are often extra features available within the game that can help increase the payout of a round.
RTP and Volatility in Online Slots
The return-to-player rate, also known as the game RTP, is an indicator of how much a slots machine pays out. This is a theoretical rate based on millions of spins, but it can represent a way to win more during your session.
The volatility of the game is another factor to consider. This refers to the way the payouts are allocated. A game with a high volatility rate will rely on large wins, but these take place on rare occasions. A lower volatility means that players will receive smaller wins more frequently.
Main Features of Online Slots
The bonus features in modern slots can provide a more exciting gaming experience and knowing how they work is very important when learning how to play online slots. While the features can vary depending on the slots game, there are some that are very popular and available in many of the best real money slots.
Other Slot Bonus Features
The list of bonus features can continue for quite a bit, but not all of the entries are widely available. Even so, we believe it is good to know how they work in case you come across them when playing online.
- Dropping Symbols – Known as Tumbling Reels, Avalanches, Rolling Reels, Cascading Symbols, or other similar terms from various developers, this feature allows winning symbols to disappear from the screen and make room for other symbols to fall in their place from above. This can result in more wins during the same round.
- Win Multipliers – Slots games can have multipliers attached to bonuses or other features, like bonus spins. These multiply the resulting wins by a set amount, usually ranging between 2x and 5x. In some cases, the win multiplier can even be unlimited during bonus spins.
- Special Wilds – In addition to substituting for other symbols, wilds can also come with added perks. Some wilds can increase to take over the entire reel, include multipliers for the wins they help create, move across the screen every round, and more.
- Gamble – In a game that has the gamble feature, players can choose to enter the winnings from a round in another mini-game, like guessing if a random card is red or black. Guess correctly and the prize is doubled, but guess wrong and you lose the amount.
- Free Re-Spins – While similar to bonus spins, slots re-spins provide fewer rounds. In fact, most games will only award one re-spin without requiring a bet when you meet certain conditions, like landing at least one wild symbol on the screen.
How to Choose a Slot Machine
Learning about all the mechanics and bonus features can seem a bit overwhelming, but the truth is that slots are some of the easiest casino games to play, especially online. Keep in mind that you don’t have to memorize it all at once to know how to play online slots.
You just have to know the basics and find the right slot machine for you. After that, you can try out new slot games and expand your range to see what else you enjoy.
To help you with the process, we highly recommend playing in demo mode. This is the perfect way to try out various slot machines and you can then choose which to bet on. In demo mode, you are playing with virtual credits that have no real value and you can simply refresh the page to get a new balance.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at the key factors you should consider when choosing a slot machine.
Theme
The theme is actually a big selling point when it comes to slots online and developers try to cover everything they can think of. From popular TV shows to little cartoon aliens, slot themes have something for everyone. Plus, with modern graphics, detailed animations, and immersive sound effects, the right themes can definitely make for an entertaining gaming session.
Of course, the ideal design for you comes down to personal preference. So, browse the list at a top online casino, check out a slots tutorial, and play in demo mode to see how everything looks.
Features
As we covered in our online slots guide, different games can have different features. We recommend choosing a machine with a good balance since too many add-ons can be overstimulating without actually awarding large payouts.
Look for a game with wilds, scatters, bonus spins, and maybe an extra bonus round. If you want to chase large jackpots however, definitely consider some of the popular progressive jackpot slots.
Availability
Not all slots are available at all casinos. So, if you prefer playing at a particular gambling site, you will have to stick to their available games. Moreover, make sure to check out the casino bonuses provided since these can help increase your bankroll and make the slots more rewarding.
How to Place the Right Bet
One of the most important aspects to mastering how to play slot machines responsibly is placing the right bets. Games in this category can allow for bets starting from just $0.01 per line and go up to over $250 per spin. It is a massive range and a higher stake can sometimes look appealing given the fact that the payouts increase as well.
In truth, we believe that slots should be seen as a form of entertainment and not as a way to make money. That is why, we recommend in our slots beginner’s guide for players to start small. In fact, it is even better to play in demo mode without betting anything.
Responsible gambling is key, so make sure to set a budget and don’t chase your losses. Deposit and spending limits are also recommended.
Learning the Different Controls
Once you have your stake in mind, it is time to set the actual bet. The controls are sometimes a bit different, depending on the slots game. So, it is best to familiarize yourself with the different layouts from the main developers.
The most straightforward interface will simply show the bet size at the bottom, with buttons for you to set the stake. This is the total bet for the fixed paylines, as we can see here in 9 Masks for Fire:
Many other games will allow players to change the coin value instead, with the total bet usually displayed right next to it. This is better for some paytables that present the payouts based on the coin value. You can see an example here from Arcane Reel Chaos:
You can also come across slots that have a bet level instead of a coin value. This is a bit less intuitive since not all bet levels are equal. So, make sure to check the total bet section to make sure that you are betting the desired amount. As you can see in the Cazino Zeppelin video slot the bet is $1.40 with 20 lines at level 5:
For a slots tutorial on betting in games that allow for different paylines, you will also have to set the number of lines you want to have active. Keep in mind that the active lines and the line bet will be multiplied to determine the total bet. Cleopatra is a great example of this as it allows up to 20 lines and provides a wide range for the line bet:
One of the more complicated layouts for placing the bet in slots is found in some of the top NetEnt creations. Not only does this have a level, but it also comes with different coin values. Moreover, the “BET” display doesn’t show the total bet, but the number of coins in the wager. For the actual bet amount, we recommend looking at the display under the slot interface in games like Guns N’ Roses:
With these different examples, you are sure to spot the controls and easily place the desired bets quickly. As a reminder, only press the spin button when you are sure of the bet you are placing.
How to Play Online Slots on Mobile
Most slot machines are compatible with mobile devices, giving players the freedom to spin the reels on an iPhone or Android smartphone via a real money slots app. While the mechanics remain the same, the interface can change when switching from a desktop casino to a mobile site or app.
For the best mobile slots experience, we recommend playing in landscape view. This way, you will have a large spin button on the right side that you can press with your thumb. As for the betting options, most games will have a small coins icon that will display different stakes. Tap the icon and then select the preferred bet before spinning.
How to Get Started Playing Slots Online
To help you jump right into the action, we will go through the sign-up process at a reliable casino and show you how to start and play online slots.
- Create Your New Account – For the first step, you simply need to sign up on the online casino of your choice. You can do this by clicking the button for “Join Now”, “Sign Up”, or “Register”. Enter the required details and finish the registration.
- Choose a Slots Game – You will find hundreds or even thousands of slots online. Browse the library or simply check out the top picks on the site. Once you find one that catches your eye, tap the featured image and then “Play Now” button.
- Set the Size of the Bet – The controls are usually + and – signs, available at the bottom, under the five large reels, but the icon can also appear as a coins button. This is where you can set the bet from, which is the amount of money that you will pay for one round, so make sure you set the right bet before playing.
- Spin the Reels – Once the bet is set, you just have to click the spin button to play one round. This is the large circular button, located either at the bottom or on the right side. After clicking it, the game will show a small animation and random symbols will stop on the screen.
- Receive the Winnings – In order to win, matching symbols must form combinations on active paylines. We will provide more details on the topic below as we show you how to play online slots. For every game, you can check the available lines in the game info.
- Trigger Extra Features – As you are playing slots, you will likely come across various bonus features. These are meant to increase the payouts by adding different benefits, like wild symbols. Most features trigger randomly, and you can check the slot rules for the details.
