When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn Learn how to play slots in only a few minutes. We cover all of the basics of the game type, including the rules, different symbols, how the paylines work, and what features are available. Continue reading and you’ll be spinning the reels in no time.
How Do Slot Machines Work?
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 in the best online slots, random symbols will appear on the screen and these can award payouts based on their rarity.
The best way to understand the rules is to go through the layout and the core mechanics. Most slot machines are made out of reels with rows of symbols, paylines, and a paytable.
Reels are the vertical columns of symbols. Most games have five reels, but there are also options with three, six, seven, or more. The reels spin after placing a bet and clicking the spin button, which will display random symbols. Rows are the horizontal symbols on the screen. Standard games have three rows of symbols but many games have four rows or more. Classic slot machines can even have only one row. The paylines are set patterns that go across the screen, from the leftmost reel to the right. These can host winning combinations of matching symbols. The number of available paylines depends on the game, with most 5-reel games with three rows having 20 lines. The maximum for this layout however is 243 paylines. Before placing your bet, we recommend checking out the payout table for the game if you’re a beginner. This will display all of the symbols available and their payouts. You will also find details on special symbols, like wilds and scatters, and information on any available bonus features.Reels
Rows
Paylines
Payout Table
Understanding How Wins Work
To form a winning combination, 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 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 a random number generator (RNG) to ensure that everything is fair.
This means that the outcome is totally random and there isn’t really any strategy involved. All you do is spin the reels and hope to match symbols on the paylines.
However, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of hitting a win, which we’ve summarized below.
How to Play Slots and Win
- Choose your game wisely, as some titles have a higher RTP than others (more on what that means next).
- Go for smaller jackpots, as they tend to pay out more frequently than the bigger ones.
- Practice for free first in demo mode so you know how the game works and how to play, before risking any of your money.
- Make use of bonuses and promos, such as free spins that could help to boost your chances of a win.
- Manage your bankroll effectively, only betting what you can afford to lose and not chasing any losses.
You can read our guide covering how to win at slots if you’d like a deeper dive on the topic.
RTP & Volatility
The return-to-player rate, also known as RTP, is an indicator of how much a slot machine pays out on average over a long period of time.
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.
How to Play Slots – Main Features
Bonus features can provide a more exciting gaming experience and knowing how they work is very important when learning how to play. While the features can vary, there are some that are very popular and available in many slots.
Wilds represent the most widely available feature as most games have at least one wild available. This is a special symbol that can substitute for any other symbol required to form a winning combination with the other icons on the screen, with the exception of scatters. Wilds can also form their own winning combinations with a boosted payout if more appear on the same line. The second type of special symbols is called a scatter. This is because these symbols can award a payout regardless of their positioning on the screen. They don’t need to be on the same line or on adjacent positions in order to win. Moreover, scatter symbols usually have a large payout and can trigger additional features as well. Also known as bonus spins, these are rounds where you don’t spend any money. Instead, the spins are played at the triggering bet size and can come with added perks to increase the payouts. In most cases, bonus spins are triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols on the screen at the same time. However, we recommend checking the info in the game for more details on how to play slot machines with free spins. While not as popular as the other features covered above, “pick-me” bonus rounds are available in quite a few games. You need to land three or more bonus symbols on the screen to start the mini-game, which consists of you picking from multiple options on a different screen. There is no sure way to master bonus games, since you just have to pick randomly by clicking on the items. These can award various prizes, advance you to the next stage, or end the round straight away. Progressive jackpots are prizes that increase with every real bet placed. Once the amount is won, it resets to the starting level and the process can begin again. Winning a progressive jackpot can be done randomly by simply playing the game, landing a specific combination of symbols, or within a dedicated bonus round.Wild Symbols
Scatter Symbols
Free Spins
Picking Bonus Game
Progressive Jackpots
Other 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 – 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, you 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, 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 to Play
Learning about all the mechanics and bonus features can seem a bit overwhelming, but the truth is that slot machines 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 slot machines.
You just need 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 different titles before deciding which one 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 and developers try to cover everything they can think of. From popular TV shows to little cartoon aliens, there is 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 tutorial, and play in demo mode to see how everything looks.
Features
As mentioned already, different games can have different features. We recommend choosing one 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 jackpots.
Availability
Not all slot machines 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 games more rewarding.
How to Play Slots and 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 slot machines should be seen as a form of entertainment and not as a way to make money. That is why, we recommend 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 game. So, it is best to familiarize yourself with the different layouts from the main developers when learning how to play slots online.
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 slot machines 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 you know how to play slots and 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 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 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 quickly spot the controls and easily place the desired bets. As a reminder, only press the spin button when you are sure of the bet you are placing. You will learn how to play slot machines as you practice more.
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How to Play Slot Machines – FAQs
How do online slots work?
How to play slots online?
Can you win playing slots?
How to play slots at a casino?
What are the best slot machines for beginners?
What are some slots tips for beginners?
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