Online slots are very similar to the slot machines found in live casinos. In fact, video slots are programmed in the exact same manner as live casino slots; only the casing is different (your computer instead of a heavy, metal box). The only other difference is that you are clicking your mouse button rather than pressing a physical button.
Playing online slots is incredibly easy. Choose your coin denomination, select your bet and spin the reels. If you win, you automatically get paid. If you don’t win, you can simply click ‘Spin’ to repeat the last wager, or change the wager and spin again.
Beginners Guide to Online Slots
Online slots come in multiple varieties, from classic reels and standard video slots, to bonus slots and progressives. Each type is detailed below. Note that some slots take on more than one of the type definition. For example, a Progressive Slot may also be a Multi-Line Video Slot and a Bonus Multiplier Slot.
Classic 3-Reel Slots
Classic 3-reel slots are the most basic, traditional form of slot machines, designed to mirror the first slots ever made. There is often just a single pay-line. You must line up a winning combination on this line to receive a payout.
Some classic 3-reel slots have 3 or 5 pay-lines. 3 pay-lines would include the top and bottom row of symbols going across. 5 reels would also include the diagonal lines running from top-left to bottom-right, and bottom-right to top-left.
Straight Slots
A Straight Slot is one with no progressive jackpot. It carries a pre-set jackpot that never changes.
Progressive Slots
Progressive jackpot slots have an ever-growing jackpot that increases every time the machine is played until someone hits the exact winning combination to release the jackpot. The jackpot will then reset to the starting amount and continue to build once more.
Video Slots
Video slots are arcade-style-graphic slot machines, as opposed to the actual spinning reels of classic reel slots. Of course no online slot truly has spinning reels, but they are designed for virtual authenticity. Video slots contain either 5 or 7 reels, 5 being more common. All Video Slots are multi-line slot machines (see Multi-Line Slots below).
Multi-Line Slots
Multi-Line slots have multiple pay-lines, ranging anywhere from 3 to 50 pay-lines per play. This means that you can wager an additional coin for each pay-line you wish to activate. If the online slot takes $0.05 coins, with 25 pay-lines, pressing Bet Max would result in a $1.25 bet per spin. The more pay-lines there are, the more they will zig-zag across the reels, going up and down in a seemingly wild pattern, but always including one reel from each column.
Multiplier Slots
Multiplier slots may sound like a good name, but they are, in fact, the worst type of slot machine. A multiplier slot gives the player no advantage to betting more than 1 coin per play. The pay-table rises in even progression for each coin spent. For instance, if a multiplier slot takes 1, 2 or 3 coins, and pays 5x for a specific combination, it will pay 5 coins for betting 1; 10 coins for betting 2; 15 coins for betting 3. A 3-coin bet will not produce a higher payout, such as 18 coins instead of the equally progressive 15.
Bonus Multiplier Slots
Bonus multiplier slots are just the opposite of multiplier slots. Betting the maximum number of coins will result in a bonus payout that does not progress evenly per coin. For example, a winning combination could pay 5 coins for 1 coin wagered, 10 coins for 2 coins wagered, but rise to 18 coins for 3 coins wagered. Basically, it encourages the player to “Bet Max” for higher payouts.
How To Play Slots
A step-by-step guide to playing online slots: