Online Slots Guide 2021

Online slots are the most popular online casino games and are easy to understand and play. This is a game of chance and the results are totally random and there are no specific skills needed to play. The aim of the game is to spin the reels and match the symbols.  These slots come with varying betting ranges that are designed to accommodate both conventional players and high rollers.  Although most slots do not offer huge payouts, some slot machines have huge jackpots.

How to play online slots and rules

Playing online slots is very straightforward even to beginners. Here are a few steps to get you spinning.

• Step 1: From our site, select your preferred online casino
• Step 2:  Chose a slot game among the available options. Your choice could either be based on the minimum bet where some slots allow you to wager from as little as $0.01 or based on specific features such as the availability of bonus features.
• Step 3: After selecting your game, check the paytable to know the value of the symbols
• Step 4: Chose your stake and enter the minimum amount you wish to wager based on your bankroll.
• Step 5: Click on the start button and sit back as you watch the reels turn and the symbols appear. If you don’t want to manually spin every round, you can set a certain amount of spins on auto-spin.
• Step 6: If you match several symbols a payline, the game will show you your win and the amount will be instantly credited to your account.

If you are a beginner, the various buttons on the screen can be quite confusing. Here is an outline of buttons and features you will come across while playing online slots games.

Buttons

• Spin button– clicking this button sets the reels in motion.
• Max bet button– hit this button to bet the maximum number of credits allowed by the game.
• +/- Bet– this button helps you increase or reduce the amount you wish to wager per spin.
• Paytable– this button takes you to the section outlining how much each symbol pays and the paying winning lines.
• Auto button– this button allows you to set the number of automatic spins which could go up to 100 auto spins.
• Settings– this button allows you to set and adjust various options at a go. You can set the coin value of a wager and the amount you wish to wager per spin.

Symbols

• Wild symbols– these are used to complete paylines and when they appear they will replace all other symbols on the reels apart from the scatter symbol. This increases your payout.
• Scatter symbol– this is another high paying symbol and it often triggers other bonus features such as multipliers or online slots with free spins round.
• Bonus symbol– this triggers the bonus round where you can land other bonus features such as wilds and scatter which all boost your payouts.
• Multipliers-2X, 3X, or 4X multipliers will multiply your winnings by that number
• Free Spins– when triggered, you are awarded several free spins that will not cost you anything and which increases your chances of hitting other winning combinations.

How to understand the slot machines

To understand the basic rules of playing online slots, it is worth mentioning that the results of every spin are randomly generated by a random number generator (RNG) and this means that the symbols appear on the reels randomly. This ensures that the game is fair.

Unlike classic slot machines, modern slot machines feature microchips that control the spinning action from the slot’s motherboard. When the spin button is pressed, the computer system placed inside the slot selects numbers through the RNG.

However, some other factors determine the frequency of winning combinations such as the variance of the game. For example, with a high variance slot, you can expect higher payouts but landing a winning combination occurs less frequently. On the other hand, with low variance slots, you can expect less paying but frequent winning combinations.

Other factors include a variety of bonus symbols and features. The main factor, however, to win huge at online slots is luck although bonus features such as wilds, multipliers, and free spins have a high potential to boost your bankroll.

How to understand the paytables and payouts

The paytable illustrates the payouts of each symbol and the paylines. The number of paylines you play determines your winning frequency. Ideally, you are more likely to hit win special bonuses and form winning combinations when playing on 25 paylines compared to when playing on one payline.

However, the more the paylines, the more the cost since you have to place a separate bet for each payline you play.  Nevertheless, you can always make adjustments to help you wager on many paylines while still honoring your budget.  For example, you can choose a lower denomination coin which allows you to increase the number of paylines while keeping the total bet at your target level.

Paytables are easy to understand and they vary from one game to another since each game comes with its unique features and designs.

In most cases, the first page of the paytable will display all the winning combinations along the number of coins won with every combination. You could also find some additional information about wild symbols on this page. The second page will mostly have full details of how the various symbols work and how to activate the bonus round.

Here is an example:

Playing online slots for free and for real money offers an amazing gaming experience and although this is a game of chance, there are still some tips you can implement to help you play for longer and increase your chances of winning.

• Have a budget and stick to it– you should always have an idea of how much you are willing to wager in every session and only wager amounts you are comfortable losing.
• Do your research– this enables you to find a game that meets your preferences in terms of the number of paylines, volatility, RTP, bonus features, and potential jackpots.
• Take your time– different online slot games offer different odds and it can be tempting to spend more on games that promise more payouts but have lower odds rather than playing games with better odds with a potential of long term profits.
• Don’t chase your losses– setting your budget and sticking to it will help you avoid chasing losses since when you reach your limit, you will have the discipline to let go your losses as making one last deposit or spending a little more beyond your bankroll does not guarantee a win.
• Reduce your coin value and increase the number of paylines – The higher the number of paylines you wager on, the more the chances of landing a winning combination. In the case where you have a limited budget, it would be better to bet less on more paylines.
• Start with the free version before wagering with real money– It is always advisable to test a game using the demo version rather than using your money. This gives you time to decide if the game is worth investing in.
• Check slot feature-the paytable will give you an idea of the special features and their payouts. To increase your chances of winning when playing online casinos, you should consider playing slots with bonus symbols such as multipliers, free spins, and bonus rounds.

• 243 ways-to-win– there are no paylines but you can form winning combinations in 243 ways
• 1024 ways-to-win– winnings combinations are not restricted by paylines and you can hit winning combinations in 1024 ways.
• Autospin/Autoplay– this feature allows you to set a predetermined number of spin and the reels will spin continuously up to the set limit
• Coin value-how much you wish to play per spin
• Demo mode– the free play version of slot games
• Gamble feature– this feature is available after every win where you have the option to wager the amount won and you can double, triple, or quadruple the amount.
• Progressive jackpot– the jackpot amount changes over time and each bet placed on the slot contributes to building the progressive pot that constantly grows.
• Reels– the spinning columns where the symbols are displayed
• RTP– Return to Player is the percentage that a slot gives back to all its players
• Stacked wilds– 2 or more wild symbols that appear vertically ‘stacked’ on a reel
• Sticky wilds– these are similar to the regular wilds with the main difference being that they ‘stick’ around in the same position on the same reel for several spins.
• Variance/volatility– this determines the size and frequency of payouts. A low volatility slot offers frequent but fewer payouts while as high volatility slots offer more payouts less frequently.