Slots are excellent for online gambling because they are quick and easy to get the hang of. Consider these important tips for online slots, and enjoy them!
Even if you are new to online slot machines, you can follow the below steps to learn how to play like a professional:
Step 1 – Select the desired online slot machine and open the game.
You can either open it on your desktop or on your mobile. In the corner of the screen, you will be able to see your bankroll. You should also see the action buttons such as ’max bet’ or ’spin’.
Step 2 – Have a close look at the game’s paytable.
This way, you can find out how much each symbol is worth.
Step 3 – Select what you would like to bet and how many paylines you want to play.
If you want to select all the paylines at once, then you can use the ’max bet’.
Step 4 – You can spin the reels for as long as you want.
Yet, do not forget to regularly check your bankroll.
Each aspect of the online slot machine's functioning is generated and controlled by software. The RNG ( random number generator) determines the symbols that are being displayed on the reels at the end of the spin.
The entire process is fair. Here are some facts about the RNG software:
- The Random Number Generator is initially and regularly tested by independent expert agencies. This ensures that the outcomes are unbiased and random at the same time.
- The authorizing and administrative organizations guarantee that the tested software can’t be tampered by players or online casinos.
- The results of each slot game throughout some undefined time frame are obtained and compared with theoretical projections.
Slots represent more than 70% of online casino games. This is definitely a very strong indicator of their popularity. The factors that contribute to their popularity are:
- Higher payout ratios
- No complex skills required
- Attractive packaging
- Innovative gaming features
Types of Online Slots
When you visit online casinos, you will come across various types of slot games. This section has been created to help you understand the slot machines. You can find some very useful tips for online slots.
1. Classic Slots
Classic Slots feature three reels and they usually have symbols such as bars, fruits, diamonds, and 7s. These slots are fast-paced games that in most cases do not have bonus features.
2. Video Slots
Video Slots have five reels. In some cases, they might even have more. They feature strong thematic content that is being supported by audio-visual side effects. Video Slots may have attractive features such as pick objects and bonuses. Most of the slot games are included in this category.
3. Progressive Slots
The highest payout in Progressive Slots is not fixed. It actually increases with every bet. If you win the progressive jackpot, you will get the full ticker amount at the time. You can win the jackpot through a bonus game, a combination of symbols, and even randomly.
Fact
One of the most popular progressive jackpot slots is Mega Moolah, with the largest payout of over $20 million.
Branded Slots
Branded Slots is the newest type of online slot. These slot games are actually based on movies, popular games, rock bands, sports celebrities, and TV serials. Branded slots use content from the originals and are created through licensing agreements.
The leaders in the development of these slots are NetEnt, Microgaming, and Playtech.
Note that most of these online slot games are also available on mobile devices. Check out our Mobile Online Casino Page for more information.
Online slots feature
Today’s slots have many exciting features. Check them out below:
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Free Spins
This is one of the most popular in-game slots bonuses. The bonus feature is different from one developer to another. Yet, in many cases, a set amount of free spins is rewarded with a specific prize multiplier that is being attached to every winning spin.
In some situations, a special set of reels is used and loaded with extra Scatters or Wilds.
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Paylines
To win in slots, matching symbols must land upon the pay line. When it comes to three-reel slots, the pay line is the central row along with the three reels.
On the other hand, slots with five or more reels, actually feature any number of pay lines.
Many of the slot games available out there let you choose the number of pay lines you want to play. You are also allowed to select the amount you wish to bet on each line.
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Volatility
This is not actually a feature of a slot machine as such. Yet, it is essential to the way you play slots. In general, high-volatility slot games offer you fewer wins. Don’t forget that when they do payout, they tend to be massive wins.
Low-volatility slot games are great for those who have a limited budget.
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Wild Symbols
Wild Symbols can substitute for any other symbol to offer a winning line. With a wild symbol and 4 matching symbols along a five-reel pay line, you will be paid out as if you had five matching symbols.
Wild symbols come in various forms such as shifting wilds, stacked wilds, sticky wilds, and cascading wilds.
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Scatter Pays
These are bonus symbols that payout no matter where they land on the reels. Scatter Pays must not be part of a pay line of consecutive matching symbols. They just pay you when they actually hit the reels.
Two Scatters will pay you little cash, whereas three Scatters will trigger a special bonus round such as a Trail Bonus or Free Spins.
RTP vs Volatility. Useful Tips for online slots
What is slot volatility?
This is the risk factor related to slot games. The slot volatility is about how much and how often you can actually expect to win. It determines your winnings in the short term.
This factor is aligned with the RTP (return-to-player), which calculates the percentage of total bets paid back to gamblers in the long term.
High-volatility casino games feature higher prize money and less frequent winning combinations. Volatility can determine the odds of getting the prize money, a jackpot, and also all the risks that are involved in the game.
Remember
Volatility is an essential factor to take into consideration when playing slot games.
Yet, slot volatility disclosure is not always required nor publicly available. Some platforms display a volatility rating of 1-5. If you select 3-star volatility, then you will most probably play a game of medium to medium-high risks.
How is slot volatility calculated?
The slot volatility is different as it depends on the paytable compounded by the number of pay lines. This is one of the most important online slots tips you need to consider.
Let’s calculate slot volatility for just one line. In order to simulate one credit per line, you must consider the below information:
- CI – bet per line
- CO – total win per spin
- SW – squared total of each game. You need to calculate the total win and multiply it by 4, for every single spin.
Slot Variance Formula:
Variance = (SW - CO^2/CI)/CI
Standard Deviation = (Variance)^.5
Example
Let’s say that your bet /line is 20 coins played in 4 games. The total win is 160 coins.
CI = (20 x 4) = 80
CO = 160
SW = 20^2 + 100^2 + 0^2 + 40^2 = 14,000
Slot Volatility = (14000-160^2/80) / 80
Standard Deviation = Variance^0.5
What is RTP?
RTP (return-to-player) is a term used by casinos to name the percentage of the wagered amount a VLT or slot machine will pay you back over time.
Let’s say that you make a hundred $1 bets on a machine that features a 90% RTP.
This means that you should expect to receive about $90 in wins.
Please Note
Both RTP and house advantage are calculated in the long term. On the other hand, in the short-term, anything could happen. That’s why you must only bet the amount of money that you are prepared to lose.
So, what’s the difference between these two?
Well, volatility and RTP are two different metrics. Yet, both of them affect the gambler’s experience and the game’s quality as well. Volatility describes the risks of losing your money and it determines the amount you are most likely to win.
On the other hand, RTP is actually a predetermined value set by the operators. There is a guarantee that a percentage of all bets will be awarded back to the gamblers.
No matter if the slot is set to offer frequent same wins or several large combinations, it will surely give you back 93-98% of the bets.
A good understanding of Slot Volatility and RTP provides you an edge when playing your favorite slots and receiving the best value for the money you play.
Your favorite slots will help you select the type of player you are.
This means that you will know exactly whether you are a conservative gambler or a risk-taker. It is up to you what volatility level you prefer. This actually depends on your game preference and also your style.
Hot and cold slots – General concept
The truth is that there are several interpretations of how to tell if an online slot game is hot or cold. Yet, it all comes down to the concept that the ‘’history’’ of a specific slot game needs to be scrutinized, to actually judge whether it is hot or cold.
Online casino gamblers interpret such information in different ways. Below you can find the popular definitions of ’’hot’’ and ’’cold’’ slot games.
Hot slots
The most popular definition of ’’hot slots’’ is on paying spree. A slot is continuously giving away one big win after another. Therefore, your balance keeps growing, and this might seem to you that there is no end to it.
Other gamblers would say that a hot slot is a slot at which they have actually lost a decent amount of money. Yet, this slot is in a way, obliged, to give back at least a part of the lost money.
Cold slots
The most popular definition of ’’cold slots’’ is that it is almost impossible to win. It doesn’t matter what betting strategy you have, because the slot will continue to affect your balance.
Other gamblers would say that cold slots are when a really big winning has happened recently. For them, it looks like such slots must make up for the loss, and the source of it is actually the gambler who will pay right after.
Thus, they believe that there is no chance to get a profit, which is why staying out of such slots is an excellent idea.
What is RNG (random number generator)?
RNG does exactly what the name says. The Random Number Generator constantly provides random number sequences. It is important to understand that without random numbers, online gambling would not exist. Every legit online casino uses RNG on a daily basis.
The most common myth about RNG
One of the most common slot machine myths is that online casinos have ’’memory’’, and they produce outcomes by taking into account the previous results. This is 100% untrue, and not how Pseudo RNG works.
Online platforms don’t need such tricks since every casino game is already designed to create losses to gamblers in the long term. Overall, a legit gambling platform doesn’t care how much a particular gambler won in a particular slot.
An online casino will always end up with a long-term profit. Yet, getting some tips for online slots is always a great idea.
Understand the Progressive Jackpots
Progressive Jackpots are available on various games. However, the most popular ones are related to slot machines. These are amounts provided as the top payouts for those casino games that continue climbing until a gambler wins.
Progressive Jackpots tend to run up to millions of dollars, and they are available at online and land-based casinos as well. Lots of progressive jackpot games require maximum wagers in order to be eligible for the jackpot amount.
How do Progressive Jackpots work?
Progressive Jackpots build over time until the gambler wins them. Once this happens, they reset to the predetermined level and they start building again.
The way they do this is by considering a percentage of every bet that has been made on the game. Then, they will add this percentage to the jackpot amount.
How do Progressive Jackpots provide an advantage?
Note that each progressive jackpot begins with the game developer. The amount that jackpots are seeded is different based on the game’s popularity and type.
These prizes can initially provide anywhere from $100 to even $10 million.
The more popular a progressive game is, the higher the seed amount will increase the likelihood. Regardless of where a progressive jackpot starts, it can provide a positive expected value (+EV) when it goes up to a certain amount.
Here is an example:
- The jackpot starts at $25,000
- The game’s base RTP is 96%
- The jackpot increases to $300,000
- The game’s RTP will be at 102%
With the proper information and mathematical formula, you can determine the +EV. This is the only way to do it. Yet, video poker and table games provide enough variables to where you can tell the +EV point.
If you play when a game is profitable, then you can gain a theoretical advantage.
The problem with finding a progressive slots advantage
Progressive slot machines are similar to progressive table games and video poker, as their top prize can offer an advantage. Yet, the disadvantage is that slots developers do not provide the necessary details for the gambler to figure out this point, including the odds of winning the payouts.
Video poker and table games differ in this sense. The odds of every result are readily available information.
For example, you are choosing to play a progressive blackjack game with a side bet. The jackpot can be won only when your first two cards are aces, including the dealer’s upcard is an ace.
With this information and the fact that you already know how many cards a standard back includes (52), you can make calculations regarding the chances of winning.
Plus, you will also know when the game will provide a theoretical advantage.
BE AWARE
When it comes to slots, many of these games’ details are not yet known. This means that you can only make an educated guess on when you think a jackpot could provide over 100% RTP.
Can you hit the jackpot easier in slot tournaments?
Because slots are very popular these days, various casinos provide slot tournaments. In these tournaments, gamblers are put against each other to win rewards. The amount they win actually depends on the gambler ranking in the tournament within a specific amount of time.
Some tournaments feature a heated round where winners can play for a grand prize. Note that there are casinos that charge an entry fee, which is why you must check beforehand.
There is a very common myth of hitting the jackpot easier in these tournaments. Plenty of gamblers believe they have more chances to hit the jackpot if they participate in a slot tournament or jackpot.
This is 100% false.
The RNG will behave as usual in most cases. Yet, things can be different only when the slot game developer changes the odds for the tournament.
The bottom line
Winning money from online slot games is definitely real. Yet, some simple mistakes can cost you dearly. That’s why you must be very well-informed about what slot games actually involve.
We also hope that we have made it clear what casinos don’t want you to know about slots. Yet, by knowing the tips for online slots, you can increase your winning chances.
Also, don’t forget that not every myth is what it seems, and keep gambling responsibly to have fun!