How to Play Online Slots

Achilles Slot Game

Learning how to play slots is very easy. All slot games (land based and online) are based on a similar principle – inserting coins and spinning the reels. This is the only principle you need to know when you need to play a slot game. Of course, inserting coins and spinning the reels is very simple but there are certain rules you need to follow.

Each slot game comes with its own unique set of rules such as the maximum bets, minimum bets required, etc. In this guide, we will look at the basics of all slot games.

Before you think of inserting your coins and spinning the reels, you need to understand the payout schedule. The slot payout schedule is usually shown above the slot game or you can select a button to show it on main screen.

The slot payout schedule shows the winning combinations offered by the slot game as well as its gaming features. Therefore, a player has to understand the payout schedule so as to be familiar with the winning combinations and gaming features such as bonus rounds and free spins you will be targeting.

Random Number Generator

Others may think that slot games are meant to steal your money while others may think that the game is programmed by the casino owner to offer limited winning combinations during the day.

Not at all, slot games make use of the Random Number Generator (RNG) that produces outcome combinations at random irrespective to whether you have hit a winning combination or not. Each outcome combination is independent from one another meaning that if your previous combination was a win, your next combination can either be a win or lose.

However, the RNG is programmed by the casino to give a payout rate of 90 – 98% but this does not mean that for each dollar wagered you will get at least 90-98% back. The payout rate is archived at random at which the longer you stay on a slot game you will certainly get the payout rate but you need to be skillful otherwise you can lose lots of cash before the payout rate is given.

Winning combinations & Gaming features

Most online slot games offer more than 15 payout-winning combinations. The winning combinations vary from one slot variation to another. A slot game that offers several winning combinations gives the player a better chance of winning as well as providing great gaming experience.

The gaming features offered by slot games include common features such as wild symbols, scatter symbols, multipliers, free spins, auto play, skill stop  and many more.

The wild symbol replaces other symbols to complete a winning combination. For instance, if you are playing a three-reel slot variation, if you hit a combination that has two similar symbols and a wild symbol appears, the combination is completed as three similar symbols. Also if, two wild symbol appear and a single symbol such as a cherry, this means that you have three cherries. However, other slot variations have advanced wild symbols such as the stacked wilds, trailing wilds and expanding wilds.

Scatter symbols are usually known as multipliers and they are also responsible for activating bonus rounds and free spins. Scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels on any payline to trigger an entry. For instance, when three scatter symbols appear and you hit a winning combination, your winnings are automatically multiplied by the multiples offered when three or more scatter appear along with a winning combination.

Conclusion

Playing online slots is very easy but one needs to understand the betting limits, payout schedule as well as gaming features offered by the slot game. Once you understand these factors you will enjoy playing slots far more.

Now all you need to do is choose an online casino to play slots, all of our Top 10 Casinos offer a welcome bonus and have a huge selection of slots to enjoy.