In recent years, slots have made their way over from the casino floor to our laptops and smartphones. There’s something satisfying in the simplicity of spinning the reels and watching the symbols arrange themselves in front of your eyes.
And millions agree—more and more of us are turning to video slots alongside traditional casual games on our phones and laptops. But there’s more to understanding fruit machines than at first glance. We’ve put together a list to make sure you get the most out of your online slots experience.
Find a reputable site
The first port of call when you’re looking to play slots online is finding a trustworthy website. Playing for free is one thing but if you’re handing over credit card details you want to be doubly sure of the legitimacy of the provider.
We recommend using a third party payment service which offers some protection should anything go wrong. Check with websites like TrustPilot that aggregate testimonials from customers and award websites an easy to understand score.
Choose a theme you like
With slots being so popular, new providers are appearing on a weekly basis—and software developers, who are responsible for creating the games themselves, are also in high demand. Because of this there are slots available with themes that suit every taste and preference.
Whether you’re into Japanese anime, a specific film franchise or if you simply prefer the traditional casino style, you’ll be well catered for. Take some time to browse what’s on offer because if you find a style that resonates with you, you’re far more likely to come away having had a positive experience.
Learn the rules
It sounds simple but since slots have branched out from the casino floors to our laptops, the gameplay possibilities have exploded. Simple fruit machine style titles do exist but there are some that have more in common with strategy video games, and the learning curve is much steeper as a result.
Take your time to read the ‘how to play’ guides that accompany the games so you don’t miss out on bonuses or, worse still have no idea what’s going on. The number of available pay lines vary from slot to slot, as do mechanics like Megaways, cascading reels, bonus features, jackpots and multipliers. At the very least find out the value associated with each symbol but ideally learn all the idiosyncrasies of your chosen game.
Play for free first
In relation to the last point, most online slots allow you to demo them before even creating an account. Take full advantage of this to get a feel for how it plays and, importantly, if you enjoy it.
Experiment with different wager amounts and the number of pay lines in play to your heart’s content, because if it all goes awry you won’t be left out of pocket.
Take advantage of promotions
Due to the fierce competition in the market, every provider is eager to catch your attention and make a loyal customer of you. They do this by offering new member bonuses and promotions.
The promotions you’re likely to see range from no deposit bonuses (which require no down payment to make use of), deposit matches and free spins. A word of caution, however, read the small print to make sure you know how and when you are able to withdraw your winnings after making use of these promotions. There are often wagering requirements which must be satisfied before you can do so.
Play in moderation
The most important factor of all is to make sure you’re having fun. Set yourself bankroll limits and stick to them.
Slots are predominantly games of luck so you’ll inevitably hit a losing streak at some point and when you do, it’s crucial to not let things run away from you. If you manage your expectations and your online wallet, you can continue having fun with slots in the long term.
Some advanced tips and tricks
If you’re becoming a seasoned slots veteran, there are some statistics and traits of each game that will help you figure out where you stand before even a single reel is spun.
RTP
The return to player (RTP) is slots jargon for the house advantage. Since slots are fixed odds terminals, the probability of winning is predetermined. Most online slots have an RTP of between 95% and 99%—which means, statistically you will receive 95-99% of your money wagered back.
This comes with a caveat, however, in that RTP is calculated over a long period of time. In the short-term, anything can happen. This is where volatility comes into play.
Volatility
Low volatility slots pay out more often but with smaller prizes. High volatility slots have big jackpots but on average take many more spins for them to appear.
Your luck comes into play here because you could walk up to a game with high volatility and win big on the first spin—it’s just statistically less likely to happen. Think of the giant novelty slot machines with eye-watering jackpots on the Las Vegas casino floors.
That’s probably enough maths, statistics and probabilities for one afternoon. Make sure you make use of all the tips contained within so you get maximum entertainment from your slots experience.