Online Slots Guide: How Slots Work, RTP and Volatility

Free Slots Demos

With so many great slots, finding a suitable one based on looks and reviews alone can be difficult. That’s why we recommend testing them in demo mode.

Aside from trying different bet limits, you can activate the available bonus features without spending money. Our team of experts has prepared demo versions of all the slots we’ve reviewed for a better perspective.

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How to Play Slots Online

Slot games are generally accessible to players of all skill levels, requiring just a press of a button. However, some may have intricate bonus features, like free spins with upgradeable multipliers or interactive minigames. Some of the best fruit slots also have active features during the base game, like transforming wilds.

Since no strategy is involved in slots, we recommend carefully checking the bet limits and preparing a budget. Below, we go over the details of how to play slots, such as the different types of symbols.

Basic Rules and Game Layout

Regardless of whether you’re playing some of the best online video slots or any other reel spinning game, the aim remains the same – to line up winning symbol combinations on paylines. When you land a winning combo, you will receive a payout.

Different symbols have different values, and you will generally get a bigger payout the more matching symbols that appear on a payline. The slot paytable displays a detailed breakdown of the payout for each symbol combination.

You can change the coin value and bet level to select the bet size you want to make per spin. You then simply click the spin button to play the game. You can select the autoplay option to play a set number of spins in a row.

Some games also feature a quick spin option, which reduces the time taken for the reels to spin, providing even faster gameplay. Free online slots give you the chance to try out all the settings and options before you play for real.

Slot Machine Terms

There is no denying that slots are super simple to play. Yet if you are new to the games, there are a range of slot game terms that you may not yet be familiar with. As a beginner, it is useful to get to know these to help your understanding when you play.

There are also some advanced slots concepts that more experienced players could benefit from brushing up on. You may even find slots in some parts of the world named as online pokies.

To make life easier for you, we have put together a list of slot machine terms and definitions that you may come across when playing slot games.

Slot Symbols

The variety of symbols that appear on a slot machine will vary from one game to another. There are some types of symbols that are often found in slots, such as playing card faces and fruits. Yet others will be crafted to reflect the game’s theme.

It is not merely the look and design of the symbols that vary, but also their function. There is a range of special symbols which have other functions. Some substitute for others, some trigger special features, some increase your wins.

If you want to know what symbols you will find when you play slots online, free slots give you a taster of what to expect. Below, you can find out about all the different types of symbols that you will find in slot machines and learn about how online slots work.

Themes: From Fruits to Spaceships

There is no limit to the imagination when it comes to slot themes. Think of a topic, and chances are, there is at least one slot machine inspired by it. This wide range of themes means you can almost always find a game built around a topic you enjoy.

From the top pirate slots to popular Irish slots, you will find them all and then some. Space-themed ones included. Check out the table below and you will see at a glance just how many weird and wonderful themes that you will find captured in slot machines.

With new 3D and video slots coming out all the time, there are more and more options, so it’s a good idea to keep track of the new games coming out.

Slot RTP: The Best Payouts You Can Find

Experienced players will be familiar with the term RTP. It stands for return to player. A game’s RTP is expressed as a percentage, and it shows theoretically how much a slot pays back to players in winnings over the long run.

If a slot has an RTP of 96%, this means that for every $100 wagered on the game, theoretically, $96 will be paid out in winnings. The RTP is calculated over many thousands of spins, and as such, your actual profits may deviate higher or lower than the theoretical figure in a gaming session.

Still, RTP is a good indication of the expected profitability of a game. Casino slots with a high RTP, therefore, offer the best payouts. For this reason, playing slots with a high RTP is one of the best tips for how to win at slots.

If you want to know what is the payout percentage of slot machines, you can check the game rules. For your convenience, here is a list of the top 10 slots with the highest RTP:

Slot Variance: Check the Volatility of Your Games

Slot variance, also referred to as slot volatility is a term that describes how often you can expect to win when playing a slot machine. It is a relatively new concept that has become an important factor for experienced players when deciding which slots to play.

While the RTP gives you an indication of the long-term expected profitability of a game, the variance indicates how frequently you will win and how big the payouts will be.

Variance describes the level of risk involved in a game and it can have a great impact on the overall playing experience. It can help you determine how to manage your bankroll as you play. Here, you can find out more about the characteristics of low, medium and high variance slots.

• Low Variance Slots
  Low variance slots are those that have a low element of risk. You will hit winning combinations frequently as you play, yet the payouts will be relatively small. The advantage of the best low variance slots is that frequent wins help to stretch out your bankroll, giving you plenty of playing time for your money. They allow you to play for long periods without seeing a huge fluctuation to your bankroll.
• Medium Variance Slots
  Medium variance slots are a good compromise between slots with low and high variance. They offer a balance, with fairly frequent smaller sized wins, as well as the possibility for bigger wins to be hit as you play. You will often find that such slots include a wide range of payouts based on the paytable as well as bonus features.
• High Variance Slots
  High variance slots involve a higher level of risk, yet they offer the potential for bigger rewards. When you play such slots, you will land winning combinations infrequently. However, when you do get a win, the payouts will be big. You may see your bankroll reduce significantly before you hit a decent sized win, so they are best for experienced players with a big budget and time to spare.

Playing Slots on Mobile

Playing slots on the go is convenient and means you can play your favorite games anytime and anywhere. Most casino sites are built with a fully responsive design, so slots run directly in your device’s browser, and some also offer native iOS and Android apps.

Many developers build games with a multi-platform design, so there are few differences between playing on a PC and a mobile device. With that said, there are inevitably some differences that you will notice.

Given the smaller screen size of tablets and phones, the layout is simplified to avoid cluttering. Only the essential options sit on the main game screen, while settings such as coin size, quick spin and autoplay move into separate menus.

You will also often find that the spin button is enlarged and sits to the right of the reels. Once you tap spin, the button disappears, giving you the best view of the game in action.

Types of Slot Machines

Slot machines come in all shapes and sizes. While they started out with 3 reels and a single payline, nowadays, there is seemingly no limit to the games on offer.

From traditional style fruit machines to modern games with thousands of paylines and advanced graphics, you can play them all online. Here is an overview of all the different types of slot machines available.

The Best Online Slots

There are thousands upon thousands of free and real money slots to choose from online. Whatever your interests, budget, and style of play, there is a huge choice of games for you to enjoy.

To help you choose, we have put together an overview of the best online slots below. The following online slot machines can be considered the best for a variety of reasons.

For starters, they are hugely popular with players. They also cover a wide range of themes, features, and special options. Some of these games even started life in land-based casinos before being adapted for online play. Here is an overview of the best slots that you can play online:

How to Win at Slots: Tips

We’ve all been there – wondering how to win at slots and browsing through the depths of the internet. There are some popular myths, such as hot and cold slots, yet they simply do not hold any merit, owing to random number generators.

The RNG used by reputable casinos guarantees that all spins are truly random, and in no way fixed. As such, many well-known strategies for winning at slots simply do not work.

Slots are games of chance, and whether you win or not comes down to luck. That being said, there are some slots tips that you can use to get more from your sessions.

Always Take Advantage of Free Online Slots

While it is true that you cannot win real money when you play slots for free, don’t underestimate the value of demo slots. Playing free slots games gives you the chance to check out the features and see whether you enjoy the game before you spend your own cash.

Almost all slot games are available in free mode, so you can try out the different types of slot machines and find the perfect fit for you. You can test the various options and settings, adjust the coin value, and change the number of bet lines to fully prepare yourself to play confidently with real money.

Choose Games by RTP

RTP is the one number you can compare before you play. A 96% slot keeps 4% of stakes over the long run, where a 94% slot keeps 6%.

On $500 of total spins that gap is about $10 in expected cost, and it grows the longer you play. Most games list their RTP in the info panel. Where a title ships in several RTP versions, the casino picks which one to run, so the same game can pay differently from site to site.

Match Volatility to Your Bankroll

Volatility describes how that RTP is delivered. Low-volatility slots pay small amounts often, while high-volatility slots pay rarely but bigger.

The practical consequence is bet size. A high-volatility game can run hundreds of spins without a meaningful hit, so it needs a smaller stake per spin to survive the dry spells. If your budget only covers 100 spins, a low-volatility game will give you far more playing time.

Know What the Features Are Worth

Most of a slot’s payout lives in its bonus round, not in the base game. That is why a slot can feel cold for long stretches – the maths assumes you reach the feature eventually.

Buy-feature options are priced above the feature’s expected value, so paying to skip ahead usually costs more than waiting for it. Treat it as a shortcut you are paying for, not a way to beat the game.

Who Makes Online Slots: Developers & Software Providers

The selection of slots that you can play at online casinos varies from one operator to another. This is because casinos have the option to pick their games from various software providers.

The industry’s leading slot developers, including Games Global, Playtech, and NetEnt create a wide range of casino games. There are other developers, such as Quickspin and Leander, that specialize exclusively in creating online slot games.

There are also some software developers whose origins center around creating slot machines for land-based casinos and have evolved into online game development, such as IGT. The top IGT slots aren’t the only thing worth noting, so we listed some of the biggest companies that develop this kind of casino software.

More Topics: Trivia

This slots guide has so far focused on the online variants, yet we will now look further into slot machines in general. Beyond the need to know facts, there are some curious details about slots that make for an interesting read.

Read on for land-based slots and casinos, the history of the game, and the biggest wins.

Land-Based vs Online

Land-based slot machines came into existence long before online games became available. Online slots are based on their counterparts in real casinos. They have a lot of things in common, yet there are also differences to be seen.

In real casinos, slots use enhanced technology, with cabinets that feature flashing lights and epic sound effects. Yet the basic gameplay works in the same way.

Online slots have the advantage of convenience. You can play from home, or even out and about with mobile slots, without the need to travel to a real casino.

You will never have to wait to play an online slot either, with an unlimited number of players able to play the same game at any time. In the table below, you can see at a glance some of the similarities and the differences between online and land-based slots.

The Most Popular Machines in Vegas and Beyond

If you hit any casinos in Las Vegas, you will find countless slot machines to try your luck at. Vegas slots are all-encompassing, with hundreds of traditional style, 3-reel slots machines, for classic old-school gaming. You can also play some of the most graphically advanced, modern video slots packed full of special features and bonus rounds.

If you have played slots online, you will also find many familiar titles. Many online slots started life as Vegas slots and have been remastered for online play. Some of the most iconic land-based slots which can also be played online include IGT’s Cleopatra-themed slot, Da Vinci Diamonds and Wheel of Fortune.

Penny slots feature widely in real casinos. They offer a shot at winning big money with the smallest stakes. Yet it is perhaps the jackpot networks in Vegas that are the most appealing. IGT’s Megabucks is one of the best-known networked jackpots. Once hit, the jackpot resets to $10m. Vegas-style slots are found in casinos worldwide.

You will also find other interesting slot games in other countries. For instance, in the UK, fruit machines feature not only in casinos, but also pubs and clubs, and are hugely popular with players. Here is an overview of the popular real slot games:

The Greatest Slot Casinos in the World

Step foot in any casino in the world, and you can be sure you will find slot machines. If you want to play slots in the greatest casinos in the world, then it is time to pay a trip to the top-rated Vegas slots casinos.

Sin City boasts some of the biggest and best casinos in the world, with thousands of legendary games to choose from. Vegas casinos offer single-game progressives and linked wide-area progressives with jackpots exceeding $1 million. For instance, at Mandalay Bay, the stand-out progressive slots include Blazin’ 7s, Wheel of Fortune, Megabucks, Monte Carlo and Super Spin.

You can play for pennies or enter the high-limits slots room and bet hundreds of dollars per spin. In the table below, you will find some of the dream casinos that every slots fan would love to visit.

Slot History: From Charles Fey to Virtual Reality

There are some casino games which have a long history, spanning centuries. The origins of roulette for instance can be traced back as far as the 17th century. Whereas the first casino slots did not appear until towards the end of the 19th century.

Slots may be relatively new in casino history, yet they have evolved and developed significantly to become immensely popular, by far the most popular of all casino games.

We have created a timeline, detailing the significant events in the history of slots. See how the games have evolved over the years from the first slot machine into the slot machines of today and the future.

The Biggest Slot Wins in History: Top Jackpots

There is no denying that jackpots often steal the headlines when it comes to the biggest ever wins. In fairness, regular, non-progressive slots give you more chances to win, albeit smaller amounts. The appeal of progressive slots, however, is that they offer a high reward for a high risk.

The jackpot networks of Vegas have produced some of the best big win slots. A special mention must be given here to IGT’s Megabucks, which pays out jackpots that exceed $10 million.

Some of the most famous big slots wins of all time have a quirky story behind them that makes the win even more interesting. Here are the most famous big slot wins:

Myths and Superstitions

When you look for tips on how to win at slots, you will encounter various strategies that claim to give you an advantage. The truth of the matter, however, is that they do not work, especially when it comes to playing online.

Some could have potentially been used in the days before modern random number generator technology generated results. Regardless, there are some slot machine myths that simply refuse to go away, despite proof that they are merely superstitions or no longer relevant. Here are some of the common myths, which have been debunked.

Hot and Cold Slots

The idea of hot and cold slots indicates whether a machine is on a hot streak of payouts. Or vice-versa, where cold slots are not giving out many payouts. In reality, this is an old superstition, which although may have had some merit back in the early days of slot machines, nowadays is not relevant.

Thanks to RNG software in slots, each spin is an independent event, and completely random. As such, there is no such thing as hot and cold slots nowadays. It’s also true, however, that the statistical data collected in the industry pinpoints which the best payout slots are in practice.

Loose Slots

One strategy is to search for loose slots. Such slots supposedly give bigger and more frequent payouts. The truth, however, is that there are no loose slots.

The payouts of any slot machine, both land-based and online are determined by a theoretical payout percentage (RTP) and a random number generator. This strategy originates in the belief that casinos used to place so-called loose slots in prime positions to attract players.

You Can Predict When a Payout is Due

A commonly held belief is that a slot which has not paid out in a while is due to payout soon. This strategy is again debunked by RNG software.

While casino sites may advertise a highly building jackpot slot, it does not mean it is due to be hit. With each spin being an independent event, the size of the jackpot does not influence your chances of cracking the prize.

Online Games Are Rigged

There are some players who refuse to play on the internet, under the false impression that online slots are fixed. The truth is that online casinos must adhere to strict licensing rules. They are regulated by respected authorities, such as the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority.

Licensed casinos invite independent testing of their RNG software and payout percentages, to verify that their slots are fair. Apart from that, we also put games and operators to the test by using a tried and tested ranking system, confirming player satisfaction and safety from our perspective as well.

Slot Scams: Cheating the System Since the 1900s

Since slots were created, people have always been trying to beat them. Throughout history, there have been a variety of slots scams, some more successful than others.

Where a scam was detected, developers made the necessary modifications to tackle the scam head on. Technological advancements over the years have further protected slot odds from manipulation. While there is no way to cheat slot machines nowadays, let’s take a look at some of the successful scams throughout the years.

Stats to Keep Track Of

Serious players keep track of a wide range of statistics. Perhaps most significant in choosing slots with the highest payout is the RTP. High RTP slots are among the most sought-after games. Yet, you should be aware of the volatility or variance, as it can impact the overall experience and how often you can expect to win.

On a personal level, players can monitor their own playthrough history, which details how much money has been wagered, won and lost, as well as providing information on the amount of time spent playing.

Of course, if you don’t want to invest too much money into it, free online slots provide the perfect way to run a simulation. Below you can see an overview of some of the slots stats that can be monitored.

Final Thoughts

Slots are the simplest games in the casino to play and the hardest to beat: every spin is an independent random event, and no pattern, timing or betting system changes that.

What you can control is which game you sit down at. Check the RTP, match the volatility to your bankroll, and remember that most of the payout sits in the bonus round.

Use the free demos to test a game at no cost, set a budget and a time limit before you start, and treat any winning session as luck rather than a result that will repeat.