An Introduction to Online Slots

Today the range of slots available to players is massive. Online casinos have many different slot machines to keep all players entertained. Those slots include classic slots, video slots, arcade slots and progressive slots. These slot variants have slightly different tweaks in gameplay and mechanics but essentially keep the same format. That is to say, the aim is to land certain symbols in matching combinations to win payouts.

Classic Slots

Classic slots are the simplest of slot machines and the easiest to learn. Typically, classic slot machines have no more than 3 reels and up to 9 paylines. Of course, there are certain classic slot machines with more about them, but usually, they are as simple as they come. In fact, the simplest classic slot machine will have 3 reels, 1 row and 1 payline.

Classic slots tend to offer only one bonus feature, or even none at all. To form a winning combination, players must look to land three matching symbols on the payline.

Video Slots

Video slots are more advanced than standard classic slots. They tend to have at least 5 reels and offer either 10, 20, 25, 50 or 100 paylines. Video slots are the most popular online slot machines in the iGaming industry. In most online casinos, video slots will fill out the majority of the catalogue of games.

The main difference between classic slots and video slots is the mechanics of each game. Video slots tend to offer at least one bonus feature – if not more – and have a more advanced technology used for the presentation of the slot. In addition, with more reels and paylines, there are more ways to win than in classic slots.

Arcade Slots

The third category of online slot machines includes arcade slots. These games tend to be far wilder than both classic and video slots and tend not to offer paylines. Instead, a popular form of arcade slots includes the Cluster Pays mechanic. This form of slot machine gives players the chance to record wins by landing a cluster (a group) of matching symbols. The symbols should be connected either vertically or horizontally, in order to form a cluster and result in a winner. In addition, Cluster Pays slots tend to have grids with square shape such as 5x5, 7x7, 8x8 or even 10x10.

The most noteworthy thing about both video slots and especially arcade slots is that they are jam-packed with bonus features. Especially arcade slots such as Cluster Pays. These slots have a variety of bonus features and mini games to make the gameplay even more exciting.

Progressive Slots

The last format of online slots includes progressive slots that are linked to jackpot prizes. In order to win the jackpot prizes, players are expected to match up certain symbols or make their way through a wheel of fortune or pick me game to claim the jackpot. Essentially, there are many variations on how a player wins a progressive slot jackpot. These games tend to have the biggest of prizes, such as the Mega Moolah slot, which has paid out over €15 million several times. Progressive jackpots can be linked to classic, video and arcade slots.

Online Slot Symbols

When playing online slots, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the symbols that are found on the reels. Slots may include a variety of symbols, typically royals 10 to A plus several themed symbols.

In addition, most slots will also include extra symbols, including a wild, scatter and bonus symbol. The symbols for online slots can be divided into the following groups.

Regular Symbols

Slot machines consist of all types of symbols. The majority of symbols included are regular symbols, that vary from lower valued ones to higher valued symbols. When matching enough symbols across a payline, the symbols will pay out accordingly.

Scatter Symbols

The first bonus symbol that can be found on most slot machines is the scatter. It is called that because it is possible to trigger features or winners, regardless of where it lands on the reels. Scatter symbols will trigger so long as the minimum requirement is met (for instance 3 scatters on a single spin). They usually lead to high payouts and/or additional bonus features.

Wild Symbols

Perhaps the most popular symbols in online slots are wild symbols. Whenever they land, they help to form winning combinations by substituting regular symbols. If you are playing a 5-reel slot and land matching symbols on the first and second reels, with a wild on the third reel, you will trigger winning combination. Wild symbols help to produce more frequent winning combinations, and often they also offer a game’s top payout.

Bonus Symbols

In addition to wilds and scatters, there are certain slots that have alternative bonus symbols. Essentially, these can be used to trigger bonus features, mini games, jackpots, multipliers and many more features. Ultimately, it completely depends on the type of game you are playing. That is why it is important to look at the slot’s paytable and rules before you start playing.

Online Slots Bonus Features

Online slots come with many different bonus features. Classic slots tend to have only one – if any – features. Video slots and arcade slots, on the other hand, have many more bonus features. Each feature works slightly differently but has its own perks. The majority of slots will include either free spins, multipliers or pick me games. There are also other bonus features that we will look at later on.

Free Spins

The most popular and used bonus feature for online slots is Free Spins. When this bonus feature is triggered, it gives players the chance to win real money without having to spend any on their spins. The game will give a select number of free spins (typically with the chance to trigger more) so that players can wager without having to spend anything.

Most slots have a free spins bonus round that is triggered once the player lands three scatter symbols on a single spin. This could award the player with 10 free spins for 3 scatters, 20 free spins for four scatters and 50 free spins for five scatters. In addition, most slots allow players to re-trigger additional free spins when landing more scatters in the bonus round.

There are many slots that make their free spins bonus round the most profitable in the gameplay. Thus, it is not out of the question for all wins to be doubled during the bonus round, or additional bonus symbols that can carry multipliers. Most free spins bonus rounds will tend to introduce expanding symbols, special symbols or other similar symbols.

Multipliers

Another bonus feature that is included in many online slots is multipliers. Typically, multipliers can be included in several forms. For instance, certain symbols can have 2x and 3x multipliers attached to them. Whenever multiplier symbols feature in a winning combination, they double, triple or even combine to result in massive payouts.

Multipliers can also be introduced in increasing payouts. For instance, during the free spins bonus round, each successive win can add a 1x multiplier booster. Thus, after 5 consecutive wins, the multiplier can be worth 5x.

Picking Games

One of the more popular bonus features that is found in online slots are picking games. They will require the player to click on different objects to reveal prizes. If the player can reveal the correct symbols, or uncover matching objects, they win certain prizes. In picking games, the idea is to reveal hidden symbols for cash prizes, multipliers, extra picks or additional bonus games.

Sticky, Stacked and Expanding Symbols

In both the base game and in the bonus round, symbols can take on different appearances. For instance, symbols can land sticky, stacked or expanding. Sticky symbols remain in place once they have landed on the reels. Usually, sticky symbols include wilds. Thus, if a wild lands onto the reels and sticks into position, then the following spins will have that wild symbol in place, to help form winning combinations.

Another form of which symbols can drop are stacked, meaning that they fall on top of each other. When a stacked symbol drops onto the reels, it is easier to fill the reels with the same symbol, making it easier to land high value winning combinations.

Lastly, landing expanding symbols can result in a symbol that grows to fill more rows. Expanding symbols are known for filling up an entire reel with a certain symbol. This can help form more winning combinations, especially in games where expanding symbols will grow horizontally, as opposed to vertically.

Tumbling, Cascading and Rolling Reels

In almost every arcade Cluster Pays slot, you are likely to come across either tumbling, cascading or rolling reels. These go by different names but are essentially almost the same thing. After every win, all successful symbols are removed from your screen, allowing new symbols to drop down and fill up the empty positions. If another win lands, the same process repeats, with successful symbols disappearing from your screen, allowing successive tumbling, cascading and rolling to occur. Many of these will also include a growing multiplier that sees the value increase after every consecutive win.

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