Video Slots

Online video slots present players with an opportunity to have fun with a chance to win money. Several casinos offer slot games from some of the most popular game providers. Video slots come with different themes, paylines, reels, and even bonuses. However, all video slot games have one thing in common: They provide an amazing gaming experience to players which you can even enjoy from the comfort of your home. You can also enjoy slot games for free without having to wager your money.

Video Slot Symbols

The symbols used on video slots vary depending on the game theme. The most common low paying symbols are J, Q, K and 10 however these can be represented differently in different slots. Depending on the type of slot, you may need to match at least three or more symbols in the right combination to win. The paytable of the game contains all the multiplier values of the symbols. With these values, you will be able to know how much you can win on each bet.

Apart from the symbols mentioned earlier, many slots also feature special symbols often referred to as the Wild and Scatter symbols. The wild symbol is known for substituting other symbols in the game and thus increasing the possibility that a player will match a winning combination. The scatter symbol is used for several other bonus features. The most common bonus feature associated with the scatter symbol is free spins. When scatter symbols appear in the right combination, players can trigger the free spin bonus.

  • The common low paying symbols are the J, Q, K and 10
  • Symbols used in slots differ by game theme
  • The common special symbols are the wild and scatter symbols

Video Slot Winning Ways

Slots can either have variable or fixed paylines. The type of paylines used on a slot can strongly influence the game and your chances of winning. Variable payline slots give players the flexibility of selecting the number of paylines they want to bet on. Assuming a slot has 20 variable paylines, a player can decide to select 10 out of the paylines to wager their bet. However, this means that to win on the slot, you will have to match symbols on the selected paylines.

Fixed paylines, however, means that you will have to bet on all the paylines. Fixed paylines may increase your chances of winning however the wager amount will also increase. This is because the bet on each payline is multiplied by the entire payline to derive the total bet value a player will place. The shape of paylines can be vertical, horizontal or zigzag depending on the game design. But you will always find information about a slot’s payline in the paytable.

Progressive Slots

Every slot has a maximum prize that players can win which is often referred to as the jackpot prize. This is usually the prize every player always aims for. Some slots offer players an opportunity to win the jackpot during standard gameplay while other slots only make the jackpot available in the bonus rounds. Progressive slot games offer a jackpot prize that is not fixed. As many players continue to play the slot, the jackpot prize keeps increasing until a lucky player wins it.

While progressive slots may offer players very lucrative winnings, hitting the jackpot is no easy feat. Slots operate using a Random Number Generator (RNG) that randomizes the outcome of each game, thus making it fair to all players. This means that every player stands an equal opportunity of winning in the regular slots as well as in the progressive slots. What makes video slots even more unique is the amazing display graphics and sound effects that come with each game which tend to be quite elaborate affairs.

  • The jackpot prize in progressive jackpot increases as more players play
  • Video slots use RNG to randomize the game outcome

RTP and Volatility

When you are choosing a video slot to play, there are several things you need to consider. This includes the Return to Player (RTP) percentage and the volatility of the game. The RTP of any game refers to the percentage of all bets that the game will theoretically return to players. For this reason, it is always believed that a game with a lower RTP and higher house edge might not be as favourable to players than those with a higher RTP.

While the RTP has a big impact, another very important thing to consider when choosing a slot is the associated volatility of the game. The volatility refers to the level of risk associated with playing a game. The risk is always offset by the benefits. Low volatility slots allow players to make frequent small wins while high volatility slots make winning a little less frequent. However, if you manage to win on high volatility slots, you can expect much bigger wins.

  • Always consider the RTP and Volatility when choosing a slot game
  • Low volatility games offer frequent small winnings while high volatility games offer less frequent but bigger winnings

Summary

There is no disputing that video slot games are amazing whether you are playing in a landbased casino or online. Slots have several amazing features and bonuses that improve the players’ gaming experience. The different symbols from the low paying to high paying are also used to enhance the gameplay and make it more fun. The wild and scatter symbols available in almost every slot will allow players to trigger the game’s bonus features. We have also discussed the different paylines and their meanings in video slots.

Since slots are games based on pure luck and chance, there isn’t really a lot of strategies available. To enjoy your time playing slots, make sure to check the RTP and volatility of the available games. You can always test out your strategies by playing slots for free. Have fun!