Slots can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t understand the jargon! Things aren’t that difficult though in practice. Below, you’ll find all the slot terms that you need to know to comfortably enjoy these games.
1. Reels
The first thing you notice in any slot description. These are the vertical columns with symbols on them. Each reel normally has several symbols. Your goal is to line up matching symbols across the reels to win.
2. Paylines
This is the line upon which a payout will be granted based on winning combinations. Classic slots most likely have a single payline. Newer slots can have hundreds of paylines arranged in patterns. To see how it works in practice, try Wolf Treasure, Green Chilli, Crack the Bank, or other new slots. In RollXO, you can find their free demo mode. Or, if you want to play with real money, you’ll get a good free spin package (350 free spins) as a new player here.
3. Wild Symbols
Just like jokers function in some card games, wild icons in slots replace other symbols to create a winning line. A combination of four identical lemon icons and a wild on an active payline would thus result in a payout equivalent to five lemons on the screen. It’s crucial to remember that wilds may only substitute regular symbols. They cannot be used to substitute bonus symbols like scatters.
4. Scatter Symbols
Put simply, scatter symbols are unique symbols that, depending on the game, have particular roles in online slots. For example, they may activate various bonus features in some slots. In others, they might serve as multipliers or stand in for other symbols to create combinations that win.
Example: Three or more Scatter symbols appearing anywhere on the reels start the free spin round.
5. Bonus Rounds
Bonus rounds are added features that give extra chances of winning. They often get triggered by special symbols or combinations and can contain
- mini-games
- free spins
- multiplier features.
Example: A slot machine might have a “pick-and-click” type bonus round where you choose objects to receive cash prizes.
6. Return to Player (RTP)
This is the percentage showing an average return made towards players over time. It is calculated as a ratio based on the rewards a player gets when they win. That is, if the payout percentage is 90%, for every $100 wagered, $90 would be repaid.
RTP does not impact your chances of winning. You may often hear that you’d better choose high-RTP slots but keep in mind that playing them doesn’t make wins more probable. Rather, if you do win, you will get more money than you would in a game with low RTP. But this, too, is not 100% so because it also depends on your bet size, special symbols, and so on.
7. Volatility
Volatility measures the risk level of a slot game. Low volatility slots offer a higher rate of frequency of wins but the latter aren’t huge. High volatility slots pay less often but give out larger sums when they do.
8. Jackpot
The jackpot is the top prize that you can win in slots. Some slots have progressive jackpots. These grow after every round played until someone wins.
9. Multipliers
These multiply your wins just as the name implies. They can be found in the base game as well as in the bonus rounds.
Example: You could win $10, but if there is a 3x multiplier, then your total prize reaches $30.
10. Max Bet
Max Bet is the maximum that you can bet on a single spin. In many slots, playing with the maximum bet either unlocks special features or gives access to the biggest prizes that might be won.
Example: Some progressive jackpots are awarded only if you play with the max bet.
11. Hit Frequency
Hit frequency describes how often a slot is hitting a winning combination. A high-hit frequency game pays out frequently.
Example: With 30% hit frequency, a slot pays out on average every three spins.
12. Free Spins
Free spins are actually spins you don’t pay for. Most casinos give them as a part of their welcome bonus. Plus, they can be triggered by Scatter symbols.
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These twelve terms introduce you to the basics of how slot games work. Now that you are familiar with them, you can compare slot games not just by theme but by other features, too.