People come to casinos in search of thrills, in anticipation of a big win and with the desire to return home a winner. It doesn’t matter whether it’s roulette, baccarat or poker; we’ve been through it all! Trust us: if you want to test yourself, play video slots. You can say that the casino always wins in this area (and you will be right in some ways), but this should not stop you, and we will tell you why.
This guide was written specifically for those new to slot games. In it, you will find all the basic information, from what pay lines are to the concept of volatility in slot machines. But be active in reading this article, even if you think you know everything about slots: you will find something new.
Slots are our everything! You have to defeat not another player but us, i.e. the casino: no bluff, no fear, just risk and excitement in its purest form. There is a huge variety of slot games, so you’ll find something to suit your tastes.
Basic gaming concepts
Before starting the game, you should familiarize yourself with the payout table. It will show how much winning you can expect for a specific combination of symbols – and the winning amount also depends on the size of the bet.
If you ignore the payout table, you won’t know what you can get the maximum win for and what jackpots are available. So, if you want to hit the jackpot, we strongly advise you to learn how to do it first.
If you are going to play video slots, you need to understand the main types of gaming symbols that can be found in the game:
- Wild symbols replace the missing standard symbols for a winning combination. For example, if four identical symbols and one Wild appear on a line, the latter will allow you to win for a line of five such symbols. In addition, the more Wild symbols appear on the reels, the greater the additional reward will be.
- Expanding Wilds: perform the same function as regular Wilds. The difference is that they can “expand” to the entire reel, replacing all other symbols, and thus create incredible combinations that can bring huge wins!
- Stacked Wilds: Reminiscent of expanding Wilds, the only difference being that these are stacked symbols. They are usually located on several drum cells in a row. They can occupy the entire drum or only its lower or upper part. Like any other Wild, they can bring a good income.
- Scatter symbols: rare. You can activate additional bonus rounds and bonus games. Additionally, these are the only symbols that cannot replace Wilds.
They are launched after several Scatter symbols or a certain combination of symbols have appeared on the game reels. They represent either a round of free spins or a bonus game in which you must randomly choose from several positions, hiding different rewards. A great opportunity to win big!
The theoretical income of the player (Return to Player Rate or RTP) is the most important indicator in video slots. It tells you how much a player can get back from their bets. The higher this indicator, the greater the chance of winning.
For example, if the RTP of a slot is 70%, you can expect that seven euros will be returned from your ten bets of one euro.
You need to understand the bet level well if you want to play slot games successfully.
The bet level shows how many coins are bet on each line. The higher its value, the greater your bet and your possible winnings. So, if you like to take risks, choose a higher level. Moreover, what is excitement without a little risk?
Volatility determines the ratio of the frequency of winnings to its amount. This concept should be distinct from the player’s theoretical income. Low volatility slots feature frequent wins but small payouts that rarely exceed the bet. These games are good for beginners.
There are slots with high volatility for risky players, characterized by rare but significant winnings.
