Getting Started with Online Slots - Rules & Guidelines

Learn How to Play Online Slots

Slots are arguably the most diverse casino game. In them, developers can really let their colors shine through and show what they are made of. Slots are the perfect platform to display a provider’s creativity.

Unlike most table games, slots come in various costumes and following interesting narratives. They boast immersive and unique designs, and that’s why many gamblers love them.

Slots are also easy to play.

Here is a step-by-step, comprehensive procedure of how to play slots:

Back to Basics

Let’s clarify the fundamental terms in slots. Here is the casino vocabulary we will be using in the following text.

• Reel grid – This is the playing board upon which all slots action takes place.
• Bet level – The bet level dictates how many coins you can win per spin. The lower the level, the smaller the number of coins.
• Coin value – When you multiply the bet level by the coin, you will get your winning amount for that spin.
• Paylines – These are winning combinations that you can use to boost your winnings.
• Exposure – Otherwise known as winning potential, the exposure shows how much players can win in the slot in the best-case scenario.

Know Your Goal

Before delving into playing slots, you should determine your aims. Are you looking for consistent yet somewhat humble sums or the ultimate jackpot? How much are you willing to wager. Could you afford to lose?

These are the questions you need to give your personalized answers to.

Then, think about the game’s specifications. In blackjack, the final mission is pretty straightforward – just get as close to 21 as possible. To win at slots, you should align matching symbols in pre-determined paylines.

Paylines can be fixed or adjustable (non-fixed). Either way, some are easier to achieve than others. For instance, smaller wins made with low-paying symbols come more or less frequently. To get to the Free Spins round or another bonus round, you might need to work harder.

So, deciding what your goal is can help you in the long run.

How to Select Betting Amount in Slot Games

Before you take the spin, look around the settings section.

You’ll see the following buttons/ranges: level, coin value, bet, coins (balance), and win. There might be the autoplay button and the max bet functionality.

If you’re just getting started with slots, the best rule is to lay low for the time being. Make a small bet to feel how it affects your bankroll. Taking it slowly with slots is crucial. You need to develop your sixth sense first.

Slowly sail into the game and when you’re sure-footed, raise your stakes. And right here is NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest 3D slot, a perfecgt example of a slot game that has turned into an all-time classic.

What are Paylines in Slot Machines?

Paylines are something that the developer integrates into the gameplay upon creation. Typically they are fixed, but they can also be adjustable (variable) aka non-fixed.

There is little we could tell you about the former. However, the latter gives you more control.

Some examples of adjustable payline slots are Book of Dead and Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx.

Sometimes players refer to paylines as lines or winning ways. Nevertheless, there’s a small discrepancy. When there are more than 50 paylines, experts usually refer to them as ways to win. It’s just the industry’s thing. Simply, it sounds out of place to say 1,024 paylines.

Activating and deactivating paylines is especially handy in progressive jackpots. Imagine seeing a jackpot land on a payline you deactivated! How frustrating that must be. So, to prevent that, just keep those paylines fixed. It won’t hurt anybody.

With that in mind, it’s worth noting that both types have almost identical RTPs (return to player). However, more paylines means having to pay more per payline, so consult your budget.

Conclusively, choosing to play either way is more of a personal preference than a technical trick.

Lastly, there are also both ways, which pay out not only from left to right but from right to left, too. Importantly, this is an innate quality of the slot, so you cannot adjust it – just like fixed paylines.

All in all, if you’d like regular wins, play with fewer active paylines, but place small bets.

On the other hand, if you’re ready to invest a bit more time and money to hit a bigger jackpot, play bigger bets.

Consult the Slot Payout Table

We’re slowly coming to a close, bear with us.

In the first part, e implied that we would be butchering slots to the bone. A slot’s paytable is its ID card. Don’t ever start playing on a machine without checking out its info first.

Click the little “i” button beside the reel grid. That’ll help you figure out how much it is wise to gamble. After all, we are talking about a game of luck and not skills; so strategies are not as applicable.

Another thing to remember is that sometimes certain symbols, like wilds, appear on specific reels only. That’s something you’d like to know in advance.

So, what you can do it to bet rationally and with the payout table in mind every step of the way.

Inform yourself on each of the symbol’s values; see which ones pay more. Know what combos trigger what bonus features. Be on top of the game by knowing your favorite one-armed bandit well.