How to Play Online Slots – A Step by Step Guide
As you venture into the world of online casino gambling, you’ll soon find yourself immersed in a fun and exciting community of gambling activity. If you are looking for a good place to start, we recommend learning how to play online video slots. Assuming you are willing to trust our advice, we would like to help you get started. With that in mind, here is a useful and comprehensive Step-By-Step Guide to playing online video slots.
iGaming Casino Selection
Where you play online video slots is just as important as how. With hundreds of online casinos from which to choose, the selection process can feel overwhelming. To assist you with this process, we suggest you use the following criteria to find a suitable online casino home:
- Read watchdog site reviews to establish a casino’s reputation
- Choose casinos that offer a large selection of video slots
- Learn the names of top slot software developers and find casinos that use the best games
- Compare Welcome Bonus programs and VIP Clubs for the best extra perks
Once you find an iGaming site of interest, you’ll need to complete the site’s registration process.
Game Selection
As a novice or recreational iGaming casino player, you’ll soon realize that online video slots are available to the tune of thousands of game titles, from 50+ software developers, covering dozens of game themes and formats. Sound intimidating? It’s not, it’s just a matter of you developing your iGaming preferences and finding the video slots that satisfy those preferences.
Let’s take a look at the things you will need to consider when you are choosing the video slots you want to play.
Game Themes
When it comes to video slot game themes, there is something available for everyone. If you want to play games that are tied to popular branded movies, TV shows, or game shows, you’re in luck. Here’s a small sampling of branded titles you might encounter:
- Terminator 1 & 2
- The Dark Knight Returns
- Bridesmaids
- Psycho
- Jurassic Park I & II
- Jumanji
- The Three Stooges
- Deal or No Deal
- Game of Thrones
If you like superheroes from D.D. Comics or Marvel, you can play video slots like:
- Justice League
- The Incredible Hulk
- X-Men
- Superman
- Aquaman
Here are a few more game themes that might appeal to your sense of adventure: Greek Mythology, Jungle & Safari, Cartoon characters, Zombies and Monsters, Western cowboys, and more.
Online Slots Rules & Structure
Every slot game you launch should have an icon with looks like an info or question market button. Clicking on that will give details on the rules, payout, symbol values, and other pertinent information. These details typically include:
Game Matrices Reels & Rows
The layout of a game matrix will usually determine the number of pay lines that a game will offer. Early video slots featured 3 x 3 (3 reels, 3 rows) matrices. Modern entries can offer 5+ reels & 5+ rows, which can create hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to get a payout. For many players, it’s the more, the merrier.
Pay Lines
At the end of each spin, it’s the number of available pay lines that will determine how often and how much you might get paid.
The rules connected to each video slot will define what a pay line will be for that particular game. A pay line might be consecutive like symbols up & down on a reel, covering a row, or via diagonal connections. If a game matrix features 4+ reels & 4+ rows, the definition of a pay line will expand all over the matrix, creating dozens, if not hundreds, of different ways you can get paid. Due to recent game innovations, some games feature up to 2,000 different ways you can get a return on spins.
The Paytable
Before you start investing your hard-earned cash in a particular online video slot, you owe it to yourself to review the game’s rules and regulations. One of the things you will want to focus on is the game’s paytable.
A paytable will define the reel/row configurations that will create payouts. Additionally, a paytable will determine the actual payout that is associated with each reel/row configuration. You can use this information to set your expectations regarding winnings and decide whether a game offers potential jackpots that are big enough to tickle your fancy.
The Symbols
Each game will be driven by symbols that support the game theme and will ultimately be used to determine wins & losses. Before you start playing online video slots, an understanding of the different types of symbols you might encounter is necessary. To that end:
Basic Symbols
Basic symbols will be plentiful. They will be used to determine the lower & higher standard payouts. Card numbers (9 through Ace) and card suits (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades), and fruits are common basic symbols.
Wild Symbols
Wild symbols will typically substitute for most other symbols, which will theoretically increase the number of winning configurations. A wild symbol will rarely substitute for a scatter symbol.
Scatter Symbols
In most cases, some combination or sequence of scatter symbols will trigger a big bonus jackpot or lead the way to a bonus feature.
Bonus Symbols & Features
While not common, some video slots feature a bonus symbol or two that might lead to a special jackpot or interactive bonus feature that could create huge jackpots.
Oftentimes, bonus features hold the key to winning big jackpots. Potential bonus features include free spins and interactive games (double or nothing gambling, pick-and-win & shooter style). The ultimate bonus feature will be the one that could trigger a progressive jackpot opportunity (more on this below).
Types of Jackpots
Each game comes with a set number of jackpot opportunities. That might include:
- The fixed standard jackpot: The amount is preset and usually requires the connection of 3 or more symbols to create a payout.
- Local Progressive Jackpots: This type of progressive jackpot typically ties a single machine or a group of machines together within the same casino. Small amounts of each standard bet are siphoned off and placed into the progressive jackpot pool until hit. Jackpots reset to a statutory amount after being claimed.
- Network Progressive Jackpots: This type of progressive jackpot typically ties one or more games together across an entire network of iGaming casinos. Small amounts of each standard bet are siphoned off and placed into the progressive jackpot pool until hit. Jackpots reset to a statutory amount after being claimed.
How to Play – Step-By-Step
Armed with the aforementioned information, you are now ready to become an online casino video slot player. Just follow these steps:
- Select a game
- Read the rules
- Place a bet
- Spin the Reels
- Hopefully, claim a win, and do it again
Playing Tips
In good conscience, we would not release you into the world of online video slots without offering a few useful tips. Here are a few key suggestions:
- void confusion & misuderstanding by reviewing each game’s rules and paytable
- Set your bankroll for each playing session
- Look for games that offer fun, exciting, and potentially lucrative bonus features
- Try a variety of games – variety is the spice of life
Final tip: Never gamble with more money than you can afford to lose. That means limit your play to the discretionary funds you have left over after you have paid all of your bills and set savings aside for a rainy day. Oh, make sure you have fun and enjoy your time online.