A Beginners Guide to Playing Slots

Slots Guide

Slots. Most people have heard of them at some point in life. Any movie that takes place in a casino will show the excitement of someone pressing spin and winning. Prior to the internet and advanced technology, playing slots merely involved putting a coin into a shaky machine with painted glass bulbs, spinning the handle and waiting to see if you’d won. Now slots are a whole new level. Hi-tech graphics, exciting sounds and all sorts of extra ways to win makes online slots a must try. If you’ve never played them, you are most certainly missing out.

Worry not; this beginners’ guide will quickly beef up your knowledge about slots by explaining:

  • The basics of slots and important words to understand the game better
  • The different kinds of slot machines you’ll find in a casino
  • Why payout percentage is the most important number there is
  • A simple strategy to get start playing slots online

The Basics of Slots

Believe it or not, there is more to slots than pressing a button and waiting to see what the outcome is. Okay, yes that’s part of the game, but there is so much more! Take a look to see what you’ll discover at today’s online slot games.

Bonus Rounds – Most slot games have bonus rounds which can be activated during the game. They’re generally a mini-game which gives you the opportunity to score bonus points and ultimately win more money.

Free Spins – Who doesn’t love freebies? When you land on a certain set of symbols, you can win additional free spins. This is a time when you don’t have to bet anything more, apart from the maximum bet of the previous spin.


“When you begin to play slots online, always check the payout percentage of the machine. ”

Paylines – Many of today’s slots have different paylines. These are the number of lines on the machine. You can bet on one, some or all of the lines. Obviously, the more paylines you bet on, the more chances you have at winning.

Paytable - You can view the paytable on your computer, tab or mobile slot casino interface. It will inform you of the individual symbols’ worth as well as, the payouts for landing specific sequences.

Scatter – Another exciting feature is the scatter. Typically found on video slots, these will multiply the award of your current total bet if you’ve won.

Wilds – A wild allows you to substitute it for any other symbol in the game sans the scatter.


Variations of Slot Machines

Slots Guide

Now that you understand the most common features in any slot game, you can start to play for real money. But, just before you give it a go, take a quick look at the different slot variations.

Video Slots – Thanks to technology and microchips, video slots have no moving parts or spinning reels. They are featured on screen and are simply a graphic representation of a slot machine. Don’t be put off from this. Video slots open the doors for creativity to exceed the abilities of the traditional machines. 

Free Slots – No real money is involved on the free slot machines. They’re a great way to test out the software to see if it’s right for you. You can find free demo games on all of the top online slot websites.

Traditional Slots – Featuring 3 reels and 1 payline, it’s a timeless classic that never goes out of style.

5 Reel Slots – A traditional machine with 2 extra reels. They hold the integrity of the classic slot machine, but add in a some extra excitement and more ways to win.

Multi-Line Slots - A game that can be 3 or 5 reels, but will include multiple paylines. These can be horizontal, vertical, criss-cross or even crooked. Many of these games offer 20+ ways to win.

Progressive slots – A variation that revolves around a progressive jackpot that grows with every player's bets. Winning the jackpot is not easy, but will happen at some point. Trust us, the payouts are huge.


Win more money on a game of slots

When you begin to play slots online, always check the payout percentage of the machine. This lets you know what the house advantage is; the higher the better. For example, a payout percentage of 97.5% means the house keeps 2.5% of the wagered money.


A beginner’s strategy to playing online

Slots Guide

Slots are game of chance. There is no real strategy that will help you to get ahead of the house. That said, there are still a few extra things you can do to boost your odds and maximize your luck.

1. Take advantage of bonus rounds. These help to hone your skills and could potentially add cash to your bankroll.
2. If you can afford to, try out the progressive jackpot and multi-payline machines.
3. Look for high payout percentages.
4. Read reviews of the online slots games.
5. Remember, higher denomination machines generally pay more often.
6. Ultimately, make smart decisions and know when to take a break.


A beginner’s strategy to playing online

Start to Play Slots Online

Whether you’re playing for fun, looking to vacation from a big win or making use of time in between a poker tournament, slots are a great casino game.

Start to spin your way to more cash and fun. Good luck.