A beginner’s guide to understanding online slot game mechanics

 

Online slots have 3 or 5 reels (vertical sections that spin) with various symbols. The number of reels and symbols varies between games. Set your bet amount and click the “spin” button to play. The reels will spin and stop randomly, with winning combinations determined by the game’s paytable. Paylines are the line patterns where matching symbols must land on the reels for you to win. Classic 3-reel slots often have a single horizontal pay line across the centre. But modern 5-reel video slots have dozens or even hundreds of pay lines in zig-zag or diagonal patterns across the reels. The more pay lines a game has, the more chances you have to land winning combinations, but your bet will often cover all pay lines.

Coin value and bet levels

When setting your bet for each spin, online slots often have you pick a coin value and a bet level. The coin value is the worth of each coin you’re betting (like $0.01, $0.05, etc.). The bet level is how many coins you’re betting per pay line/way. Your total bet is calculated by multiplying the coin value by the bet level by the number of pay lines/ways. Many online slots also have a “Max Bet” button that automatically sets your bet to cover all pay lines at the maximum bet level for the coin value you’ve selected.

Bonus Rounds and Features

Online slot gates of olympus have bonus features and rounds that introduce new mechanics to the gameplay. The most common are free spins rounds, where landing a certain number of scatters or bonus symbols will award you a set number of free spins. These play out automatically at your triggering bet amount and add additional perks like multipliers on wins or more wilds to the reels.  

Slot bonus features include pick-and-click bonuses, where you select from a grid of icons to reveal cash prizes; wheel spins, where you spin a virtual prize wheel for rewards; and arcade-style skill-based minicamps. There are countless variations, but in most cases, bonus features aim to award you an extra reward in addition to regular pay line wins.

Progressive jackpots

Online slots, called progressive jackpot slots, have an extra jackpot that grows progressively bigger with every bet placed on the game until it’s won. A small portion of each bet goes towards this jackpot pool. To win a progressive jackpot, you must land a unique combination of jackpot symbols or trigger a particular bonus round. Since progressive jackpots grow to be worth millions, they’re a big draw for many slot players.

These days, most online slots are developed using HTML5 technology, making them compatible with nearly all devices, including desktops, smartphones, and tablets. You play directly through the casino website on your mobile device without downloading an app. Mobile slot games have interfaces and controls optimized for touchscreens.

While online slots are great fun, it’s essential to play responsibly. Set a budget for your slots to play, and only chase losses by betting afford. Legitimate online casinos will have responsible gambling tools to set deposit, loss, and wagering limits on your account to help you control your gambling. Never think of gambling as making money and only playing to lose.