Video slots are by far the most popular game in every online casino. They are a distant relative of older slot machines that were just as popular in land-based casinos. While the gameplay of older slot machine was relatively simple, next-generation video slots are slightly more complicated. However, even though newer video slots have a lot more options, the gameplay is still somewhat simple.
In case you are looking for tips and tricks and a quick guide to video slots, make sure to read our article — you’ll learn everything you need to know about video slots.
The Very Basics
Once you find your selection of great RTP slots, before you get to spin the reels, you should familiarize yourself with the way video slots work. The best way to do that is by learning about the options they provide.
The very first thing you will notice is the size of the playing grid — more specifically, its reels. These are the horizontal columns filled with symbols. Even though the number often varies the most common number of reels is 5.
Paylines are another crucial part of the playing grid. In order to land a winning combination, you need to land 3 or more matching symbols on one of those lines. Most video slots pay left to right, but there are also those that pay both ways. The number of paylines in a video slot is often determined by the way that video slot pays, as well as by the number of reels and rows of symbols.
Now that you know the basics, all that is left to do is adjust your initial bet and start spinning the reels. Your total bet may often be the result of a correlation between the initial bet and how many coins you are betting per line, but the majority of newer video slots will clearly state the size of your total bet.
Symbols
Understanding symbols is the second most important thing for understanding video slots. While virtually every video slot includes different symbols, these usually have the same function. You can categorize them into basic and special, and you can further categorize basic symbols into low-paying ones and premiums — the only difference is that premiums offer better payouts.
When it comes to special symbols, the most common ones are the wild symbol and the scatter symbol, sometimes also known as the bonus symbol. Wild symbols can substitute for every other symbol and help you land winning combinations. Say you landed 2 of a kind and a wild on a winning payline. Instead of getting nothing, you will get a payout as if you landed 3 of a kind. However, keep in mind that in most cases, wild symbols will not substitute for other special symbols. When it comes to the scatter or bonus symbols, their role is to trigger slot-specific features.
Features
Features are the most important aspect when it comes to mastering video slots, and also the thing that makes video slots diverse. The most common one is the Free Spins feature that, as the name suggests, awards you with free spins. It is commonly triggered by landing 3 or more scatter/bonus symbols, and you can sometimes even re-trigger the feature to earn even more free spins.
There are also those features that are triggered randomly — they can be triggered either during the base game only or during both the base game and, let’s say, the Free Spins feature as well. Since they are pretty much out of your control, you don’t have to worry about them; instead, just reap the rewards once they are triggered. Some of those features reward multipliers, meaning that if you land a winning combination it will be multiplied by a specific number.
The third most common type of features is the one that is triggered each time you land a winning combination. These features are often referred to as Avalanche or Cascading Wins features. Usually, symbols that are part of the winning combination will disappear from the reels, and new ones will fall into their place, letting you have a new chance of landing a winning combination.
There are a lot of other features out there; even the ones we mentioned here may offer different rewards. However, once you familiarize yourself with a few of them, you will understand how the rest of them work.
Conclusion
That’s pretty much all there is to know about how video slots work! However, there will always be something new to learn as software providers always try to be innovative and include exciting features or designs in their newest slots. That’s also exactly what every slot enthusiast looks forward to!