Online slot games have been a great source of entertainment for many ever since its inception during the 20th century. And as time progresses, the world of online slot games has only become increasingly sophisticated and varied in terms of variety and gameplay. But with all this overwhelming amount of information, starting can be slightly intimidating as you try to find your way around the choices of games, bonus offers, and just how to go about your game in general.
Fret not, this detailed guide below will provide you with all the basic information you need to get yourself acquainted with slots.
How Slot Machines Work
The huge jackpot offered by slots is one reason for its appeal, and it is a game that is extremely easy to pick up. All you need to do is find an online casino, join a room, and voilà, you can start playing. Its simple gameplay also allows players to enjoy the graphics and story of each game.
Each slot machine possesses vertical spinners called “reels” where the symbols are located. As the reels spin, they will eventually stop and display a random series of symbols arranged on the payline. If those symbols match up to form a winning combination or pattern, then you will win a prize. But paylines and reels are not just the only things you need to keep an eye out for as there are other considerations such as the game’s special bonus rounds, special symbols, RTP, and more.
But there is one thing that needs to be addressed, and that is the Random Number Generator (RNG).
Random Number Generator
While the earlier versions of slot machines were initially mechanical, the moment slot machines had electrical wiring in them was the time where the RNG showed up to the scene.
The RNG is a computer algorithm that constantly generates complicated runs of number which are used to determine the outcome for slots and other online casino games. Although it is not truly random from a mathematical sense, the variance is negligible, and its consistency has proven that it is more than adequate for online gambling.
Every single online casino game nowadays has the RNG built into it, and it is constantly running. It creates a string of numbers at every second, and each number corresponds to a symbol and its position on a reel in a specific way, so when the player triggers a spin, the game takes all numbers created at that millisecond to display the selected outcome.
In short, the computer algorithm generates numbers at random constantly, and when players trigger a spin, the numbers selected at that time will reflect the outcome, whether it is a win or loss.
RNGs have been in use in slot games for decades and improving along with advancements in computer technology. Many may argue that an online slot game might be rigged, but with refinements made over the decades, they perform better and are more secure than ever.
Apart from the RNG and other considerations, here is a quick explanation of all the terms you are likely going to come across during your time playing slots.
Symbols
These are the eye-catching graphics, which are the first things you will come across at every game. Each slot game typically has ten to twelve standard symbols, and in addition to the standard symbols, you will also find special symbols such as the Wild, Scatter, and Bonus symbols. Find out more about this below.
Paylines
These are the lines that connect the combination of symbols across the reels. Depending on how each game is programmed, some games only have a single payline while others can have up to 25 or more pay lines that zigzag in various directions across the screen. More on that later.
Bet Levels
These are the basic units you will be using to place your bets. You can then decide how many coins you wish to bet on each payline and the total number of paylines that you want to play.
Bonus Rounds
Bonus rounds do you a whole lot of good by unlocking special mini-games inside of the main game, giving you a fantastic opportunity to rack up more winnings without having to place more bets.
Return to Player Percentage (RTP)
This refers to how big of an advantage the casino’s statistical advantage is within a game. In short, the higher the RTP, the greater the advantage is for the player. For instance, the odds of a player winning more frequently at a specific game is higher.
Progressive Jackpots
This is what every player dreams of hitting, and it is a type of jackpot where a portion of every player’s bet is kept aside in a jackpot for many consecutive turns until a player strikes it lucky and wins it. Mind you, the winnings for a progressive jackpot can go up to millions!
Slot Symbol Vocabulary
While symbols will vary within each online slot game that you play, they are all the same fundamentally. The look and feel of each symbol are typically inspired by the theme of each game, and they can form a line or winning combination, giving you special ways to win. There are also special symbols that can trigger bonus rounds, multipliers, or even award you with unique prizes. All in all, here are the basic terms which you will come across, and this is what they mean.
Multipliers
Multipliers are anything that doubles, triples, or quadruples the amount of the winnings you receive from each bet placed. Typically you will come across multipliers such as 2x, 3x, or 4x. But depending on how each game is programmed, and some will even provide you with 10x multipliers or those that go into the thousands!
Wild Symbols
These symbols are the best lifesaver as they can be substituted into any regular symbol on a line that is just short of a winning combination. For example, if the symbols 7 / 7 / 7 form a winning combination but what you got instead is a 7 / 7 / @, the wild symbol will take the place of the @ symbol to complete that winning combination.
Always appreciate the arrival of a wild symbol as it can make a significant difference to your game.
Scatter Symbols
The scatter symbol gives players the opportunity to receive a winning spin when there are two or more of them present on the screen regardless of their position within the reels and payline. Scatter symbols usually trigger a myriad of bonus rounds and special prizes.
Bonus Symbols
These symbols allow players to increase their winnings via mini-games and the opportunity to win bigger and valuable prizes along the way.
Now that you have familiarized yourself with what each universal term means as well as what they do, it is time to talk a little bit more about paylines.
What You Need to Know About Paylines
Although it may just be a line, playing a game with a single payline versus playing a game with 25 paylines can bring about a monumental difference in terms of gameplay outcomes. By betting on more paylines, you have a higher chance of winning and hitting more special bonuses, and you also have a higher chance of winning the jackpot. However, one downside to this is that you will have to fork out more money to place your bets as each payline requires a separate bet of their own.
That said, a common practice that many players tend to do is to choose a lower denomination coin value that enables them to bet the maximum amount on each payline while keeping their betting budget at a manageable level. Some may choose to play with a smaller number of paylines with a bigger bet placed on each line, while others will double the excitement by doing the opposite and betting on multiple paylines to be able to hit more winning combinations.
Since the latter is a more common trend among online slot players, it is no wonder that online slot game developers are pushing the envelope with significantly more paylines in each game. Don’t worry about the correct way of playing too early, just take some time to explore and you will find your groove soon.
Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpots promise winnings of a monumental sum of money – up to thousands or even millions – and winning it can truly be the best thing to happen to any online slots player.
As mentioned previously, progressive jackpots get their name from the process of continuously adding a portion of each player’s bet into a pool until someone wins it. It will continue to grow in size until, you know it, someone hits it.
While not every game offers a progressive jackpot, for those that do, remember to do your research and make sure you bet the required amount to be eligible for the jackpot.
Free Slot Games? Yes Please.
You have just familiarised yourself with the basic terminology, and you are probably thinking about where the best place is to start applying your knowledge. Now is the time to start exploring the wonders of free slot games.
Every player has their agenda when they visit an online casino – to win big money, to play for fun, or just to try out what games are there on offer – free tryouts are commonplace among many online casinos. And contrary to popular belief, money is not always the sole reason why slot games gain their popularity among online casino goers.
Its entertainment value is just as compelling a reason as any as the game’s plot, graphics, characters, as well as gameplay mechanics form part of the thrill that comes with every spin of the reels, with the added benefit of not having to risk a single cent for all the enjoyment.
And another benefit of free games is that it gives players time to do some research and explore the best games an online casino offers before signing up for an account with them, allowing players to acquaint themselves with different titles before signing up and betting with real money.
A Few Pointers Just Before You Start Playing
Before you start playing seriously with all your hard-earned cash, stop and consider these factors which can guide your decision in choosing your next game to play.
Value for Money
Get the most out of every ringgit you bet by looking at a game’s RTP. Do that, and you will get to the best games which favor you the most.
Pick A Game that Suits Your Playing Personality
There are many different types of games out there that are geared towards all kinds of players. Whether you are a high-risk high reward type, or those types to plan out their next move and be more calculative towards each possible outcome, choosing a game that suits your play style is important because it can be the one factor that significantly influences your overall gaming experience.
For example, three-reel slot games place a greater emphasis on top jackpots at the cost of a lower hit frequency with more losing spins. In other words, it is easy to win big, but also easy to lose big simultaneously. Whereas some video slots provide you with bonuses you can select off the screen. Picking a mystery box, for example, reveals its hidden bonus.These video slots typically have higher hit frequencies that give you the chance to hit many smaller wins. The gameplay is extended, but the chances of hitting the jackpot are lower.
Ultimately, it all boils down to you in finding out which slot games give you the most value. Whether it is in terms of hitting the jackpot, level of player participation each game offers you, or even the hit and miss nature of free spins. The best thing to do now is to start exploring!
Diversify Your Portfolio
Many players tend to pick only one game when they play online slots. Although there is nothing wrong with that, you can improve your chances of winning by playing multiple games, as you will then be able to capitalize on other bonus rounds, free games, multipliers, jackpots, free spins, and other promotions that might only be available in other games.
Max Out All of Your Paylines
It might sound a little counterproductive at first, but regularly hitting winning combinations on every spin and having a greater chance of going into the bonus round certainly beats dry spells of mindlessly spinning the reels in hopes for a win.There is no doubt that the former option is more exciting, so remember to lower your value for each coin so that you can max out the number of paylines you are playing on each spin.
Sign Up at a New Online Casino
Many, if not all, online casinos give new players an incentive via welcome bonuses, free spins, etc. as a means of enticing new players to try out their games and experience their platform.And given the sheer size of most modern online casinos, you don’t have to worry about not being able to find your favorite game as various online casinos use the same software developers; hence the higher chance of offering the favorite games you have in mind.
Epilogue
Whether you are a seasoned online slots player or if you are just jumping into the action for the first time, use the best of the lessons of this guide to empower your online slots game. With that in mind, it is time to enjoy the action, variety, excitement, and the best that 9KING has to offer. So hurry along, make your way to the action and have yourself a memorable time now!