THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ONLINE SLOTS

Brief History of Slots

Slot machines can be traced back to the late 1800s, when a group (Pittman and Sitt) based out of Brooklyn, NY invented a card-based machine made up of five reels

FROM CARDS TO SYMBOLS

Just a few years later, a San Francisco man named Charles Augustus Fey, used a similar concept to devise the three-reeled slot game which used picture symbols that is synonymous with slot machines.

FROM ANALOG MACHINES TO DIGITAL VIDEO SLOTS

Nearly a century later, the 1970s saw the video slot come to fruition, which was the precursor to all of the digital slot options that are available to players online and offline today.

Since then, that video slot technology moved to the Internet, where players were then able to play all of their favorite slot games without having to go to a physical location, or even to leave their homes. In the mid-90s, during the period where everything from shopping to news consumption started to shift to the web, technology became sophisticated enough for the first online casinos to pop up. This in turn led to online slots following, after these digital casinos previously only offered basic games such as blackjack.

DESKTOPS TO MOBILE PHONE APPS

Slots then evolved again, this time to include availability on mobile devices. In the 2010’s, mobile slots became available, thanks to the massive upward trend in terms of mobile device capabilities, pioneered by the capabilities of iPhone and Android devices and the app developers who created slot games that were optimized for those devices.

Today, if an online casino does not have a robust mobile app, or a mobile site with games available for every type of mobile device so that players can play their games wherever they are, the site might as well shut down.

WHAT ARE THE LEGALITY AND RULES OF ONLINE SLOTS?

Online slots may or may not be legal for you to play, depending on what rules your country has when it comes to online gambling. For example, the United States passed the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) in 2006, banning online gambling, including online slots. While operators will still allow players from the United States to play at their establishments, it is always advisable to adhere to the laws in your respective nation.

LOOK FOR A LICENSE AND R.N.G. PROOF/STATUS?

Along with making sure that online slots players are acting in accordance with their local laws, or at least acting safely, players should also make sure that the online casino they are playing at is licensed in a country that permits online slots. If they are, they will be subject to the regulations that come with being licensed, which will go a long way to ensure fairness when you play their games.

One such way that these licensed online casinos ensure fairness in order to keep their licenses is to use Random Number Generators in their games. Random Number Generators are an algorithm that produces random results for every individual spin in an online slots session, ensuring that the casino has no control over the outcome of each spin. Online casinos would be foolish if they failed to adhere to these standards of fairness, as they would run the risk of losing all of their players to sites that are fair. Needless to say, there is no shortage of options in the present day.

HOW EASY IS IT GET STARTED WITH ONLINE SLOTS

One of the biggest draws to playing online slots is just how easy it is to get started. As opposed to a land-based casino, where players have to get up, wear presentable attire, have cash on hand, and sit in a room full of cigarette smoke, an online casino requires a fraction of the time and effort to get started and get playing. Getting started with online slots is a short and easy process. First, the player chooses an online slots site that appeals to them, then signs up and goes onto making a deposit into that site. It’s just that simple.

CHOOSING A SLOTS CASINO

Selecting an online slots site that works for you, for the most part, is a matter of personal taste. A lot of this depends on which criteria are personally most important to you, as no two online slots players are the same. To some, the most important thing might be which games are available, while to others it might be the availability of a mobile app so that they can play on the go. No matter what your preferences are, be sure to do your online casino research before even thinking about opening an account, to make sure that they can satisfy those preferences.

DEPOSIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE

When it comes to making your online casino deposit, there is a virtually limitless suite of payment options available for players at this point. Credit and debit cards are an option for players in countries where there are no legal restrictions on online slots, as are checks and bank wires. eWallets such as Skrill, PayPal, and Neteller are also available for players who do not wish to use a traditional banking institution. For players who want to circumvent conventional financial methods entirely, bitcoin is a perfect funding method. No matter which deposit method you choose, be sure that your online casino site of choice accommodates that method.

Each online slots game is different, but their premise is the same. The player chooses a wager amount, the number of paylines they want to play, and the amount they wish to wager per payline. As is the case with any form of wagering, the higher the player risk, the higher the potential rewards are for that player should that bet win. Of course, players are free to adjust their wager amounts as often as they like while they play, and are not locked into one set wager amount for the duration of any online slots session.

After a player has selected a wager amount that they are satisfied with, they are ready to spin. Hitting the spin button starts the game, at which point the reels will spin until they land on a combination of outcomes from the Random Number Generator described above. If the outcome on the screen matches what is required for one or more of the paylines to win, then the player be paid out accordingly and are free to repeat the process. If they don’t want to adjust their bet amount, players can choose to simply continue betting the same amount via the re-bet or auto bet functions that allow them to repeat their bets either once or several times, depending on their preferences.

Each game pays out according to its own rules and pay charts, which should be looked at before players risk anything on an online slots game so that they know what to expect before they start. These can usually be found in a Rules tab within each online slot game or within the FAQ of the online casino site.

TYPES OF ONLINE SLOTS GAMES

As one would expect, with so many online slots operators out there, there are a ton of different types of online slots games for players to take part in. These different game types range from simple and reminiscent of the first machines that players enjoyed during the early days of physical slot machines, to more complex games that offer different variations and the potential for much larger payouts.

3 REEL SLOTS

With just three reels, these simple machines allow players to match symbols on the top, middle, or bottom rows to win. These games tend to have lower payouts than their more sophisticated counterparts.

5 REEL SLOTS

The big benefit that five reel slots have when compared to their three reel counterparts is that they open up the possibility for things like more pay lines, which in turn can open up the possibility for greater payouts to players. These five reel games tend to be featured in progressive slots, and mega spin slots games far more often than 3 reel slots games.

PROGRESSIVE SLOTS

Wouldn’t it be great if other players could contribute to the jackpot that you could win playing online slots? This was the thought process behind progressive slots, where jackpots increase by a small amount with each spin made by all of the players of that game. While the odds of reaching that potentially massive payout are slim, they have the potential to be worth the risk.

MEGA SPIN SLOTS

Sometimes, one round of slots just isn’t enough, an issue for which mega spin slots can be the cure. Players can play several slot games at once with mega spin slots, all from the same screen at the same time, with the potential for winnings on multiple games at the same time that can really pile up.

WHAT ARE PAYLINES?

Paylines are the lines on which payouts are awarded if a winning combination of symbols falls upon it. Since the combination of symbols needs to fall within a payline for a spin to be considered a win, it is only natural that the number of pay lines a player chooses to employ, if a game allows that, directly impacts a player’s win probability on that spin. The more pay lines that are employed, the higher the chance of winning that spin.

ADJUSTABLE OR FIXED PAYLINES?

There are many different types of payline variations that different online slots use to determine payouts. The primary distinction is between fixed and adjustable paylines. A game with fixed paylines requires players to use the same number of paylines throughout, a number that cannot be changed or made to be flexible. An adjustable paylines game has paylines that can be altered in quantity to increase or decrease both the risk amount and number of ways to win on any given spin. The majority of popular online slots today feature adjustable paylines.

It is important to remember that when playing any online slots game, check the available payline options, as well as how those options impact your ability to win on each spin. It is very easy to get started playing online slots, but doing so without researching key areas could set you up to be at a disadvantage. It is best to avoid learning as you play, and better to know how to play at the highest level before you get going. After all, you wouldn’t try to join the NBA without knowing how to play basketball, right?

SLOTS BONUSES

One of the many things that make the online slots experience more positive than their physical counterparts is the ability to introduce slots bonuses into the mix. At online slots sites, slots bonuses are available to players for who make qualifying deposits, for playing slots frequently enough, or for any other number of reasons. There are many different types of online slots bonuses, with the following being the most popular.

ADJUSTABLE OR FIXED PAYLINES?

Perfect for players just starting out at an online slots site, No deposit bonuses offer players a predetermined number of free spins, which carry the potential to earn players money to play with without requiring them to put any money down. This is an excellent bonus for players who love playing online slots but don’t wish to risk any funds of their own.

DEPOSIT BONUSES

Players who do wish to deposit funds into their online slots accounts can take advantage by using deposit bonuses. These bonuses add a percentage of that deposit to your account in addition to your deposit amount, which allows you more funds to play online slots with, while at the same time not forcing you to spend more than the amount you had initially budgeted.

LOYALTY BONUSES

Loyalty bonuses reward players who play online slots frequently and for amounts of money that qualify at a given site. These bonuses can come in the form of free spins, additional funds being put into a player’s account, or in the form of juiced up deposit bonuses for those players. These are ideal for those who play slots frequently or for high stakes. The important thing to keep in mind with any slots bonus is that these bonuses often come with playthrough requirements, meaning that players must wager funds a certain number of times for them to be eligible for withdrawals. It is vital to know what these amounts are before choosing to take part in any slots bonus.

STRATEGY FOR ONLINE SLOTS

Winning at online slots can be an inexact science, but there are ways to maximize your potential to win. Sticking with these tips will help make any online slots player as profitable as possible while minimizing any potential losses. Achieving those two things is the goal of any successful bettor, whether they are betting on sports, table games like poker, or slots.

HAVE A BUDGET

Starting to play online slots is easy, but doing so with a mindset that allows for profits can be more challenging. One of the most significant hurdles for players looking to be successful when playing online slots comes in the budgeting stage. Players who have a set limit as to how much they are willing to lose allows them to play in an environment that is not threatening to them financially, and still leaves them room to play until they experience the win they’re looking for.

TAKE YOUR TIME

Online slots are designed for fast play. The idea is that players will spend more money if spins are faster because they have the intention of playing for the same amount of time regardless. To avoid this trap, take your time between spins. Take a sip of your favorite beverage, or take a look up at your favorite TV show. This will help you operate with a clear mind, a trait that’s vital for success.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

As has been reiterated countless times within this guide, doing your homework on online slots sites and individual games is essential to any player who wants to make money playing online slots. Doing this will ensure that you aren’t spending your money as you learn, giving you more money within your budget to play with when you already have the knowledge you need.

TAKE YOUR TIME

By this point, you know that different online slots games have different odds. Well, generally speaking, you’re going to be more profitable in the long term by playing games with better odds, even if those games tend to offer lesser payouts than their more lucrative counterparts.

DON’T CHASE YOUR LOSSES

Remember when we mentioned that setting a budget is vital for success when playing online slots? Well, the attitude that a player can win their money back if they just make one last deposit or spend just a little bit beyond that budget is toxic. This mindset pops up in the minds of many players when they lose, but must be avoided to win at online slots.

ONLINE SLOTS MYTHS

Just like in any industry, there are myths that many people tend to buy into simply because they don’t know any better. While we can’t help you avoid those myths in other industries, we can help you steer clear of many of the myths plaguing the online slots industry, so that you can approach your favorite games with accurate information in mind. Here are some of the biggest myths in online slots.

ONLINE SLOTS ARE RIGGED

Many people believe that the outcomes of online slots are predetermined, which is not the case. Thanks to the Random Number Generator technology mentioned in this guide, there is no possibility for online slots games at respected online casinos to be rigged, lest those sites want to lose all of their players and credibility.

HOT AND COLD MACHINES

When you walk the floor at a physical casino, you’ll hear people talking about machines that are hot or cold. Often you will hear that a machine is due for a big payout. These people are, of course, wrong. Thanks to Random Number Generators, there is no such thing as a hot or cold slot machine, as each outcome is entirely random. The same is true in online casinos. No game is due for a big payout, because each spin’s result is completely independent of the ones that came before it.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

As has been reiterated countless times within this guide, doing your homework on online slots sites and individual games is essential to any player who wants to make money playing online slots. Doing this will ensure that you aren’t spending your money as you learn, giving you more money within your budget to play with when you already have the knowledge you need. For more information be sure to check out all of our game strategies and tutorials.

TAKE YOUR TIME

By this point, you know that different online slots games have different odds. Well, generally speaking, you’re going to be more profitable in the long term by playing games with better odds, even if those games tend to offer lesser payouts than their more lucrative counterparts

OTHER ONLINE SLOTS TERMS TO KNOW

Now that you know enough about online slots to get started with them on the best foot possible, be sure to understand the following online slots terms, as you work toward becoming an online slots expert. Check out our gambling terminology page for even more definitions.

BONUS ROUND

A lot of online slots games offer bonus rounds, where players are sent to a separate screen that gives them free spins or other chances to win big.

HIT

Different from the Blackjack term, a hit is a shorthand name for a winning spin.

MAX BET

This is the largest amount that you can wager on a single spin. This is usually the required bet to win the largest possible jackpot or bonus in a given game.

PAYOUT

This is the amount an online slots game gives a player for a winning spin and varies based on the bet size, paylines used, and what is generated by the spin itself.

PAY TABLE

A handy guide that shows players what needs to appear on the screen for them to receive a payout, along with what those payouts are.

SYMBOLS

The images that show up on the screen on each reel, which are combined to result in potential payouts.

REELS

The spinning components of a slots game that display the symbols that result in potential payouts.

PAYOUT PERCENTAGE

The percentage of a player’s funds that are returned to a player. This varies from game to game.

WINNING COMBINATION

The group of symbols that resulted in a payout on a given spin. This changes based on what symbols are randomly generated from spin to spin.

WILD SYMBOL

Some online slots games feature wild symbols that can be used as a free match for several symbols at a time to make it easier to earn payouts on spins in which they appear.