If you are new to the world of online casinos then you might be wondering how to play slot machines online. Online slot sites work largely the same as land-based ones, though the digital world has allowed them to become more complex and creative over the years.
Slots consist of a number of reels, typically three or more, displaying different symbols. Players need to place a bet and then spin these reels, aiming to land a matching combination of symbols over a predetermined payline. Paylines are patterns across the reels where players should land combos. The nature of paylines has changed over the years, with developers creating new ways to win and exciting features like the Megaways mechanic. At Gambling Zone, you will find slot reviews that detail how to play slot machines and explain different mechanics and features.
Speaking of features, online slots will often have bonus rounds such as free spins and multipliers. These are designed to help players secure wins and to help boost the overall gameplay experience. Bonus features will vary from slot to slot, and you should always check the paytable to find out how do online slots work, as well as the RTPs, maximum wins, and more.
Online Slots
Payout and Odds
While there is no guaranteed way of ever winning on an online slot machine, some slots will have more favourable odds than others. There are two main factors players should factor in when they are choosing an online slot to play - the return to player (RTP) and volatility.
RTP is displayed as a statistic. This gives an estimation of how much money a player is likely to see returned over a period of time. For example, if you play a slot with an RTP of 96.5%, you are likely to see around £96.50 returned to you for every £100 wagered. This is not an exact science, though.
The volatility determines how volatile a slot is likely to be, and it is typically rated as low, medium, and high. The more volatile a slot, the more unpredictable it becomes and the more you are going to have play and wager in order to win. However, when these slots do pay out, the winnings pack a punch. A lot of slot strategy guides recommend playing higher volatility games, as their winning potential tends to be higher, despite having to play for longer. Highly volatile slots, however, may not be as suitable for players on tighter budgets. Ultimately, it will all come down to the way you like to play online slots.
Slot Payouts and Odds
House Advantage of Slots
The house advantage in slots tends to be higher than it is in traditional casino games, though, due to the nature and variety of slot games, this can vary rapidly. For example, a slot game may have a return to player of 96%, which puts the house advantage at 4%, while another slot may have a lower RTP of around 92%, which would put the house advantage at 8%.
Either way, it is important to remember that the house always has an advantage. Finding a slot with a higher RTP can be beneficial, though, and at Gambling Zone, we recommend checking the RTP of each game before you play. You will also be able to find out about a game’s winning potential and RTP by checking out our detailed online slot reviews.
Regardless of what the exact percentage is, slot machines do, on average, have a much higher house advantage than other games. Card games like baccarat and blackjack, for example, have a house edge of as low as 1.06% and 0.5%, respectively, when they are being played at optimal strategy. Roulette is the highest of all of the classic casino games, with a house advantage of around 5% when deploying certain strategies.
Casino House Advantage
Chance and Randomness
A common myth is that players can have any control over how an online slot game works. The idea that you can ever control how much you win or lose when playing holds no value, with slot machines using complex algorithms to ensure that every single spin of the reels is random.
These algorithms are known as random number generators (RNGs). RNGs reset between every spin, ensuring that every spin is random and that previous spins have no impact on the outcome of the next one. This also ensures that the casinos that have no control over the outcome of the game either, which removes any potential accusations or worries that players might have about games being fixed by the operators.
