Things People Need to Understand Before Playing Slots Online
From the first slot machine, the Liberty Bell, to the millions of online slots available today, it’s been a wild ride.
Car mechanic, Charles Fey, invented the Liberty Bell, with three spinning reels. They became so popular that Fey couldn’t keep up with demand to make them.
When he refused to sell the manufacturing rights, a competitor came along. In 1907, Herbert Mills created the Operator Bell, the first slot machine with fruit on the reel.
Electronic to online slots
The first electronic slot machine, called ‘Fortune Coin’ came out in 1975. This was an exciting breakthrough, which felt futuristic at the time.
The first progressive slot was Megabucks, which offered top prizes from a number of linked machines. In the 1990s, the introduction of the internet to many homes was a game changer.
By the mid-2000s, playing slots online with providers such as Virgin wasn’t out of the ordinary. However, it wasn’t until slot games became available on smartphones that the industry truly exploded.
Today, it’s estimated that around 40% of the world’s population play games online regularly.
What to understand before playing slots online
If you’re new to the world of online slots, it’s good to have a little knowledge before you play. Though they are easy to play, knowing a few pointers will increase your enjoyment.
There are millions of games on offer, so if you don’t want to be overwhelmed by choice, pick a theme. Themes include:
- Music – classic rock bands such as AC/DC, Motorhead, Guns N’Roses
- Ancient Greece – games with Greek gods and ancient treasures
- Animals – pets or lions, tigers, bears and wolves
- Treasure hunts – gems, diamonds
- Comic books– based on popular characters such as Superman, Batman
- Classic – fruit, bars, bells and Lucky 7s
- Fantasy – futuristic
Terminology for online slots
Once you’ve chosen a theme, you need to know what reels and paylines are.
Reels: Modern slots usually have four or five reels sitting along one another in a row. These reels spin independently, though you combine the symbols on them to win.
Paylines: Paylines are the ways you can win and are sometimes the most complicated things about a game. These can run in several directions – though left to right is most common.
Many five-reel games with three rows have 20 paylines, however this can go up to 243 paylines. If you are a beginner, it is worth checking the paylines and starting with a simple one.
Minimum bet per spin: Check what the minimum bet is and how much you would like to commit. Obviously the more combinations you bet on, the higher the chance to win, but it is worth starting slow.
You can change your bet from spin to spin too, which is worth remembering.
Symbols: Not all symbols have the same value. Check the payout table to discover what the value of each symbol is.
When three or more symbols match, you win. However, there will often be wild or scatter symbols in a game, and these can trigger bonuses or free spins.
Some wild symbols can even trigger a mini game, which increases the excitement.
Fixed or Progressive Jackpot: Games that have a fixed jackpot pay a pre-determined amount if the symbols match. This amount doesn’t change.
A Progressive Jackpot accumulates over time. When you’re lucky enough to win with the right combination, you can collect the whole amount shown.
Progressive jackpots can be linked to different games or sites under the operator’s control. While it doesn’t happen often, some people have won millions of dollars.
RTP (Return to Player): This is statistically the average amount that a slot pays out. If a slot game has an RTP of 96.75%, then it pays £96.75, on average, per 100 dollars played.
It’s important to note that this is the average. It does not mean that you will receive £96.75 if you play £100 worth.
High/low volatility: Games with high volatility pay out higher amounts, but not that often. Games with low volatility pay out more frequently, but the amounts are lower.
Top tips for new players
Many platforms provide the opportunity to try games out for free before you pay to play. It’s worth trying a few of these because:
- It will help you understand the game – the paylines, wild symbols etc.
- You’ll learn what kind of games you prefer to play
- It’s free – what more incentive do you need?
Check out platforms that offer signing bonuses. Some will give you free spins, others might match your deposit.
The number 1 tip is to have fun while you are playing. Slots are entertainment and brilliant to play on the go or on a rainy day.
You might get lucky but as long as you’re enjoying yourself, it’s a win-win!
