Slot Machines For Beginners: How To Play (and Win)

How to Play Slot Machines – The Beginners’ Guide

Most players that visit casinos, whether online or offline, will go to play slot machines. This is mostly because slots are easy to play, take very little time to learn and offer the chance of some enormous winnings. 

In our beginner’s guide to online slots, we go through everything you need to know about these games, from the basic principles to strategies that can help you increase your chances of walking away with a profit.

Bonuses, Depositing and Bonus Terms

Before you sign up for an online casino, it is fundamental to consider the bonus terms and conditions before you start playing. Bonuses for new joiners will be subject to certain stipulations. Make sure you read the terms and conditions before claiming the bonus. 

You also need to check that your online casino of choice suits your payment preferences. If it’s a headache to deposit into your account or withdraw funds, your gaming experience won’t be great, so go with a platform that works for you.

What are Online Slots?

The first ever slot machine was the Liberty Bell, which was invented by Charles Fey of San Francisco in 1894. The Liberty Bell included three spinning reels and a single payline. 

There were five symbols in the slot, including horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a Liberty Bell. Whenever three matching symbols appeared on the reels, the slot would pay.

The Liberty Bell blueprint has been used to create hundreds of thousands of slots ever since. 

These days, slots have gone online. In fact, online slots are even more popular than land-based slot machines and are the most played online casino game.

The Four Main Online Slot Types

While online slots are simpler than most other casino games and don't require a master strategy to overcome the odds, there is more to slots than you may think at first. This is especially true of modern slots packed with new features and in-game bonuses. 

1. Classic Slots

The Liberty Bell is a prime example of a classic slot. As a general rule, classic slots tend to have fewer reels (typically only three) and no more than 9 paylines (usually 5). They also do not offer many bonuses or sometimes none at all. 

2. Video Slots

These games are more advanced than classic slots. They usually have at least five reels and any number of paylines ranging from 10 to over 100. Video slots will always include at least one bonus feature and usually also have a wild symbol, a scatter symbol or both (we will explain these in greater detail later on). 

3. Arcade Slots

Like video slots, arcade slots usually include several bonus features and special symbols. However, in arcade slots, there are no paylines. Instead, winning combinations are formed by clusters (groups) of symbols adjoined either vertically or horizontally. In some arcade slots, wins are formed by simply landing a minimum number of symbols anywhere on the reels. One of the most common characteristics of arcade slots is cascades or the tumble feature — we’ll explain more on this later. 

4. Progressive Slots

Last but not least, progressive slots are another incredibly popular variant. Progressives may appear as classic slots, video slots or even arcade slots. The difference in progressive slots is that they are linked to a jackpot. As it is progressive, the jackpot continuously grows until it is eventually won. Many games may share the jackpot, meaning it can grow much bigger over a shorter amount of time because there are more contributions. 

The Basics: How Do Online Slots Work?

Here’s a breakdown of exactly what a slot game is made up of and how it all works together:

• Slots are gaming machines built from vertical columns (reels) and horizontal lines (rows).
• The standard slot machine has three reels, three rows, and five paylines.
• A payline refers to the number of winning patterns you can form on the reels.
• Each slot has a certain number of symbols, ranging from less to more rewarding ones.
• Winning patterns are formed by matching symbols on adjacent reels following a specific pattern (a payline).

Now you know how the game is set up, let’s look at some more important parts of playing online slots.

What is RNG?

For online slot machines, the outcome of every round is determined by a Random Number Generator (RNG). An RNG ensures that every spin is completely random and that there are no dishonest predetermined outcomes before you click the ‘Spin’ button. 

What is RTP?

Known as Return to Player (RTP), the RTP is a percentage that reflects the house advantage of a slot. If a slot has an RTP of 96%, the house advantage is 4%. This means that if you play one hundred spins with $100, you will be using $1 per spin. For a slot with a 96% RTP, after $100 spins, you would normally receive back $96. This is just an average calculation over thousands of spins, but it is a good way of comparing slots with each other. Just be aware that RTP isn’t set in stone and can vary.

What is Volatility?

Online slots may vary from low to extremely high volatility. Whilst low-volatility slots tend to offer small wins more frequently, high-volatility games have a greater chance of bigger wins, but those wins will happen far less frequently. High volatility slots are the most popular online slots, as they pay more than low volatility slots, but they’re far more difficult to win. 

What are your Betting Options?

Before you start spinning the reels of an online slot machine, it's important to have a general idea of your betting options. Most slots have a fixed number of paylines, while others allow you to choose how many paylines you wish to activate. 

In fixed payline slots, you may choose how much you wish to bet per payline. Thus, in a slot with 20 fixed paylines, if you bet $0.01 per payline, your total bet per spin is $0.20. 

In some other cases, you may have first to set the size of a coin and then select how many coins you wish to bet per payline. For instance, if you choose a coin size of $1 and wish to bet 2 coins for a 25-payline slot, your total bet will be $50.

How to Land Winning Combinations?

The payout structure of online slots is fairly simple. The more matching symbols you have across a payline, the bigger the reward.

For example, in a 5-reel slot, only 3 matching symbols across a payline are usually required to form a winning combination. Landing a winning combination that contains three matching symbols may pay x1 times your bet per payline. However, combining 5 matching symbols will pay more as more symbols are involved.

Casino Wizard Tip

The best way to understand how well each symbol pays is by opening the pay table of that slot. By scanning the paytable, you will know which symbols are more rewarding than others and how much they pay.

How to Choose an Online Slot Game

One of the most important aspects of playing slots online is deciding which games to play. If you’re new to online slots, this may seem like an overwhelming task. To make things a little easier, we have a few recommendations to help you choose your ideal game:

• Search for games with an RTP of around or above 96%
• For more frequent winning combos, play low-volatility slots
• For hopes of bigger rewards (requiring far more patience), play high-volatility slots
• If you enjoy the excitement of bonus features, look for slots with plenty on offer
• Find a theme you enjoy!

Casino Wizard Tip

For new joiners, we recommend playing low volatility slots with an RTP of 96% or above. It can also be a good idea to play games that don't have too many complex bonus features when you're starting out.

Recommended Slot Games for Beginners

If you are looking for an ideal game to start playing slots, why not try one of these:

• Mermaids Millions – A low-volatility slot from Microgaming, Mermaids Millions has an RTP of 97% and a free spins bonus round.
• Starburst – An iconic and ever-popular slot from NetEnt, Starburst is great for beginners with a solid 96% RTP, low volatility, and straightforward gameplay.

For more inspiration, check out our slot reviews to see which titles suit your gaming style!

Respected Online Slot Game Developers

While slots may vary in themes and features, looking at the game provider is another surefire way to play a good game. The most respected software providers in the industry include:

• Microgaming
• Play’n GO
• Pragmatic Play
• NetEnt
• Playtech

Rules of Online Slots

The basic rules for playing online slots are quite simple. The reels and rows make up the grid of an online slot machine. The paylines refer to winning patterns on the reels. Most basic slots require winning patterns to start from the first reel (the leftmost on your screen) and go from left to right (across a payline).

However, some slots pay both ways (from right to left starting from the fifth reel) and other ways as well. Arcade slots also include the cluster pays mechanic, which will reward you for simply having symbols adjoined vertically or horizontally anywhere on the reels. 

Strategies for Playing Online Slots

While winning at slots is not guaranteed, choosing the right game and implementing a strong bankroll strategy can increase your overall chances. 

To play as smartly as possible, try to follow these strategies:

• Stick to simple slots: If you are new to playing slots and want to increase your chances of winning, we would suggest playing simple slots. While they may not have as many features, they are easier to follow while you’re getting the hang of things.
• Play slots with a high RTP and low volatility: When you’re starting out, it’s fundamental to play slots that have a high RTP percentage. Additionally, slots with a low volatility pay more frequently, although not as much. It’s important to play low volatility slots as a new player, and once you become familiar with online slots, you could advance to higher volatility slots.
• Manage your bankroll: The most important thing to consider when you start playing slots is managing your bankroll. If you decide to play with a certain amount, it is a good idea to divide your bankroll into how long you want to play and how much you wish to bet per spin. By calculating the size of your bet, you can make sure you have enough to cover the amount of time you want to spend playing.
• Set limits: Similar to bankroll management, setting limits is another effective way of playing responsibly. This goes for your bankroll and how long you want to play. If you reach the end of your bankroll, do not chase losses but instead try again another day.

Free Slots vs Real Money Slots

Playing slot demos for free allows you to experience the gameplay of the slot, the important features to look out for, and the symbols you want to land the most. This is especially fantastic for players who are new to playing online slots. This is great in almost every way except one: you can't win real money so it's not as satisfying as playing the real deal. 

Our slot reviews include a free demo to help you learn more complex games - like the very entertaining Jimi Hendrix slot - without spending a cent.

Both free slots and real money slots will have certain age and legal restrictions, depending on the country you are playing from. In most cases, you will need to be at least 18 to play free slots or real money slots.

Getting Started with Real Money Slots

If you want to play slots for real money, you'll need to register at an online casino. Many online casinos welcome new joiners with an impressive welcome bonus to help you hit the ground running. 

Here are 5 of our favorite no deposit bonuses to get you started:

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Tips for Safe and Responsible Online Gambling

Responsible gambling is essential. Like other types of gambling, playing slots is meant to be a form of entertainment, not a source of income. To avoid problem gambling, it’s best to set limits for the time and money you want to spend and never chase losses. 

If you feel that gambling is starting to interfere with daily activities or creates financial stress, it’s important to seek help. 

Expert Tip

There are several organizations, such as GamCare and BeGambleAware, that offer support and resources for anyone struggling with gambling-related issues. 

Matt

Co-Founder of The Casino Wizard

Conclusion

If you're keen to start playing online slots, we hope this beginner’s guide has helped. Online slots are the most popular form of gambling, as they are easy to learn and could lead to big wins without any complex strategies. A great way to start playing is by testing out free demo versions of slots before deciding to play for real money or not. 

Always play responsibly with a fixed budget and time limit and never give into the temptation of chasing losses. Happy spinning!