If you haven’t played any slot game before, there can be a few terms that raises questions about the meaning and their utility in the game. In this online casino slots glossary you can come acquainted with the basic terms in the world of slots.

A

Action: Slot action means the total amount of bets or money spent by the gambler in a specific time period.

B

Bonus Feature: There are various bonus features in slot games, including free spins, wild cards or scatter pays and more. Bonuses appear as in-play bonus rounds and extend the game. Usually impressive wins in online casino slots happen while playing a bonus round.

Bonus Multiplier Slot Machines: Bonus multiplier means a larger jackpot offered when gamblers wager the maximum.

C

Cashback: a specific online casino bonus type, where players get the chance to receive a certain percentage back from money losses. It can be either real money or bonus money to continue play at the casino.

Coin Size: the amount of coins that can be wagered per line.

F

Fixed Jackpot: fixed amount of jackpot possible to win no matter how many players engage and how often they are playing the game. This is the contrary to progressive jackpot, which continues to grow until its won.

Fixed Value Slots: slot machines with fixed betting amount. This means the coin size cannot be changed.

Five liner: a slot machine with five paylines. Usually there are two diagonal and three horizontal lines.

Five-reel slot: slot machine with five reels. It’s a modern version slot game with more paylines than classic three-reel slot machines.

Free Spin: bonus feature on a slot machine that offers spins without betting players money. Can be a casino bonus or in-play bonus round.

Fruit Machine: historical slang name to slot machines, which refers to the first land-based casino machines with only fruit symbols on their reels.

H

Hit: another term for a winning spin.

Hit Frequency: a reference to how often a slot game offers a payout. If the number is lower, slot machine will payout more often. You should always keep in mind that slots are random and based on a pure luck, bet there are several strategies players try to increase their winnings.

High Volatility: High volatility game means a slot machine, that pays out less often, but when it does, it is usually a bigger win than on a low volatility slot machine. It can be both – non progressive game or progressive slot.

Hold Percentage: Hold percentage or Return to player (RTP) means an amount of money keeps or how much money you can expect to get back from a casino in a long run.

J

Jackpot: jackpot means the highest amount a slot machine can payout. It’s the biggest prize a player can get, while playing a certain slot game.

L

Linked Progressive Jackpot: a network of linked progressive slot machines with joint jackpot prize.

Low Volatility: low volatility online casino slot machine refers to how often a slot pays out – in a low volatility machines you can expect random wins more often, but high volatility game will pay out fewer times, but with possible bigger wins.

M

Multi-line: slot machine with more than one payline, which offers the opportunity for players to bet on multiple lines.

Multiplier: bonus feature in a slot game that multiplies the win from a bonus – it can be up to ten times.

O

One Armed Bandit: a slang used for slots. This name originates from classical land-based machines that are operated by pulling a long handle at the side with one hand.

P

Payback Percentage: also Hold percentage or Return to player (RTP). Payback percentage defines the amount of money a player can expect to receive back from a slot or other casino game in a longer period of time.

Payline: payline refers to a line in a slot game which connects matching symbols and by which the winning combination is determined. Majority of slots have multiple paylines, and they are activated only when there is a bet placed on a specific payline.

Payout: the amount of money received from a hit or winnings earned from a slot game.

Pay Table: each slot game has its specific pay table, which determines all winning combinations. You can find it in the main game screen, usually put under game rules or question mark button.

Progressive Slot Machines: slot machines with a jackpot that is growing from each game until it’s won. Usually there is a predetermined amount of money progressive jackpot resets to after the payout.

R

Reels: the reels of a slot machine are the rotating drums with the symbols on them. Player spins the reels, and after they stop, paylines counts the winning combinations from symbols across the reels. Usually you will come across three-reel, five-reel or seven-reel machines.

RNG or Random Number Generator: the random number generator is a computer program used in slots that generates the results of the symbols laid out on the screen after a spin.

S

Scatter symbol: scatter symbol is a certain symbol that activates winning combination no matter what other similar symbols are next to it. Often scatter symbols are used to trigger a bonus round.

Signature Slots: signature slots are unique casino slots with the main theme of a specific casino brand.

Second Screen Bonus: a screen that appears when the bonus round is triggered. Usually you can play additional parts of the slot game, for example, a wheel of fortune with free spins, multipliers and other possible bonuses to win.

Slot Tournament: a tournament where players compete for a special prize on specially programmed slot games. Usually, gamblers receive points during the game by which the winner is determined.

Symbols: symbols are one of the main parts of a slot game. Nowadays there can be endless variations of symbols in slot machines, since the software providers develop themed slots. The main aim of the slot game is to get matching symbols across the screen that are connected with paylines which determine the amount of winnings. Every symbol has a different value. Also there are additional symbols, like scatters or wilds that gives the opportunity to enter bonus rounds and other features.

V

Video Slots: slot machines without actual reels inside, but with a computer screen. The reels are powered by random number generator which determines the result of the spin.

W

Wager Management: a money management method used by gamblers to control their bankroll. Usually this means dividing gambling bankroll into smaller amounts and deciding forehand in how many game sessions to take part in.

Wild Symbol: a wild symbol is used with any symbols to create a winning combination. Usually there are certain rules tied with wild symbols, sometimes wild appear only on specific, pre-determined reels. You can always read the rules before starting to play.

Z

Zig Zag: zig zag line means a payline that connects symbols in other ways than just a straight line across the screen. Zig zag lines refers to multi-line slots.

If you are new to online casino scene and have never played a game before or you just want to try out a new game, it is always best to check out game features in free play mode. Then you can explore the paytable, understand how the symbols work, whether there are any bonus rounds and how they trigger etc. After you understand the game, you can switch to play slots for real money.

How to choose a slot machine to play?

There are number of factors you need to take into account before deciding to play slot game for real money. Starting with the most fun part – choosing the theme of the game. Nowadays slots come in different themes – from electrifying gems and crystals to characters from movies and tv shows. You will definitely find something that suits your taste and makes playing even more exciting.

While choosing the theme of the slots is fun, there are few a little more important things to consider when deciding which slot to play. Each game has specific parameters, like number of reels and rows, specific max bet amount, payout percentage, bonus rounds etc.

Aspects you need to consider before choosing the right slot for you:

• Do you enjoy the look of the game? Is it fun?

• Does the game has a bonus round that can help to increase your winnings?

• How many reels and paylines does the slot has?

• Does playing the maximum bet meet your pre decided gambling budget?

• What is the payout percentage of the game?

Excluding the point about maximum bets (where answer always should be positive), there is no right answer to any of the questions left, you simply have to understand these aspects and decide which factors are the most important for you and whether the game meets your specific requirements.

Check bonus terms and conditions

If you have checked other guides about casinos, games, bonuses etc., you are probably a little tired from reading the note about terms and conditions, but this is one of the most important advices you can get in the world of online casinos and there is a reason this is always emphasized – each bonus comes with different rules and restrictions, like wagering requirements, minimum deposits, maximum withdrawals and expiration dates. You should always carefully read the terms and conditions, not necessarily in the meaning of shadiness, but simply because you have to understand the rules not to be disappointed and could actually get your hands on the winnings.

Main steps of the gameplay

After you have learned all important aspects of the game, its time to have some fun! Here’s the basic steps how to play slots online:

• Check out all features of the game – symbols, paylines, bonus rounds etc. You can see all decreptive info in the main screen of the game,

• Decide the amount of your bets and place the bet that goes in line with your gambling budget,

• Remember that the number of paylines affects the total amount of your bet.

• Spin the slot and have fun!

Remember to Withdraw your winnings

One of the smart things to do is to withdraw your winnings often – its best to take out your money immediately after a win. A lot of players keep their funds at the casino and try to multiply the amount by winning more. But this is quite risky and could result in losing all your funds.

You don’t have to withdraw everything, you can keep your “next deposit” or a certain amount of money you feel comfortable with and start building your bankroll again.