The Truth About Slots

From the basic one-armed bandits to the latest video slots, these types of games cover more than 70% of the iGaming market.

They are the most popular casino game because they are easy to understand and master, even by beginners, not requiring any sort of skill, and they come in attractive packages.

The first machines were electromechanical devices. Nowadays, both online and land-based slots are controlled by software called RNG (Random Number Generator) that determines the outcome of each spin, ensuring that all players get a fair gambling experience. 

Because slots are so popular and there are many slot machine myths on the market, we have decided to bust some of them and created this page to tell you what casinos don't want you to know about slots.

Online Slots Types

Slot machines are the most popular casino games on the market because they come in all shapes and sizes nowadays. They may have started from the retro 3-reeled one-armed bandits, but some of them have evolved into complex games with intricate features and arcade-like graphics.

• Classic slots or 3-reeled slots are highly popular because they are many nostalgics that still wish to experience a hardcore experience to remind them of the old bricks and mortar days. They come with little to no features, and graphics are bold and vibrant but relatively simple.

• Video slots or the most common 5-reel setup are the next steps in evolution. They may vary from improved versions of the classical fruit slots to branded slot machines or other themes. Graphics tend to be much better, and features are definitely more in number and far more complex.

The classical 5x3 or 3x3 matrix has shifted a lot, and we can even see slots with 7 or 10 reels and just as many rows that can accommodate complex features like cascading reels or blocked symbols to take the spinning action right to the next level.

• Progressive slots where a percentage of each player’s wager is gathered separately, and at a random time, one lucky player can potentially win stunning prizes. 

Another reason why slots are so popular in our days is thanks to the evolution of mobile casinos. Being simple games, slots perfectly fit the smaller mobile device’s screen, looking and acting just as great on both desktop and mobile platforms. 

Online Slots Features

To learn how to understand slot machines, you must first take a look at their evolution. Even if the first slot machines were rather simple with little to no features, the modern ones are packed with intricate bonus games and lucrative options.

Each year software providers try to bring something new, adding or improving features; however, some have maintained their popularity since their invention. Here are the most popular slot features and a few details about each.

• Paylines - Winning combinations that award payouts. Classical slots usually had 1-3 pay lines and paid from left to right, but modern video slots can vary anywhere from 10 to 1,024 and even more in the case of the “Megaways” systems.

• Wilds - Special symbols that can substitute all or some regular symbols to complete or create winning combinations whenever possible. Modern slots have a wide variety of Wilds like Expanding Wilds that can cover entire reels, Sticky Wilds that remain on reels for multiple spins, Shifting Wilds that change their place, and many others.

• Scatters- Bonus symbols that usually do not follow the same rules as others and can pay in any place on the reels. In modern slots, these symbols can trigger other features like Free Spins or Bonus Rounds.

• Cascading Reels -  A modern feature that removes the winning symbols from the reels to make room for others to fall in, creating a potential chain reaction and multiple wins during the same spin.

• Bonus Rounds - Various types of games that can range from the simple “click and collect” to complete, intricate mini-games.

• Free Spins - Just as the name suggests, some slots can offer a certain number of free spins where you can win prizes, but you don’t have to wager anything.

• Gamble Feature - A bonus option for the bold. It usually consists of a single 50-50 chances double-or-nothing mini-game where the gambler has to pick either a red/black card or a head or tails coin to potentially double the win. 

House Edge and Volatility Explained

As a spinner, you will hear about RTP and Volatility a lot, however, these two terms still confuse a lot of newcomers. They are not connected, and each of them influences the slot differently.

The RTP or Return to Player is a theoretical algorithm that measures how much a slot will give back over time, taking into consideration the house edge. Let’s say, for example, that a slot machine has an RTP of 97%.

This means that the house edge is 3%, and you can expect a return of 0,97 for each $1 spent in 1000 spins. The rest of 0,3 will remain in the machine as the casino’s profit.

Players have to carefully pick the slots with the higher RTP because, just like any other casino game, a slot with a higher RTP will eventually pay back more than one with a lower RTP.

Hot and Cold Slots - Real or Myth?

Among all the myths regarding slots, the one regarding hot and cold slots was the most popular, and unfortunately, it continues to spread even today. 

The myth states that you take a look at a slot’s history to determine if it is “hot”, which means that it has paid multiple wins in the past, or it is “cold”, meaning that it didn’t offer many or significant wins.

The myth is not even consistent because even the terms are debated, some gamblers consider the “hot” actually means a slot that didn’t pay for a long time and has the highest chances to grant a big win.

Just like most myths in this article, the “hot and cold slots” one is also false. All slots function after an RNG (Random Number Generator) which is a complex state-of-the-art algorithm responsible for the randomization of the result to ensure that all players get a safe and unbiased experience.

Because of RNG, it’s impossible to determine or control the outcome of a spin, and at the end of the day, it all comes down to a simple matter of luck. 

Progressive Jackpots Reality

Progressive Jackpot slots or the so-called “millionaire makers” are very popular but most of the time for the wrong reasons. These types of slots take a percentage of each player’s wager and gather it in a separate common meter that’s not affected by normal wins.

The jackpot will be triggered either randomly, by a feature, or under certain conditions.

For a long time, a myth stated that you could only win the jackpot by playing with the maximum stake. 

That’s partially true, as, in the past, there have been some titles with multiple jackpots, and to qualify for the biggest one, you had to play with or above a certain stake. Nowadays, unless the game info states otherwise, all bets qualify for the progressive jackpot.

What’s true about progressive jackpots is that the RTP is usually a bit lower than regular slots.

The house edge takes into consideration the percentage that will be gathered, and the volatility of these titles goes over the roof. This means fewer wins, but it can also mean that a lucky player can potentially get rich one day.

Since progressive jackpot slots function the same way as others, under an RNG, it’s not set in stone that the jackpot will be won very, very rarely. It all comes down to a matter of luck or bad luck.

Slot Tournaments

All gamblers know that in the iGaming market there are tournaments for various casino games, but few of them know that there are even slots tournaments. The popularity of these casino games led to the apparition of these competitions.

Players compete against each other in a ranking-based tournament where they have to score the biggest number of points within a limited time frame.

It’s a good idea to read the terms and conditions of these competitions since some gambling websites may require an entry fee. 

Players that take part in these tournaments tend to have the impression that you have bigger chances to land the big jackpot. This is another false myth because unless the operator states that for the specific tournament, the RTP was altered, the slot will behave just as usual and will offer the same results as it would do any other day. 

Auto-play feature myth

A widely spread myth surrounds the autoplay feature, and many gamblers believe that this feature keeps them separated from those juicy big wins. It is completely false.

Online slots operate based on an RNG, an algorithm that deals with the randomization of the results. The only thing the autoplay does is to automatically play several spins according to your settings. 

This has nothing to do with the outcome, which is just as random in both scenarios, no matter if you click the spin button or the algorithm does it for you.

Removal of the Autoplay Feature

According to gamblingcommision.gov.uk the autoplay feature from slots has been removed. The reason is quite simple, and it revolves around responsible gambling. The research was done by the Experts by Experience group, and all the data for the study was provided by GamCare. 

According to the study, 58% of the auto-play users agreed that this feature has led to faster game sessions, and 38% agreed that the auto-play feature cost them more money than they originally intended on gambling. 

Even if more operators argued that the auto-play feature can help gamblers play responsibly due to its settings which allow various limits for losses and balance control, in the end, the UKGC decided to keep the feature but with a couple of restrictions. Players can only use the autoplay feature for a maximum of 25 spins each time. 

Slots mistakes you could be making

Slots are simple games, and you don’t need to read a “how do you play slots for beginners guide” to play them right. Even so, even veterans tend to overlook some things, and it’s quite easy to make mistakes.

That’s why we have decided to make a shortlist of the most common mistakes gamblers make when playing slots and how to avoid them. 

You are not testing the game in demo mode 

 Play the game for free each time you have the opportunity. It’s the best way to analyze all it has to offer and make a betting strategy before actually risking your money with it. You might even decide in the testing process that that’s not the game for you, and you want something else. 

You are only claiming a no deposit bonus

 Bonuses aren’t always that good, especially if they have big wagering requirements, however, the rare no deposit bonus or a free spins offer can take you a long way, especially if you are a casual player.

You are not considering the house edge

Different slots have different RTPs. The higher the RTP, the lower the house edge and the more chances you have to end up even or with a profit. 

Conclusion

Slots are easy games and that’s why they are favored by beginners.

There are no magic secrets to playing slots, however, in this article, we have shown you all the online slot tips you need to be more prepared next time.

There are also plenty of false myths that mislead players that we also busted, even if most of them are purposely kept up by casinos to profit from them.

In the end, slots are great games to enjoy, as long as you do it responsibly.