THE BEAST

Image by Aidan Howe from Pixabay

Casino games are hugely popular the world over, but online slots are widely recognised as the most popular casino game around. This classic owes much of its success to its simplicity, making it a suitable game for players of all abilities and experience to enjoy, especially beginners. 

The launch of the first internet casinos in the 1990’s gave players a more accessible way to play their favourite slot games. With 24/7 availability, gamers could play their favourite video slot machines anytime and anywhere they wanted, including from the comfort of their own homes. 

The mobile revolution, plus improved technology and faster broadband speeds, has seen online gaming reach newer and bigger audiences. Now, everybody carries a casino in their pocket, with cutting edge graphics and thousands of games to choose from.

If you’re new to online slots and are looking to join in the fun, here’s our round up of our top tips for beginners.

Find a Reputable Casino

In order to maximise your gaming enjoyment while playing slots online , it’s important to find a reputable casino. Trustworthy online operators will keep your personal and financial details safe, and ensure everything is above board and properly regulated by the correct authorities.

To check out reputable operators you can evaluate their payment options and security and check out player reviews and testimonials. The best online casinos will also offer a wide selection of trusted payment methods, and reliable, round the clock customer service.

Bonuses and Promotions

Online casinos will often provide bonuses, such as free spins or matched deposits, in order to attract new players to their platform. These offers can be used by gamers to gain experience and learn the ropes at little or no financial risk to themselves.

However, don’t pick an operator based solely on their bonuses, especially if they seem too good to be true. Be sure to read the terms and conditions before you sign up.

Know the Basics

Online slots are pretty straightforward and easy to play. Simply spin the reels and try to land matching symbols across the specific paylines in order to win. While some games can appear more complicated than others, they are all essentially the same.

• Reels: These are the vertical columns that spin when you press the play button. Most games have between 3 and 5 reels, but 16-reel slots are not unheard of.
• Symbols: These are the images found on the rotating game reels. To win, these need to align in certain order or combination. Symbols come in all shapes and sizes, and have different meanings depending on the game.

• Bonus Features : Many online slots incorporate special features such as free spins, bonus rounds, and multipliers. In order to increase your chances of winning, it’s a good idea to learn how these work by studying the game rules before you start.
• Paylines: A payline is a lineup of specific symbols on the reels which will reward the player with a payout. Slots can feature a wide variety of symbols and paylines. Paylines can line up in horizontal, vertical, diagonal or even zigzag patterns for a win. 

RTP (Return To Player)

RTP is the notional return that gamers can expect over the life of a slot machine. It is expressed as a percentage and games with an RTP of 96% or higher, will usually offer better long-term chances of winning.

However, it is important to remember that the RTP is a long-term average based over the entire life of the slot machine, and is not based on a one or two-hour gaming session.

Slot Machine Volatility

This is a measure of the frequency with which wins are activated in the game. Online slots have three different levels of volatility: low, medium, and high.

Low volatility slots are a great place for beginners to start out as they can offer the chance of regular small wins. Higher volatility slots can take longer for wins to come around but can offer bigger payouts than lower volatility slots.

Picking the Right Slot for You

To maximise your enjoyment, it’s important to choose the right online slot game for you. But with such a wide variety of games to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here’s some things to consider when making your decision:

• Theme : There are lots of themed slots to choose from online, so find one you enjoy, whether it’s a favourite film, sport, TV show or more.  Popular themes include Vikings, Irish, Horror, Fishing, Pirate, and Egyptian slots.
• Volatility : If you prefer regular small wins, pick a low volatility slot, especially if you’re still learning the ropes. If bigger, less frequent wins are your thing, then choose a high volatility slot.
• Return to Player (RTP) : Remember to check out the RTP to better determine your long-term chances of winning.

Don’t Forget to have Fun

Ultimately, the reason this casino classic is such a global success, is because it’s an exciting game that is a lot of fun to play. And with immersive graphics, a wide variety of games and 24/7 availability, it’s no surprise that online slots continue to grow in popularity.