How To Play Slots For Beginners – Online Slots Rules

Slot machines are among the most popular casino games. Many online casinos have over 1,000 slot machines covering various themes and styles including Mega Dice.

Most casino slot machines follow the same mechanical design, meaning that beginners can easily learn how to play them and begin to win potentially lucrative rewards.

This slot machine guide covers all the basics of playing casino slot machines, explains terminology, the different types of symbols, and the main features of a casino slot machine.

How to Play Slots

Online slot machines are casino games in several shapes, sizes and themes. Many work similarly, with the same underlying technology driving the gameplay experience. The game display presents a range of symbols on a static layout.

Players place a bet and press a button to spin the reels. Once the reels stop spinning, symbols appear across the screen, and payouts are made based on the outcome and whether any winning combinations have been achieved.

To win, US casinos’ symbols usually end up in adjacent positions on active lines. The payout amount depends on the combination’s number and type of symbols. Some symbols are rarer than others, producing larger prizes when combined on the screen.

Random number generators (RNG) ensure fairness when playing slot machines. This means players cannot influence the outcomes of spins. However, players can use bonus features, such as bonus rounds, within the game to help boost payout percentages.

Slot odds are an important aspect to understand as well, but it’s equally vital to learn key terminology before you begin playing the game.

Slots Terminology

Playing casino slots comes with a vocabulary of its own; let’s take a closer look at how to understand what’s happening when playing online slots.

RTP

RTP stands for the return-to-player rate. This is an indicator of how much video slots payout and is a theoretical rate based on the outcome of millions of spins.

Reels

Reels are the columns of symbols that spin when triggered by the “Spin” button. Most casino slots have five reels, but others have three, six, seven, or sometimes more. Spinning reels after placing a bet will potentially land a winning combination of symbols to trigger wins.

Rows

Rows are the horizontal alignment of symbols on the screen. Most machines have three rows of symbols visible. However, some slot games display four or more rows. If playing classic slots is your thing, they may have one row.

Paylines

Paylines are patterns that run across the screen from the left reel across to the right. Winning combinations are made of matching symbols. The number of paylines depends on the casino game, but most 5-reel games with three rows have 20 lines. The maximum number of paylines for this layout is 243.

Payout Table

Check out the pay tables before placing your bet if you’re a beginner playing casino slots for the first time. This will explain the symbols and their payouts. In addition, they’ll provide details on special symbols like wilds, scatters, and details on bonus rounds.

Slots Features

Now that you know the main terminology when playing casino slots, let’s find out more about the features that can be triggered when you spin the reels.

Wild symbols

Wild symbols are the most regularly occurring feature. Most machines have at least one wild that can be substituted for any other symbol to form winning combinations. Many slots also allow wilds to form their own wins to boost payouts.

Scatter symbols

Scatter symbols can award a win regardless of where they appear on the screen. They don’t need to appear adjacent to other symbols to create wins. In addition, scatter symbols have a larger payout and can sometimes trigger other features, such as bonus games.

Free spins

Free spins are known as bonus spins. These bonus rounds allow players to spin the reels without wagering money. Instead, spins are played at the triggered bet size and can accumulate to increase payouts. Bonus spins are usually activated by landing three or more triggering symbols at the same time. Not all machines work in the same way, so check the in-game info for more details on how to play bonus rounds.

Progressive jackpot

Progressive machines are machines that have progressive jackpots. Every time the reels spin with real money, the jackpot increases. If you win the jackpot on progressive slots, the amount resets, and the bid to win prizes starts again. Progressive jackpots can be won randomly by landing a specific combination of symbols or in a specific bonus round.

Picking Bonus Game

Not all games have Picking Bonus Games, but many video slots do have these rounds. Select three or more bonus symbols to begin the mini-game, which means selecting other options on a different screen. You can win prizes, advance to the next stage, or choose to end the round straight away.

Win Multipliers

When you play slot machines, you can boost your winnings by triggering multipliers that are attached to other features, such as bonus spins. These multipliers increase the wins by a set amount, usually between 2x and 5x. Some multipliers can be unlimited during bonus rounds.

Free Re-Spins

Similar to bonus spins, slot machine re-spins offer fewer free rounds. Most video slots only offer one re-spin without requiring a bet. Free re-spins are usually triggered when you meet certain conditions, such as landing one or more wild symbols on a spin.

Dropping Symbols

Playing slots include dropping symbols. Depending on the developer, these can have different names, such as “Tumbling Reels,” “Rolling Reels,” “Cascading Symbols,” or similar. This feature allows winning symbols to fall from the screen, making space for new symbols to fall into their place. This can trigger multiple wins during a single round.

Special Wilds

Special wilds not only substitute for other symbols but also have additional perks. For instance, they can increase to rake over the entire reel, boost multipliers for wins they create, move across the screen with every round, and more.

Online Slot Machine

Choosing the right casino slots to play depends on your tastes. While the process of learning about how slot machines work can be overwhelming, once you know how each casino slot machine works, you’ll understand that they are some of the simplest online casino games to play.

Knowing the basics of how to play can help you find the right slot machine for you. Once you’ve gained experience, then you can expand to other slot machines and diversify your gameplay.

Here’s what to consider when choosing the right machine for you.

Theme

As mentioned earlier in our online slots guide, different games have different themes. This is a big selling point when it comes to selecting a slot machine you want to play as developers target the market with games themed on TV shows or outer space to dinosaurs to the Wild West.

The best slot themes come with modern graphics, animations, sound effects and an appealing layout. With the number of slot machines on the market, there’s plenty of choice for you to find the one that you want to play.

Features

Different casino slot machines have different features. We suggest beginning with a slot machine that has a good balance of features. Too many can quickly overwhelm and not award large payouts.

Find a game with wilds, scatters, and bonus features such as free spins and bonus games. Choosing a game with progressive jackpots can provide some of the bigger jackpot payouts.

Slot availability

Not all casinos host all slots, so either check that the slot machine you want to play is available at your preferred site or choose from other machines at the money casino you enjoy playing at.

Slots Tips

If you’re ready to start playing casino slot machines, here are some tips to help you enjoy playing slots safely and keep things fun.

One of the best ways of understanding how a machine works is to play it in free-play mode. This allows you to understand how each slot machine works before committing real-world money to play.

Once you’re ready to begin betting, understand your max bet. Don’t be tempted to bet more than you can lose on online slots; bet responsibly, and don’t chase your losses.

Most machines allow bets beginning at $0.01 per line and allow max bets of over $250 per spin. Be aware that your stake is multiplied on multi-line machines, so don’t overcommit yourself.

We also suggest taking regular breaks every half hour or so to allow yourself to rest and enjoy a comfortable betting experience.

FAQs

How do online slots work?

Online slots work by using a set number of symbols appearing on a screen layout. Symbols are triggered by a random number generator and land in a random string of icons across the same line. When strings of matching icons appear, payouts can be won. Online slots have a range of additional bonus features to help boost winnings, such as wilds, scatters, and bonus spins.

How to play slots online?

Begin by creating an account at your online casino. Deposit funds to your account through any accepted means of payment. Several casinos online also accept cryptocurrencies. Choose your game, set your bet size, and hit the spin button to play.

Can you win money playing online slots?

Yes. You can win real money playing slots online. Each spin offers you the chance to win, with three or more matching symbols on the same line, usually triggering wins. Try it now at Mega Dice!

What are slot tips for beginners?

There are several tips for beginners before playing online slots. Play in demo mode first to understand how the games work before committing real money. Begin with a small bet amount, and check the stake before pressing “Spin.” Only bet more money if you can afford it, and stop playing if you begin to get tired. Finally, read the casino bonus terms before betting to understand wagering requirements and the required rollover.