What Are Video Slots?

In terms of sheer volume, video slots are the most common of all casino games. When a casino advertises 400 games on their website usually at least 75% of those will be different slots. 

All virtual slot machines follow the same basic mechanics. Within that formula, though, there’s some incredible room for variation. In this article, you’ll get everything you need to know about online slot games and learn about some of the most popular slots which online casinos offer.

How Video Slots Work

No matter how fancy the graphics or bonuses, slots for online casinos work in the same manner. There will be a certain number of ‘reels’ (columns), each of which has symbols spaced evenly along with it. When you begin the game, after deciding how much you want to stake, you’ll click a button. The reels will start to spin, and if you match a certain number of symbols along a particular line – a ‘payline’ – then you win. The number of pay lines will vary from slot to slot, with more pay lines giving you a better chance of winning. 

While physical slots are incredibly popular, virtual versions have more room for creativity and variety. They blur the line between slot gaming and video gaming. The higher-end games will have high-quality graphics, animations, and sound effects. There will usually be a distinct theme and setting too, whether it’s a medieval Japanese castle or an Amazonian rainforest.

Slots in your web browser have special features too. Certain symbols might become wilds, scatters, or bonuses, each giving you a special boost. You might win free spins or trigger an entire free spin round. Many online casinos will dish out these free spins via promotions, and other offers – like ‘cashback’ deals, deposit bonuses, or a progressive jackpot – are also pretty easy to come by. 

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How They Differ From Physical Slots

In most important respects, video slots don’t differ from physical ones. The most important difference, though, is how your win is calculated. 

With brick-and-mortar slots, the result is random. You pull the lever, the reels spin, and hopefully, you get lucky. That’s not possible in the same way with a virtual, online casino. Instead, the software developers use an RNG (random number generator) to determine the results. 

This might seem a little suspicious. If all the calculations are hidden, how are you supposed to know the game is fair? Thankfully, there are regulatory bodies out there which test and verify that video slots are legitimate. Before using a slot, always check that it has been licensed and regulated by either the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. 

You should also check the RTP (return to player). This is a percentage figure which estimates how much of your investment you should make back over an extended playing period with that slot. If it’s 97%, for example, and you bet £1 million in total, you should theoretically get a return of £970,000.