The Ultimate Guide to Online Casino Slots: How to Play and Win Big

At Casino Crest, our casino review team doesn’t only work on preparing top casino reviews. They also play various slots in demo mode and for real money wagers to ensure that the gameplay is fair and the slots are worth recommending. Thus, we have insight into the features worth considering when choosing the best slots online. Here’s what you should focus on:

1. Choose a casino slot that is based on a random number generator. This means that each spin will always have a random outcome, eliminating the option for the casino to rig the gameplay and turn the odds in their favour.
2. Focus on slots with high RTPs of return to player percentages, with the industry standard being 96%. This means that over time, you can expect 96% of your wagers to be returned to you through winning spins and bonus games.
3. Slots can have varying volatility, and which type of slot you focus on depends on your preferences. Low-volatility slots offer frequent but insignificant wins, while high-volatility slots have rare but significant wins. Medium volatility games can also be found in many casinos.
4. Look into the provider and ensure that it is certified for fair gameplay. Some standout providers to focus on include Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, Games Global, NetEnt, Playtech, Hacksaw Gaming, Nolimit City, and others.
5. If you’re interested in innovative mechanics like Bonus Buys or Megaways, you can select slots that incorporate them into the gameplay. The same goes for bonus features such as multipliers, free spins, wilds, scatters, bonus games, etc.
6. When you find the slot you want to play, check the information section to learn more about the paytable and the winning paylines. You need to know which symbol combinations payout the most to know when you hit a winning spin.
7. Always check the wagering limits and ensure they are within your designated betting budget. If you are playing a game for the first time, we recommend starting with smaller bets to minimize losses.
8. Finally, launch the game, adjust your bet size, and start making spins. If you’re not certain about the gameplay, try it in demo mode first. If you want to start with real wagers, launch it for real money playing and get started!

Considering how popular online casino slots have become over the years, game developers have been prompted to create different types of slots to cater to all players. Currently, we can single out five main types of slots you need to know if you are planning on playing such games:

Classic 3-Reel Slots

Classic three-reel slots are games that follow the same format as land-based slot machines, with the main difference being that these are digital instead of physical games. While they can have varying themes, it’s most common to find them with the standard retro theme and retro set of symbols. Some symbols on these slots include 7s, bells, cherries, bar signs, etc.

5-Reel Video Slots

Five-reel video slots are most common in online casinos and are offered in abundance. These slots have varying themes, including animal, Egyptian, Greek-inspired, fishing, adventure, fruit, mythology, fantasy, and others. Sometimes, they are paired with different numbers of symbols for each reel, prompting you to unlock more row positions to get bigger wins.

Progressive Jackpot Slots

Progressive jackpots are highly sought after by online casino players because the jackpot prizes are usually quite high. The main difference between them and fixed jackpot games is that your wagers directly contribute to the jackpot size in progressive jackpots. Half of your wager goes to the jackpot size, while the other half is used to make your spin. As for fixed jackpots, the exact value of the four jackpots is known from the moment you launch the game, so the excitement levels are not as high.

Megaways Slots

Megaways slots are games based on the Megaways mechanic that provider Big Time Gaming developed. Instead of the standard number of paylines, which is usually around 20, this mechanic allows players to qualify for hundreds or even thousands of lines. This means that wins are more likely to come at a regular pace.

Branded Slots

Branded slots are video slots with five to six reels that usually feature a theme well-known to players and inspired by a singer, band, actor, actress, movie, etc. Such games can be sourced by standout providers like NetEnt, which provides Hell’s Kitchen, Jumanji, Guns n’ Roses, and Vikings video slots. Other providers have also tried their hand at such slots, so there’s no shortage of options you can test.

While not all slots online have bonus rounds and features that reward you at a regular pace, some of the games we recommend you focus on do! These features can come in handy if you want to spin the reels for a lower price or trigger a payout larger than initially planned. Some of the features and bonus rounds you should know include:

Free Spins

Free spins come in batches of 3 and more on selected slots. These spins allow you to play without any financial investment. The best options are slots that allow you to qualify for additional free spins or respins while you have the original bonus with free spins triggered.

Multipliers

Multipliers are common on many recent or modern video slots. When you trigger one of them, your winning outcome will automatically be enlarged a set number of times. While some games have a standard multiplier, others allow you to trigger various multiplier sizes ranging from 2x to 100x and even more. Usually, the multipliers appear on the grid with their own symbol.

Wild and Scatter Symbols

Wilds and scatters are bonus symbols that help you create winning lines more easily. For example, wilds can replace any other symbol on the grid besides the scatter. As for scatters, they are bonus symbols that can trigger unique features such as free spins or multipliers. You usually need a combination of at least three scatters to trigger a bonus feature, but the exact details can vary between games.

Mini-Games and Bonus Rounds

On selected slots, you can find mini-games and bonus rounds that unfold on a grid separate from the standard grid. A mini-game takes you to your bonus screen and reveals features that may otherwise be unavailable. The same goes for bonus rounds. Both options can be triggered in various ways, so it’s essential to check the game details to learn more.

For all of the slot types we’ve introduced above, you will easily find the desktop versions at your preferred online casinos. However, one of the perks of playing at online casinos is that you get to use the casino on your mobile device, as the website and games are usually optimised for mobile play. These mobile casinos can be native or offer a web app that allows easier access to all available games at the casino. There’s no difference between the slot versions available for mobile and desktop. All the features remain the same, so you can choose which option fits your liking better.

Now that we’ve told you everything you need to know about online casino slots and all the options you can find at popular casinos, we bet you are ready to take the next step and try some of these games out. We know a foolproof way to choose a trusted online casino where you can play these games, and the features you should focus on are the following:

1. Gambling license: First and most important, you must ensure that the casino you are playing at has a valid gambling license. Various regulatory bodies oversee the work of online casinos, but they vary according to region. The UKGC is responsible for casinos in the UK while iGaming Ontario oversees the work of Ontarian casinos. At the same time, platforms like the Malta Gaming Authority, Curacao Gaming Control Board, or Anjouan Gaming allow casinos to operate in various countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. A casino with at least one of these licences is deemed safe for your wagers.
2. Security features: Besides a valid licence, you should also ensure that the casino has other industry-standard security features to ensure your safety. Those include data encryption, anti-money laundering and anti-fraud policies, verification checks, two-factor authentication, and responsible gambling tools.
3. Game selection: The selection of games is significant, and in this case, you should ensure that your casino offers at least a few hundred slots. The options available should be certified for fair play, have high RTPs, varying volatility, and many bonus features. Reputable software providers should source them, with names like Pragmatic Play, Games Global, NetEnt, Play’n GO, and all companies operating under Evolution Gaming being sure options for our readers.
4. Bonuses and promotions: Your preferred casino should reward you for your activity on the platform with regular bonuses and promotions. The welcome bonus is the perfect option for newly registered players, offering them a deposit match and possibly a batch of free spins. Other popular bonuses you should look for are cashback, reload, no deposit, no wager, free spins, and others.
5. Payment options: Trusted payment providers should be available for deposits and withdrawals. Some options we always look for include credit and debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies. Transparent limits and translation times are an added plus, while we also recommend looking into casinos that don’t charge any fees for transactions made on their platforms.