Slot games remain one of the most popular casino games, both online and in land-based casinos. It’s little surprise, considering the fact that there are hundreds upon hundreds of different Slots out there for players to choose from.
At their core, Slots are quite straightforward, with limited gameplay mechanics for players to understand before playing. From games like Luck o the Irish Fortune Spins 2 to more retro-styled Slots with just three reels, there’s a lot to cover when it comes to slot games.
Today, we’re looking at four things that every player needs to know about Slots, no matter the variety.
- Slots are random
The single most important thing to know about Slots is the fact that they are entirely random in nature. Like any casino game, Slots are games of chance that have random and unpredictable outcomes.
Behind any digital slot game is a computer algorithm known as a random number generator (RNG). This is what determines which symbols will land at the end of a spin, generating strings of thousands of numbers in the space of a single second.
When a player initiates a spin, the RNG will lock in its current set of numbers, each of which lines up with one of the symbols on the reels. Even as the animation of the spinning reels plays out, the game has already determined what potential combinations are going to land.
- What is volatility
A factor that allows players to differentiate between different slot games is volatility. This is something that shows the relative risk level of a game, at least in a general sense.
Slots with low volatility will generally have smaller payouts more frequently, while games with high volatility often have higher payouts that come far less often.
- What is return to player
Another piece of information to consider when looking at Slots is something known as the return to player (RTP) percentage. This is usually shown on the game’s information page.
RTP is a figure that represents the average amount of wagers that a game is expected to return to players over time. So, a game with an RTP of 97% is expected to return 97 out of every 100 wagered.
But this figure is worked out on a very long timescale – literally thousands upon thousands of potential spins – so it isn’t a guarantee of any short-term outcomes. After all, the random nature of Slots remains in play.
- Not all Slots play the same
Every slot game shares the same core concept – spinning the reels to see if matching combinations form – but there is a lot of variation among modern Slots. Some games feature very different mechanics compared to others.
A classic slot game with just three reels and a single payline is very different to a game with six reels and cluster mechanics – where combinations involve symbols appearing adjacent to each other rather than on a set line.
With so much variety among slot games, there are options to suit almost any preference. But it’s worth understanding the differences between Slots, as well as some of their core elements, before deciding on which one to play.
