Many people choose to use online slot machines because they think you don’t need to know much before you play.
Whilst all you really have to do is insert your money and begin spinning the reels if you are going to play regularly it’s worth knowing a little more than just how to press the spin button.
Yes, you don’t need to master complicated strategies like in blackjack or poker in order to win big but, knowing a bit about slots will definitely help.
There are some things that anyone who uses slot games should really know and there are a number of facts that people aren’t actually aware of regarding slot machines. For this reason, Lucky Mobile Slots have listed the top five things all new online slot players should know.
1. Slots use a Random Number Generator (RNG)
You shouldn’t use an online slot game without knowing about slots RNGs or ‘Random Number Generators’. This is essentially the brains of the slot machine, meaning the game is completely down to luck. These RNGs determine the outcome of each spin you make and your past spins are entirely irrelevant.
One of the most common myths is that a slot machine has a cycle and you can tell when it is due a big win, but this simply isn’t the case. When it comes to slot games, the outcome of a spin is never manipulated and it really is random. Or as random as it can be.
Hit rates and RTP are a far better indicator of how often a slot game will payout.
2. Understanding volatility can help
It is also beneficial to understand what volatility (or variance) is and how it works in online slot games. Slot volatility is a term which is commonly used in relation to slots and how frequently you can expect to win from the game.
To put it simply, the more volatile the machine, the less frequently you will win but the bigger the wins when they do come.
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The lower variance slots, like the Starburst game, for example, will pay out often, but lower amounts.
Online slot games don’t tend to tell you about volatility when you use them so it is worth researching this before you decide which one you want to play. Thankfully, our mobile slots review will help you find the volatility of almost every game based on our experience and/or the information given to us by the game providers.
3. Always look at the Return To Player (RTP)
Similarly to volatility, RTP is something you want to look at before you play a slot game. Slot RTP is essentially the amount that you can expect to win on a spin expressed as a percentage of your bet.
RTPs need to be less than 100% to prevent the online casino from going bust, so when looking you ideally want to find something that is as close to 100% as possible.
The majority of online slots will have an RTP of between 94% and 96%. So, for example, if a game has an RTP of 95%, every €/£/$100 you put into a slot you will get €/£/$95 back to players, and €/£/$5 will go to the casino.
This is accounted for over millions of spins of course. So some players will win more than they put in, and other players will lose. Generally, a higher variance game will have an RTP closer to 95%, whilst a low variance game will have an RTP closer to 96%.
Avoid slots that have an RTP of 94% or less. We’ve made a list of slots with high RTP for you to get started with.
4. Get to know the slot game before you play
This may seem really obvious but, it is often overlooked by new players. Whilst the overall concept of all slot games is the same, all online slots will have different underlying stories, game rules and things you should know whilst playing.
You should always read any instructions/rules given by the casino before playing. Some online casinos will even allow free-play using virtual currency so that you can get to know the game before you put your own money in.
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Always learn the ropes before you play for real. You can get a feel for how often the features hit, how to trigger the free spins, and how much the paytable pays. Or you can read our slot reviews, which is the easiest thing to do.
Once you know the features and types of games you like, you can find other similar slots in our advanced search feature.
5. Make use of in-game bonus features
Lots of online slot games will have at least one in-game bonus feature and many often have multiple that you can benefit from. Whilst these features will differ from game to game, understanding them can definitely help you to make the most of them.
Some of the most frequently seen features are ‘scatters’, ‘wilds’ and ‘free spins’. More advanced features to learn about is how different paylines work in slots or how to use multipliers in slots. Both of these are great to use and shouldn’t be overlooked when learning about how to play games.
You can even choose the slot game you want to play depending on whether they offer these in-game bonus features so, do your research before you play.
Welcome new online slot players!
Slot machines aren’t the most complicated games and some players have plenty of fun playing these games without any in-depth knowledge.
However, knowing the five things above before starting your slots journey can be really helpful, and we have lots of resources here at LuckyMobileSlots.com in order to help you navigate the vast world of online fruit machines.
Of course, the best way to enjoy your first online slot experience is by choosing a legitimate and licensed gambling site to use. This will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable gaming experience.
So head on over to one of our favourite slots sites and start spinning.