There are likely tens of thousands of different online slot machines for regular players to choose from. They range from the traditional and fairly basic three-reel slots to more involved five-reel and even cluster slots that incorporate mini-games and a host of other features to enhance gameplay.
The wide range of choices means players can choose their favorite games according to the genre but also according to their preferred level of risk and the size of the jackpot and prizes they want to play for.
Slot Availability
Slots are the most popular games in physical casinos and online casinos. Their popularity stems primarily from the fact that they are easy to understand and, even in the case of some of the most complex games, easy to play.
US players can choose from hundreds of casinos licensed in states across the US or overseas, and, according to online gambling expert Viola D’Elia, volatility is one of the key factors to consider when choosing which machines to play.
What Is Slot Volatility?
Volatility is a measure of how often a machine delivers a winning spin as well as the variance in prize sizes.
Volatility is measured over millions of spins of the machine, and because modern slots use random number generators, this means that even a low-volatility machine can still produce high volatility in the short term, and vice versa.
However, if you’re a regular slot player, you can use the measure of volatility as a guide to determine the types of machines you are more likely to enjoy.
Is Low Or High Volatility Better For You?
Volatility is generally displayed either on a numerical scale from 1 to 5 or as either low, low-medium, medium, medium-high, or high. Numerically, 1 represents low volatility, while 5 represents high volatility.
Machines with low volatility have more frequent winning spins but lower potential payouts. Typically, these machines are preferred by players who have lower risk tolerance and like to enjoy wins, even if they are quite modest.
Machines with high volatility do not pay out as often, but when they do, they have the potential to pay out larger sums.
A lot of online slots tend to fall between low-medium and medium-high, rather than at the extremes, but the huge selection of available games means there are options to suit everybody’s tastes.
Other Slot Features To Consider
Volatility is an important factor to consider, and it can influence how much you will enjoy a particular slot, but it is only one of several key considerations.
RTP
Another statistical figure that is displayed on most online slots is that of the Return To Player ratio, or RTP. RTP is displayed as a percentage, and it represents, over millions of plays, how much of the total money staked by players is returned in winnings.
For example, a 96% RTP means that for every $100 staked by players, $96 is paid out in winnings.
Generally, the higher this number, the better, but it does include jackpot winnings so machines with very high jackpots would have lower RTPs if the jackpot prizes, which are very rarely won, are removed.
Jackpot Size
Which brings us to another factor worth considering – jackpot size. Jackpots are usually paid out as a multiple of your stake. Some machines offer huge payouts of 10,000 times your stake. Others might only pay out a few hundred times your stake. This usually depends on, or even determines, the level of volatility of the machine.
Slots with massive jackpots tend to be those with higher volatility, while smaller jackpot machines have lower volatility. However, if you dream of winning huge amounts of money and have the bankroll to deal with long periods of lesser wins, big jackpot games can be worthwhile.
Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpots deserve a separate mention because of their significant value. Progressive jackpots can reach millions of dollars, although most will usually be won before they reach this stage. They can also be shared across multiple machines at different online casinos, making them more difficult to track.
The big prize hunters will typically look for progressive jackpots, but if you get sick of failing to hit standard jackpots, progressives are unlikely to be the right choice of games for your preferred play style.
Free Spins
Some games offer access to free spins, typically won by matching symbols on the reels. As the name suggests, free spins offer players the chance to spin reels without having to pay the usual stake. They can give a great sense of value because they effectively enable you to keep spinning for longer without having to pump more money into the game so they benefit those players who like to feel like they’re getting more for their money.
Wilds
Wild symbols are commonly found at slot machines, but not all games offer them. A wild symbol can be used to replace any other symbol on the reel, so if you land four out of five bell symbols, but the fifth symbol is a wild, you win as though you span the five bells. Bells don’t increase prize values, but because they act as every symbol in the game, they do enhance your opportunity to win the available prizes.
Win Lines
The first slot machine design had a single win line – the horizontal center line, running all the way from left to right. Players had to land the same symbol on every reel along this line to win prizes. Today, machines include different horizontal lines, as well as diagonal lines, and many more. It is possible to find games with hundreds of win lines, giving even greater opportunity to match symbols and win prizes.
Scatters
Typically, when playing slot machines, you need to line up symbols on designated paylines. The most basic pay line is the center horizontal line from left to right across all reels. Machines with multiple pay lines might include other horizontal lines and potentially even diagonal lines, and other patterns. The more paylines, the more opportunities there are to win. Scatter symbols, though, don’t need to line up on the pay lines for you to achieve the prize. As long as enough of the symbols are on display, anywhere on each of the reels, you win the prize.
Mini Games
Mini-games can range from wheels to random prizes. They are generally triggered either by matching certain patterns of symbols or by building up a meter in the game in some way. Mini-games can reward prizes, multipliers to increase the size of existing prizes, free spins, or a host of other features to improve your game or enhance your winnings. Mini games add different elements to the games and they are appealing to players who like more complex games with more moving parts. It’s not quite the same as playing COD on the latest gaming laptop, but it’s as close as online slots get.
Bonus Buys
Bonus buys enable players to pay extra stakes or extra money to gain instant access to features like free spins or mini-game access. Bonus buys can be expensive, but they provide access to parts of the games that have the highest chance of winning big prizes. It’s worth noting that some jurisdictions, especially the UK, actually prohibit the offering of bonus buys so you won’t find this feature at UK-licensed online casinos.
