It wasn’t so long ago that if you wanted to play a slot machine, you had to go to a casino or a local pub to find one.
Then came the internet, which revolutionised the way we live. Modern-day bookmakers were quick to get in on the action, and soon a new gaming industry was born.
Accessible to everyone, online casinos were able to create the most technologically advanced slot machines that gave ordinary people a chance to win huge jackpots.
However, while online slot machines can be very fun to play, they can also be very confusing!
So here we give you a quick guide on how to play slots online and get the most bang for your buck.
Why Are Slot Machines So Popular?
Originally, casinos introduced slot machines in a bid to keep wives entertained while their husbands were off doing some serious gambling.
Things have changed somewhat in more modern times. Slot machines now account for 65-80% of all casino revenue, equally popular with men and women.
They prove so popular due to the instant wins they provide, the ease of play, and the lack of rules or complicated strategies.
The first thing to really reinforce if you are new to playing slots is that they are not rigged or set up to make you fail.
The payouts are randomly generated, which means that each spin of the reels has an equal chance of striking a big win.
Before you start playing at your favourite online casino, however, there are some things you should know to ensure you are more likely to have a win!
What Are Slot Machines With Multipliers?
While they all look pretty similar – flashing lights, a handle, coin slot, reels and pictures of fruit, it is worth bearing in mind that not all slot machines are the same.
There are several types of games. The first being a ‘multiplier.’
This pays out for a certain symbol, with the number of coins you play multiplying the payout. For example, if the game pays out five coins for three cherries when you have played one coin, then it would pay ten for the second coin and fifteen for three coins played.
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This type of game does not penalise you for not playing the maximum amount of coins. It’s a great type of slot for beginners who only want to play one coin at a time.
What Are Bonus Multiplier Slots?
The ‘bonus multiplier’ game gives you a bonus when you play the maximum amount of coins.
That’s not to say you automatically get a bonus for playing the maximum amount of coins – it means you will get a bonus if you hit the jackpot. It’s up to you to decide if particular slot machines are worth it.
A multiple pay-line simply means that the game has more than one line of play. You play per line, meaning that if you play and a particular line turns out to be a winner, but you haven’t bet on it, then you won’t win anything for it.
As an example, if the slot is 10p per pay line and there are 20 paylines, you need to bet £2 on every spin to ensure you maximise the potential for a win.
Bonus multiplier slots can turn out to be very expensive and there are better alternatives available. However, check out the best UK casino bonus codes to help reduce the cost, if this is your preferred option.
Types Of Progressive Slots
There are two types of progressive slot machines. The first is a single progressive slot, found only on one online casino site.
The idea with this type of online slot machine is that a small percentage of every spin is added to the overall jackpot. This ensures that it gets progressively bigger the more frequently it is played.
The jackpot continually increases in size and will eventually be won by a single player.
The second type of progressive slot game is where the same game, and which includes the jackpot, is being played across multiple online casinos.
Generally, these games are outsourced, so an outside company is providing the game to more than one gaming platform.
So while you could be playing the game at one specific online casino, somebody else is playing the same game at another online casino.
Everybody is contributing to the jackpot and the jackpots do tend to be astronomical, often reaching into the millions of pounds.
But given the nature of the game, the more people that are playing, the smaller your chances of winning it.
How Do Multiple Progressive Jackpots Get So Big?
As mentioned above, for every spin, a percentage of the money played is added to the jackpot. To be in with a chance of winning it, you will more than likely have to get through to the games bonus game.
There are two kinds of progressive jackpots, single and multiple. A single progressive is where the jackpot increases from the spins on one machine and can only be won on that machine.
A multiple progressive will involve several machines. That means many different games are linked to just one jackpot.
You may spot this on branded slots such as Marvel slot machines that share one giant progressive jackpot.
If it’s won on a particular game, the jackpot is reset on all of them.
