Enticing Online Slots with Huge Jackpots

What Are Online Slots

Visit any casino in Vegas or just about anywhere else in the world, and the first thing that will strike you is the noise and flashing lights produced by row upon row of slot machines. Since the 1990s developers have been taking versions of slot machines online, and more recently, developing completely new slot games to take advantage of the extra opportunities presented by online gaming.

Slot machines take up the bulk of the floor space of a land-based casino, but fortunately that is not a concern for now popular online casinos. For that reason, online casinos will pack in hundreds and even a thousand or more slots into their virtual lobbies. It is hard to resist the siren call of the best slot games, especially when you can see the potential riches which are there to be won.

How to Play Online Slots

Online slot games look pretty simple to play, and indeed there is no particular skill or technique to use like you would find in a game like blackjack. However, that seeming simplicity has been the downfall of many an online slot gamer. Heedlessly spinning those reels without really knowing what you are doing is great news for the casino as it means you are pretty certain to be adding to their profits. We will let you know what to do and what not to do when playing online slot games in a real money casino.

Online slot games are operated by random number generating software:

• Basically, this means that every spin of the reels generates a completely random set of symbols.
• The trap that so many slot gamers fall into is known as ‘Gamblers Fallacy’ – the feeling that you are ‘due’ a win, like the roulette player who hits red five times in a row so believes the next time black ‘must’ come up.
• In fact the random number generator ensures that the next spin has absolutely no connection to the one before, so don’t go chasing losses in the expectation that a win is sure to come your way due to past results.

Before you spin those reels for the first time, you need to set the amount that you are going to bet per spin. Often you will be able to select your per spin bet by using one or both of the coin value plus level to reach the optimal bet. Games will have a fixed minimum and maximum bet, but as these can range from a few pence up to hundreds of pounds it is very important that you select the right amount. The casino is not obliged to give any refunds just because you didn’t pay attention to the coin value.

Winning Lines of Matching Symbols

When playing slot games, the idea is to come up with matching symbols in a line in order to win a multiple of the amount you bet. Modern slot games have variations on this model, but let’s stick to the basics here:

• You can click on the pay table to discover which are the most valuable symbols and how much lines of each are worth.
• A slot game will have a fixed number of pay lines, which could be as little as 5 or 10 on classic style games, or over 1,000 depending on the type of game you are playing.
• Generally slots pay out for matching symbols from left to right, but some slots have a ‘win both ways’ feature which means that matching symbols in either direction is fine.

Most of the symbols in the game will be based upon the overall theme; so for example expect to see shamrocks, beers and rainbows on a Leprechaun-themed slot. Other low value symbols often take the form of playing card values. Besides these, you should look out for:

• the wild symbol which replaces any of the basic symbols.
• And the most important part of many slot games is the bonus round, which can be unlocked by scatter symbols – so called because they can be scattered anywhere on the reels – or extra bonus features if there are more bonus rounds.
• Some games (the Pink Panther is a good example) feature randomly triggered bonus games where no symbols need to be found.

Most slot games will offer at least one free spin bonus game:

• This allows you a designated number of free spins, and often features little extra bonuses such as additional wild symbols or increased win multipliers.
• It is often possible to re-trigger such games by finding more scatter symbols during free spin rounds.
• Another popular bonus game is the ‘click and win’ style of game, where you click on particular objects to reveal cash amounts or multipliers behind them.

Perhaps the most popular type of online slot game is the progressive jackpot slot. This game takes a percentage of every per-spin bet and adds it to a jackpot sum which can be randomly won. Sometimes the game is stand-alone, sometimes it is linked to versions of the same game in different casinos, and sometimes there is a series of linked games. The more games contributing to the jackpot sum, the higher that jackpot can rise, sometimes up to millions of pounds. The jackpot can be won after any spin, but often the player’s chances are improved by making maximum bets.

Now that you have an idea of how slot games work, it’s time to look at some of the best slot games around, from the all-time greats that never get old to future slot gaming classics.

Best and Most Popular Online Slots

Our team has played more online slot games than most people have had hot dinners, so you don’t need to look any further for your guide to the best ones out there. We have picked out a selection of evergreen classics mixed in with the latest video slots to give you an idea of where to start next time you visit an a new online casino from our casino lists.

Starburst

An absolute classic from NetEnt, Starburst is an example of how excellent game mechanics and clever us of animations mean that slot games don’t have to be over-complicated to be a smash hit:

• This 5 x 3 reel game delivers a relatively modest jackpot by modern standards
• It doesn’t feature any crazy bonus rounds, but it has been a players’ favourite for years.

Spin those reels and hope that one of the three middle reels are filled with Starburst wilds to give you a free respin and the chance to make a big win.

Book of Dead

One of the most familiar slot games to land-based players is Book of Dead from the popular Novomatic group.

• This Indiana Jones style game has our hero trying to locate the titular book so as to unlock a most rewarding bonus round.

Go on an adventure to reveal the secrets of Ancient Egypt and join the millions of people from all over the world who have made this slot a durable classic that never goes out of fashion.

Fire Joker

Jokers are wild in this slot game from Play’n GO, and games don’t get much wilder than their modern take on a classic three-reel slot:

• Fire Joker features traditional slot game symbols like fruits, bars and sevens, but there is nothing old-fashioned about this game.
• All symbols come stacked to help boost those wins, and a stack of jokers gives you a free respin of fire.
• Match symbols on all three reels and you get to spin the wheel of fortune to multiply your winnings by between two and ten times.

Fresh New Slot Games

Some slot games have lasted the test of time, remaining popular with players years after their initial release. But new slot games are being released all the time, and some of these are destined to become the classics of the future. Here’s our selection of recent slot releases which you will be playing for a long time to come.

Jumanji

Timed to be released alongside the re-booted Jumanji movie, this slot takes elements of the mythical Jumanji board game rather than using movie characters. NetEnt are the uncrowned kings of online slot games, and once again they have come up with a fantastic game here:

• What separates Jumanji from other movie tie-ins is the sheer volume of bonus features.
• Slot gamers love a bonus, and there are too many of them at play in this game to list here.

Suffice to say that you around going to love getting sucked into the world of this fantastical game.

Hotline

This 1980s themed heist game is another awesome example of the creative powers of the NetEnt developing theme:

• Expanding wilds and respins add to the fun, with those wilds becoming sticky during free spin rounds.
• This is a visually stunning game which deserves to join any list of the best NetEnt games out there.

Lost Relics

There are dozens of high-quality game designers out there, but our team has gone for a third NetEnt game as our final choice for the best new releases:

• This atmospheric game sees the player go in search of those lost relics, with the aim of uncovering hidden treasures.
• The treasure chests which lie behind the symbols contain valuable coins, free spins and wild symbols to help you to strike gold.

Free Spins and Bonus Wagering for Online Slots

They say that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and that is certainly true in most cases when it comes to casino slot game free spin awards. Casinos won’t give out free spins only for players to make a profit and then withdraw all their free money without risking any of their own. That’s where wagering requirements come in, as the casinos make you work to get your hands on that lovely bonus cash. We are going to tell you just how bonus wagering works, as well as the best way to make a profit from your free spins.

	Game	Payout Percentage	Further Information	Read Review
	Mega Moolah	94,5 %	Mega Moolah from Microgaming is one of the most famous slot games in the world. It offers huge jackpots and great gameplay.	Review
	Starburst	96,1%	Starburst is NetEnt’s all-time classic slot game. The game itself is simple and doesn’t offer bonus games, but maybe that’s why it’s so popular. Simple is beautiful!	Review

How Does Bonus Wagering Work

Casinos use bonuses as a way to entice players to sign up with their site, and to continue playing once they have registered. Bonuses are usually offered as a percentage of a player’s deposit, although they can also come in the form of no-deposit bonuses. Either way, you cannot simply withdraw a casino bonus as you will be required to bet a certain amount before taking out your bonus cash.

With most bonuses, you will be told that you must complete a set wagering requirement before the bonus funds and any winnings from them can be withdrawn. This wagering requirement is a multiple of the bonus you received, or of the bonus plus the deposit you made to get that bonus. The size of the wagering requirement can vary wildly from one casino to the next – sometimes as low as 25 times your bonus amount, sometimes as high as 60 or 70 times. Higher wagering requirements mean lower chances of being able to cash out the bonus.

Wagering requirements usually come with conditions about which games can be played to reach that total as well. For example, most table games like roulette and blackjack may only count 10% as compared to the 100% if you play a slot game:

• Let’s say you have a bonus of £100 with a wagering requirement of 50x the bonus.
• You will need to bet a total of £5,000 to be able to withdraw your bonus cash, if you play on qualifying slot games.
• Play on roulette games which count 10% and you will need to bet 10 times as much.

How about Bonus Wagering with Free Spins

Bonus wagering with regard to free spins works much the same way as with regular bonuses. In the case of free spins, any money you win for them is (usually) considered to be bonus funds. Now you must wager the amount of your winnings by the set amount of times as per a normal bonus in order to complete wagering requirements.

There are cases when free spins winnings go straight into your cash balance, but sadly these are few and far between. Generally you will have to complete the same or similar wagering requirements as per a regular bonus offer.

Bet Size Matters with Wagering

There are two schools of thought when it comes to trying to complete the wagering requirement of a slot game:

1. The one that seems most obvious is to go for the ‘bigger is better’ motto. In other words, bet larger amounts so that you can get through the wagering requirement faster. This sounds good, but the problem is that most casino will impose a maximum bet size on wagers meaning that you can’t bet too much, and it is also a fast way to get through your bankroll.
2. We usually opt for the opposite approach. Bet the absolute minimum amount on your favourite slot game, having chosen a slot with a generous return to player. This means that you give yourself more time to trigger a bonus, and the wins and losses should even out more over time. Hopefully that will allow you to take home most of that bonus.

Slots with Mobile Devices

If you are anything like us, then more often than not you prefer playing slot games on your phone rather than a desktop computer. You’re not the only one, as more and more people choose phones or tablets as their number one way to play at online casinos. Fortunately, modern slot games are designed with mobile players in mind so you won’t miss out on any of the excitement when you are playing on the smaller screen.

For reasons of memory space, online casinos generally offer fewer games to mobile players than to desktop users:

• However, you will still be able to choose from hundreds of great slot games, including the most popular games.
• Nowadays slots are designed for mobile first and desktop second, so you can use touch-screen technology to control your settings and spin those reels, no matter whether you are playing from home or are out on the road.

Basic Knowledge about Online Slots

A surprising number of people out there play online slot games without fully understanding even the basics of how they work. That is a very quick and easy way to lose money at the casino. We are going to take you through the basics and give you all the info you need to maximize your chances of becoming a slot game winner.

Symbols and Functionality of Online Slots

If you took away the symbols from online slot games you would be left with a pretty dull gaming experience. Part of the fun is the superior animations and graphics which transports you to a different world as you spin those reels.

Whether your preference is myths of the Ancient Gods or slots themed after your favourite sports, there is something out there for everybody.

Playing Card Symbols

The very first slot machines were basically mechanical poker playing machines, and their legacy has survived to this day in the playing card symbols which are to be found in many slot games:

• Generally the lowest value symbols run from 9 or 10 to J, Q, K and A.
• The higher value base game symbols will be those ones that relate to the theme of the slot game.
• So for example, a Batman slot may feature characters from the movie on the higher value symbols.

Wild Symbols

Our team members are less wild than in our younger years. However, we do love those wild symbols that appear to help out online slot gamers by combining to make winning pay lines:

• The wild symbols come in all shapes and sizes but usually stick out from the crowd to let you know their importance.
• A wild symbol can replace any standard base game symbol to form a winning line, although it can rarely if ever take the place of a scatter symbol.

Scatters

The Scatter symbols are the ones that all experienced slot gamers know to look out for. These are the keys to unlocking those all-important bonus rounds, which is where you can really make slot games pay out big:

• Mostly you will be required to find three scatter symbols anywhere on the reels in order to activate a bonus round, though of course not every slot game is the same so there can be different requirements.
• Generally speaking if you find two or more scatters you will also win a cash prize.