In both land-based and online casinos, slot machines are among the most popular games in the world. These games come in numerous styles and feature their own unique themes.

Whether you are spinning the reels in person or through a mobile method of your choice, the core experience of slot games remains the same, and it is all based on luck.

We have broken down how to play slots, some of the key features to understand, as well as some common terminology you may encounter:

1. Step 1: Choose your slot game.
2. Step 2: Understand the paytable of the chosen game.
3. Step 3: Set your bet.
4. Step 4: Spin the reels.
5. Step 5: Understand winning combinations.

The absolute basics: What is A slot machine?

A slot machine is entirely a game of chance. This involves players spinning a set of reels, and if certain matching symbols land across paylines, it can trigger a prize return. Whether you're playing a physical machine within a brick-and-mortar casino or a digital one online, the concept remains the exact same. 

Thanks to random number generators, a technology often referred to as RNG, each spin is ensured to be random, making slot games fair in turn. These fundamentals of how to play slots can be applied to almost all variants, no matter their respective bonuses or design twists.

Step-by-step: How to play a slot machine

Understanding how to play slots can easily be dissected into a couple of simple steps:

1. Step 1: Choose your slot
   Players can start by selecting a slot game that suits their preferences. The theme, graphics, and bonus features should be taken into account, as these elements can distinguish classic games from more complex modern ones.
2. Step 2: Understand the paytable
   The next part of learning how to play slots is checking the paytable of the chosen game. Before spinning the reels, users should access the paytable through the game’s main menu. This is where you can find special symbols, such as wilds and scatters, the values for different combinations, as well as information on the bonus features and their functionality.
3. Step 3: Set your bet
   Adjusting your bet size is the next level of understanding how to play slots. Your total bet per spin is the sum of the coin size, the number of paylines and the bet level. Certain slots online even have an options menu to select from, whereas others have adjustable buttons allowing players to choose a more specific stake.
4. Step 4: Spin the reels
   Once a bet has been decided upon, clicking the spin button on a digital slot or pulling the lever on some more retro physical machines initiates gameplay. Following this, the reels which make up the playtable will begin to spin, coming to a stop and displaying a random set of symbols.
5. Step 5: Understand winning combinations
   After the reels have come to a stop, understanding how combinations work in your chosen slot games is essential. In a majority of games, wins are calculated from left to right across paylines. Some newer releases may also employ cluster or scatter pay systems, which determine groups of symbols that touch adjacent or simply land in view simultaneously.
   For paylines specifically, if matching symbols land across the same one, this could trigger a prize return. This depends on the symbols involved and how many are adjacent on the payline, with the randomisation in play ensuring that all results are independent of one another.

Key slot machine terms you need to know

Although those steps pretty much break down how to play slots in the simplest of ways, there are some other essential pieces of terminology players should understand:

• RTP: An abbreviation of return to player – this is a theoretical percentage of total wagers a game returns over time.
• Volatility: Also referred to as variance, this term refers to the mechanics which determine returns in play. Low volatility indicates frequent, smaller returns, whereas high volatility can result in less-frequent, but higher-value returns.
• Paylines: Patterns across a playtable which determine combinations of matching symbols that land across them. Some titles have a fixed total of these betways, while others have thousands that can change throughout gameplay.
• Reels: The vertical spinning columns of a playgrid.

Some other pieces of terminology specifically refer to different types of slot symbols, too:

• Standard symbols: Regular base game symbol icons.
• Wild symbols: Bonus symbols which can substitute in place for other standard ones.
• Scatter symbols: Could trigger bonus rounds if enough of them land at the same time or trigger base game prizes if enough land anywhere across the reels in a single spin.
• Mystery symbols: All instances transform into or reveal the same matching symbol after the reels stop spinning.
• Sticky/Expanding symbols: Stay on the reels or expand to fill columns if landed.

As bonuses are often the details that make slot games, alongside the thematics, there are a number of common ones which are frequent in many modern and even classic releases:

• Free spins: Bonus rounds which have no negative effect on a player's balance and can introduce new modifiers. These are found in many slot sub-genres, including Slingo games. 
• Multipliers: These could be applied to a player's current stake value or the value of a combination.
• Bonus rounds: Specialised mini-games which bring their own nuanced components and alternative features separate from base gameplay.
• Cascading reels: Removes symbols from view before replacing them with new ones.
• Jackpots: Upgraded prize values that are fixed at set amounts or grow over time.

Types of slot machines

Slot games, physical and digital, don't come in the same format, though, with there being many different types that offer their own distinctive gameplay style:

• Classic slots: 3-reel games that have a simple/retro design that is often more basic.
• Video slots: 5+ reeled games that have modern graphics and come with a handful of varied mechanics and bonus features.
• Megaways slots: Titles that have playgrids that change with every spin due to the dynamic game engine. These come with up to 117,649 paylines, cascading features and progressive multipliers.
• Progressive jackpot slots: Come integrated with growing prize pools which are linked to a network across casinos or a category of games.
• Branded/Themed slots: Based on movies, TV shows, sports or other pop culture references.

Tips for playing slots responsibly

Although slots are designed to be entertaining, it is important to always play within your means. Understanding how to play slots is just as important as making it a responsible experience, given the real risk involved.

There are several steps that can be taken to ensure gameplay remains responsible,  with setting a budget and only playing with money you can afford being one of them.

Knowing when to stop and never chasing losses keeps play fun, as it shouldn't be seen as a way to make money, regardless of whether playing slots or online scratch cards, for example. Keeping sessions short and taking breaks can help you stay in control, and understanding slot game mechanics ensures players are fully aware of the rules and the subsequent risk.

Frequently asked questions

Are slot machines purely based on luck?

What is the best strategy to win at slots?

What do "RTP" and "Volatility" mean?

Can I play slots for free?

What are "paylines"?

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