Online Slot Lingo New Players Need to Know

For those who are completely new to online slots, the amount of new lingo to learn can be overwhelming. However, once players understand these basic terms, they’ll have a much easier time finding the ideal titles to suit their preferences. In this guide, we’ve covered the need-to-know terminology for online slots.

RTP and Volatility

The return-to-player rate (RTP) refers to the theoretical payout rate that will be paid to players. For example, if an online slot has an RTP of 96.5% this indicates that, when tested over thousands of spins, for every $100 invested into it $96.50 will be paid out in winnings. It's an important indicator for players of how the game functions, even if it's not an exact figure they can expect to see within a gaming session.

Another measure is volatility, which refers to the payout frequency. Low volatility slots will pay out frequently but in lower values, while high volatility slots pay out larger amounts infrequently. That might sound counterintuitive to some, but players can familiarize themselves with these terms by reading up on some of the free slots Canada has to offer online. A site like this provides players numerous opportunities to play popular games for free in their demo modes, letting them get a feel for how the games and these measures work in practice.

Bonus Features

A slot’s bonus features refer to any special rounds, payout mechanisms, or gameplay elements that make the experience more dynamic. The most common bonus feature is the free spins round, which unlocks additional turns of the reels without requiring an investment. Progressive jackpots are also a popular bonus feature.

Modern award-winning titles tend to be stacked with bonus features, whether random payout multipliers, Wild symbols, Scatters, pick-and-win rounds, cascading reels, or expanding reels. Several features even open mini-games within the slot that provide a completely different experience.

Paylines and Pay tables

Paylines refer to the patterns by which matching symbols must land in order to pay out a win. These can either be fixed or selectable and come in many formations. While they used to be fundamental to triggering slot wins, modern video slots such as Megaways titles are dynamic and offer “ways to win” through different configurations - these games usually take a well known title and apply the Megaways game engine or framework to create something unique.

If players head to a game’s settings menu, they will find the pay table. This will detail the values of the standard symbols as well as how bonus features such as Wilds, Scatters, and bonus symbols work. This is usually where players can find the RTP rate and volatility too.

Understanding paylines and pay tables is crucial for players to set expectations and maximize their enjoyment of the slot game experience.

Classics and Video Slots

Classics refer to online slot variants that are based on traditional games that were historically popularized at Las Vegas establishments. Often referred to as one-armed bandits, these feature-free games included only three reels, between one and five pay lines, and classic symbols like cherries, 7s, and bells. These are ideal for players looking for simplistic, straightforward gameplay.

Video slots, on the other hand, commonly include five or more reels, 20 or more paylines, detailed animations and scores, diverse themes, and plenty of bonus features. The most popular online casino slots are video slots as they offer much greater gameplay variance.

Once players have these terms memorized, they’ll find it much easier to find their ideal title. Playing demos is also a great way to learn the features of games before investing real money.