Online Slots: Getting started at Casumo
How to play Slots
Make a bet, spin the reels and wait for the symbols to stop. Get three identical symbols on the middle vertical row and win the big bucks!
Easy, right? Well yes, originally slots were that simple, but they are a little more complex than that nowadays.
This page will give you all the information and get you started, explain basic and expert stuff followed by some amazing casino tips.
Slot machine anatomy
Classic slot machines have three reels with only one horizontal payline. Today’s video slots usually have five reels, multiple paylines, special game features and bonus games which gives the player more winning possibilities. These are the common basic parts of a slot machine.
Symbols are images that usually spin vertically. A symbol’s value varies, and usually the more rare it is, the higher the value.
Paylines are paths going across the reels, usually from left to right. Alignment of identical symbols on one or more paylines means win.
Reels are vertically spinning groups of symbols. When they stop, random symbols appear. Slot machines usually have 5 reels.
Spin is the button you click to start the game and get the reels rolling. Similarly, Autospin spins continuously for a specified time.
Coin value and Bet Level both adjust how much you play for per spin. Decreasing or increasing the dials will lower or higher your bet amount.
Paytable is a list of payouts on a slot machine. This shows how many coins or credits the player will win for each combination of symbols.
Winning in slots
Depending on how the symbols fall when the reels stop, you may get a winning combination. Usually you win by collecting three or more identical symbols in a row from left to right. The more paylines a slot has, the greater chance of winning, and the more complete a payline is, the more you win. How you win, and how much you win, is also affected by the various game features and feature symbols that most games have. Check the games’ paytable for detailed information on how to win.
Ways to win
Win left to right
This means you’re winning by collecting identical symbols in a row from left to right.
Slot with this type of win: Fruit Shop
Win Both ways
This means that you can win by collecting identical symbols in a row from both left and right.
Slot with this type of win: Turning Totems
Wild feature symbols
Wilds
Regular wild symbols replace most other symbols, and makes it easier to form winning combinations on the reels.The only symbol it doesn’t replace is the so called Scatter symbol.
Slot with wilds: Reel Rush
Expanding Wilds
Expanding Wilds will expand and cover the entire reel. More wilds on a reel will increase your winning chances.
Slot with expanding wilds: Starburst
Stacked Wilds
Stacked Wilds means 2 or more wild symbols after each other on a reel, depending on which game it is. Some slot games have the possibility of getting stacked wilds on every reel, while others have them appearing on specific reels.
Slot with stacked wilds: Wild Turkey
Walking Wilds
Walking Wilds progressively move to the side after every respin at no extra cost to the player. They disappear from the reels after reaching the last reel.
Slot with walking wilds: The Invisible Man
Other feature symbols
Except for Wilds, there are a lot of other different symbols with special features. These are some of the most common ones.
Scatter symbols
Scatter payouts multiplies the total bet and not just the line bet. They usually pay out directly when three or more of them appear anywhere on the reels, not necessary on a payline. Scatter is also the symbols that usually trigger bonus games/free spin rounds.
Slot with scatter symbols: Hall of Gods
Colossal symbols
Colossal symbols are symbol blocks of 2x2 or 3x3 which increases your chances to get a complete payline. It appears as an overlay anywhere on the reels and spins separately on top of the reels.
Slot with colossal symbols: Spinata Grande
Bonus game symbols
Bonus game symbols differ from slot to slot and they are often Scatter symbols. They trigger different bonus games that can be described as "a game within the game" in which players have the chance to win extra huge prizes.
Slot with bonus game symbols: Mega Fortune
Game Features
Except the special symbols, there are also some game features that can help you win more. Game features varies from game to game, and so does the terminology among game providers.
Random wilds feature
Random wilds feature means that regular wilds can occur on the reels at any time of the game play.
Slot with the random wilds: Dracula
Gamble feature
Gamble feature allows players to multiply the winnings that they receive on a particular spin. It’s usually activated by allowing the player to guess the correct color of the cards on the next spin.
Slot with the gamble feature: Book of Ra
Respin feature
The respin feature lets you respin the reels on your next spin, helping you complete winning combinations. All of the other reels will be locked in place. Respin comes in many variations, and you can respin all reels on many of the slots. It’s often used with sticky wilds.
Tumbling reels
These are also known as Avalanche feature / Cascading reels / Dropping symbols. As line wins are awarded, the winning symbols disappear, causing symbols from higher up on the reels to fall down into their place. This creates brand new possibilities to win big without risking any additional credits.
Multiplier
Multiplier is a feature that often is combined with tumbling reels. The multiplier simply multiplies your respin win. How many times depends on how many wins you win in a row.
Free Spins
Free Spins are usually triggered by the combination of so called "Scatter symbols", but sometimes in other ways. During these rounds, some more perks can be given, which usually means bigger wins than during the classic gameplay.
Expert stuff
Once you’re familiar with the basics of slot machines, it’s time to take it to the next level. Here are some more advanced slot terms you should learn in order to become a full fledged casino pro.
Hit frequency
Hit frequency is defined as how often a slot machine will have a winning outcome. A hit frequency of 10% means that 1 out of 10 spins has a winning combination. Machines with lower hit frequencies tend to offer larger wins when it pays.
Payback rate (RTP)
Payback is an overall percentage that a slot gives back to all its players. This percentage is usually around 90-99%, depending on the slot.
Volatility
This basically measures the size of the winnings. Low volatility slots will give you lots of little payouts often, whereas slot machines with high volatility work the other way around.
At Casumo you can play both classic slots and video slots from Net Entertainment, Thunderkick, IGT, Greentube, Play ‘n Go, Quickspin, Williams Interactive, Bally, Barcrest and Shuffle Master. All our game providers have a great selection of high quality games and we’re adding new ones every month.
Top 3 Most Popular Online Slots For UK Players
Online slots are the heart of an online casino and here at Casumo, we’ve got you covered with over 1600 games to choose from. Online slots came a long way since their inception, evolving from simple 3 reel slots to high-tech video slots with cascading reels, free spins features and bonus rounds that will get any slot aficionado off their feet. We’ve shortlisted three of the best UKs’ favourite online slots and the results are in:
Big Bass Bonanza
Pragmatic Plays’ Big Bass Bonanza online slot is a top favourite amongst UK players. The 5 reel, 10 payline online slot comes with a generous RTP of 96.71% with a free spins feature that keeps on giving. The maximum this online slot can payout is a staggering 2100x your original stake, making it a top favourite amongst UK players.
Starburst
If you’ve played slots online before, chances are you’ve come across NetEnt’s classic Starburst slot. With an RTP of 96.06% and a Wild feature that triggers respins, it makes it a top contender for one of UK’s most popular online slots. The ‘win both ways’ feature gives players additional winning opportunities as it pays out for winning combinations from left to right and from right to left. Even after close to a decade after it’s release, Starburst online slot is still a top favourite amongst UK players.
Jammin Jars
Jammin Jars was a huge release by Push Gaming, an online slot so popular they had to release a sequel, Jammin Jars 2. This online slot has an RTP of 96.8% and if lady luck makes 25 strawberries appear on the reels, you’re in for a payout of 20,000x your original stake. The Rainbow Feature and the Jam Jars multipliers are just a few reasons why the online slot is a hit in the UK. Oh, and there’s a neat free spins feature that makes Jam Jar symbols sticky, resulting in higher wins.
Play Okay.
