Planning to Try Your Hand at Online Slots? Learn These Terms Before You Take the Leap

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If you are new to the world of online slots, you might have come across several terms while you were exploring. You might not know the exact meaning of some online slot terms, so it’s important to familiarise yourself with the terms before you start playing. We have compiled a list of some of the most-used terms to help you out.

Symbols

Symbols are the images that appear on slot machines. In the days of no online casinos, slots were called fruit machines because the symbols were classic cherries, lemons, bells, lucky number sevens and the BAR symbol.  These symbols have undergone a drastic change, as you can see on https://games.paddypower.com/c/slots, for instance.
Slot games are developed based on specific themes that take their inspiration from various places: movies, TV, sport, history, mythology, and so on. The symbols in each game are also customised as per the theme. A slot game about ancient Egypt might have ancient Egyptian gods and Cleopatra as some of the symbols. Each symbol has a different value, and some symbols may trigger bonus features.

Reels

All slot machines have vertical lines full of symbols that move up and down, or ‘spin. These vertical columns are called reels and slot games mostly have either three or five reels. However, you might have come across some slots that have seven reels too, which usually payout in clusters. When you spin the reels, the symbols on them rotate and come to a stop at random. If you are lucky, you will see a winning combination on your reels.

Paylines

Each slot game has certain ‘ways to win’ or ‘paylines’. These are lines that run horizontally across the reels and you get a win only if the combination of symbols lands on a payline. Slot games generally have between 10 and 50 paylines, although some might have more. Some slots come with variable paylines, as explained on https://www.gamesreviews.com/articles/07/the-number-of-paylines-in-online-slots-does-it-matter/, meaning that you can choose how many you want to play with each spin. You can also adjust the stakes as per your preference. Of course, if you play with more lines, you are likely to win more often.

Paytable

Every slot game you ever come across will have a button that says ‘i’ or one that shows a ‘?’. Clicking this will show you the paytable of that game. This is a chart that displays the payouts for each symbol and combination. If you want to know about the specific bonus features of the game, this is where you will find them. You should always check the paytable before you start playing so you know what to expect.

Features

Most slot games have additional features that you can play apart from the main game. These are special bonuses that can be triggered in a slot game, apart from the combinations made by the main symbols. Features can include free spins, bonus rounds, wild symbols, scatter symbols, and others listed on https://thestreetjournal.org/what-are-the-salient-features-of-the-online-slot-games/. You will often find that slot games have unique features that are designed especially for that game. Features can help you to win more money or offer extra entertainment value to the game.

Knowing these terms and what they mean will give you the headstart you need to embark on your online slot journey. Like any other game, it is best to know exactly what you are getting into so that you can enjoy it to the fullest.