Online Slot is a big category, and it’s not just about how you spin the reels. It’s about the RTP and volatility, the number of paylines, and the range of features a game has to offer. There’s also a lot of visual variety, with some games incredibly immersive and others simply stunning to look at. Take Play ’n GO’s Rise of Olympus 100, for example – this Greek mythology-themed game is among the most visually striking we’ve ever seen, and it offers players a choice of three gods with varying levels of risk and amounts of free spins.
A quick look at an online slots library will reveal hundreds – or perhaps thousands – of titles, with a huge diversity in everything from the reels to the number of paylines and the types of symbols that are used. There are also plenty of different themes, including classic pirates and fruity fruit machines.
Once you’ve signed up at a casino that has a good reputation for player safety and fairness, you can choose a slot machine to play from the home page or another section of the site. Depending on the site, you may be able to filter by a particular type of slot, or you might have to scroll through pages of thumbnail images until you find one that suits your playstyle.
When you click ‘spin’, the online slot will use its random number generator to create a new series of numbers every millisecond. The result of this is a series of symbols that appear on the screen, and if these form a winning payline then you’ll receive your prize money.
Some slots have a bonus round that can be triggered by matching special symbols, while others have an extra feature like a multiplier or a gamble that lets you stake your recent winnings on whether you can match more of the same symbols in a row. Then there are progressive jackpot slots, which increase with each bet placed and can reach dizzying heights before the jackpot is won by a lucky player.
You’ll also be able to find branded slots, which are built around the imagery and story of a movie, TV show, popular game or even a rock band. These are typically developed through licensing agreements and can be found at sites such as Microgaming, Playtech and NetEnt.
Some online slots have a ‘live dealer’ option, which adds an element of live entertainment to the experience by broadcasting a studio set that is manned by a professional dealer who operates a physical machine. This type of game is fairly new, but is gaining popularity with players who like to add a human touch to their gambling experience.