How to play video slots online

A video slot consists of five reels and three rows of symbols arranged in a 5×3 configuration. In some rare instances, a slot may have 4 rows or a more exotic structure like a 3x4x5x4x3 layout. A player places a bet within the betting range available in the preferred game by changing a coin denomination, the number of coins per line and the number of lines a player wants to activate. By increasing or lowering down the said values, the player adjusts a stake that suits his budget and personal preferences. In free video slots games, the betting procedures are the same, with the only exception that a player makes a “fun” bet without injecting real money into the game.

On placing a bet, you should put the reels in motion by clicking a corresponding button. The reels will stop in a few seconds and the game will show you which paylines have a winning combination on them (if any). Most real-money slots and free casino video slots pay out when three or more identical symbols have landed on any enabled payline starting from the utmost left reel that is usually called reel No1. Some slots award when a winning combination is formed from left to right and right to left which is expressly specified in the game rules. To better understand the payout concept for any specific slot, a player should view the paytable that is usually available by clicking a respective button on the gaming screen.

Some casino video slots like the ones developed by Microgaming are based on no-payline mechanics but feature a 243-ways-to win or 1024-ways-to-win system. This means that a slot provides 243 or 1024 probabilities of creating a winning combination. When playing a video slot of this category, a winning combination is formed by 3+ matching symbols occurred from left to right in any position, not on a preset payline pattern.

Video slots for fun

Video slots produced by all leading software companies are offered both in a free mode and for real money. Besides, many casinos that host video slots do not require a guest user to sign up and deposit. You may play free casino video slots for any length of time until you feel completely well-versed with the game and would want to switch to real-money betting. Playing free video slots is a perfect option for beginners who are not sure of understanding well how any given slot works.

Features of video slots games

A video slot usually has a set of regular symbols and a few special symbols that add diversity to the gameplay and often increase payouts and the odds of winning. One of these special symbols is known as a wildcard or a wild that has nearly the same functions as a joker card in poker games – it replaces for other symbols that are missing to complete a winning combination. If you, for example, get two matching symbols plus a wild symbol on a payline, you are awarded as if you had a combination of three of these matching symbols. In some casino video slots, a wild symbol multiplies a normal payout by 2, 3 or greater when used as a substitute.

Another great feature is a scatter symbol that pays out or trigger any bonus event no matter where exactly it has appeared on the reels. So hitting a certain number of scatters (usually, three scatters) in any spot, awards the amount shown in the paytable and/or activates a bonus feature (free spins or a bonus game).

Along with the wild and scatter that are actually some of the most basic elements of any five-reel game, video slots online and free slots video games have a lot of other advanced features that vary across slot developers. For example, a regular wild symbol may be complemented by sticky wilds, expanding wilds or mystery wilds. The bonus games integrated into the gameplay and triggered by special symbols are truly diverse. Besides, many video slots contain more than a single bonus game.

Video slots games offer a huge variety of themes and winning possibilities which make them a superb source of entertainment for players of all skills, budgets and tastes.