Slot games are some of the most straightforward casino games out there. As soon as you understand what the different types of symbols are, and what they do, it is simply a matter of spinning the reels.
Yet there’s a lot more to a game of casino slots than truly meets the eye! In fact, there are plenty of mechanisms built in to make them the most entertaining and highly exciting games out there.
There’s a lot of jargon and terminology that you must know to play slot games properly. Here are 7 essential terms every player should know.
Reels
Reels are one of the most essential parts of different slot games out there, so you must know what they are and how they work.
A reel in a slot game is a vertical section of a slot that features spins and symbols when the player taps or clicks the ‘spin’ button on a machine.
Slot games always come with every type of slot game regardless of how simple or complex it may be. Generally, slot machines feature three or more reels. Modern slot machines feature more complex factors like cascading reels, tumbling reels, and rotating reels, for example.
Coins/Coin Size
When playing slot games, coins are used to mark the total amount of money that you place with every bet that you make. In simpler terms, they can be considered as your in-game currency, and you must understand how the amount of coins translates to real money.
The term “coin size” refers to the size of the bet that you are placing with every spin. The coins and coin size are essential terms for any slot game so that you can understand exactly what you are doing to avoid making any mistakes.
Jackpot/Progressive Jackpot
Jackpots are big prizes that a player can win in a casino game. The term might be used to describe multiple games but is most frequently used by video slot and slot machine players.
The jackpot is essentially the biggest payout a player will receive, and there are a couple of different types of jackpots out there for slot players to potentially win. These are usually triggered by either a particular in-game sequence or completely at random.
Regardless of where you’re playing slots, the size of the jackpot will always be displayed on the user interface. This means you’ll know exactly how much money is on offer before you begin playing.
Payline
With a slot game, the pay line is a line that crosses directly through one symbol on each reel to form a pattern. This winning combination of symbols is then evaluated before a player receives a payout.
Paylines have the potential to be any shape including vertical, horizontal, or triangular. They may also be fixed or active, and usually, go from left to right. However, it depends on the game as some also have pay lines that go both ways on the game screen.
On a classic spinning reel machine, there are anywhere up to nine different pay lines. Video slot machines could have anywhere up to 100 pay lines!
Random Number Generator (RNG)
Put simply, RNG is relatively sophisticated software that has a significant impact on the outcome of every spin. It is designed to make the overall outcome unpredictable and random, meaning that you cannot directly influence the outcome.
Using an RNG slot game software also means that you won’t be able to expect a particular result based on the outcome of previous spins.
Whether you’re playing in an online or land-based casino, you must make sure that the slot game that you are playing and betting on uses RNG software.
Auto Spin
Another slot game term you must know about is auto spin. This is an advanced feature that allows you to sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself as you watch the game play out directly in front of you.
It works by setting the game to auto-spin for a set number of spins. The machine will then automatically play through these spins according to the command that you have set. However, it’s important to know that this feature isn’t available on all slot machines!
Free Spins
With free spins, what you see is what you get! This is a slot game term that is used in both land-based and online casinos.
Many players love to use free spins as they do not draw anything out of your set bankroll. The best part is that they might still pay out some real money depending on the outcome. Plus, you cannot lose with free spins which adds to the entertainment value of different slot games!
Due to these factors, free spins are an extremely popular in-game feature for you to enjoy regardless of your experience with the game.
Summary
No amount of terminology will automatically help you to beat the slots but it will most definitely aid you along the way! Knowing exactly what you’re doing will help you to better enjoy the experience of a slot game, too.