With slots being the predominant game at any casino, be it online or land-based, understanding how these games work is a must. While the main gameplay of slots is simple, more and more of these games have elaborate in-game features. These are added by game providers to introduce evermore exciting game mechanics and features. By bringing these features into the slots, providers make their games more exciting for players. And, these features also mean better chances of a bigger win or two. But, if players don’t understand how a slot works or what these features do, picking a good slot can be hard.

Basics of slots

As mentioned, these days slots come in a wide range of different formats, themes and designs. But at their core, all of these games are actually the same. Understanding some of the terminology surrounding slots is essential to getting to grips with the gameplay.

As mentioned, all these features do change across slot games, but the basic setup and operation remain the same. You can find some of the best slot sites listed at fruityslots.com as well as reviews of top slots to get you started.

Bonus symbols slot games

Across slots, there are some standard bonus features and symbols that constantly crop up. Each of these must be understood for effective gaming, let’s take a look.

Additional in-game features to look for

With all the main symbols out of the way, it’s time to look at some of the specific bonus features found across slot games.

Free Spins

One of the most common bonuses are free spins. As mentioned, these typically are activated by the scatter symbol. When triggered, players can get various numbers of free spins added to the game. These do not use any of the player’s balance in order to operate. Instead, the number of spins will take place using the last bet size of the player. As such, this gives players the chance to get wins or trigger further bonuses without spending any of their bankroll to do so.

Multipliers

Many games have multiplier bonuses attached to bonuses and features within the game. In some cases, multipliers are actually a symbol of their own, and when landed they can boost the size of a win. Usually, these multipliers range from 2 to 5 x, though they can be higher.

Dropping symbols

Another popular game mechanic seen frequently in slots comes under a variety of different names, depending on the slot developer. Known as cascades, tumble, avalanche, rolling reels and so on, the premise is the same. When a win is made, the winning symbols are automatically removed from the reels. The remaining symbols fall down to take their place, rearranging slightly, with new symbols appearing at the top of the reels. If another win occurs from this reshuffle, then the process repeats until no new wins occur, and the player goes back to spinning normally.

Extra paylines

These days, more and more slots are offering increased numbers of paylines. Some slots have hundreds of paylines available, and these are incorporated into the game mechanic and layout. However, more recently, a new specific game mechanic offering thousands of additional ways to win has been launched. The Megaways reel mechanic increases the number of reels on the slot depending on reaching certain conditions within the game. When it is added or triggered, this leads to a greater number of paylines on the slot. More and more slots are adding this mechanic.

Progressive jackpots

Many slots will have standard, fixed jackpots as part of their gameplay. These will be awarded when certain conditions are met. However, some slots have progressives instead. These jackpots continue to grow, taking a tiny percentage of every bet placed and adding it to the pot. Sometimes these slots are linked, or networked, across online casinos so that these payouts can be huge.

Gamble feature

Many games offer a gamble feature. If a player wins, then there is an option to double the win by choosing whether a card will be red or black, odd or even. Guess incorrectly, and the whole win is lost.

Pay attention to the bonuses available and have more fun when playing online.