Online Slots: A Beginners Guide

online slots

Online Slots

One of the most popular forms of online gambling is online slots. It’s a game that captures global interest and continues to grow in popularity every year. Whilst we offer poker training as our primary function, we’ve noticed that even amongst the majority of players we coach, online slots is another hobby they pursue. That’s why in this article, we’re going to share the basics of slots so you have a grasp of what it is, how it’s played and why it might be worth giving it a try.

The Basics of How to Play Online Slots

Slots are very easy to play. A beginner doesn’t need to learn any advanced strategy or ready books to participate. Slot machines work with a number of reels, with various symbols or images on them. In order to win, you need them to align in a sequence of matching symbols or images. Most online casinos have simply and easy to understand pay lines. They will usually be horizontal but some casinos offer diagonal or even vertical pay-outs too.

The key to winning is ensuring you bet on the appropriate pay line. We recommend initially playing the simpler slots variations. This will avoid any confusing but don’t worry if you stumble across a complicated one, if you’ve wagered, it will still pay.

The other key element to slots is choosing how many coins you’d like to bet on per spin and what value. We recommend playing a low value to start out. It’s best to be cautious, particularly when playing a new game. Most seasoned slots players who play at an excellent online casino advocate for a maximum coin per spin policy. This increases the chances of winning but also makes the game go quicker and money go faster if you aren’t lucky.

The Jackpot Prizes

One of the big draws for online slots is unquestionably the jackpot prizes offered. Some slot machines operate on a progressive jackpot basis. However, these machines require players to wager the maximum bet. This can become expensive very quickly if you don’t have a suitable bankroll. The size of the jackpot can be too tempting for some but remember; the higher the jackpot, the less likely it is to pay out!

Choosing a Slots Game

There are literally hundreds of online slots variations. Picking one to play can seem daunting but there’s a few things you can do to assess which is suitable for you. When picking a game, ask yourself the questions below. The more you can answer yes to, the more suitable it is for you.

  1. Is the slots game pleasant to look at?
  2. Is the maximum bet within your budget?
  3. Are there plenty of middle of the road pay-outs?
  4. Is there a chance of a bonus round where you can maximise your winnings?
  5. Is it a fun theme?

By asking the five questions above, you will know if the game is right for you. Ultimately, you should want a game that is fun, within your budget, simple and potential to win lots of money. If the game you’re looking at ticks these boxes, then you’re more likely to have a fun experience.

Summary

There you have it, a beginner’s guide to online slots. As you can see, online slots have plenty to offer poker players who are interested in pursuing another form of gambling. As always, we recommend you gamble responsibly, exercise cautious bankroll management and take plenty of breaks. Slots is a great game to play for fun but you are at the mercy of the casino having an edge on you. The reason for its popularity is due to the fun factor and the numerous variations that capture gamblers interests. So, if you’re suffering from burnout and want to try a different game, give slots a chance.

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Narciso Baldo is the Director and Head Coach of Texas Hold'em Questions. He has been playing poker for over 16 years. After spending many years as a professional, he now runs UK poker training site Texas Hold'em Questions. Narciso regularly writes poker articles sharing tips, strategy, news and experience with gambling enthusiasts. Narciso also writes for reputable gambling portal Casino City Times, (bio here). Contact: info@texasholdemquestions.com