The Three Essential Types of Online Slot Games Compared

In essence, there are three types of online slot games that players can choose from.  These are the Video Slots, the Reel Slots and the Progressive Slots.  These three types of online slot games are significantly similar, yet each one has its own distinct characteristics and features from the other types of slot games. Thus, it is very important that the player checks the rules and features of the online slot machines before indulging in the games.  Familiarize yourself what the paylines are, the rules, the payout for each symbol, and the specific features of the games, which include the bonus features. Each type of online slot games may have slightly varying rules and features on how to play the games, but the principle of winning is universal. 

The Main Objective of the Online Slots Games

The main objective of online slots games is to spin the slot machine reels and luckily get three or more identical symbols to appear on an enabled payline.   To further explain, a payline is a line that crosses all the reels on the online slot machine.  It can be zigzagged, diagonal or horizontal.  Also, there could as many as a hundred paylines on the slot machine or just one.  This depends on how many paylines the player would enable.  You need not worry if you don’t memorize the configurations of the paylines as the online slot machine automatically figures out your winnings.  

Some online slot machines have “Ways to Win” rather than paylines.  Still, the objective of having three or more identical symbols to appear in the correct places lets you win a prize and receive a payout.   How big the payout is depends on the symbol and the rules of each specific online slot machine.

How to Play Online Reel Slots

The Reel Slots are almost similar to the old fashioned mechanical slot machines.  These slots are also the most basic of all the online slot games nowadays.  There are three reels and one to five paylines per game.  It is basically simple because all the player has to do is to choose the coin size he wants to play with and the number of coins he wants to wager, and then he just has to press the Spin button.  The reels on the online slot machine automatically spin and stop at a certain point.  The universal rule of winning in online slot games applies: if you luckily get three or more identical symbols to appear on an enabled payline, you win.     

How to Play Online Video Slots

Video Slots are the most complex of the online slot machines available today.  They have five reels and can have as many as a hundred paylines or a thousand Ways to Win.  Choosing to play online video slots would require you to first choose the coin size, then decide how many coins to bet on each payline and enable as many paylines as you want to wager on.  Click the Spin button and watch and wait while the machine reels do their thing.  The positions at which the reels come to stop determine whether you win or not, and if you do, how much. 

How to Play Online Progressive Slots

The latest trend in online slot games is the online progressive slots.  This is deemed as the epitome of online slots gambling that offers enormous payouts that could literally change your life.  The online progressive slots can have three to five reels.  Basically, all the progressive jackpot slot machines are linked together regardless of where you are at the time you play the game.  Each time somebody plays on a progressive slot machine, a certain amount or percentage of the money that is wagered is automatically put into the progressive jackpot.  The jackpot keeps on progressing; thus, the prize is getting bigger and bigger until a lucky winner hits the jackpot. Winning a progressive jackpot is the most exciting thing in online slot games as you can win thousands or millions or pounds, dollars or Euros. 

At first, the casino slot machines were originally based on a simple formula.  If a player won, a specific amount of money came rolling out of the machine accompanied with a lot of bells and fanfare.  Then came the idea of progressive slot machines which offered no maximum amount of jackpot.  The jackpot would start at a minimum amount but every time somebody played and did not win, the jackpot amount would get higher.  Finally, the progressive slots go online which means that a single online slots game can be played by millions of players from all over the world.  Every time the jackpot is not hit, the jackpot amount gets higher and higher, thus the term “progressive.”  If one lucky winner hits the jackpot, he or she wins all the marbles and brings home a huge collated amount.   

Remember to Enjoy Playing the Online Slot Games

The most important tip of all is to remember that playing online slot games should be fun.  Limit your wagers and do not go overboard.  If the slot games are causing you anxiety, then the best remedy is to stop playing the games.  Winning the slot games is really great, and if you do win, then celebrate.  If you lose, then just think of the slots losses as a cost of entertainment since in the first place, you should have managed your bets.  If you think your losses as a part of a game quite similar to spending for movie tickets or a football game, then you can accept it with a light heart.  And then, who knows, the next day that you play the online slot games, Lady Luck may smile at you and you win.  Enjoy!

The Perks of Joining Multi-Player Online Slots Tournaments

Playingslot machines online is certainly not a lonely activity because you can engage in exciting multi-player slots tournaments.  This type of slot game allows you to be initiated and be linked to the community of slot enthusiasts worldwide.  It offers a lot of perks for being a part of a community that shares your interests and enthusiasms.  In a multi-player slots tournament, you can test your skills, luck and strategies as you compete against other online slot gamers to win the jackpot.

Benefits of an Online Multi-Player Slots Tournament

Aside from the fact that it is very exciting, Tthere are a lot of benefits in joining multi-player slots tournaments.   Let us count the ways.  First, because it enables you to be initiated into the community of online slot aficionados worldwide, the games become rather very exciting as the multi-player tournaments give you the opportunity to compete to be Number 1.  Seeing your name on top of the Leader Board gives you the rush and the undeniable thrill.  Added to the swell of pride is knowing that everybody else can see your name listed as Number 1 as a Certified Slots Champion.  

Second, you can bring in real cash in multi-player slots tournaments.  You can win as much as $5,000 and even the smallest tournament can guarantee you at least $6 to $10, which as you would say, wouldn’t change your life.  But, definitely, there is nothing wrong in tripling your money while you are having fun playing the online slots games.  

Finally, there is little risk in joining the online slots tournaments.  If you do lose, all you can lose is your entry fee.  In some days, if not most, you may lose the tournaments, and it does happen.  But all you have to lose is the few dollars you paid to start joining the tournament. 

Multi-Player Slots Tournaments Winners and Prizes

The player with the highest balance in the player’s Win Box at the end of the tournament is declared the winner.  Based on this, it is easy to realize that the best strategy is to wager all your coins because you are neither given credits for your remaining coins in your Coins Box at the end of the tournament nor you are penalized for losing spins.  Hence, to emphasize, the best strategy is to wager all the coins in your Coins Box and spin to build up your Win Box. 

The number and size of the prizes vary from tournament to tournament.  The biggest tournaments, which are usually played by hundred of players, can give a payout of at least $5,000 to the winner – the first place finisher.  In addition, it can also award minor prizes to each of the top 100 finishers.  All the relevant information about the prizes of the tournaments is displayed on the screen before you start the tournament, so there is no confusion about prizes.  Aside from its entertainment value, participating in the online multi-player slots tournament for the sake of the prizes as a return on your investment of the entry fee has always proved exciting. 

Tips in Competing in a Multi-Player Slots Tournament

It is always an advantage if you are armed with strategies and techniques before indulging in the online multi-player slots tournaments.  Playing in an online slots tournament is like playing the regular online slot games, but you have to bear in mind that this time, you are competing against other players around the world.  It is also important to take note that the tournament has a pretty short time limit of about 5 minutes.  So, you should not play at a leisurely pace or take a break when the tournament has started. 

The Online Slots Tournament Computer Screen Features

It is very important that you understand all the features displayed on the slots tournament computer screen as these are distinct from the regular online slot machines.  The features are Coins Box, Win Box, Play Time Box and Leader Board. 

Coins Box

All players in the online slots tournament begin with the same number of coins which is displayed in their Coins Box.  All players might, for example, begin with 5,000 coins.  All of their bets are deducted from this coin balance.  Your winnings are not added to the coin balance; thus, the coin balance only decreases during the tournament.  If your coin balance is too low to make a minimum bet or reaches zero, your tournament game is over. 

Win Box

At the beginning of each tournament, the Win Box is zero for each player.  All wins that the player gets during the tournament is added to the Win Box balance.  Thus, the Win Box balance increases during the tournament game.  The player who gets the largest balance in the Win Box will be declared the winner of the multi-player slots tournament. 

Play Time Box

Players in the multi-player online slots games are given a limited time to play, which typically runs for about 5 minutes.  So when the tournament has started, it is not wise if you play in a leisurely manner or take breaks.  The Play Time Box counts down the time left.  When the Play Time Clock reaches zero, the tournament game is over.  

Leader Board

The Leader Board gives the players the opportunity to view the information for the players participating in the tournament.  It displays the following information:

•  Position.  At the beginning of the tournament, the Position column is blank, but as the tournament game progresses, it shows the position of each player.  The player’s position moves up and down during the tournament.  The player’s position depends on the performance of the other players in the tournament game.  
•  Alias. The Alias is the name of the player uses in the tournament.  You can also choose your “Lucky Alias” the moment you join the tournament.
•  Coins.  This feature shows the number of coins the player has remaining in his Coins Box.
•  Win Box.  This feature shows each player’s total wins during the tournament.

Prize.  This feature shows the prize amount in US dollars or in Euros the player has won.  This column remains blank until after the multi-player online slots tournament game is over and the winner has been declared.

A Quick Guide to Playing Online Slot Games

When playing online slot games for the first time, the most important thing to do is to make sure that the casino or site that you will be playing on is legit. Otherwise, you will wind up losing a lot more money than you could afford, and that always spells trouble. For online gamers, games leased by licensed software companies provide fair play - playing anywhere else has greater risk of being tricked by the proprietors.

Another vital step is to make sure you actually know how to play the game, which will allow you to have a better understanding of the rules and tricks needed to win. Pick a slot game that your budget can afford, as well as a game that you will be comfortable with. It's also highly recommended that new players should just start off with the classic "3 Reels" games to better understand the complexities of the game, with little risk to the wallet. After all, everyone has to start somewhere.

Place a limit on how much money you want to spend on the game. Only a fool would want to throw all his money away on a game that relies on chance. Pay attention to the pay table, and see if you need special bet levels for bonus games, jackpots and/or the game prizes. If you don't pay attention, the results will be financially devastating.

Easy Tips on Playing

Here are a couple of things you have to remember before you even start playing. Online slot games have that very useful "Help" button somewhere on the screen. For the gambling site as a whole, a quick read of the laws is beneficial, and you should also look for the eCOGRA Seal of Approval logo, and sites associated with the Interactive Gaming Council, or else you might be treading on illegal sites. 

Every single game has different payout percentages and rewards. Look out for these (it won't hurt to observe other players as long as you don't make yourself conspicuous, right?), and you'll know which game would work out the best for you. Browsing other sites is also a good option because they usually have recommendations for places where the player can expect to have good gains.

Always keep in mind that the number of coins you use up on a slot game doesn't increase your chances of winning. Neither will playing the game faster. In addition, playing on the same game for too long doesn't increase your chances. The payouts are always read as random (determined by what they termed as "Random Number Generator", or RNG, which constantly generates numbers at a rate of hundreds, or perhaps even thousands, per second), chances would never change just because of these factors. 

If your luck is running dry on one game, it wouldn't hurt to try your chance at another. This is a weird notion, but sometimes, a person's mood can also determine his luck at the slot games. Word of the wise: never play unless you're in a good mood. If you're feeling sour, you just might lose more money.
For higher winnings, it's a good idea to gamble with the maximum number of coins that the game asks of you. The higher the number, the higher the chances of winning.

Choosing the Perfect Slot Machine

Progressive and multiple-payline slots are special kinds of slot categories. Progressive games have larger number of symbols, lowering your chances to match and line up a win. Multiple-payline slots, on the other hand, have lower payout rates, and are much lower than single-payline rates. Only players who are ready to make a huge gamble should tackle these types of games. Otherwise, they should just stick to the Classic reels.
 
Other Vital Tips

Keep track of your winnings by using a logbook. With that logbook, you can track your losses or winnings, and let you notify if you're spending too much time (and money!) at a certain slot.
When the rare chance of consecutive wins comes up, you may take the risk of targeting the bigger jackpots. Take your chance at the bonus features, which offers greatest pay-outs with just a few more bucks.

You should also learn when to stop gambling – which I know is easier said than done, especially when you are in a hot streak. Try to limit your bets to the amount of money you started with. It is wise to never use your winnings for more games, just pay it out so you would still wind up a winner. Instead, just save it up for another day.

Slot Machine Tips: The Winning Strategies

There is no denying the fact that the primary element in winning slots is luck.  Regardless, online slot machine enthusiasts do have some strategies they religiously follow to increase their winning chances. You, too, can have the chance to win the game by following these winning slot machine strategies, which  guarantee a great experience, and who knows, you may even end up richer. 

1.      Pick Your Online Slot Machine

One of the great perks of an online casino is a wide array of slot games; however, this could also present confusion to the gamers, especially the neophytes.  Some online casinos have a wide variety of online slot machines that could reach up to 200.  These online slots can be classified as “3-reel classic slots,”  “5-reel video slots,” and UK-style online fruit machines.  Some online slots games also offer slot machines with themes ranging from the Wild West to the African jungle to the frozen arctic and from dinosaurs to famous movies and TV shows to space travel.  Every gamer has a specific game that is right for him or he feels right for him.  So it is best to take your time and browse through some online slot games that appeal to you. 

2.       Learn to Play Your Online Slot Game

Every online slot game is distinct from others in some ways.  Before you start to play, familiarize yourself with the rules of your chosen slot machine.   Make sure that you understand the slots terminologies like “multipliers” and “scatters.”  The more you are knowledgeable on these things, the more you will enjoy your online slots game.  It is an advantage if you know what to do in order to win.  Understand all the wild symbols or multipliers the online slot might present even before you indulge in the game.  Make sure you also understand the bonus features offered, if it has.  Knowing all these important rudiments in the game will make you less disappointed. 

3.      Understand the Online Slots Payout Tables

All online slot machines present payout tables that let you know how much you are going to win for each combination.  It is important that you study the payout table before you start to play.  No need to worry because oftentimes the slot machine gives clues on how to play the game.  In the Lion's Share online slot machine, for example, the slots payout table instructs you that if you wager 1 coin and spin three lions, you will win 2,000 coins, for a payout of 2,000 to 1. If you wager 2 coins and spin three lions, you will win 4,000 coins, which is also a ratio of 2,000-to-1. But if you wager 3 coins and hit the three lions, you win 8,000 coins, for a much better payout ratio of 2,667-to-1.  In other words, betting three coins is clearly the best slots strategy when you are playing the Lion's Share. You might have second thoughts to this strategy for the reasoning that three coins are too much to bet on each spin because you naturally want to conserve your bankroll.  The best solution for this is to simply choose a smaller coin rationalizing that betting three small coins won’t cost you any more than betting one large coin.  In a nutshell, wagering three coins is still the best strategy in winning games in the online slot machines. 

4.       Play Some Practice Slots Games

Most of the best online slot machine casinos allow the gamers to play the practice games for free.  Grab this opportunity and take advantage of it before you indulge in the real online slot game.  Playing free slot games gives you the opportunity of testing the waters and making sure you understand all the rules, the terminologies and the over-all features of the game.  When you feel truly comfortable with your game, it is the only right time to start playing the online slots for real money wagers. 

5.       Progressive Slot Machine Strategy

Most online progressive slot machines will not award the ultimate jackpot unless you pay in the maximum bet.  Of course, anybody can enjoy playing the progressive online slot machine. These progressive online slots will let you win some good payouts, even without winning the jackpot.  However, if you are playing a progressive slot machine, you should try to hit the jackpot.  The best strategy in winning the progressive online slot machines is to always wager the maximum bet, thus giving yourself more chances of winning the huge progressive jackpot. 

6.      Online Slots Money Management

It is always wise to keep tabs on your bankroll no matter what game that involves money you are playing with.  This rule of thumb is also applicable in playing online slot games.  You should set a limit on how much you are going to spend on the game and do not go overboard.  Remember to play for fun, enjoy the rush of watching all the symbols spin and keep your fingers crossed and hope that they spin your way! 

Remember, winning in online slot games does not only require luck, but most importantly, as same rules apply to all games; the best weapons that you can gather are your winning strategies!

How to Effectively Play Online Slots Games

The newest addition to the trend in the Internet gaming nowadays is online slot machine, which is otherwise known as online fruit machines in UK and online pokies in Australia.  Most online slots offer more than 200 online slot games, with each of them offering its own rules, terminologies and features.  Here are some basic guidelines that will get you started in playing the online slot machines. 

Reels and Paylines

The reels are the main elements of any slot machine.  A reel is primarily a wheel with symbols inscribed or printed on it.   When you click on the spin button, the reels spin around and ultimately stop in a particular position.   

The symbols that you can see on the slot machine are related to the theme of the slot machine game.  To illustrate, “Dolphin Tale” has an underwater theme.  Other symbols include fish, clams, dolphins, crabs, octopuses and shrimps.  Some common symbols in many online slot machines are playing cards, the number 7, the bar symbol and the cherries. 

A payline is basically a line that runs across the reels.  This line could be diagonal, horizontal or zigzagged.  When you wager on a specific payline, you have actually “enabled” that payline.  You will win at online slots games when the winning symbols correctly appear on the payline that you have chosen. 

Classic Slots, Fruit Machines and Video Slots

The two main types of online slot machines are the video slots and the classic slots.  The special type of classic slots is the fruit machines. 

Classic Slots, the three-reel slot machines, are also known as reel slots.  They appear to have a curved, 3-D appearance on your computer screen, the design of which is inspired from the original mechanical slot machines. 

Video Slots are the five-reel slot machines.  They appear flat on the computer screen which is like that of a flat-screen TV.  These slots have at least 5 paylines while some have up to 100 paylines.  Some video slots have done away with paylines altogether and feature over 1,000 ways to win. 

Fruit Machines are the UK-style three-reel slot machines.  These slot machines are also known as AWP or Amusement with Prizes and usually offer special nudge and hold features and a lot of bonus games. 

Scatter Symbols, Wild Symbols and Multipliers

Scatter Symbols only appear in video slot machines.  What makes them distinct from other symbols is that they don’t have to appear on an enabled payline to win.  They can be distributed anywhere on the five reels.  To illustrate, in Ladies Night, the scatter symbol is the Waiter.  If two Waiter symbols appear anywhere on the reels, you win two times the amount you wager.  If more Waiter symbols appear, then you win even more, up to 500 times the amount of your wager if the five Waiter symbols appear. 

Wild Symbols appear in both video and classic slots.  Much like a wildcard in a poker game, a wild symbol can substitute any other symbol to complete the winning combination.  This symbol can also act as a Multiplier in many online slot games.  This eventually means that the payout for a winning combination that includes the wild symbol is multiplied by 2, 3 or even more.  To illustrate, the Lion is the wild symbol of the Lion’s Share online slot games.   If one Lion is used to complete a winning combination, then the payout is doubled.  If two Lions are used to complete the winning combination, then the payout is quadrupled. 

Free Spins, Gambles and Bonus Features

Most online slot games offer a Free Spins feature.  With this feature, the gamer has a chance to win huge amounts of money with no risk of losing any.  To illustrate, in Flying Circus, three Clown symbols will give you 25 free spins.  If you are lucky enough and you get three Clowns again while doing your free spins, then you get additional free spins. 

Another common bonus is the Gamble feature.  After winning, you can still try to double your winnings by trying to guess the color of a playing card.  You can also quadruple your prize by trying to guess the suit.  If you guessed it wrongly, you will lose your original winnings, which is the very reason why it is termed Gamble.  Other bonus features include the Treasure Bonus Game in the Age of Discovery wherein you can win up to 32,259 coins.  Also, in Bars and Stripes, the Hat bonus game enables you to win up to 47,500 coins.  Different online casino slots have different features.  It is always wise to check these bonus features before you indulge in the game. 

Free Slots and Real Money Slots

Most of the online slot machines offer free slots games which give the players the opportunity to check out all the slot games and choose which ones they like best for free.  The free slots games will give you chance to have the “feel” of the real money slots.  So play for free before you play for the real money slots or indulge right away in the real game – the choice is yours.   

Online Slots Tournaments

The online slots tournaments is the more exciting way to play the online slots games, wherein you get to play against other online slots players unlike the regular solitary online slot game.  All the online players start with the same number of coins stipulated in their Coin Box.  Every time a player bets, coins are deducted from his Coin Box.  On the other hand, if the player wins, coins are added to his Win Box.   The online player who finishes with the most number of coins in his Win Box at the end of the tournament is declared the online slots tournament champion. 

Playing Online Slots

Before you start playing online casino slot games, you have to decide on the coin size, number of paylines enabled and number of coins per payline.  Click the Plus or Minus button when selecting the coinsize.  Decide the number of coins per payline by clicking the Select Coins button.  Select the number of enabled paylines by clicking the Select Lines button. 

How to Win at Online Slots

You win at online slots games when a winning combination of symbols appears on the payline you enabled.  Thus, if you enabled multiple paylines, it means you have more chances of winning.  The number of coins also contributes to your possibility of winning the game. 

Online Progressive Slots

What makes progressive slots special is that they offer progressive jackpots for a specific winning combination.  The progressive jackpot has no fixed value, which means it keeps on getting bigger and bigger every time somebody plays the game.  In famous online progressive slots games like Major Millions and King Cashalot, the progressive jackpots can reach up to hundred of thousands of dollars and even millions of dollars.  In other online progressive slots games, the progressive jackpots tend to be more modest, but they are also definitely worth trying. 

With all this information in mind, you are now ready to have fun playing online slots and online slots tournaments anytime!  Good luck!