When it comes to slot machines, there is a lot to keep track of. Symbols, paylines and bonus rounds all need to be taken into account. Fortunately, understanding how to read a slot’s pay table can help you make sense of it all.
In addition to their regular payouts, many slots offer bonus levels and jackpots. These features can increase your chances of winning big.
Symbols
Symbols are essential to slot games, determining the payout table and triggering various features. They also contribute to the overall theme of a game. Some symbols are standard and others can be found only in specific slots. There are three types of slot symbols: standard, bonus, and wild.
The first type of slot symbols are called standard, and they pay out when they appear in a row on an active payline. They are typically designed to fit the game’s theme and can include icons like bells, bars, and the number 7. The bar symbol, for example, is a nod to the early design of fruit machines and has become a staple of slot games.
Another type of slot symbol is a wild, which replaces other symbols to form winning combinations. Some wild symbols are also multipliers, which automatically increase the value of your winnings. These symbols can appear on all reels or only some and are usually accompanied by an exclamation mark.
Paylines
Generally speaking, winning paylines in slot machines are triggered when matching symbols appear consecutively on the reels. These lines can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal or zig-zag shaped, and they may form shapes such as stars or hearts. The number of winning lines and the way they pay out are determined by a game’s paytable, which can be found in the main screen of any online slot machine.
In addition to standard paylines, many modern slot machines offer win-both-ways mechanisms that allow players to collect payouts regardless of where on the reels matching symbols appear. Popular games such as Gluttony by Nolimit City and Zombie Carnival by Pragmatic Play Global fall into this category.
While higher paylines increase chances of a payout, they also introduce greater risk. It is therefore important for players to carefully weigh their risk tolerance and choose a game that suits their personal needs.
Bonus rounds
When a bonus round is activated, players will be presented with a special minigame. These minigames are designed to keep players engaged and win them more prizes without risking their bankroll. They also increase the fun factor of the game.
The way that these games work varies from one slot to the next. Some offer free spins, while others feature a wheel of fortune or other types of jackpots. It is important to read the paytable of a slot before playing it to find out how the bonus rounds are triggered and what prizes they can yield.
Besides free spins and bonus rounds, many online casinos also offer progressive jackpots. These jackpots are based on the percentage of each bet that is contributed by the player. These jackpots can reach staggering amounts and allow players to walk away with life-changing sums of money. However, it is crucial to play responsibly and set limits for yourself when gambling.