What are online slots and how are they played? These are the questions that many new Arab casino players ask. It’s easy to think that there isn’t much involved in playing online slots. After all, they have been around for a long time and are played pretty much the same as their wonderful counterparts in brick-and-mortar casinos.
Don’t fall for this. The truth is that far from the colorful symbols, online slots are constantly changing with new features and terminologies getting introduced every few years or so.
Fortunately for you, in this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about playing online slots. We’ll tell you about these new features and we’re sure that in the end, you’ll be a pro at spinning those dashing reels.
Terms used in online slots
Playing online slots successfully comes down to understanding the terms associated with these games. Below are the most important terms you should be familiar with as an Arab player.
- Halal betting- This refers to playing responsibly, avoiding addiction, gambling crimes, and donating your wins. In fact, all Halal casinos accepting Arab players have a donation feature on the site where you can directly give your wins to charity without having to withdraw the money.
- Payline– the combination of symbols in casino slots that form a win.
- Reels– this is where the symbols of an online slot are placed.
- Bet Max– the maximum amount you can bet per spin.
- Bet Min– the minimum amount you can bet per spin.
- Bonus features– rewards that are included in the gameplay. They include free spins, re-spins, mini-games, and cash prizes.
How to play slot games
To get started with playing online slot games, follow the below steps.
- Find an online casino and sign up. There’s an abundance of online casinos on the internet. Therefore, only play at licensed sites.
- Select the type of slot you want to play. Depending on the site you’re playing at, you can either use a search bar or simply scroll through the casino games and click on the one you like.
- Check the paylines and paytable ensuring you understand the value of the symbols and the number of coins needed for every spin.
- Select the number of paylines you’d like to play.
- Click the ‘spin’ button to spin the reels.
Please note that online slot machines are played the same way on mobile and desktop. The operating buttons may be placed differently but their functions remain unchanged.
Types of online slots
Back in the late 90s, online casinos had slots with the same number of reels, paylines, and features. Today, there are four main types of online slots and they come with tons of different features. Here is a quick rundown of what you can expect.
Classic slots
You can’t play slots online without familiarizing yourself with classic slots. These games are simply the three-reel slots you’ll find at a brick-and-mortar casino. They are ideal for new players due to their easy-to-understand gameplay, but they’re a bit restricted when it comes to features.
Their variance is also generally high because of the low number of reels. However, they remain to be extremely enjoyable and lucrative. Don’t ever pass on the chance to play these popular slots. Those three traditional slots can be filled with matching symbols at any moment and win you a decent reward.
3D slots
As the name suggests, 3D slots incorporate three-dimensional elements in their designs and features. These slots can have 3 or more reels, but what really puts them at the top, is that, unlike most online slots that have simple backgrounds and symbols, 3D slots often have animated sequences.
3D slots are also mainly inspired by the entertainment industry or pop culture in general. By this, we mean that most of the 3D slots you’ll play will be in a way, related to a certain video game, film, or book.
Video slots
If three-reel online slots don’t appeal to you, you’ll be glad to know that video slots have five large reels that’ll propel you all the way to victory. We are not exaggerating when we say that video slots are the most popular slots in online casinos.
These slots are fitted with more paylines, better graphics, and a wide variety of features that twist the gameplay into something sophisticated but easy-to-follow. With many of them also having favorable variances, your bets will most likely bear good fruits.
Progressive slots
Have you ever heard of Mega Moolah or Major Millions? These are some of the most popular progressive jackpot slots in the world and they have one thing in common- an ever-growing pot. Unlike regular jackpots where there’s a fixed amount of money to be won, in these slot games, the jackpot grows whenever players bet.
Because of this, progressive jackpots have extremely high variances which make it difficult to win. Secondly, to play these games, you’ll need to place the maximum wager and this may remove the fun of playing and turn it into some kind of investment.
Types of special online slot symbols
In online slots, there are regular symbols and special symbols. Regular symbols include royal suits such as A, K, and Q while special symbols such as wilds, and scatters help to bring the game to life. If this sounds familiar and you’d like to know more, here’s a better explanation.
Wild symbols
Wild symbols are present in all popular slot games. Their function is to substitute for all other regular symbols on the reels to form a winning payline.
In other online slots, wilds can expand to fill an entire reel or become ‘sticky’ meaning, they’ll remain in the same position for the next spin. Some casino slots also have shifting wilds which move horizontally across the reels with each spin until they finally disappear from sight. Stacked wilds can also appear where they fall on top of one another on a single reel.
Scatter symbols
Scatters trigger free spins in online slots. These symbols can land anywhere on the reels and if you’re lucky to get 3 or more at a go, the free rounds will be yours. Keep in mind that not all online slots with scatters offer free spins.
Sometimes, the scatter symbols can trigger other types of bonus features, especially when it comes to progressive jackpots, so read the paytable thoroughly to avoid missing any key piece. Other times the scatters can trigger free spins and also pay.
Multiplier symbols
Do you want to have your wins multiplied? Land a multiplier symbol on the reels and your payout or current wager will be multiplied by a pre-determined number. Multipliers are not that common in casino slots and how they work can be a bit complicated.
Most multiplier symbols appear during free spin rounds. In other slots, a few complex steps must be taken to get a multiplier. Don’t frown though. Multipliers may be elusive, but they are there to boost your wins without requiring additional spins from you and your precious bankroll.
Bonus symbols
The bonus features we mentioned earlier in this guide arise from bonus symbols. Bonus symbols can either trigger free spins or a bonus game. It all depends on the online slot you’re playing. Unlike scatters and wilds which are represented by unique images, bonus symbols are often represented by a large ‘BONUS’ image.
Bonus symbols are common in progressive jackpot slots and they require some serious brain-storming. So, read the paytable to know the kind of options you’re getting.
Best online slot features you can unlock while playing
The features of an online slot are often directly linked to its symbols. Other stand-alone features also exist but they’re usually separated from the base games. If you’re curious about the features you can unlock when taking on slots online, keep reading and you’ll soon find out.
Free spin rounds
It goes without saying that free spin rounds are the product of free spins. During these free rounds, you’ll get to spin at no cost but there may be wagering requirements set by the casino, so be keen. The number of free spins also varies depending on the slot you’re playing.
Most online slots offer 3 to 15 free spins. Some games come with more but they’re pretty rare, so ensure you fully utilize the few free spins you’ll get.
Bonus games
Bonus games are sometimes referred to as exclusive games or built-in mini-games. These games often revolve around spinning a wheel or picking an item from a given list. Bonus rounds are also commonly found in progressive jackpot slots where players have to select an image that represents a prize.
Jackpots and free spins are among the many bonus wins you can get from sitting through one of these games, so don’t hesitate to play.
Re-spins
We do not set the rules for the online gaming community. However, we know for a fact that re-spins are offered by some of the best slots in the world. If unlocking free spins has gotten you all fired up, imagine the fun you can unleash with a few re-spins?
With a re-spin, you get to freeze the winning reels and spin twice the losing reel. This feature is a game-changer for jackpot slots. However, while most online slots require no additional wager for their re-spin feature, some may take away a few of your coins.
Slot gamble features
If you look carefully, you’ll notice that many slot games have a gamble feature. This feature allows players to risk their wins by playing a bonus game. If you make the correct prediction in this bonus game, your winnings are doubled and if you fail to make the correct prediction, all your winnings go back to the house.
Gamble features in online slots are becoming quite popular. However, we urge all beginners to steer clear of them until they become more experienced.
Conclusion
There’s a lot that goes into becoming a successful online slot player. From choosing the games to claiming bonuses and fulfilling the wagering requirements, it’s impossible to just wake up and become a master of this craft. Either way, we hope that the few things we’ve discussed in this guide will help you place your bets comfortably.
We also hope that you’ll play responsibly and above all else donate your winnings to charity. Sign up at a trusted casino today, claim that fantastic welcome bonus and have fun as you play your favorite online slots.