How to Play Slots

A part of the reason why slot machines are so popular is because they are very easy to figure out. Just about anyone can walk in to a casino and have the general idea down in a few minutes. The subject of “how to play slots” is pretty basic but there are also a few other things we can share that you might find useful.

To actually play a slot machine, all you have to do is find a slot machine that looks like fun and put your money into the coin acceptor. If you play online, you’ll see an option where you can choose how much money you wish to wager per spin. After you have that take care of, you can push the button or pull the lever to set the reels spinning. When the reels come to a rest, you’ll be paid if the reels land on the right symbols.

Slot Machine Pay Tables

Every slot machine has a pay table that lists qualifying symbols and their corresponding prize payouts. For example, if a pay table says 3 cherries pays 100 credits, that means you’ll be paid if the reels land with 3 cherries showing. Each slot machine has several different combinations of winning symbols. The rarer a combination of symbols is, the more it pays out.

It’s always a good idea to check the pay tables before you play at a slot machine. That way, you’ll see all the potential payouts and know what to expect. Certain jackpots, for example, require you to wager a certain number of coins to qualify for the maximum amount.

Slot Machine Paylines

In multi-reel slot machines, you may activate more than one payline at a time. A payline is an imaginary line along which the reels can land for a winning payout. A basic 3-reel machine might look something like this:

This machine might have paylines along AAA,BBB,CCC plus two diagonal paylines. If the correct symbols land in any payline, you win the prize listed in the pay table. You can activate additional paylines in slot machines by placing wagers on each additional payline.

Many slots players like to play with as many paylines as possible but they don’t like to risk too much money per spin. Instead, they will lower their betting denominations until the total cost per spin becomes something acceptable. For example, a slot player who wants to wager a total of $1.00 per spin could place $0.10 bets on 10 paylines.

Progressive Jackpot Slot Machines

Progressive jackpot slot machines keep a percentage of every bet placed at the slot machine and set it aside in a special prize pool. Every once in a while, a lucky player hits the right combination of symbols and wins the entire progressive jackpot.

Certain progressive jackpots can reach millions of dollars, especially when linked across multiple slot machines. Online casinos often link together hundreds of slot machines, which allows the progressive jackpots to grow to incredible heights in a short amount of time.

Finding the Right Slot Machine

Online slot machines typically offer the highest payouts so if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, take a look at our recommended online casinos. In any casino, there are dozens of slot machines to choose from that offer a wide variety of experiences. Some slot machines are designed to look like old-fashioned 3 reel machines while others look like high tech video games.

The most graphically appealing slot machines today are called “video slot machines.” These slots feature animated graphics, fun side games and lots of gambling options. With these slot machines, you can wager anywhere from $0.01 per spin on up to $100 or more per spin.