How to Play Casino Slots: A Guide for Beginners

Online slots are casino games where you spin reels to match symbols. Some casino slot games have 3 reels, some 5 reels and some more.

Regardless of how many reels there are, the fundamental aim doesn't change: line up those matching symbols. Each combination has a value, and the rarest combinations (based on the number of symbols in play) are worth the most.

Before we take you through an example, here are the important parts of an online casino slot game:

You tap this to start the game and set the reels in motion.

Use + and – to adjust the game's coin value, i.e., the amount of money you're betting per spin.

Individual sections of the game-board that spin independently.

Images, icons, and numbers printed on the reels. Each symbol appears a specific number of times. Some symbols appear more frequently than others. Those that appear less frequently unlock bigger prizes.

Certain symbols unlock special features. There are three special symbols: wilds (these take the form of any other symbol, except for scatters), scatters (these symbols trigger bonus features and free spins), and multipliers (increase the value of a winning combination).

Symbols line up across paylines that crisscross the reels. Matching symbols that line up on a payline are classed as a winning combination. In most cases, combinations must run from left to right. However, certain online casino slots, such as Starburst, count combinations in both directions.

This shows you how much you can win for each specific combination. The minimum number of matching symbols required to make a winning combination varies from game to game. However, in most cases, you need to match at least three symbols to win a prize.

Those are the basic elements of online casino slots. They apply in almost every instance. However, some casino slot games have unique features that don't fit into the standard mold.

For example, it's usually the case that the number of paylines doesn't change. However, in Megaways slots, the number of paylines changes each time you spin. Similarly, even though most slots have spinning reels, some, such as Gonzo's Quest, have falling symbols.

Instead of symbols spinning, they fall from view, and new ones appear in their place. This dynamic is often accompanied by something known as cluster wins, which means that winning combinations are formed by clusters of matching symbols.

The point we're making is that some slots have features that break the rules or add something unique to the mix. You need to be aware of this so you always understand the task at hand when you're playing slots online. 

Now that you know the basics, here's how to play casino slots for real money or for free using one of our most popular games, Ramses Book:

The coin sizes range from 0.01 to 10.

You can activate 5 or 10 paylines. *Note: you wager 1 coin per payline. So, if you set the coin value to 1 and activate 5 paylines, your total bet per spin is 1 x 5 = $5.

Win a prize if three or more matching symbols land on an active payline.

In addition to fixed prizes worth up to 500x your bet, Ramses Book has these special features:

We've got hundreds of casino slot games to choose from. Some have fixed payouts, while others have progressive jackpots. Some slots offer free spins and multipliers, while others have clusters and cascading wins.

Basically, there are real-money casino slots for every taste. Our advice is to play at low stakes in order to find ones you like before increasing your bets to a level you're comfortable with. Some of our most popular online casino slots are:

Can you win consistently when you play casino slots online? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Like all casino games, slots are unpredictable. 

To get technical for a moment, online casino slots have theoretical return rates. Those of us in the business refer to these rates as Return to Player (RTP) values. These values give you an indication of how much you can expect to win.

For example, let's say a slot has an RTP of 96%, and you wager $100. This means you'll win, on average, $96 for every $100 wagered. Importantly, a game's RTP doesn't dictate how much you'll win on any given spin. It doesn't even dictate how much you can win in a single session. RTP values are the average win rate calculated after 10,000 or more spins.

Essentially, it's what you expect to win, on average, if you play the game forever. None of us has the time to play for that long, which is why RTP values are a guide. They tell us the theoretical long-term win rate. They don't tell you how much you'll win in the short term.

Variance, another important concept in gambling, comes into play here. You should see the RTP value as a target. The results you experience during a single session will be above and below this target. This is variance. Your results are fluctuating (i.e., varying) around the mean (i.e., the target RTP).

Over time, the average of your results will move towards the target. That's why you can win more than a game's RTP suggests you should win in a single session. It's also why your results can be worse than the game's RTP in the short term.

All of this matters because you can't control variance. That's why it's hard to develop a casino slots strategy. Essentially, you have to accept the results as they occur.

That being said, there are three things you can do to give yourself the best chance of success when it comes to playing casino slot games for real money:

You can choose your stakes with all casino slot games, so feel free to start small in terms of stakes. If you find you like the slot and are used to the aims and features, increase to a level you're comfortable with.

Although your results in a single session can vary, your long-term win rate will be better if you play online casino slots with better RTP values. As a general rule, anything over 95% is considered a good RTP.

Never risk more than you can afford to lose. Each bet you make should be a small percentage of your bankroll. Additionally, you should set conservative win and loss limits before you start. Stick to these rules, and you'll give yourself the best chance of getting maximum value from all the online slots here at WPT Global.