We’ve so far seen that online slots are easy and straightforward to play. This is one of the reasons why they are perhaps the most popular games both online and offline. However, there’s more to simply hitting the play button and hoping to land the big win. To increase your chances of winning, you need to know how to pick the right slots. One requirement of doing this is by mastering the slot machine lingo.
Action
Also referred to as ‘Play’. Refers to the action of spinning the reels
Active Payline
A payline that you have activated in a slot machine. Winning symbols only align along activated paylines
Autoplay
A feature commonly featured in video slots. It lets you re-spin the reels automatically for a given number of times
Avalanche Reels
Avalanche reels were first introduced in NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest slot. They are one of the ways to win in online slots. Symbols disappear from the screen to create room for more symbols to fall from above the screen. This sequence continues until there are no more winning symbols on the reels
BAR
One of the common symbols featured in classic slots. It’s usually written as BAR in most cases
Bet
This refers to wagering. It’s the act of staking money on the expected outcome of the game
Bet Max
Placing the maximum possible bet using one single click. Also referred to as Max Bet in some slots
Bonus Feature
In-game features in online slots, which reward players. These most common features include free spins
Branded Slots
This is a group of themed slot games usually based off popular films and TV shows
Both Ways To Win
Both ways to win slot games are those that form wins from either the left most reel to the rightmost reel or the rightmost reel to the left most reel
Buy a Feature
An innovative feature included in some online slot games. Using this feature, you spend extra cash in order to trigger a bonus feature
Carousel
Refers to grouped slot machines at the land based casinos. They are usually placed in a cluster to help players find a game that fits their budget easily
Cashback
It is a feature included in some online slots. It awards you money back on real money bets you place
Certified Online Slots
Real money slots with a 98% - 100% payout rate
Classic Slots
Type of slots that feature only three reels, and occasionally one payline. They also feature BAR and 7 symbols
Click and Pick
A type of in-game bonus round which presents you with a choice of icons. You need to click on a selected number of these icons to reveal either multipliers, free spins, cash prizes etc.
Coins
Refers to the currency you use to place bets in a slot machine
Coin Level
Also referred to as “Bet Level”. Used to adjust the coin size by increasing the number of coins bet per payline
Coin Size
Used to determine how much you’ll spend per line
Coins Per Line
The number of coins you can spend per line
Coins Per Spin
The number of coins you can spend per spin
Demo
One of the two playing modes in playing slots. When you are playing slots in demo mode, you are simply playing for free. You cannot win real money in demo mode
Denomination
The value of each credit that you will play in each online slot game
Deposit Bonuses
Bonuses awarded at casino sites for making a deposit. Comes in the form of either free spins or free cash
Edge
The advantage the house (casino site) has over the player
Expanding Wilds
Special types of wild symbols in slot games. Referred to as expanding wilds because they expand to cover the entire reel
Feature
In slot machines, a feature is simply a term referring to free spins, bonus round and more. The best online slots are usually feature rich
Flat Top Jackpot
One of the two types of jackpots in online slot games. It usually has a fixed jackpot
Fruit Machine
Another name used to refer to slot machines
Gamble Game
This is one of the popular in-game features. When you land a win, you can choose to gamble it for bigger rewards
Hit
Refers to winning in an online slot game. Small hits result from a normal win. Big hits refer to wins from a jackpot
High Paying Symbols
Symbols responsible for scoring you big wins in online slot games
High Volatility
A high volatility slot machine game is one that pays out small-medium wins more often and high wins once in a while
Hit Frequency
Refers to how often an online slot game pays out. Best online slots tend to have a high hit frequency
Hot Slot
A term used to refer to online slot games that pay out more often when compared to others
Jackpot
The top prize that you can win in any slot game. There are two types of jackpots in slot casino games – flat top jackpot and progressive jackpots
Line Bet
The total amount of credits that you wager per line
Linked Progressive Jackpot
If a game is part of a linked progressive jackpot, it is one of several games that contribute to the overall jackpot. A good example is the Mega Moolah linked progressive jackpot
Loose Slot
A term used to show that a slot machine pays out more often
Low Paying Symbols
Commonly represented by card symbols 10, J, Q, K, and A. They are responsible for complimenting the high paying symbols by awarding you with low payouts
Major Jackpot
It is the highest of the three main jackpots in a progressive slot game
Multiplier
If your spin in a slot game includes multipliers, your wins are subjected to the respective multiplier
Near Miss
When you miss scoring a win by a single symbol
Nickel Slots
Slot casino games that can only be played using a nickel (5 cents)
Nudge and Hold
A feature commonly found in UK fruit machines. Through it, you can lock a certain number of reels in place and move them up and down a couple of spots
One Arm Bandits
Slang used to refer to the classic ‘lever’ slot machines in the pubs. Commonly used in the UK
Pay Back Percentage
Another word for Return To Player RTP percentage. The figure indicates the expected return from slot machines over a couple of spins
Payline
These are lines running diagonally, horizontally, and vertically in slot machines. Winning symbols are usually aligned on active paylines. This, therefore, means the more the paylines active, the better your winning chances
Payout
The amount awarded for each specific win
Payout Percentage
Refer to Pay back percentage
Paytable
A table included in all slot games to break down all the information regarding the bonus games, return to player percentage, paylines, and expected symbol payouts
Penny Slots
Casino slot games you can play with the lowest denomination possible (1 cent)
Pokies
Australian slang word for slot machines
Progressive Jackpot
A jackpot that grows each time someone plays it. Mega Fortune Dreams, Divine Fortune, Mega Moolah and Arabian Nights are some of the popular progressive jackpots
Random Number Generator
Abbreviated as RNG, this is the software that ensures the game’s results are 100% fair and random. All online slot games have a RNG
Return To Player RTP
Refer to Pay Back Percentage
Reels
The spinning wheels in slot machines and are responsible for holding the game’s symbols
Re-spin
One of the several bonus games in online slot games. When you trigger a re-spin, you get one free spin(s)
Scatter Symbol
One of the main symbols in slots online. The main function is to trigger the free spins game. Different games have different scatter symbols
Select Lines
Simply refers to pick the number of lines you’d like to activate
Symbols
They are icons used by software developers such as Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Microgaming and the rest to give the game its unique theme
Variance
Also referred to as volatility and used to describe the level of risk in a slot game
Wild Symbol
Another special symbol in online slots. It plays the special role of substituting for all the other symbols besides the scatter. There are more than ten (10) wild symbols featured in online slots
Winning Combination
It is the combination of symbols you need to land along an active payline to receive a payout. There are different ways to win or form winning combinations but the most common way is landing symbols from the leftmost reel