How to Play Slot Machines | Full Guide to Rules and Features
Slot machines are like video games where you spin reels to match symbols and win credits. Everyone stops by them at casinos, hoping to win big. The factor that makes them so appealing is the jackpot prizes they offer.
To play, you just have to pick a machine you like, check how much you win for matching symbols, put in money, choose how much to bet, spin, and see if you win!
Casino sites offer hundreds of titles with various themes and ways to play, so this slot machine guide can help beginners understand it all.
Below, I’ll cover everything from how slots work to the rules and strategies to make the most of your time at the reels.
Table of Contents
Everything You Need To Play and Win Online
How to Play Slots in a Nutshell
Once you know the anatomy of the game, you can start to put it all together. Below is a quick step-by-step explanation of how to play casino slots.
Find a Slot Machine Game
Browse around the casino floor or online gambling site and choose a fun slot that offers bet limits that suit your budget.Get to Know the Rules and Paylines
Read the game rules before you put money in or press the spin button. When playing slots online, you can hit a button that gives you the rules, but in person, they should be printed or scrolled across the screen.
Some modern machines have touch screens that will take you to the rules page with paytables.Set up Your Play & Make Your Bet
Designate your wager amount and the number of paylines you want to employ. Your bet and payout per spin will depend on how many credits or coins you play per payline.
The old machines may take coins, but most newer ones work with bills or tickets you purchase at a window.Hit the Spin Button or Pull the Arm
You can spin one at a time or sometimes auto-spin multiple times.
Your balance will change with each spin, displaying the win amount as you go. Old machines will usually spin out coins in real-time.
How Slots Work
Slots are the most popular casino game worldwide.
Nowadays, when you walk into a casino, you will find two types of machines: Mechanical slots with plastic reels that spin mechanically and simulated slots presented in computer graphics.
Slots are kind of the enigma of the casino. This special machine randomly spits out money after rows and columns of fruits and dragons spin around in circles. So, what is the deal, and how do slot machines work?
The dawn of these games was entirely mechanical, and they worked much more like pinball machines. A pull of the arm would trigger tubes, wires, physical reels, and motors into action, and where they stopped, nobody knows.
If they landed just right, you’d get a payout.
Today’s digital or video slots, both in-person and online, run on random number generators (RNG) that calculate the outcome of a spin using an algorithm.
The second you press the button or pull the arm, the outcome is determined, and the rest of what you see on the screen is all for show. It didn’t always used to be that way, though.
Types of Slot Machines
Below is a description of the types of slots you’ll find at the best online casinos.
One game might be described as two or more of the sub-types listed below. For instance, a video slot might be progressive and interactive as well.
Video Slots
Video slots require a video screen to play the game.
3D Animated Slots
These are video slots that use 3D animations.
Skill-Based Slots
These types have skill elements that mimic online games.
Progressive Slots
The jackpot increases with every spin from a pool of players.
Multiple Payline Slots
These machines have dozens of paylines you can select.
Reel Slot Machines
The more traditional slots are the reels. There are usually 3 to 5 reels in classic slots.
Penny Slot Machines
These are games that accept the smallest bets.
Interactive Slots
These are games where the player interacts with the game.
Slot Machine Symbols Explained
Understanding slot symbols can help you make the best of your gameplay.
The games offer bonus features that give players a sense of accomplishment and the idea that something special is about to happen.
Below, we included the most common symbols so you can start getting familiar with them.
Standard Symbols
The standard symbols essentially act as fillers in a slot machine.
Many times, the face card symbols, fruit, or 7s make up this category. Each pays at different rates.
Wild Symbols
Wilds substitute for other symbols in the game, making it easier to hit winning combos.
They usually don’t replace scatters or other special symbols.
Scatter Symbols
Scatters are special symbols that have specific functions according to the game you’re playing.
In many games, they trigger various special features.
Bonus Symbols
Games may have one or several bonus symbols that unlock special rounds or payout in some unique way.
Look for sticky symbols, bonus rounds, and symbols that fill an entire reel to help create big wins.
Multiplier Symbols
Multipliers are unique features that multiply your winnings by a predetermined figure.
If this symbol lands on a winning line when you spin, it increases your winnings. Multipliers can go anywhere from 2x to over 100x.
Free Spin Symbols
The scatter often covers free spin rounds, but occasionally, you’ll find games with unique free spin symbols.
As few as one can trigger the game to turn the reels a preset amount automatically.
Understanding Slot Machine Paylines
The earliest 3 reel games only had one pay line. However, as features evolved, so did the number of paylines, to the point where some games have dozens or even hundreds.
Here’s what you can expect with slot machine payouts based on the number of paylines.
Single Payline Slots
You must land symbols directly in the center reel to win in single pay line games.
20 to 30 Paylines
Many 5 reel games feature 20, 25, or 30 paylines. This offers more chances to win.
243 Ways to Win
A 243 ways game allows 243 paylines to be created as long as they’re in adjacent reels.
1,024 Ways to Win
These are the same concept as 243 ways slots, except they create 1,024 ways to win.
Top Casinos to Play Slot Machines
The best casino sites have slots that you can play for real money. They support the most common forms of payment, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Bitcoin.
Let’s take a closer look at the sites we recommend.
| RANK | ONLINE CASINO | BONUS | # OF SLOTS | RTP | START |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
DuckyLuck Casino |
BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | # OF SLOTS 600 | RTP 97.43% | Play Now |
| 2 |
Bovada Casino |
BONUS 125% up to $3,750 | # OF SLOTS 435 | RTP 96.98% | Play Now |
| 3 |
SlotsandCasino |
BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | # OF SLOTS 594 | RTP 97.12% | Play Now |
| 4 |
BetUS |
BONUS 150% up to $3,000 | # OF SLOTS 367 | RTP 96.83% | Play Now |
| 5 |
Cafe Casino |
BONUS 350% up to $2,500 | # OF SLOTS 384 | RTP 96.95% | Play Now |
How to Beat Slot Machines
Slots are the simplest of casino games to play. You just bet and spin.
But learning to play the right way is a matter of money management, discipline, and taking advantage of things that give you the best returns. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Use Bonuses
With bonuses, casinos can start you off with money to spend while finding the right slot game.
You can also earn rewards at land-based casinos if you join the casino’s complimentary club.
Take these deals when you can.
Use Free Spins
You can pick up these freebies when joining online casinos or with a land-based operation’s loyalty membership.
Often part of a bonus, these deals give you a designated number of spins at no cost.
Try New Slots
Don’t play on slots that recently won. A machine that recently hit big won’t pay well again soon.
Find one that hasn’t hit big in a while. You may even watch another player play out and give up.
Factors That Determine How Much Slots Payout
Use the guidelines below to find the slot machines with the highest chances of winning. We divide slots into two sections: those with the highest payout percentage and those with the biggest jackpots.
Highest Payout Percentage
One method is to choose machines with the highest payout percentage.
But where can I find these slots? As a general rule, Classic 3-Reel games with a fixed jackpot have a higher payout percentage.
Also, ensure the game has the highest coin denominations you can afford.
The bigger the coin denomination, the lower the house edge, and casino owners want to encourage high-stakes players to gamble at their venue.
Largest Jackpot
Progressive slot machines are going to be the games with the largest jackpots.
A progressive jackpot accumulates over time. Each spin that does not trigger the progressive feeds the pot by a little bit more.
These games can be any size, but the most famous ones range into the millions (or tens of millions) of dollars.
For example, when you hit a MegaBucks slot, it will pay out anywhere between $10 million and $40 million.
Slot Machine Odds
The slot machines with lower jackpots have better odds. Progressive jackpot machines are likely to have a high house edge. Classic 3-reels with small fixed maximum wins are likely to have a low house edge.
But, how can I find them? Return-to-player (RTP) and Volatility are essential for determining odds. Let’s take a look at the concepts to calculate better the chances of winning.
What is RTP and Slot Volatility?
The RTP (Return to Player) is the expected payout expressed as a percentage.
If a slot machine has an RTP of 97%, you can expect to win back $97 for every $100 wagered. If the RTP is 101%, you can expect to win back $101 for every $100 wage.
Volatility is how much a game tends to deviate from the RTP. In less volatile titles, you’re more likely to have winning sessions and hit the jackpot more often.
Playing games with high volatility, you’ll have more losing sessions but tend to win bigger jackpots when you do win.
Online Slot Machines with the Best Odds
| RANK | GAME | RTP | Casino Bonus | Our Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Fortune Frog
|
RTP 96% | Casino Bonus
DuckyLuck Casino $7,500 |
Read Game Review |
| 2 |
 777 Deluxe
|
RTP 96.18% | Casino Bonus
Bovada Casino $3,750 |
Read Game Review |
| 3 |
 Cleopatra's Fortune
|
RTP 95.50% | Casino Bonus
SlotsandCasino $7,500 |
Read Game Review |
More Games We’ve Recently Reviewed
At OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com, we constantly try and review the top slot machine games at the best casino sites. We cover everything you need to know, including pay lines, bonus features, themes, and return-to-player (RTP).
Only with our exclusive reviews will you be able to watch video tutorials and play the best titles for free. Below you can find a complete review guide of all the titles available.
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12 AnimalsRTP 96% -
2 Million B.C.RTP 91.94% -
21 Wilds -
4 SeasonsRTP 95.3% -
5 Reel CircusRTP 96% -
5 WishesRTP 96% -
777 DeluxeRTP 96.18% -
7th HeavenRTP 95.8% -
8 Lucky CharmsRTP 97.4% -
8 OutlawsRTP 95.21% -
88 Frenzy FortuneRTP 96% -
A Christmas CarolRTP 94.58% -
A Day at the DerbyRTP 94% -
A Night With CleoRTP 92.5% -
Achilles DeluxeRTP 96% -
Alien FruitsRTP 96% -
Alkemor's ElementsRTP 95.45% -
Alkemor's TowerRTP 95.4% -
All Reel Drive -
Aloha King ElvisRTP 94.92% -
American Jet SetRTP 96% -
Animal Wilds -
April Fury and the Chamber of ScarabsRTP 96.20% -
Ares: Battle of Troy -
Arrogant Pirates -
As The Reels TurnRTP 95.2% -
Aztec TreasuresRTP 93.01% -
Aztec's MillionsRTP 95% -
Back to VenusRTP 97.07% -
Bandits & Bounties -
Basketball LegendsRTP 95.73% -
Beast BandRTP 96.83% -
Big Cash WinRTP 95.7% -
Big Santa -
BirdsRTP 96.48% -
Bison TrailRTP 94.99% -
Black GoldRTP 94.31% -
Blazin' BuffaloRTP 94.95% -
Blood EternalRTP 95.03% -
Blood MoneyRTP 97.36% -
Bone BonanzaRTP 96% -
Bonus Wheel Jungle -
Book of DarknessRTP 96.48% -
Book Of HeliosRTP 95.58% -
Book of TreasuresRTP 95.35% -
Bounding LuckRTP 96.28% -
Bubble BubbleRTP 97.25% -
Bubble Bubble 2 -
Bubble Bubble 3 -
Buffalo BountyRTP 96.03% -
Caesar's Empire SlotRTP 97% -
Caesar's Triumph -
Caesar's Victory -
Caishen's ArrivalRTP 95.74% -
Carnaval ForeverRTP 96.63% -
Cash BanditsRTP 97.35% -
Cash Bandits 2 -
Cash Bandits 3 -
Cash Bandits Museum HeistRTP 95% -
Cash Money Mermaids -
Charms & CloversRTP 96.3% -
Charms and TreasuresRTP 95.8% -
Chase the CheddarRTP 95.18% -
Chicken LittleRTP 95% -
ChilliPoPRTP 95.38% -
Chinese Tigers -
Cleopatra's CoinsRTP 94.78% -
Cleopatra's FortuneRTP 95.50% -
Cleopatra's GoldRTP 96.37% -
Copy Cat Fortune -
Crabs Go Wild -
Cyberpunk City -
Diamond DragonRTP 94.80% -
Diamond FiestaRTP 96% -
Diamond StripRTP 96.64% -
Dice MillionRTP 97.23% -
Dim Sum PrizeRTP 97.18% -
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Online Slot - Play Free DemoRTP 96.17% -
Dr. WinmoreRTP 98% -
Dragon & PhoenixRTP 96.01% -
Dragon KingsRTP 95.20% -
Empire of RichesRTP 95.87% -
EnchantedRTP 89.4% -
End Zone Riches -
Expansion!RTP 96.08% -
Fa-Fa TwinsRTP 95.29% -
Faerie SpellsRTP 96.03% -
Fairy Wins -
Fantasy FortuneRTP 93.6% -
Fast And Sexy - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses -
Food Fight -
Football FrenzyRTP 96.72% -
Forbidden SlotRTP 95% -
Fortunate Buddha -
Fortune FrogRTP 96% -
Fortunes of ChinaRTP 97.36% -
Four Mighty BeastsRTP 96% -
Frog FortunesRTP 96% -
Fruit Loot RebootRTP 97.24% -
Fruit ZenRTP 95.96% -
Fruitbat CrazyRTP 95.22% -
Fruity Way -
Gears of TimeRTP 96.98% -
Gem Fruits -
Gem Strike -
GemhallaRTP 97.17% -
Gemini JokerRTP 95.61% -
Genie's FortuneRTP 96% -
Genie's GiftsRTP 95% -
Giovanni's GemsRTP 94.94% -
GladiatorRTP 92.67% -
Glorious Gems -
Goals of Glory -
Gobbler’s GoldRTP 96% -
Godzilla vs King Kong -
Gold CanyonRTP 96.13% -
Gold DiggersRTP 91.23% -
Gold HeistRTP 96.12% -
Gold Rush GusRTP 98% -
Gold Rush Gus & The City of RichesRTP 96.41% -
Golden BuffaloRTP 96% -
Golden GorillaRTP 94.2% -
Golden HornsRTP 96.26% -
Golden SavannaRTP 96.53% -
Good Girl Bad GirlRTP 97.79% -
GoodFishesRTP 96% -
Grand Luxe -
Great 88RTP 95.36% -
Great Golden Buffalo -
Great White BuffaloRTP 95.93% -
Greedy GoblinsRTP 97.2% -
Gridiron GloryRTP 95% -
Gypsy Rose SlotsRTP 97.63% -
Halloween TreasuresRTP 95% -
Hearts DesireRTP 96.13% -
Ho Ho Cash -
Hockey Enforcers -
Hole in WonRTP 94.6% -
Horoscope - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses -
Hot Joker Hot FruitsRTP 96.30% -
Hot Lucky 7’sRTP 95.84% -
House of FunRTP 94.96% -
Howling at the Moon -
Hyper Wins -
IC Wins -
Incan RichRTP 95% -
Irish Shamrock -
Jack and the Mighty Beanstalk -
Jackpot Cleopatra's Gold Deluxe -
Jackpot Piñatas Deluxe -
Jewel FallsRTP 96.04% -
Joker Gemferno -
Juicy BonanzaRTP 95.12% -
Jumbo JokerRTP 95% -
Jungle StripesRTP 97.03% -
Kawaii KittyRTP 95.27% -
Kensei BladesRTP 95.12% -
Khrysos Gold -
Koi FortunesRTP 95% -
Koi Garden -
Kraken Deep Wins -
Lady's Magic CharmsRTP 96% -
Lava GoldRTP 95.99% -
Legend of Azteca -
Legend of Helios -
Legend of the NileRTP 95.63% -
Leprechaun FrenzyRTP 94% -
Lil Red -
Lost Mystery ChestsRTP 95.37% -
Luck & MagicRTP 96% -
Lucky 6RTP 96.1% -
Lucky 7RTP 97% -
Lucky Catch -
Lucky CloversRTP 96.3% -
Lucky MacauRTP 96.51% -
Mad DunkRTP 95.48% -
Major MoolahRTP 95% -
Make You RichRTP 96% -
Maneki 88 FortunesRTP 96.38% -
Mardi Gras Magic -
Max QuestRTP 97.5% -
Meerkat MisfitsRTP 97.3% -
Mega GemsRTP 95.18% -
Megasaur -
Milk the Cash CowRTP 94% -
Monster PopRTP 97.07% -
Mr. MacauRTP 97.07% -
Multiplier ManRTP 95.98% -
Mystic Rift -
Mystic WolfRTP 94.6% -
Mythic Wolf Sacred MoonRTP 95% -
Oasis DreamsRTP 96.12% -
One Million Reels BCRTP 90.6% -
Oriental FlowerRTP 94% -
Paco and the Popping PeppersRTP 94.29% -
Panda PlaytimeRTP 95.54% -
Panda’s GoldRTP 96% -
Pandas Go Wild -
Party Paradise -
Peak Riches -
Penguin Palooza -
Pho ShoRTP 96.2% -
Pig WinnerRTP 96% -
Pirate’s Revenge -
Pirates The Lost TreasureRTP 95.01% -
Pixie Magic -
Play With CleoRTP 95.82% -
PompeiiRTP 95.45% -
Primal WildernessRTP 95.28% -
Princess Warrior -
Project SpaceRTP 94% -
Prosperous BloomRTP 94% -
Pulsar Slots -
Puppy LoveRTP 97.23% -
Quest to the WestRTP 97.53% -
Rags to WitchesRTP 96.21% -
Rainbow Farm ReturnsRTP 95.99% -
Reel Blood -
Reel OutlawsRTP 95.2% -
Reels and Wheels XLRTP 96% -
Reels of FortuneRTP 93% -
Reels of Treasure -
Reels of WealthRTP 95.29% -
Reign of GnomesRTP 95.97% -
Return of the RudolphRTP 95% -
Return to ParisRTP 96.06% -
Rhino Mania -
Rise of the TitansRTP 96.5% -
Robin HoodRTP 96.1% -
Royal ReelsRTP 92.93% -
Ruby Jade -
Rudolph's RevengeRTP 97.5% -
Runes of Odin -
Safari SamRTP 97.5% -
Safari Sam 2RTP 96.30% -
Safari StampedeRTP 96.12% -
Sands of Egypt -
Santa's WaysRTP 91.03% -
SantasticRTP 95% -
Screaming ChillisRTP 97.08% -
Sea TreasuresRTP 96.10% -
Secret Jungle -
Secrets of a Geisha -
Sevens & Stripes -
Shamrock IsleRTP 95% -
Shark Spin -
Shopping Spree -
Shopping Spree II -
Sin City NightsRTP 93.6% -
Sleighin' ItRTP 96.19% -
Sparky 7RTP 96.02% -
Spin It VegasRTP 96.30% -
Spirit of the Nile -
Spring Wilds -
StackedRTP 96.39% -
StampedeRTP 95.27% -
Stay FrostyRTP 96.21% -
Streetball Star -
Strike GoldRTP 94.3% -
Sugar PopRTP 97.6% -
Sugar Pop 2: Double DippedRTP 96.42% -
Super Diamond MineRTP 95% -
Super SweetsRTP 95.03% -
Super Wild RaceRTP 96% -
Sweet Treats 2 -
T-RexRTP 97.5% -
T-Rex IIRTP 97% -
Take OlympusRTP 95.49% -
Take Santa's ShopRTP 96.08% -
Take the BankRTP 96.08% -
Take The KingdomRTP 96.53% -
Temple of AthenaRTP 96% -
Thai EmeraldRTP 96.11% -
The AnglerRTP 97.10% -
The Bank HeistRTP 96% -
The Golden Inn -
The Golden Owl of AthenaRTP 95.05% -
The Haunted InnRTP 96.1% -
The HiveRTP 96.97% -
The Ingot OxRTP 95.73% -
The Naughty List -
The Nice List -
The Prize is Right -
The Quest of Azteca -
The Slotfather Part 2RTP 96.60% -
The Wicked WitchesRTP 96.03% -
Throne’s Conquest -
Tiger's Claw Slot MachineRTP 95.16% -
Total OverdriveRTP 96.92% -
Triple Juicy DropsRTP 95.73% -
Twin DragonsRTP 96.12% -
Twister Wilds -
Under The BedRTP 96.4% -
Under The SeaRTP 95.5% -
Victory Lane -
WarHogs HellawaysRTP 94.61% -
Western CallRTP 95.30% -
WhospunitRTP 97.64% -
Wild Cash DiceRTP 96.12% -
Wild Cherry Blast -
Wild ChicagoRTP 97.10% -
Wild DropsRTP 96.11% -
Wilderness WinsRTP 95.87% -
Wings of Victory -
Wolf Moon RisingRTP 96.53% -
Wu ZetianRTP 96% -
Yak Yeti and RollRTP 95.93% -
Year of the RabbitRTP 96% -
Zombie FC -
Zombie InvasionRTP 94%
Common Slot Machine Myths
New to slots? Don’t get tripped up by these common myths. Here are some of the biggest misconceptions out there.
- Slots Go Through Hot and Cold Streaks: The reality is that slot machines use Random Number Generators (RNG), making each spin completely independent and random. Past spins don’t affect future outcomes.
- Online Slots are Less Fair than Land-based Slots: Both game types use RNGs to ensure randomness, making them equally fair. Regulations are in place to ensure online casinos operate fairly.
- Certain Times of Day Are Better for Winning: Slot machines work the same way all day, every day. There’s no better or worse time to play if you want to win more money.
- There are Proven Tricks to Win More Money: There’s no magic button or sequence of bets to trick the slot machine. The result is completely random and independent of anything the player does.
Are You Ready to Spin the Reels?
Playing slot machines is all about simple, exciting gameplay and a bit of luck.
Just pick a machine that catches your eye, check the payout info for matching symbols, put in your money, choose your bet, and spin the reels.
Always keep it fun and set a budget before you play. Slots are about the thrill of the spin, so enjoy the ride and play responsibly.
FAQ
Here are a few common questions that slot machine players ask.
Are slot machines rigged?
No, slot machines aren’t rigged. Gaming commissions and casino auditors regulate the casinos to make sure that games are fair.
What is a progressive slot machine?
A progressive slot is a machine that offers a top payout that climbs as more players play the game. The game adds a portion of each wager to the progressive jackpot, and it keeps rising until a player wins it.
Can I play slots for free?
Yes! You can play slots for free. Many online casinos offer free-play demos of their games. You can’t win money, but it’s a good way to try different games. You can also play slots through social casino apps using free virtual currency.
