You’ve probably been at the casino before when you heard someone won a slot machine jackpot. It sure sounds exciting, doesn’t it? But what exactly does it mean?
Maybe you want to play the slot machines and experience the fun and winnings too, but you’re intimidated because it’s all new to you. Well, don’t worry! We’ll help you brush up on your slot machine lingo so you’re ready the next time you hit the gaming floor and win the jackpot.
Here is a quick and easy breakdown of 12 common slot machine terms and what they mean.
1. Jackpot
Let’s start with the big one. This word gets a lot of use both inside and outside the casino. A jackpot is the large cash prize you can potentially win in the game you are playing. When you are playing slot machines, the slot machine jackpot is that game’s large cash prize, and you can win it if you hit the winning numbers or symbols.
2. Payline
In slot machine terms, the payline is what you need to get right to win the jackpot. This is the line of symbols that needs to match up just right in order for you to win big. The lines can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal, depending on the game you’re planning. Each game has its own rules for how the payline wins, so be sure to check the slot machine you’re playing on.
3. RTP (Return to Player)
If you see the acronym “RTP,” know that it stands for Return to Player. This lets you know the expected average payout you can get from that game. Slot machines are algorithmically random. This means that every spin you take is a new event and has nothing to do with what has happened in previous rounds—whether by you or someone else. Because of this, the RTP is a good indicator of how the specific machine you are playing on is expected to pay out over time.
To give you an example, if a slot machine has an RTP of 95 percent, this means that for every $100 played on the machine, it’s expected to return $95 to players of that specific machine over the long term. The other $5 goes to the house. Knowing this metric can help you decide which slot machines you want to play.
4. Volatility or Variance
You have probably heard about volatility when it comes to stocks, but have you heard about it when it comes to slots? Slot volatility, sometimes referred to as variance, is how often the slot triggers a win and the typical size of the win. If a machine has a high volatility, it means that the wins are spread apart, but big. On the flip side, if a machine has low volatility, it means the wins happen in quick succession, but the payouts are smaller.
5. Wild Symbol
Almost every slot game has a Wild symbol. Wild symbols are your friend! This is because they act as substitutes for other symbols in the game and can help you make a winning combination. If you have all matching symbols plus a Wild symbol, you still win!
6. Scatter Symbol
A Scatter symbol is often referred to as a player’s best friend. Who knew it was such a friendly game? When there are a certain number of Scatter symbols that appear on the spin, it will then unlock a special feature. This might include free spins, bonus rounds or interactive bonus games. These are game-specific based on the slot machine you’re playing.
7. Bonus Round
We just mentioned that a Scatter symbol can bring with it a bonus round, but what does that mean? It’s exactly what it sounds like: an extra round or selection you can play at that game at no extra cost to you. You are still eligible to win money or prizes without having to pay for the round. Talk about a win-win situation!
8. Free Spins
Also mentioned above, free spins are exactly what they sound like: spins you make without having to pay for them. If you hit the winning symbols on a free spin, you are still eligible to win the money or prizes allotted to the game.
9. Progressive Jackpot
Sometimes slot machine jackpots are stagnant, meaning they are a locked-in amount. Other times, jackpots are progressive, meaning the payout goes up every time the game is played and the jackpot isn’t won, similar to the lottery. When the progressive jackpot is finally won, the jackpot for the next play will be reset to whatever the predetermined value is. It’ll then start increasing again based on the same rule.
10. Multiplier
A multiplier will help you win even more in a game. It’s a special feature or symbol. When it’s active, it’ll multiply the winning amount or the entire bet to be even more than the typical amount. For instance, if the typical win is $100 and you hit the winning symbols with a 10x multiplier active, you’ll win $1,000 instead of $100.
11. Bet Max
A bet max is the maximum bet you can make. This number is the limit set by each casino and can vary based on the game you are playing.
12. Pay Table
The pay table is the list of payouts on a particular slot machine. This chart shows you all the various payouts for the different outcomes of the game.
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