Ask almost anyone who gambles at online casinos what their favorite games to play are and they will likely say slots. If you’re like me, you look for online slots with bonus rounds, innovative game mechanics, and high RTPs (return to player). The higher the playback percentage, the better your chances of winning, i.e., you’ll get back more money over time. Just a few player favorites that fit those criteria include Reactoonz, Money Cart 2, and Book of 99. It’s important to note that there are a variety of factors to consider, and a high RTP doesn’t necessarily guarantee the best experience for the type of game that you’re partial to.

How to Pick the Right Online Slot

The best way to determine what you like the most is to try different types of online slots. Choose from classic, reel, video, progressive, 3D, Megaways, fruit machines, etc., and titles from a range of software providers. Fortunately, you don’t always have to play for real money. During your search to find your “perfect” game, you have the option to play in demo mode. Any online casino worth its salt has a selection of free demo slots available. Slot sites that offer these free-to-play games do not require that you make a deposit or spend any money, and provide a great skill-building opportunity. However, when and if you do play for real money, you’ll have many more titles and game variants to choose from, as well as progressive jackpots.

Selecting the right online slot can have a significant impact on your gaming experience and potential for big wins. With so many options available, it’s important that you consider several factors when making your decision. What follows are a few suggestions, in no particular order, to help you make an informed decision and choose the right online slot for you.

Special Features & Bonuses

If you’re like me, the more bells and whistles there are during gameplay, the better. You’ll want to consider game mechanics, special symbols and bonus features. When you make your list of possibles, look for casino games that have special features like multipliers, free spins, and bonus rounds that will have you on the edge of your seat! Elements such as these ramp up the level of excitement and also boost your chances of scoring big prizes. It’s also a good idea to pay attention to scatters, wilds and any other special symbols that can increase your winnings considerably and unlock more rewards.

Volatility

One of the great things about slots is whether traditional or virtual you don’t have to possess a certain skill-set to be able to play and win money. However, one area where you can be strategic is volatility. Also known as variance, determining the volatility of a slot you’re interested in can give you some idea of what kind of gaming experience you might have and the resources you’ll need to enjoy the game to the fullest. The term volatility can be applied to everything from online slots and video poker to classic casino table games like roulette, craps and blackjack. A game’s volatility or level of variance will give you a reasonable indication of how frequently (hit frequency) you can expect to win and the size of the prizes (payout ratio).

Regarding slot volatility, the three main categories are low, medium, and high.

Low Volatility

Online slots that are low volatility are perfect for casual gamers. Wins will be small but steady and the minimum bet is typically low. And while the top payouts are on the smaller side, you aren’t likely to burn through your bankroll playing low volatility slots.

Medium Volatility

Medium volatility slots appeal to a wide range of players as they usually provide a balance between modest wins and the possibility of an occasional big win. There is a bit more risk playing medium volatility slots than with low, but there is also the potential for more reward.

High Volatility

If you’re hoping for big payouts, you’ll want to look for slots that are highly volatile. The hit rate is lower for these games, usually around 20%, and they pay out less frequently than lower volatility games, but when they do hit you could be in for a monumental win. A perfect example of a high variance slot is Book of 99 from casino software developer Relax Gaming. Released in May 2021, this “book-of” style game is set in Ancient Greece and 99% RTP! Like most high-volatility slots, this game is packed with special features including wilds, free spins, a special expanding symbol and more. If you’re lucky enough to line up 5 premium symbols in this game, you would collect a win worth 75 to 500X the stake!

Big win potential like that requires a sizeable bankroll to be able to play through dry spells that you can expect to experience.

RTP

Do not confuse volatility or variance with a game’s return to player (RTP) percentage. Where volatility indicates how often you’ll hit and the size of the prize, RTP refers to the amount of money paid out over time. Take a slot with an RTP value of 95%. What this means is if you wager $100, you can expect to win $95 back, theoretically, of course. Because the figure is calculated over such a large number of plays, batches of spins that diverge quite a bit from the average are possible.

Other factors you’ll want to consider are game theme and graphics, jackpots and progressive prizes, and reviews and recommendations. The latter especially will give you a good idea of the overall gameplay experience of a particular slot, as well as the frequency of payout and fairness. The more time you spend playing slots for fun, the more valuable such online forums will become.

Final Thoughts

You may have to put in a bit of time and effort reading reviews and taking advantage of demo play, but it just might make the difference between having an average gameplay experience and an exceptional one. One thing is for certain, with such a wide array of options to choose from, you’re sure to find an online slot that satisfies your thirst for excitement and rewards, whether big or small.

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