5 Casino Terms Any New Slots Player Should Understand

There are a few slot terms I could tell you about, but I've picked out five of the most common. It's not that they're tricky to understand, but it's worth knowing a few of them before you start playing.

Read on for my opinion of the terms any new gamer should know before playing slot machines.

Paylines

One of the first things I came across was the term paylines.

At first, I was confused about why some people were so obsessed with them - trust me, you soon learn.

It's simple. Paylines are imaginary lines across the reels and are where the winning combination of symbols must fall. Some of the machines might have one line, and others have many. For every extra payline I play, the more winning opportunities I have. But of course, that would also mean I'm making extra bets. I discovered that looking at changing my paylines made me decide how much I wanted to throw at the slot machine.

Return to Player (RTP)

The one I'm most interested in. RTP, or Return to Player, is a term that I noticed in all the forums and in reviews.

RTP is the proportion of money that a slot machine is obligated to pay out over a period compared to the total amount I spend. For example, if a slot machine's RTP is 96%, it means that for every $100 wagered, in theory, it will pay back $96.

That does not, in any way, mean that you will receive such an amount back - I actually must win for that. Still, the higher the RTP variable, the greater the likelihood of winning over a long-term period. I don't know about you, but for me, it's always a minimum of 95% RTP when I play.

I wouldn't say people look at the RTP as much as they should, and that's because it isn't always obvious. Sometimes, you must look at the terms and conditions.

Wild Symbols

Wild symbols are symbols with a function. They're like a joker symbol. They can take the place of other symbols similarly to a joker in a pack can take the place of any card. But unlike the Joker card, they're not bad.

Understandably, I usually get very excited when one of these comes up. More often than not, it saves my lost spin and returns it with a nice little bonus. Wilds can also be more exciting because sometimes they help form a line and can multiply any wins achieved with that symbol - I love them.

Scatter Symbols

Scatter symbols are one of the most exciting features.

Unlike regular symbols, which must be arranged in the subdivided or designated paylines, scatters don't follow any rules on position and winning combinations.

Most often, when I manage to slot in three or more scatters, I know things like free spins or jackpots that might pay big are just within my reach. And once free spins are activated, it's always good news! Bonus rounds are probably the most exciting.

Volatility (Variance)

For me, understanding volatility has been an eye-opener.

As the name suggests, when I talk about volatility in video slot titles, I usually mean how often the game pays and how much it pays. High-volatility games mean I may not always win, but when I hit, it pays out better than low-volatility titles. These types of titles can be erratic. I play them when I'm in the mood to take a chance or if I'm feeling lucky. Low-volatility titles, on the contrary, are more consistent. They give less but more often. For myself, I pick these when I simply want to maintain my balance and play for a longer.

This picture of volatility helps me manage either risk or reward depending on the mood or how much money I have in my pockets.

A Few Other Common Terms

• Multiplier: Increases the payout by 2x or 3x times - sometimes more.
• Jackpot: The maximum amount of money or prize that can be won whilst playing.
• Bonus Round: A feature that can be activated by specific symbols to win more or free spins.
• Max Bet: The maximum risk a betting gamers can place on a single spin or round.
• Reels: These are the sections of the game that rotate and show symbols when they stop. You can't miss them.
  

You can check out a full gambling glossary of phrases, words, slang, terms, acronyms, and other cool stuff here - casinomeister.com/babelmeister-gambling-glossary/.

These are the main terms I think you need to know about if you're playing on slot machines. I must say, they're the easiest titles to play and the most fun. The payouts might not always be high, but they're still entertaining, and I can play for hours. For that reason, I also want to take the time to signpost you to responsible gambling websites like the Gambling Commission. It's easy to get swept up in the slot machine fun.