Slot Machine Terminology
There’s a lot more to playing top slots than just pulling a lever or hitting the ‘Spin’ button in the modern day. These games boast a rich history that spans several decades, tracing their origins back more than a century to the invention of the first slot machine.
We have hundreds of incredible machines to play at MONOPOLY Casino, and if you want to get started, one of our slot tips is to get to know the lingo.
If you’re new to gaming or in need of a refresh before firing up the reels, read on for our complete guide to online slot machine terms, with everything from the basics to bonus rounds covered.
Slot Terms
Ready to pass GO? Take a look at some of the most common phrases to be seen or heard when playing slot machines.
The first thing you’ll need to know is about bet sizes…
Bet Sizes
Also known as coin sizes, this is the amount of money placed on a spin. Our virtual machines have a range of bet sizes available to suit every type of player, and online casino slot games like Cleopatra can be played from just 1p.
Slot Reels
Most slot machines use reels, which display all the symbols from the game. There can be between three and six reels in the majority of games, made up of several rows.
Slot Paylines
Land matching symbols on a payline to collect a payout! Paylines can be vertical or diagonal on most traditional machines, stretching across all the reels in the play area. Symbols are evaluated from left to right, so if there are no matching symbols starting from the first reel, there won’t be a win on traditional slots.
Winning Combination
Every player spinning the reels aims to trigger a win. Winning combinations are banked when at least three matching symbols appear on a single payline on adjacent reels. However, the winning combinations differ on a cluster pays slot which can require five or more symbols to land in a cluster - but we’ll come to that shortly.
Payout
The value of a winning combination is known as the payout. Matching symbols are evaluated at the end of the spin and multiplied by the bet size. This cash is then instantly collected in your account.
Return To Player
The return to player (RTP) rate is the average amount paid on any slot machine. It’s worked out as a percentage of 100, so if the RTP of a game is 94.72% then it pays out £94.72 on average from every £100 wagered. The lower the percentage is, the more volatile the game is - this means it may pay out less often, but the prizes are likely to be more valuable.
Providers
A provider is the creator of any online slot. They release the games, plus produce the software, the graphics, and all the game details. Some of the most popular providers include Light & Wonder, who produce the Rainbow Riches franchise, and Pragmatic Play with Big Bass Bonanza among the slots offered.
Three Symbols to Know
When rolling up to our online slots in the UK, there are some key symbols to look for when spinning the reels. Here are three types that can help you to trigger some wins…
Wild Symbols
Wilds are normally easy to spot in the play area, as the symbol can either be a big ‘W’ or it will simply say Wild on it. The Wild symbols can be used as substitutes for other symbols - excluding the special types we’re about to cover - which can complete winning combinations on one or more paylines to bank a payout.
Scatter Symbols
Scatter symbols have two main purposes when playing online slot games for real money. The first is to trigger features like the Free Spins Bonus, for which you’ll usually need at least three Scatter Symbols to land on a single spin. The second is to award an instant cash prize, which is paid out when up to five of the symbols are displayed on a payline.
Bonus Symbols
The clue is in the name - these symbols will help you roll into some thrilling bonus rounds. To land a Bonus, the game normally requires three or more Bonus symbols to appear, much like Scatters, helping you to play re-spins and in some cases the chance to win jackpot prizes.
Slot Bonus Features
Now you know about some of the features that special symbols can unlock when you play online slots in the UK. These bonus rounds can award exciting wins – so here are some of the most popular ones you might come across…
Free Spins
The majority of classic or new online slots, will feature a Free Spins Bonus in its community chest. This bonus can usually be unlocked by Scatter or Bonus symbols, awarding a set of free spins to land matching symbols. Depending on the slot, sometimes it’s possible to re-trigger the bonus round, unlocking extra spins and creating more chances to win.
Re-spins
Re-spins is a classic bonus feature that can lead to several winning combinations from a single spin. A minimum of three Bonus symbols are normally required to unlock this feature, where special symbols are fixed on the reels while the other positions spin again. Re-spins usually continue until no winning combinations remain in the play area, at which point you’re taken back to the base game.
Multipliers
Multipliers have a very important role to play in online slot machines - they boost the value of wins! Multipliers can be applied to regular winning combinations in the base game, but can also appear during Free Spins or other bonus rounds. The value of multipliers can be thousands of times your wager, which can lead to big payouts.
Cascading Reels
This feature can be found in most Cluster Pays games, as well as Megaways slots. After a pay out, winning symbols are removed from the reels, leaving space for new symbols to drop into the game from above. The play area is then re-evaluated, and if any new combinations have been formed winning symbols will be removed again. Like re-spins, cascading reels can provide you with multiple payouts from a single spin!
Types of Slot Machines
As slots have developed over the years, several different machines have become available to players. This gives you plenty of choice whenever you make the move, particularly at MONOPOLY Casino, with hundreds of games to experience.
Check out some of the different types of slot machines below, including some of the latest games that you can play with us.
Classic Slots
The traditional slot machines found in casinos around the world, where the reels spin when a player pulls a lever, are known as ‘one-armed bandits’. These usually feature three reels with a limited number of paylines. On the reels, you will find instantly recognisable symbols like ‘BAR’, plus cherries, bells and oranges.
Video Slots
All slot games at MONOPOLY Casino are video slots to ensure maximum entertainment for our players. The invention of video slots took the classic machine to the next level, with a range of advanced features. The amount of paylines increased, exciting gameplay was introduced with plenty of new symbols, plus bonus rounds became possible. They are simple to play, too. Hit the ‘Spin’ button to get the reels moving and watch as the symbols fall into place.
Online Slots
These are simply slots that are played exclusively online. Every game at MONOPOLY Casino can be played at your fingertips, either on the go via our mobile app or by logging in on a desktop device. Online slots allow you to enjoy your favourite games wherever you are and whenever you like.
Check out all the benefits of playing online slots vs real slots, including how you can pass GO on more exciting promotions and roll up to a bigger range of bonus features.
Megaways Slots
The invention of video and online games paved the way for the hugely popular Megaways slots, which hit the scene in 2016. These slots were created by Big Time Gaming, and most of them have up to 117,649 paylines active on every spin. To do this, the number of symbols that can land on each of the reels is boosted.
Some exciting games from this series include Eye of Horus Megaways, with Horus Wilds and free spins up for grabs, plus Fishin' Frenzy Megaways where you can reel in slot prizes.
Cluster Pays
2016 was a big year for slots with Cluster Pays games launching following the creation of the Megaways mechanic. Pragmatic Play created these machines, which offered a new way to spin.
Cluster Pays slots have no reels or paylines. They are played out using a grid, with symbols cascading in at the start of the spin. To score a winning combination, you must have at least four or five matching symbols in the play area. Unlike traditional slot machines, these symbols don’t have to appear in adjacent positions.
After the grid has been evaluated, winning symbols will often cascade out to be replaced by new symbols, creating the chance to land another matching cluster.
Progressive Slots
Progressive jackpot slots are some of the most exciting games you can play online. There is often more than one jackpot up for grabs, and the value of the prize grows until a player triggers it.
At MONOPOLY Casino, there are two different progressive jackpot types to experience. The first is the Daily Jackpots range from Red Tiger, where two prizes are guaranteed to drop every day. We also have Jackpot King games provided by Blueprint, which features a brilliant bonus round that can pay out huge multipliers and progressive pots.
Demo Slots
If you’re yet to play online slots for real money, take a chance on our demo games. These machines recreate the experience of playing genuine slot games, but they are completely free to play.
Spin these free online slots to experience the game and get a feel for the number of reels and paylines. You can find out how the bonus rounds are awarded, and take a look at the symbols that appear in the play area.
Understanding Slot Machines
To start playing slots, select a game from the 100+ we have available. This will take you through to the game lobby, where there is the option to select a bet size, and in some cases the number of paylines that will be active. Get the reels going by hitting the ‘Spin’ button, and if any winning combinations land, you’ll bag a payout!
On most slot machines, reels will be evaluated from the left-hand side, and symbols have to land in adjacent positions. This doesn’t apply to the Cluster Pays games we mentioned earlier, as that game type uses a grid rather than standard reels. As soon as the win has been confirmed, its value is multiplied by the stake used on the spin, and this sum lands directly in your account.
History of Slot Machines
The first slot machine was played in 1891 and created by Sittman and Pitt, a company based in New York. It had five drums and used 50 playing cards, with the 10 of Spades and Jack of Hearts removed. It cost a nickel to play, and a lever was pulled to start the action.
Just over 70 years later, Bally invented the Money Honey machine. This was the first slot that used electricity, with buttons eventually replacing the classic lever. For the first time, if a winning combination landed, players were paid out with coins.
During the 1970s and 1980s, there were further developments. Video slots launched in 1976 on a game called Fortune Coin, which started in Las Vegas before making its way across the state of Nevada. Progressive jackpots were next to launch in 1986, and a prize of almost $5m was awarded a year later on a game called Megabucks.
Over the next decade, second-screen bonus games were invented. The first game to include this feature was called Reel ‘Em, and meant that rounds such as free spins could be played on a different set of reels to the base game.
Due to the growing popularity of land-based casinos, slots moved into the online world shortly after the launch of second-screen bonus games. This move was spearheaded by a game called Cash Splash, which featured similar mechanics to the original slot machines, though developers became more inventive as time passed.
Fast forward to 2005 when slots were played on mobile devices on a machine called Pub Fruity. The drawback was that no real money could be banked, with rewards only being paid out that could be used on the game.
11 years later came the Cluster Pays and Megaways slots that are as popular as ever today, with new ways to spin the reels and more prizes to be won.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thinking of taking a roll on some of our favourite slots? Here are the answers to some of our most common questions.
What’s the difference between a slot machine and a video slot?
Traditional slot machines are played on a basic reel set that usually feature up to five paylines. Video slots are very popular around the world as they can provide hundreds of thousands of ways to win, plus incredible bonus features like free spins and re-spins. They’re often played with incredible graphics, too.
How does a progressive jackpot work?
The top prizes on progressive jackpot slots have seed values, which is the minimum payout they can award. The longer the jackpot goes without being triggered, the more valuable it is. Once the prize has been won, it resets to its seed value and then begins to grow again.
What are Wild symbols and why do they work?
Wilds are among the most important symbols to appear on the reels in online slot games. They can substitute for regular symbols to help you complete winning combinations, which will bank a payout. It’s worth noting that Bonus, Jackpot and Scatter symbols cannot be replaced by Wilds.
Why is the RNG important in slot machines?
RNGs, or random number generators, help make every result on online slots fair for players. This algorithm produces millions of random numbers, and when the ‘Spin’ button is hit it instructs the reels to finish at a certain point. RNGs cannot be rigged, giving everyone an equal chance to win real money.
What is RTP and why is it important?
RTP stands for return to player, and it’s important when spinning the reels on slot games online because it tells you about the machine’s volatility. The higher the RTP, the more likely it is to pay out on a more regular basis. An RTP of 96% means that for every £100 wagered, you can expect to receive £96 back on average.