What Kind of Slots Should I Play

The age-old question, sort of. Slots are one of the few casino games where there’s a choice that’s not particularly mathematically focused. It tends to be about genre, first of all. That bit I’m not going to help you with! It’s so personal to us that you can choose your own genre.

However, I am going to talk to you through some of the different aspects that can make slot games an appealing (or indeed less appealing) choice. From RTP to variance, progressive jackpots to Megaways, there won’t be a bit of slots jargon you don’t know how to tackle!

RTP and Volatility: What Do They Mean?

I’m going to start with the ‘boring’ stuff, because it (as boring things often are) is actually - very - important. There are two critical things to consider when choosing a slot game, volatility and RTP. First up is RTP which stands for return to players. You know how we use house edge for most casino games, this is the slot version. It refers to the percentage of your stake that you’re likely to get back over time. If a slot has a 96% RTP then that means that on average for every $1 you put in, you’ll be getting 96 cents back. This figure is pretty much the benchmark for choosing slots. Much lower than 96% and it’s considered a bit of a mean deal (unless it’s a progressive slot or a - very - high max win, but we’ll come onto that a bit later). Much higher than 96% and it’s considered a very generous slot, so it might be a good one to choose if winning is the main attraction for you.

Next up is volatility, or variance, whatever you prefer. This is actually a term that we pinched from the world of business, where it’s used to refer to swings in stocks, so as you can imagine, it refers to swings in slots too. High volatility slots, or ‘slots with high variance’ are those games that give you some mammoth wins, but also feature some less enjoyable dry spells. Think of it as all or nothing. Razor Returns is a classic example of a slot with sky high volatility. If you’ve got the nerve - and the bankroll - for it, then these slots can be great fun, but there’s always the risk of walking away empty-handed.

On the other side of the coin are low volatility slots. These have smaller swings, offering little wins more often and few dry spells. Sure, for adrenaline chasers, they’re not that exciting, but for those on a smaller bankroll, they’re probably the safe and sensible choice. My parting word on the subject? Be honest about your bankroll and choose accordingly!

Paylines and Megaways: How Many Ways Can You Win?

With the maths-y bit firmly out of the way, let’s talk about paylines. https://www.instagram.com/p/C7Uad-dsZUh/. Traditional slots have a set number of paylines, which are basically the paths that winning symbol combinations can take. In a classic game, you might have 5 or 10 paylines, but video slots often have up to 100 or more, giving you multiple ways to win on each spin.

Now, if you really want to blow the roof off the place, you’ve got to check out Megaways. To put it lightly, these slots aren’t playing when it comes to paylines. They can offer up to 117,649 ways to win. This happens because the number of symbols on each reel changes with every spin. So, every round is different. They’re exciting, they’re popular, and there are hundreds of remakes of classic slots using the Megaways pay format. So, it’s a category to check out for sure.

Popular Slot Series: Tried and Tested Fan Favorites

Ok, we’re onto the big hitters! There are some slot series that are insanely popular. They’ve got dozens of titles in them and there’s something comforting about visiting a favorite. There’s also something kind of comforting about visiting a favorite that’s been rehashed yet again, usually for Christmas (I’m looking at you Big Bass Bonanza). Did we need a fish themed Christmas slot? Probably not. Am I happy we’ve got one? Yes, weirdly I am. Sometimes, you just want to stick with something familiar, and slot series offer that.

Alongside Big Bass, there’s Book of Ra, a true legend in the slot world. This became famous for its brilliant book feature, that’s been, how can I put this nicely? Borrowed? By a whole bunch of other slots. Its ancient Egyptian theme remains strong in each of its iterations and so too does the book symbol mechanic. Playing one of the new releases feels like visiting an old friend, but they’ve got a swanky new haircut. It’s the same thing underneath, but with a few more bells and whistles!

Progressive Jackpots: The Dream Drops Network and More

I’m not going to tell you that progressive jackpots are where you’ll make your fortune. It’s still all about luck here, but if you’re looking for the - potential - for big payouts, the progressive slots are the place to be. These offer jackpots that grow every time someone makes a bet. The more people play, the bigger the jackpot - but also the bigger the chance that someone else will win it. That’s the trade off!

There are lots of famous networks, but one of the most exciting developments in recent years is the Dream Drops network. Linked across multiple casinos, this progressive jackpot has already handed out millions in winnings. It’s a solid choice because you stand a chance of winning even with the minimum bit, which is pretty unusual amongst this category of game.