All about Slots

Slots in general are the most popular and frequently played of all the games at both land based and online casinos and if you’ve ever played these machines you’ll know why! The selection of different themes and types of machine is impressive and ensures that you never get bored, you can also relax and play without having to concentrate too hard on strategy and the like as with other games, plus there are some pretty awesome rewards up for grabs especially on the bonus slot variations.

Regular vs. Bonus Slots

Before choosing a game, there are a number of things to consider, first being the type of slot. There are regular variations with no bonus games, on these you will find that normal line wins are higher, because there is no possibility of additional winnings in bonus screens. Then there are machines which have built in bonus features, however it is important to keep in mind that the base games have lower line wins than other games in order to fund the additional wins in the bonus stages, so the only thing you are really getting more of when playing these versions is excitement, the monetary value really evens out at the end. Less is More!

If line payout are not of great concern to you and you’re in for some good thrills and maximum enjoyment, then remember the one rule of bonus slots…less is more.

Now before you stop reading altogether, hear me out. It is advisable to stick to games with 1 bonus feature rather than 2, because more often than not, one of them is usually not very entertaining and you will find yourself thinking “what a waste” whenever the less entertaining one comes up. Keep in mind too that you need to spin a large number of times to access these features which ultimately translates into spending a lot of money.

Types of Bonus Games

Bonus games can be divided into two categories depending on the machine, and can be either Reel or Non-reel based. This is pretty self explanatory… reel based games are where the bonus feature is reel based for example, free spins, cascades, wild features and the like. Non-reel based games are by far more sophisticated in design and open up a bonus screen of sorts where you have to make certain selections or “picks”.

There are currently about 4 standard types of features that you will find when playing these games, namely, Free Spins, Wheel of Wealth, Pick X of Y, and Pick until collect. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these really entails:

Free Spins

Free Spins features are usually featured on the reels of the game and certain symbols lining up (usually a certain amount of scatters) will trigger these and allow you a set number of free spins where you get to keep your winnings which are added to your account balance.

Wheel of Wealth / Fortune

Wheel of Wealth (also known as Wheel of Fortune) bonus features are usually very popular features amongst slots enthusiasts because they really are fun. Certain symbol combinations trigger a wheel bonus where the wheel is spun and you receive a prize according to where it stops, just like in the actual game show.

Pick X of Y games

As the name implies, within this type of game you will be presented with a series of choices in the form of boxes, treasure chests, bags etc. (the possibilities are endless) and you will need to select a given number of these to reveal your “prizes” or wins which can be very generous if you make the correct picks.

Pick until Collect

Pick until Collect also know as “Pick until Pop” games, are very similar to pick X of Y games, they work on exactly the same principles of selecting objects for wins, however you get to keep selecting until you pick the “pooper” or “booby” symbol which ends the game, this really does get your pulse racing but can also be extremely frustrating if you pick the wrong bag and get one of those symbols on your first or second picks.

As you can see, bonus slots hold a wealth of entertainment and excitement but there are things to look out for, but now that you know that, you are sure to enjoy them to the fullest at casinos like XYZ