Getting to grips with slot games can be a gargantuan task. Not only do they all have different styles and interfaces, but each game has unique symbols, bonuses, and mechanics. For new players, accessing these games has become much easier. However, getting to grips with them has not. Below, we discuss how to navigate the world of slot games for new players.
Basics of all Slot Games
Flashy graphics and volatile animations aside, at their heart, all slot games operate on the same principle. Once understood, you can begin to get a handle on some of the other more advanced additions that can be found in the world of online pokies. Once you have this under your belt, you can move on to the more complex progressive slots and find the finest casino games online with the biggest jackpots. However, at their core, all slot games will operate using rows and reels.
Reels are the central part of a slot game. When a person makes a deposit, this is turned into credit which allows them to spin the reels. Each reel contains symbols and when they stop spinning, they will align in a row. If you have the right combination of symbols, then you will win a pay out.
Over time, slot games have evolved to contain some classic symbols such as bar, sevens and various fruits. The latter comes from the United States when cash prizes were outlawed, so the machines would pay out in sweet-flavoured treats instead. Luckily, most online slots now provide cash payments. You may be able to find a basic classic fruit machine online. They are a great way to get to grips with online poker before playing more advanced games.
Symbols
Another common denominator for most slot games is the symbols used. While the graphics may differ, the ways they are grouped are usually the same: Low-paying symbols and high-paying symbols. Low-paying symbols have the most minimal values. Classic slots may have fruit or picture-playing cards. High-paying symbols are the ones you want to bag. They will have the greatest values and give the best prizes.
When you play a game that has a theme, many of these symbols will take different forms.
For example, a game themed around ancient Egypt may use colored gemstones as low-paying symbols. Its high-paying symbols could be hieroglyphics. Although the images have changed, the concepts remain the same. Check the documentation provided with the game to see what each symbol is worth.
Wild Symbols
Wild symbols are an additional type of symbol you may find in some online slots. This will act as any other symbol that could potentially pay out. For example, imagine you are playing online poker and you get a lemon, a lemon and a wild in a row. If three lemons would cause a large payout, then the wild would act as that symbol and give you the money.
Some games even have variations on the standard wild. Sticky wilds will remain on the reel until you fail to win. Multiplying wilds will increase in value every time they net a prize. Stacked wilds, also known as expanding ones, stack on top of each other and can take up an entire reel. This increases the chance of winning if you have more rows.
Scatter Symbols
Scatter symbols are important as they usually signify the online slots you are playing have a bonus round. This is where the higher sums of money can be won, so their arrival is a welcome relief. Scatter symbols can appear anywhere on the reels and don’t have to be in a row. Usually, a certain amount of them on view, such as three, will give a player bonus round access.
Free Spins
Free spins are extremely valuable when it comes to online poker. You may find they are the basis of many bonus rounds.
In some cases, you may be given them as a promotion by the online casino. They do exactly what they say and allow players to spin the reels for free. This lets them play and win money without dipping into their bankroll.
When you are given free spins by a casino, make sure to check the small print. Sometimes, promotional free spins do not allow access to the bonus rounds where big money is made.
Bonus Rounds
The choice of online pokies available to players in New Zealand is huge, and many will attract players by offering bonus rounds. This is a special feature triggered by an event in the game, usually the appearance of scatter symbols. Once you manage to access it, you can win extra prizes. They could take the form of free spins and multipliers to increase your total, or they may even let you snag a jackpot prize. Some jackpot prizes are linked and known as progressive jackpots, which can be huge sums of money.
Bonus rounds are individual to each game and you will need to check the documentation to see how they work. In live dealer online pokies, you may even enter into complex gameshow-type scenarios with other players in NZ. However, if you are starting keep in mind what we advised at the beginning. Start small, then work your way up to the bigger, more complex online slots.
