Reels and symbols
Every slot machine has reels, vertical strips of symbols that spin and then stop. Classic machines usually have three reels and three rows, while modern video slots tend to use five reels with three or four rows. When the reels stop, the game checks the grid of symbols for winning combinations.
Symbols are not equal. Low-value symbols land often and pay small amounts, while rarer symbols pay more. In some games these are card ranks such as A, K and Q; on classic fruit machines they are fruit, bells, BARs and sevens.
Paylines and ways to win
A payline is the path across the reels that symbols must land on to pay. It may be a straight line through the middle row, or a zigzag or V shape. Classic machines often have one to five lines, video slots ten, twenty or more. Combinations normally count from the leftmost reel to the right.
Some games drop fixed lines in favour of ways to win. In the popular 243 ways format, on five reels with three rows, matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left pay no matter which row they sit in.
Reading the paytable
The paytable is the rulebook of each game. It lists what every symbol pays for three, four or five in a row, which lines are active, what the special symbols do and how bonus features are triggered. Payouts are usually shown as multiples of the line bet or the total bet, depending on the game.
Opening the paytable before trying a new game takes a couple of minutes and tells you which symbols matter, how many lines are in play and whether there is a free spins feature.
Wild and scatter symbols
A wild substitutes for other symbols to complete a winning combination. Two sevens and a wild on a line count as three sevens. Wilds usually cannot replace scatter or bonus symbols, and the paytable gives the exact rule.
A scatter does not need to sit on a payline. It pays wherever it lands, and in many games three or more scatters trigger free spins.
| Symbol | What it does |
|---|---|
| Cherries | A classic low-value symbol. On many fruit machines even one or two cherries on a line pay something. |
| Lemon, orange, plum, grapes | Low to mid value fruit symbols that pay for three or more in a row. |
| Watermelon and bell | Mid to higher value symbols on classic machines. |
| BAR | A traditional higher-value symbol, often in single, double and triple BAR versions. |
| Seven (7) | Usually the most valuable regular symbol on a classic fruit machine. |
| Wild | Stands in for other symbols to complete a winning combination. It usually does not replace scatter or bonus symbols. |
| Scatter | Pays wherever it lands on the reels, and three or more often trigger free spins. |
| Bonus symbol | Triggers a special bonus round or feature, in games that have one. |
Free spins and bonus rounds
Free spins are a series of spins that cost nothing extra and are played at the stake of the spin that triggered them. They often come with special rules such as win multipliers or extra wilds. Bonus rounds are separate mini games, for example picking hidden prizes or spinning a wheel.
Bonuses are part of the same maths as the rest of the game. Their value is already built into the overall return, so they do not change the fact that the game keeps part of what is staked over time.
The random number generator
Every spin is decided by a random number generator (RNG). It produces numbers continuously, and the one selected when you press the button determines where the reels stop. The spinning animation just presents a result that is already fixed.
- Every spin is independent of the ones before it.
- There is no "hot" machine on a winning streak.
- No machine is "due" to pay because it has not paid for a while.
- Changing your stake or playing speed does not change the odds of any outcome.
RTP and volatility
RTP, or return to player, is the long run average share of all stakes that a game pays back. An RTP of 96 percent means that over a huge number of spins the game returns 96 out of every 100 units staked on average, and the operator keeps the rest. It is not a promise for a single session: in the short term results can be far above or far below that figure.
Volatility describes how wins are spread out. Low volatility games pay smaller wins more often; high volatility games pay less often, but individual wins can be large. Two games with the same RTP can therefore feel completely different to play.
Classic fruit machines
Fruit machines are the oldest and best known kind of slot. They keep things simple, usually with three or five reels, few paylines and familiar symbols: cherries, lemons, oranges, plums, grapes, watermelons, bells, BARs and sevens. The seven is typically the top regular symbol, and on many games cherries pay even in small numbers.
Because the rules are so easy to follow, fruit machines are a good starting point for anyone who wants to understand how slots work before moving on to feature-packed video slots.
Why the slots here use virtual credits only
The free slot games on this site run on virtual credits only. There are no deposits, no payouts and nothing to win. The credits exist purely so you can see how a game behaves.
That is also the most useful lesson they teach: play a few hundred spins and you can watch the balance drift down over time, exactly as an RTP below 100 percent predicts. Slot machines are entertainment, not a way to earn money, and they are best enjoyed that way.
Common questions
Can a slot machine be hot or due for a win?
No. A random number generator decides every spin independently, so past results have no effect on the next one.
What does an RTP of 96 percent mean?
Over a very large number of spins the game pays back 96 out of every 100 units staked on average. A single session can turn out completely differently.
What is the difference between a wild and a scatter?
A wild replaces other symbols to complete a winning line. A scatter pays wherever it lands and often triggers free spins.
What is a classic fruit machine?
It is a traditional slot with fruit, bells, BARs and sevens as symbols. Most have three or five reels and only a few paylines.
Can I win anything on the free slots here?
No. The games use virtual credits with no value at all, and there are no deposits or payouts.