How Online Slots Work: RTP, Volatility & Game Features

Online slots are hugely popular games of chance. Before you start playing them, you need to know that not all slots are the same, though. In fact, they vary considerably in terms of design and features.

How do slots work? It helps to understand that they all share some common mechanics but have a few key differences. We’ll be looking at the basics that you need to know before you start spinning the reels.

How Do Slots Work?

Every online slot has reels showing a variety of symbols. When you start the game, these reels spin around before coming to rest randomly. This is achieved by using a random number generator (RNG). So no one knows what the outcome is going to be in advance. 

How do online slots work in terms of deciding if a spin wins or not? This is done thanks to the paylines, or ways of winning, that are strung across those reels. This information is listed in each slot’s information, and it tells you what you need for a win.

When matching symbols land on a payline, it pays the amount listed as a prize for that combination. Generally, you need at least three symbols for a win, with wins increasing if you get more matching symbols.

Rather than paylines, some slots pay out on clusters of symbols next to each other anywhere on the reel.

Understanding Slot Paytables, RTP and Volatility

The previous points give you the basic information needed to play any slot. However, to understand a game more fully, you can find more information in the game’s on-screen details. 

Slot Paytables

Every slot has a paytable that tells you the value of each winning combination featuring the different symbols. This is also where you can find out about the paylines and any special symbols like wilds or scatters.

The paytable also tells you if there are any bonus features you could trigger. Free spins, re-spins, and collect rounds are some of the features that may be explained here 

What Does RTP Mean in Slots?

The return to player (RTP) is a theoretical percentage that tells you how much a slot pays out to players. However, it doesn’t let you know what you or any other single player will receive during a playing session.

What is RTP in slots when you play? It’s worked out over a massive number of spins, so it can’t be used to work out potential winnings when you play some games. When players talk about a good RTP, they simply mean that it’s a slot that pays out more than the average RTP overall.  

What Does Volatility Mean in Slots?

Every slot also has a volatility level that explains the pattern of wins it may produce. Like the RTP, this is a guide to how a slot works over time rather than a guarantee of what will happen once you start spinning the reels. 

So, what is volatility in slots and how does it affect a regular playing session? A low-volatility slot will generally pay smaller wins more frequently. Higher-volatility games will often have the potential for bigger wins, but you can expect them to come around less often.

Common Features in Online Slots 

One of the most interesting aspects of online slots is that they each include different features. By looking at some of the most common features, you can see how varied these games are. 

• Wild symbols are a type of joker that fills in for regular paying symbols to complete wins, where possible.
• Scatter symbols are often used to trigger bonus rounds like free spins. Unlike regular symbols, they don’t have to land on a payline. 
• Free spins are a common bonus round. When triggered, you‘ll be awarded a fixed number of bonus spins without paying any more. This round sometimes introduces extra elements such as extra wilds or multipliers.
• Multipliers increase the size of a win. They may land randomly on winning combos, or you may collect or unlock them as you play.
• Cascading or tumbling reels give you a second opportunity to win. This feature is automatically activated following a win, removing the winning symbols and causing new ones to drop into place. 
• Bonus rounds offer one of the most interesting ways that slots stand out from others. These could include rounds where you pick a prize or others where you collect special symbols or carry out other tasks.
• Jackpots are sometimes listed as a slot’s biggest prize. This could be for a fixed amount, or it may rise over time as more people play the game. Jackpots can be won randomly or through a special bonus round.

Always check the paytable to see how online slots work before you play them.

How to Play Online Slots at Buzz Bingo 

You don’t need to look any further to find out where to play online slots. Buzz Bingo has a range of great slots as well as our classic bingo games. Take a look at the different themes and features to help you decide which slots you want to try next.

How Online Slots Work FAQs 

Do All Slots Have the Same Bonus Features?

No, while most slots share a common gameplay mechanism, the bonus features vary from one to the next. How do slots work in this respect? They each mention the bonus features that are included in the paytable.

How Do I Find Slots with Jackpots?

On the Buzz Bingo site, you can head to the Jackpot Slots section. Here, we’ve gathered together all of our top slots with jackpot prizes.  

How Do Online Slots Work in Terms of New Features Being Added? 

New slots are released regularly. While this means the introduction of new themes and symbols, it also gives game providers the chance to introduce features that they think players will enjoy trying. 

Do Online Slots Remember You When You Return?

No, each spin is independent of the others you make, with a random result each time. So, there is no need for them to remember your playing time.