A Guide on How to Play Slots in the UK for 2024

Reels

The reels are the vertical columns that make up the grid-like structure of the slot game. While classic slot games usually only have three reels, more common online video slots have five. However, you may find games with up to nine reels. Each reel has a combination of symbols depicted on it.

Once you have clicked the “Spin” button, the reels are set in motion and begin to spin. When they come to a stop, they will display a random set of symbols.

Rows

Rows on a slot game are the horizontal lines that determine how many symbols on a reel are visible on the screen. Some slot games only have three rows, while others can features five or six, depending on the game style.

Symbols

When learning how to play casino slots, you’ll find that each slot game has a unique set of symbols. These are images of letters, numbers, and unique pictures. Each symbol has a specific value or offers a special feature. The payouts a slot game provides are dependent on the symbols and their unique values. Typically, the more rare symbols have a much higher payout value.

Paylines

In a game of slots, the paylines are the unique patterns that zig-zag across the screen from left to right. These lines are often not displayed on the screen itself, but instead, you can find these varying payline patterns under the game’s info section.

Each slot game has a set of paylines, which differ in number depending on the game’s setup. Most five-reel games have around 20 paylines, but this number can go up to 243 paylines.

The payline is the line along which the symbols must line up to earn you a payout. Additionally, the higher the bet you place, the more paylines you include in the game.

Payouts

When learning how to play slots online for real money, checking the payout table before you begin is critical. Here, you can find the values ascribed to each symbol and how much a specific combination of symbols will earn you in payouts. You’ll also find other important details on bonus features, free spins, wilds, and scatters.

Wilds

Wilds are a unique symbol that you’ll find in most slot games. The idea behind the wilds symbol is that you can use it to substitute for most other symbols in the game to create a winning line or combination with the other symbols surrounding it. The only symbol you cannot replace a wild for is a scatter symbol.

Additionally, several wilds can also combine to form a winning combination, and if they all appear on the same line, you will earn an even greater payout.

Scatters

The scatter symbol is another symbol worth knowing when you learn how to play slots. Like the wilds symbol, the scatter is a special symbol. There are fewer of these symbols on the reels, making them pop up on rare occasions.

These symbols earn their name because they can be scattered. In other words, they pay out irrespective of their placement on the screen; they don’t need to line up or be next to one another to earn you a payout.

A scatter symbol usually has the largest payout of all the symbols and may cause other bonus features to kick in, like free spins.

Multipliers

Multipliers are symbols found in some slot games that multiply your winnings. For instance, if your current winning combination earns you £10 and you hit a 4x multiplier, your winnings increase four-fold to £40. However, a multiplier may apply only to a specific payline or the entire bet.

Image Symbols

Many slot games also have a number of pictorial symbols based on the theme of the game. These usually have higher payouts according to the image they represent. For instance, in the game Book of Ra by Novomatic, you’ll find the explorer pays up to £100 if you get five in a row, while the Sphynx only pays £40 if you get five in a row.

Numbers and Letters

These are “filler” symbols and usually include the letters K, A, J, and Q and the number 10. When looking at the slot game pay chart, you’ll find these are the lowest value symbols in the game, paying not more than a few GBP for a full line.

Free Spins

While not a symbol as such, free spins is a bonus activated by getting several matching wilds or scatters on the screen. Here, you enter into a free spins bonus round, where you get to spin the reels for free a number of times. This is a great bonus round where you can easily make additional winnings for free.

Levels Betting – Winning Back Losses

If you’re learning how to play slots, this is a good place to start. Since you have no control over the game, it can be easy to lose bets in succession. However, this strategy allows you to recoup some of your losses, provided you’re playing a low volatility game.

The idea here is to choose a betting unit, for instance £1. Once you have chosen your betting unit you begin with that value on your first bet. If you lose your bet five times in a row, you increase your wager by five units. So, if you begin with £1 and lose five spins in a row, you then increase your bet to £5. If you then lose another five rounds in a row, you increase your bet to £10.

The premise here is that when you eventually win, you will regain any losses and a small profit. However, this is not the ideal option if you have a small betting limit.

Martingale Betting System

A popular betting strategy to learn when playing any online casino game is the Martingale betting system. This may be a good option if you’re learning how to play on a slot machine and you want to gain back some of your losses.

As in the betting limits strategy, you’ll need to choose a betting unit, like £1. It is also best to set yourself a limit to ensure responsible gambling. The idea behind this strategy is that with each loss, you increase your bet by doubling the betting unit until you win. Once you have won, you reset your bet back to £1.

Again, this strategy can help you win back losses and can be particularly fruitful if you land a free spins bonus or multiplier based on your current bet value.

Fixed Percentage Wagering

Unlike the other two betting systems we have discussed, this strategy isn’t based on wins or losses but rather on the amount you have available for betting. Here, you settle on a fixed percentage, for instance, 4%.

If you begin your betting round with a bankroll of £100 and your percentage is 4%, your initial bet will be £4. If you win your first bet and earn £14, your bankroll increases to £110. In this case, you can increase your bet to £4.40. Similarly, if you experience a loss, you will again lower your bet accordingly.

While this option allows you to make a profit off winning streaks and can be beneficial on high-paying games, it has drawbacks, too, in that it requires you to continually recalculate and adjust your bet according to the result of each spin, which makes things a little less fun.