If you’re into slot games, then there’s a chance you’re also fond of browsing through game pages and descriptions to learn more about the latest releases before actually hitting the reels. As the world of online casinos keeps growing and setting new records, so do its games, with numerous new and special symbols and features appearing regularly. Hitting up the paytable on the actual game will give you all the information you need, but are you sure you’re able to understand all the terms involved?
Let’s face it, the internet is not lacking when it comes to this game category. But, if you’re a true slot player, you know that knowing the lingo and understanding what each word, phrase or acronym means will most definitely help you increase your probability of winning – let’s get right into it.
| Term | Definition |
| 243 ways to win | A slot containing 243 fixed paylines that trigger a win by landing three or more matching symbols on a line. |
| Active Payline | This payline has been budgeted for and will result in a win if it happens to form part of a successful combination. Some games include fixed paylines that are always all active, while others allow you to choose how many you’d like to use per spin. |
| Auto Play | This option allows you to spin the reels for a predefined number of times automatically without needing to hit the spin button each time. |
| Avalanche | Sometimes referred to as ‘cascading reels’, these games will cause winning symbols to disappear from the reels before being replaced by new ones that will drop from above. |
| Bet Max | The maximum bet allowed on that particular slot per spin. |
| Bet Per Line | The wager allocated to each payline for that particular spin. |
| Bonus Feature | A reward-based side game that interrupts the base game. These features could include free spins, multipliers, boosted wilds, and more. |
| Buy Feature | Purchase a pass to enter the bonus feature directly. |
| Cashback | A percentile refund of your wagers, irrespective of their outcome. |
| Coins | A standard credit unit used in slots. |
| Collect | This option allows you to collect your winnings or generally enter a gamble side game with the chance of doubling your latest win. |
| Expanding Wilds | Wild symbols substitute for all others, while in this case they will also expand to cover the entire reel. |
| Fixed Jackpot | A non-progressive jackpot, or max win if you may. |
| Free Spins | Free spins allow you to get the reels spinning without affecting your bankroll. |
| Free to Play | Slots you’re able to play for free without making any financial commitments. |
| Gamble Feature | This bonus game allows you to enter mini double-or-nothing side games that could potentially see you walk away with more than expected. |
| High Volatility | High volatility slots tend to pay out less often, however offer more substantial rewards whenever they do. |
| Hit Frequency | The average number of times you’d expect a slot to pay out. |
| Line | Short for payline. These lines span across the reels and determine positioning for successful combinations. |
| Line Bet | Your wager per active line. |
| Low Volatility | Low volatility slots generally refer to slots that pay out smaller amounts on a more regular basis. |
| Max Bet | Like Bet Max, this refers to the maximum amount you’re able to wager per spin. |
| Megaways | A dynamic concept originally created by Big Time Gaming that varies symbol size on each reel per spin, altering the payline potential to grow up to 117,649 ways to win. |
| Min Bet | The minimum wager per spin required to play the game. |
| Mobile Slot | A slot you’re able to play on your phone as easily as you might on your computer. |
| Multi-Line Slot | A slot that features more than one payline. |
| Multi-Way Slot | A slot that includes multiple ways to win. |
| Multiplier | This bonus feature will multiply your latest win by its value before paying out. |
| Nudge | This bonus feature will push your reels up and down with the chance of triggering additional bonus features. |
| Payline | Patterns described in the paytable that indicate the positions slot symbols are required to drop to land a win. |
| Paytable | The information chart in any slot that indicates symbol themes and values as well as offers insight on the game’s bonus and/or special features. |
| Payout | The amount that will be credited directly to your casino bankroll. |
| Pick-Me Bonus | A bonus feature that requires selecting one out of several options to reveal a potential reward. |
| Pokies | What slots are called in Australia. |
| Progressive Jackpot | A jackpot win that runs across the operator network rather than the individual casino. These jackpots increase by percentile volume with every wager played across the entire network. |
| Random Number Generator (RNG) | The complex algorithm behind every slot that ensures each spin is fair, transparent, and completely unpredictable. |
| Reels | The discs containing symbols that spin inside slot machines. |
| Re-Spin | The reels will spin again at the same wager for free during gameplay as part of one of the game’s special features. |
| Return to Player (RTP) | The overall percentage of wagered funds a slot machine is able to pay out over the course of time. |
| Rows | The horizontal slot arrangement in the game. |
| Scatter | This symbol will pay in any position on the reels, while also potentially triggering special features whenever you generally land three or more. |
| Spin | This button starts a new game round by spinning the reels. |
| Stacked Symbols | Matching regular symbols that land on top of each other, creating the potential for larger wins. |
| Stacked Wilds | Matching Wild symbols that land on top of each other to create the potential for larger wins. |
| Symbols | The icons that feature on a slot’s reels. |
| Total Bet | The total amount wagered on that particular spin. |
| Tumbling Reels | This game feature will cause winning symbols to be replaced with new ones, potentially allowing for more than one win on the same spin. |
| Variance | Refers to the theoretical range expected between winning and losing spins. |
| Volatility | The risk factor associated with the game. |
| Wager | The money bet placed on a game. |
| Walking Wild | A Wild symbol that will hold its position on the reels for a re-spin and then shift one symbol per spin until it eventually falls off the reels. |
| Wild | A symbol that is able to substitute or stand in for any other regular symbol on the reels whenever there’s the chance of forming a win. |
| Wild Multiplier | A multiplier value that’s triggered whenever a Wild forms part of a successful symbol combination. |
| Win Both Ways | Paylines generally pay from left to right but in this situation wins from right to left are also possible. |
| Winning Combination | Successful symbol combinations that land on active paylines, resulting in a win. |