How To Play Online Casinos – 1
Whether you’re a huge slot machine fan or a total novice, there’s always something to learn when it comes to playing online. In this online slots guide, our team of experts will show you how to play and give you an exclusive insight into the best online casinos to play at in 2023. With detailed information on the different aspects and variations of the game and a few handy tips, you should see your chances of winning improve in no time.
- Learn how to bag the biggest bonuses
- Check out hundreds of free online slots games
- Discover top tips to improve your gaming experience
Learn how to gamble at a casino in six simple steps.
Find An Awesome Casino Site
Did you know that Casino.org is the world’s leading authority on all things online casinos? We’ve been rating online casinos since the very first chip hit the virtual felt. We don’t want to brag but we’ve also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Time, CNN and even the BBC.
Most importantly though, we know which online casinos are reputable.
You can rely on our reviews because our unique rating system puts every online casino through a painstaking investigation process. All online casinos are reviewed several times per year to make sure they keep meeting our high standards too.
To find an online casino that works for you, use our Site Menu. You’ll find it located on the right side of the Casino.org homepage. We’ve categorized all our casinos based on what you’re looking for.
- Country-Friendly Casinos
- Mac Users
- Mobile Casinos
- Legal Casinos
- Payment Options
- Casino Games
Sign up with the casino or sportsbook and provide your personal details
Once you’ve chosen a sportsbook or casino, click the “sign up” link to create an account on their website. Any legitimate sportsbook or casino will want to make sure you are who you say you are, so they’ll need your name, email, address, and personal details. Follow the prompts to complete the sign-up process.
You will likely have to upload a copy of your driver’s license or state ID to provide proof that the details you’ve entered are accurate.
It may take a day or two for your account to be approved depending on how quickly they process your information.
Make A Deposit
In the banking section, you’ll see a list of payment methods you can use to make a deposit. Choose the one that suits you and then enter your details and the amount you’d like to deposit.
Choose a slot
While you can choose whichever game you like based on your personal preferences, there are two things you should keep in mind – RTP and Variance.
RTP – stands for Return to Player. This is a theoretical percentage a game gives back to players in the long term. For example, if the RTP of a slot is 97%, it means that for every €100 wagered it returns €97 as payouts, keeping €3 in the casino. Note that this number doesn’t necessarily apply to your particular gaming session, but rather to billions of spins made by all players in total in the lifespan of the game. You may win €1000, and it would mean that a hundred other players lost €10 each. The opposite is also true. Good casinos usually publish this information somewhere on the website. Some slots also have this information available in the game rules.
Variance – this is basically how often a slot pays out. Low variance slots pay smaller winnings often. High variance slots are the opposite: you may not get any wins for a while, but when the win comes – it’s big. This may result in the same overall RTP, so it’s just a matter of personal preference.
Install The Games
Most downloadable casino software doesn’t automatically come preloaded with every game available at the casino. That means that when you want to play a game for the first time, you need to download it.
Just click on the game you like the look of to start downloading it.
Downloading a game doesn’t take long and once it’s done, the game will become a permanent part of the casino on your desktop.
To play a game after it’s downloaded, all you have to do is double click on it.
Now, let the fun begin!
Understanding Your Slot
Online slot machines are increasingly complex, as developers seek to create new games that are each more exciting and engaging than the last. One of the key changes in modern online slot machines is the addition of new symbols such as wilds and scatters.
Whilst they may sound a little off-putting at first, wilds and scatters can actually be hugely beneficial to your game, as long as you know what to do with them!
Learn how slots work
Despite the seeming variety, the general rules of every slot are the same. Almost every slot has reels, symbols, and paylines. Advanced video slots also have special symbols, like wilds and scatters, that enhance your gameplay, activate special features like bonus rounds and free spins, and grant extra winnings. Here’s a short glossary:
Reel – a vertical line where symbols are located. Usually there are 3-5 reels in a slot, and each reel fits 3-5 symbols.
Symbol – basically, any image that is used to create a winning combination along the payline.
Payline – a virtual line that goes across the reels, usually from left to right. A win occurs when you get a certain number of matching symbols on an active payline as indicated in the game’s help screen.
Wild symbol – a so-called Joker in slots that substitutes other symbols to create a winning combination. For example, if you get three Cherry symbols and a Wild on an active payline, it counts as four Cherries.
Scatter symbol – a special symbol in advanced slots. The special thing about it is that it doesn’t have to appear on an active payline to trigger a win. It may be “scattered” across the reels. In most cases it also activates some kind of bonus round.
Bonus round – a mini-round within a slot game that grants extra winnings. It may be a simple “pick one of the three chests” game, where your pick determines the win amount, a complex multilevel videogame-like experience with shooting aliens, or anything in-between.
Free spins – another form of a bonus, where you get a number of spins that don’t reduce your balance. It sometimes comes with additional features like extra Wild symbols, win multipliers, etc.
How do slot machines work?
Whether you hit spin in online slots or a Vegas casino, the concept is the same. The reels spin and players hope that they’ll match up the symbols and win. Every slot game outcome is completely random. Online, a random number generator (RNG) is used. In a casino, mechanisms can spin or there are digital RNGs within the machine which determine the outcome.
How to Play Slots for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide
Slot machines are perfect for online gambling as they’re quick and easy to get the hang of, and great fun to play. Even if you’re new to online slot machines, follow our step by step guide below and you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.
Step 1: Choose your preferred online slot machine and open the game on your chosen device. The screen will fill with the reels of your slot machine and operating buttons such as ‘spin’ and ‘max bet’. You’ll also see your bankroll in the corner of the screen.
Step 2: Take a look at the game’s paytable. This will show you how much each symbol is worth and let you know which ones you’re on the lookout for.
Step 3: Choose what you want to bet and how many paylines you’d like to play. Use the ‘max bet’ button if you’d like to select all paylines at once.
Step 4: Click ‘spin’ to spin the reels. If you have won, the game will display your winnings and offer you the chance to gamble. This gives you the opportunity to win bigger prizes via a bonus game.
Step 5: You can continue spinning the reels for as long as you wish, but don’t forget to keep an eye on your bankroll.
How can I win online slots games?
It’s impossible to truly improve your chances of winning online slots games. They are, in essence, a game of chance. However, you can maximize your potential winning power by following our simple tips. From learning how to choose the best slot machines to knowing your stuff when it comes to wilds and scatters, every little helps when it comes to winning online slot games.
Tips for Gambling Online Successfully and Safely
Set a budget for yourself and stick with it
If you plan on gambling $300 a month, do not spend more than $300 a month and refuse to deposit more than $300 if your account runs dry. Having a concrete cutoff for your gambling will keep you from overspending if you’re unlucky.
Never gamble more than you’re willing to lose. If you set out to gamble $500, be willing to walk away with a $500 loss. Assuming you can lose can keep you from spiraling out of control if things don’t go your way.
Stay away from slots and other randomized games if you can
While a little bit of game knowledge and skill can help you win at blackjack, poker, or fantasy sports, the “coinflip” games like roulette and slots are especially bad for gamblers. If you’re going to gamble and play a game of pure chance, expect to lose money.
If you love these games of chance, it’s perfectly okay to play. Just know that the odds of success are extremely low. Casinos love these games for a reason!
Take a break if you find yourself upset or obsessing over bets
Gambling should be a fun, occasional activity for you. If you start fixating on gambling, putting a ton of emotional weight on each bet, or losing your cool when you lose, stop. Walk away from the computer or phone and go do something else. You should never gamble when you aren’t in a positive headspace.
Gambling during a period of emotional turmoil is a surefire way to make yourself feel worse while losing more money.
Never gamble when you’re depressed, sad, or otherwise upset.
Seek help if you’re struggling to stop
If you find it difficult to stop gambling, reach out for help. Ask a friend or family member to support you and connect you with a recovery program. Alternatively, you can reach out to a therapist or addiction counselor yourself and ask them to help you stop.
Compulsive gambling is extremely common, and there’s nothing to be ashamed about.
Call the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network right now at 1-800-270-7117 if you want to speak with someone.
Summary
Slot games are big business and a number of first-class providers have emerged as creative and competitive game developers. You really are spoilt for choice but having that many options can be daunting if you don’t know where to start.
Our slots guide should prepare you for all the terms, phrases, features and contests this exciting genre can throw at you. Always remember to play for fun and only visit reputable casinos. Enjoy!