Online Slots Glossary

Bonus Feature – A special mode of play that often has either free bonus spins, or may even lead to the activation of a mini-game. These may also have bonus multiplier feature that will increase your winnings.

Coin Size – This is a value you select before making a spin. If you choose $1 as the size of your coin and bet 10 coins on a spin, then your total bet is $10. Payouts are almost always based on coin size, so the larger the coin size you select, the larger your potential payoff.

Hit – A colloquial term used to describe winning.

Max Bet – The largest number of coins that can be played at a single time. This is often a prerequisite to winning one of the top prizes or a progressive jackpot.

Progressive Jackpot – A jackpot that is contributed to by adding a portion of the losing bet from every player playing that particular game. Because these continue to accumulate until won, they can become extremely large and run into millions of dollars. When a player wins this prize, they receive the entire amount, and the casino returns the jackpot to a pre-defined starting level. Progressive jackpots typically require players to play with a max bet to have a chance to win the jackpot, although they can be won by either obtaining a specific combination on the reels or randomly, depending on the slot machine.

Payline – The lines along which symbols can create winning combinations. Refer to a game’s pay table to see its paylines.

Payout – Any payment of money or credits from a slots machine, regardless of size or value.

Payout Percentage – The statistically expected percentage of every dollar that will be returned to the players. This is always less than 100%, and the lower the number, the more profitable the machine is for the casino. For example, a game with a 96% payout percentage is expected to pay out $0.96 for every dollar wagered. The other $0.04 is retained by the casino, and represents the house’s statistical edge.

Pay Table – The chart that displays all winning combinations, rules, and paylines for any given slots game.

Random Number Generator – The computer program inside of every modern slots machine (including online slots) that determines whether any given spin wins or not. This sophisticated software is what keeps the game fair, and the casino honest.

Reels – The real or digital spinning wheels inside of a slot machine. They spin after your bet has been placed, and their final resting position determines your success or failure.

Scatter Symbol – A symbol that can create winning combinations without the constraint of paylines. Getting, two, three, four, or five of-a-kind anywhere on the screen is often sufficient for some kind of award. Scatter symbols are often also the key to unlocking bonus features.

Staggered Payout – A pay table that pays more to players that have wagered more. This is extremely common, particularly when it comes to progressive jackpots, for which payouts can be represented as a percentage of the total jackpot.

Symbols – The pictures, numbers, or letters on a reel that are used to determine winning combinations. Typically include imagery that reinforces a games theme, such as fruit, dollar signs, or cartoon characters.

Wild Symbol – A special symbol that is commonly available on modern slot machines. This can be substituted for any other symbol when doing so will result in a winning combination. Wild symbols occasionally also have bonus multipliers that apply to a wins created by using the wild feature.