Online slots are a great way of having fun – they’re quick to play, require next-to-no instructions, and give you a chance to win some cash.
But there are a few important things to consider when you’re playing them, to make sure you get the best deal, play the top games, and give yourself a good chance of winning,
From asking whether you can play for real money to checking if there’s a try before you buy option, these are the five things you need to consider when you’re playing online slots.
Can you play games for real money?
Like every casino game, playing slots is about having fun.
That means gambling responsibly and stopping when you’ve reached the limits you’ve set for yourself – it also means winning and that’s often for real money.
The reason people play slots for real money is that there’s more of a competitive edge – you’re quite literally invested in the game, so you make more considered betting decisions.
There are lots of great real money slot sites and you can check this site out to find the top ones – personally, I agree that LeoVegas is the best place to look and this is because it has so many great titles for you to try.
What are the payouts?
There’s no shame whatsoever in playing slots without thinking about whether you’re winning or not – after all, the key is to have fun and it that just means taking part for you then that’s great.
However, winning is a part of the healthy competition you get from slots and payouts are the way that you find out how likely you are to win.
Slot games have different payout rates – some titles are easier to win than others.
Every game has to publish its payout and it does so in the form of RTP (return to player).
RTP is shown as a percentage and it works like this – if a game has an RTP of 99% then £99 of every £100 wagered is returned to players over time.
However, I must point out that you won’t simply get £99 back from a £100 bet in this example. The reason for this is that gambling is about chance, so you could lose more than £1 or you could win more than £100 – it just depends if luck is with you.
So, consider the RTP of the slot you’re thinking about playing, but don’t be beholden to it.
Can you get a free spins offer?
Free spins offers are exactly what they sound like – free spins to use on a slots game.
Free spins are a great bonus to look for because they give you a chance to play games without spending your own money – well, sort of.
While many of the top slot sites offer free spins (as part of a no deposit bonus, welcome package, or ongoing rewards) none of these eye-catching promotions will be without costs.
This is because every free spins offer you see will come with a wagering requirement.
A wagering requirement is an amount of your own money that you need to bet before you can withdraw the winnings you make from a casino bonus – this can be either a free spins offer or a cash reward.
This is how wagering requirements look and work for a 50 free spins offer:
- 10x: you need to wager 500 spins on the slot title
- 20x: you need to wager 1,000 spins on the slot title
- 30x: you need to wager 1,500 spins on the slot title
I strongly advise that you consider the wagering requirement of any free spins offer you’re thinking of signing up to – so you can find out just how ‘free’ it is.
What software company made it?
Casino software providers make the slot titles you play.
And, just like every other type of digital game there’s ever been, some providers are better than others – for every Nintendo 64 there’s an Apple Bandai Pippin.
I’ve spent a lot of time playing slots and I can tell you from experience that there are some exceptional software companies – ones where you know from the name that the game is going to be great to play.
The three big ones are:
- Microgaming
- NetEnt.
- Playtech
The great thing for you is gambling sites often publish which software companies they use – some even include filters in their games sections, so that you can really consider which providers you want to use.
Can you try the games for free?
Who doesn’t like a try before you buy offer? I know I love them and I’m sure you do to.
Some of the best online casinos offer this for their slot games and it’s worth considering before you decide which gambling site you’re going to use.
The reason for this pretty straightforward – you can see if you like a slot game and without spending your own cash. If you do like it then you can play for real money and if you don’t then you’ve only lost your time.
You can often find out if you can try a slot for free by hovering over it – you’ll see something like “for free”.
Recommended reading: 3 Online Casino Technology Trends & Innovations
Now you know what to think about when you’re playing online slots. So take my tips, advice, and pointers, go find some great online slot games, and start having some fun – and hopefully winning some cash!
