If you are new to playing slots online, this is the only guide you may need to read! We will cover everything you need to know, including:
- The best simple slots to play
- How to play slots (a step-by-step guide)
- Helpful slot terms
- What a Random Number Generator (RNG) is
- And more!
Simple Slot Games For New Players To Try
Are you new to playing slots and need help deciding what to play first? Don’t worry; Wizard Slots has you covered! Here are some of the best simple slot games for new players to try:
- Gonzo’s Quest - Gonzo’s Quest is a simple slot new players can try, and it was created by NetEnt. It has 5 reels, 20 paylines, and a fun adventure theme. Gonzo’s Quest also offers an avalanche feature, which means that if you manage to form a winning combination, the symbols that made the win will fall down, and new ones will take their place.
The exciting thing about this feature is that you could potentially get several avalanches in a row! Gonzo’s Quest also offers increasing multipliers with each successful avalanche. The maximum potential win in this video slot is worth up to a fantastic 2,500x your bet!
- Starburst - Starburst is a popular slot among many new players at Wizard Slots. Starburst offers 5 reels, 10 paylines and is a win-both-ways slot game. This means that potential wins may be formed starting from either the leftmost or rightmost reel. The top potential win on offer is worth up to 500x your total stake.
This retro-looking slot is very colourful and offers minimal features, making it a relatively easy one to play. The wild bonus round can be triggered if wilds land on the middle 3 reels. If they land, the wild symbols can expand to fill the entire reel(s) while the others re-spin. Up to 3 re-spins could be awarded too!
- Rainbow Riches - As you play more slots, you’ll probably notice that there are many games that offer an Irish theme! Rainbow Riches is an Irish-themed slot by Barcrest, with 5 reels and 20 paylines. It’s a very colourful slot with rainbows, leprechauns, wishing wells, and pots of gold symbols.
Rainbow Riches has some fun bonus features available. For example, there’s a Road to Riches bonus, a Wishing Well feature and a Pots of Gold feature that you can potentially unlock. This game also offers a decent Return to Player (RTP) rate of 95%.
- Chilli Heat - Chilli Heat could be another entertaining, simple slot for beginners to play. Chilli Heat is a 5-reel and 25-payline slot with a Mexican theme. It offers the usual wild symbols and scatters, as well as some fun bonus features.
For instance, there’s a free spins feature that can activate if you land 3 or more scorching sun symbols. This then awards 8 free spins. There’s also a money re-spin bonus feature, which can be triggered by landing 6 or more money bag symbols. In this bonus, all the other symbols are taken away, and only the money bag symbols with their random cash values can land. Jackpot prizes are also potentially available during this bonus too. If you manage to fill all 15 positions, you can win the Grande Jackpot prize worth up to 1,000x your wager!
- Fluffy Favourites - Fluffy Favourites is another slot that tends to be popular with beginners. Fluffy Favourites is an Eyecon slot with 5 reels and 25 paylines. It has an animal theme, with various animal characters filling the reels, including elephants, pandas, lions, and giraffes.
Fluffy Favourites can be a fun and simple slot to play. It also offers a top potential prize of up to 5,000x your total bet. This slot has some fantastic bonus features, including a toy box pick feature where, if unlocked, you get a number of picks to potentially reveal multiplier prizes of up to 100x your wager. There’s also a free spins feature that can activate if you land 3 or more pink elephant scatters. Landing 3, 4 or 5 scatter symbols will give you 15, 20 or up to 25 free spins!
- Jumanji - Jumanji is one of the top online slots based on the popular movie with the same name. Jumanji is a NetEnt slot machine with 5 reels and 36 paylines. It has a high RTP of 96.33%. The graphics and audio are very good quality, exactly what you may expect from a movie-themed slot!
This slot is based on the adventure theme Jumanji, and the theme is apparent throughout. It’s jam-packed with fun adventures and twists and turns, offering possible wilds, random bonus features and a free spins round. One of the bonuses is the sticky vines re-spin feature, which can trigger at random.
- Fruit Spin - Fruit Spin is another potentially good place to start for new slot players, as this is a classic fruit machine slot! Classic fruit machines tend to be quite simple, so why not give one a spin? Fruit Spin is a NetEnt slot with 5 reels and 40 paylines. As you spin the reels, you can see vibrant coloured fruits and retro slot machine symbols, including BARs and 7s.
The highest-paying symbol is the 7. This can award up to 15x your bet if you land 5 of them across a win line. One of the most entertaining elements in Fruit Spin is the stacked symbols. Stacked symbols can potentially appear as 2x2 or 3x3 symbols.
- Fishin’ Frenzy - Fishin’ Frenzy is a fishing-themed slot by Blueprint Gaming, with 5 reels and 10 paylines. It also has a high RTP of 96.12%. The top potential prize in Fishin Frenzy is worth up to 5,000x your total stake!
Fishin’ Frenzy only offers one bonus feature, but it can be an entertaining one. Landing 3 or more scatters triggers the free spins bonus feature, where you can win up to 20 free spins, depending on the number of scatters that land. In addition, all of the fish symbols have random price tags attached to them, and if you manage to land the Fisherman alongside some fish symbols, it can collect all their possible values.
How To Play Slots (Simple Beginners Guide)
Before we learn how to play a slot machine, let’s first go through some basic terms that may help you when playing your first slot.
Reels
Reels are the vertical positions on the slot’s grid. When you place a bet and press the spin button, these reels will spin. The reels are filled with various symbols, which have the potential to match up and form a winning combination. Typically, slots have 3 or 5 reels, but they can have more.
Paylines
Paylines are the invisible lines that you must land a certain number of matching symbols across to score a win. Slots can generally have 10, 20, 25, or 40 paylines. Of course, they can have more too! Typically, the fewer the number of paylines, the simpler the slot machine. Every slot machine can have different win line patterns, so check the paytable.
Paytable
The paytable is where you can find everything you need to know about a slot machine. It can tell you all the game rules and guidelines. This includes what each symbol is, how much you can potentially win, the number of paylines and where they are located, what the wild and scatter symbols are, mystery symbols, and how to activate and play any possible bonus features.
Free Spins Feature
Free spins are spins that you can play for free! Many online slots offer a free spins feature, or bonus feature where you can potentially win a number of free spins. You can check the paytable to learn more about any bonus spins feature a specific game may offer.
Coin Size
Coin size refers to the number of coins you would like to bet per line. Some slot machines have an option where you can choose the number of paylines you wish to be active and the bet per payline. Others may only offer fixed paylines, so you don’t need to worry about adjusting the number of active win lines.
Bet Max
When you are placing a bet, you might notice that there may also be a “Bet Max” button. This is exactly as it sounds! If you choose to bet max, you are automatically betting the maximum amount that you can on that slot machine. Keep in mind, this bet will remain the same on each spin unless you choose to change it. Additionally, not all games may offer this.
Bonus Game
Bonus games can make slots even more entertaining! A bonus game is a bonus feature that can be unlocked with special symbols during gameplay. Some bonus games you may find in slots include the free spins bonus, jackpot bonus, pick bonus, multi-level bonus, and re-spin bonus. You can refer to the game’s paytable to see which bonus features it may offer.
Wild Symbol
About 99% of slots will have a wild symbol. A wild symbol is generally a symbol in slots that replace all other standard symbols, bar special symbols, to help create a potentially winning combination.
Scatter Symbol
If you see a scatter symbol in a slot, you know there most likely will be at least one bonus feature! This is because the scatter is what typically activates a bonus feature.
Multiplier
A lot of slot machines offer possible win multipliers. Multipliers essentially multiply your successful win by a particular amount. Depending on the game, they can start at 1x and even go up to 10,000x.
Payout
A payout in slots is the amount you can win if you land a winning combination. Payouts can differ from slot to slot, so be sure to refer to the paytable to see how much you could potentially win.
Now you understand some of the basic slot terms; it’s time to play your first slot!
First, you need to find and join a reputable online casino, such as Wizard Slots. All legal casinos in the UK should be registered with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Generally, you can find the logo certification on the casino’s website.
You can find a variety of online slots offered at an online casino. Before you register with a casino online, you can have a look around to see if they have enough variety. For instance, you can find over 1,500 slot games to play here at Wizard Slots!
For example, you may find popular games such as Starburst, Fluffy Favourites or Gonzo’s Quest, which may be a good choice for beginners.
Every online slot is different. There are different themes, numbers of paylines and reels and bonus features. Therefore, every slot has its own rules. You can read the slot’s paytable to familiarise yourself with the rules and guidelines. The paytable is usually displayed on one side of the screen, and is usually shown as an “i” button or a 3-lined icon.
Once you have found a slot to play, click on it and wait for the screen to load, sometimes, while the screen is loading, some of the main features of the game will be outlined.
When the slot has loaded, you can have a look around and read the paytable. You can then adjust your volume settings and place your preferred bet amount. The bet icon is usually a coin symbol, or plus and minus arrows. You can change your bet at any time.
When you are ready to play, you can go ahead and hit the spin button. Wins are typically formed by landing a number of matching symbols, starting from the leftmost reel. If you score a win, your win will be added to your total funds. Bonus features can potentially be unlocked with special symbols, such as the scatter, so you can keep an eye out for those.
The easiest way to explain how to play a slot machine is to show you an example! Let’s use the popular Eyecon slot, Fluffy Favourites, as our example.
- Log in to your Wizard Slots account, search for and click on the Fluffy Favourites slot game
- Wait for it to load.
- To change the volume, click the sound icon.
- Next, you can place your bet. Click on the coin icon beneath the reels to place your bet per win line. Fluffy Favourites offers a total betting range between £0.01 and up to £5 per spin.
- Choose the number of paylines you would like to bet on ranging from 1 up to 25.
- To play, hit the yellow spin button.
- To win, you must match 3 or more symbols on a payline, starting from the leftmost reel.
- Fluffy Favourites has a scatter symbol, which is the pink elephant. It can replace all other symbols, apart from the scatter claw symbol.
- Landing 3+ claw symbols will activate the toy box pick feature. This is a pick-style game where you must choose a toy to reveal a potential multiplier prize of up to 100x.
- Fluffy Favourites also has a free spins feature. This can be triggered by landing 3+ pink elephant symbols. Successful winning combinations during the free spins round are tripled, and you can potentially re-trigger this feature up to 15 times!
- The maximum potential prize in Fluffy Favourites is worth up to 5,000x your total bet!
How Do You Win On Slots?
Typically, you will need to land 3 or more matching symbols across a payline to form a win. If you are unsure how wins can be formed, you can check the slot’s paytable to see what symbols, and how many you need to match to score a possible win. In most online slots, wins can be formed starting from the leftmost reel.
However, there are some slots where you can potentially form a winning combination starting from either the leftmost reel, or the rightmost reel, such as Starburst. These are called win-both-ways slots.
The wild symbol can also help you to form possible wins when playing online slots. Usually, the wild can substitute for all other symbols, apart from the scatter and other special symbols, to help you create a possible winning combination.
The scatter and bonus symbols could also help you land potential wins. This is because the scatter/bonus symbol can typically unlock possible features if a certain number land in a single spin. You can also read the game’s paytable to learn more about the symbols and features on offer.
Can You Win Real Money On Online Slots?
Slots on offer at Wizard Slots are real money games. This means that you can bet with and potentially win real money. Just like we mentioned above, to form a winning combination in most online slots, you simply need to match a number of symbols across a valid payline. You can always check the paytable to see how wins can be made and if there are any Jackpot prizes up for grabs.
When you place a bet on a slot machine with real money, there is a chance that you could win real money. However, as slots are random, there is no guarantee that you will win. But if you do, that money is yours and will be added to your funds.
The exception here is if you use bonus funds. Bonus funds are credits that casinos may offer as a promotion to encourage players to sign up and play slots. These bonus funds usually have wagering requirements attached.
A wagering requirement is a minimum spend an online casino sets when they give out a bonus. Before any funds from any potential winnings can be withdrawn, these wagering requirements need to be met.
Many promotions, such as no deposit bonuses, welcome bonuses, and deposit bonuses, are subject to wagering requirements. Each offer can be different, so be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully to understand what you are signing up for.
Welcome bonuses can be great for new players as they allow newbies to sign up to a casino for a small price, often in return for possible free spins on specific slots. This allows new players to explore and try out new slots to see what they like and potentially win real money while doing so.
If you win when playing slots with your bonus funds, you will need to check and or meet the wagering requirements before withdrawing any successful winnings.
Here is a simple formula you can use to calculate possible wagering requirements:
(Wagering requirement) X (Bonus amount) = Total wagering required - the amount you must wager before you can withdraw any potential winnings
Example: Let’s say a casino has a wagering requirement of 20x, and a player won £10 on a bonus promotion.
£10 (bonus win amount) X 20 (wagering requirement) = £200
Before withdrawing any possible winnings, the player must meet the £200 wagering requirement.
RTP (Return To Player) Explained
RTP is short for Return To Player. RTP is a theoretical percentage that can potentially indicate the amount of money a slot machine may pay back to players over a certain period of time, on average.
The slot RTP can be calculated over thousands or even millions of spins, depending on the game. For example, Gonzo’s Quest has an RTP of 95.97%. This means that in theory, for every £100 wagered, £95.97 could be returned to players.
This number is, of course, theoretical, as playing slots is random, and it is never a guarantee that you will win.
Every online slot has a Return To Player percentage, and you can typically find the RTP in the slot’s paytable.
The RTP of a slot machine could be considered to be either high or low. For example, a slot with an RTP over 95% would be viewed as a high RTP slot. High RTP slots are believed to be more generous as compared to low RTP slots, and are generally preferred by slot players.
How The Random Number Generator Keeps It Fair
Ever wondered how slot machines work? It’s all about the RNG!
All slot machines and online slots use a Random Number Generator (RNG). A Random Number Generator is a tiny electronic device inside a slot machine that can generate millions of random number sequences per second.
The RNG controls all of the outcomes in a slot game. The RNG is activated when you hit the spin button on a slot. This leading technology makes slot gaming fair and random for all players. In addition, the complex technology of the RNG makes it impossible for casino operators to fix the machines and for players to cheat.
The Random Number Generator ensures random outcomes for fair gambling. All reputable online casinos registered through the UK Gambling Commission have their slots regularly regulated to check that the RNG is fully working and continues to be fair.
When you hit the spin button, the RNG will get to work! Millions of different possible combinations are generated per second. Each number represents a different symbol. When the reels stop, one of these random combinations generated from the RNG will appear on the reels. This presents as a winning or non-winning pattern of symbols on the reels.
What Is The Easiest Slot Machine To Win On?
There is no one size fits all answer to this question as, ultimately, the chance of winning on a slot machine is random. As we discussed above, the RTP may indicate how much a slot machine may theoretically pay out over time.
If you are looking for a slot to potentially win on, you could consider playing games that offer a high RTP. Slots with a high RTP could be anything above 95%. You can find many different slots here at Wizard Slots that offer a high RTP rate.
High RTP slots can theoretically pay out more over time than low RTP slots. This tends to make them more popular, especially with new players.
Here are some slots with a high RTP that you could play:
- Big Bad Wolf: up to 97.34% RTP
- Blood Suckers: up to 98.00% RTP
- Rainbow Riches Pick N Mix: up to 98% RTP
Let’s move on to talk about volatility. Volatility refers to the amount of potential risk built into a specific slot game. The volatility may indicate how often and how much players can potentially win during a gaming session. However, it’s important to note that this may not always be the case as slots are games of chance.
The volatility of a slot can be categorised as high, medium or low. High volatility slots tend to have a higher risk. This is because possible payouts have the potential to be more significant, but might not be as frequent. You could spend your slot budget on a gaming session without seeing even a small win. Jackpot slots tend to have high volatility.
Low volatility slots generally have a lower risk. The payouts of low volatility slots are usually smaller; however, they may appear more frequently. This could make slots with low volatility a good choice for beginners, as you could have a longer gaming session.
With a low volatility slot, you can typically expect to get a win every few spins, but this is not a guarantee. The possible downside to low volatility slots is that the prizes tend to be small.
To summarise, high RTP and low volatility slots may be a good option for new players. You can find many entertaining high RTP and low volatility slots here, at Wizard Slots.
Slot Games FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about slot games.
Can You Play Slots For Free?
Yes, you can play some slots for free. However, in the UK, free play or demo play is not allowed. That being said, you may find some online casinos that offer a no-deposit bonus, which is a bonus where you do not have to make a deposit to play certain slots. With a no-deposit bonus, players can play slots for free, but this usually comes with a limited number of spins. Of course, be sure to read the terms and conditions of a no-deposit bonus carefully, as these tend to have higher wagering requirements.
How Do You Pick a Good Slot Machine?
Ultimately, every slot player has a selection of favourite games they like to play. The fun of being new to slots is that you can try out different ones to see which you like! A good slot machine is a slot machine that you enjoy playing.
Generally, for many players, a good slot machine has a high RTP. High RTP slots can generally pay out more over time than low RTP slots. When picking a good slot machine to play, you may also want to check the volatility. A slot with low volatility could be a perfect choice if you prefer potentially smaller, more frequent wins.
On the other hand, if you’re happy to wait for a potential win that could be larger, you may prefer slots with high volatility. However, it’s important to remember that slots are completely random, and possible wins can never be guaranteed.
Do Slots Let You Win At First?
It’s easy to see why players could believe that slots let you win at first. One of those reasons is to bring new players back to keep them playing. However, this is not the case! Slots do not let you win at first.
Playing slots is always random. You could win on the first spin, win after 20 spins, or not win at all. This is due to the Random Number Generator (RNG). The RNG is a small device in slots that determines all possible outcomes. When you hit spin, a number sequence is randomly selected. This number sequence (each number representing a different symbol on the slot) determines the outcome. Millions of possible number sequences are generated every second, so it really is random. The RNG is used to make slot gaming fair for all.
Is It Better To Play Max Bet On Slots?
When placing a bet, if you choose the “Max Bet” option, this means that you are betting the maximum amount possible on that slot. Before clicking max bet, you may want to check what the maximum bet is, so you know whether it is suitable for you and your budget.
If you bet the maximum on a slot and win, you will win significantly more than if you were to place the minimum bet. However, if you bet the maximum and lose, you also lose significantly more. Therefore, you need to weigh the risks before choosing whether to max bet. Never place a bet that you cannot afford to lose.
Is There a Strategy To Winning Online Slots?
There isn’t one key strategy to winning online slots, as they are completely random, but there are a couple of things you could consider when choosing a game;
- The slot’s RTP
- The game’s volatility
- Any casino promotions on offer
- Your budget
What Is The Best Time To Play Online Slots?
There isn’t a specific best time to play slots. Whether you play in the morning, in the middle of the night, on weekends, or on a weekday, it doesn’t matter. Whenever you play slots, the chances of winning are always random.
However, some players believe playing at certain times enhances their chances of winning. For example, some believe that because more people play slots over the holidays, like Christmas and New Year’s, jackpot payouts are likely to increase, and they could win. Some players also believe that playing when the jackpot is high is a good time to play slots. These claims are not true. You have the same chance of winning or not winning on slots, whatever day or time of day it is.
How Often Do Slot Machines Hit Jackpots?
Knowing when precisely the jackpot will hit is impossible. Like all other online slots, jackpot slot machines use a Random Number Generator (RNG). When you press the spin button, the RNG creates millions of different number sequences per second. This means that the outcome of a spin is always random.
There are many claims that there are certain times of the day or certain days when the chances of hitting the jackpot are more likely. However, these theories are not true. You can never be sure when the jackpot will hit.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these slot games are subject to change at any time.
