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Online Slot Features

Back in the day, when online slots mimicked traditional fruit machines, features were limited. Wager a few coins, hit the play button, and hope that luck is on your side. In the past decade, things have changed considerably.

Slot Features include Paylines, Wild & Scatter Symbols, Free Spins, Bonus Games, Multipliers, Respins, Progressive Jackpots, and more. These features are integral parts of any modern online slot and enhance the gameplay and chances of winning.

A few of the best online slot features

In an effort to make online slots more exciting, software providers such as Pragmatic Play, Big Time Gaming, and others have built a set of new features into their video slot games. From simple Wild Symbols that act as ‘jokers’ to different volatilities and payback rates, online slots are more exciting than ever.

Online slot features explained

We’ve put together an overview of the most important slot features you can expect to find in online slots. For more information, click on the links below. You will also find lists with the best online slots for each feature.

Bonus Games

As the name suggests, bonus games award you with some sort of bonus. The type of award varies between the different software providers and ranges from instant wins, free spins, multipliers, and all the way up to progressive jackpots.

Free Spins

Free Spins are one of the most sought-after features in online slots, and luckily, almost all modern video slot machines have Free Spins built-in. Typically, when you hit three Scatters, the online slot awards you a certain number of Free Spins.

Multiplier

The multiplier feature is a way to increase your winnings with each spin. When an online slot awards you with free spins, a multiplier is typically attached to them. Suppose you receive extra spins with a 3x multiplier, then each subsequent win is tripled. Multipliers can make your bankroll skyrocket; no wonder they have become so popular among players.

Paylines

Paylines state the number of symbol combinations that award you with a win. While classic slots used to offer 1–3 paylines, modern video slot games regularly feature between 25 and 1,024 paylines.

Progressive Jackpot

Progressive jackpots in online slots work similarly to your national jackpot lottery. Each time a player wagers money on the slot machine and does not win the jackpot, it grows in size. Players can follow the status of the progressive jackpot in real-time and see how much they can potentially win. Once a player won the jackpot, it goes back to the minimum win amount set by the slot’s provider.

Respins

Respins are a unique bonus feature available in many modern online slots. Respins allow you to hit more than one winning combination with the same spin. Once you unlock the Respin feature and spin the reels, some symbols freeze while you respin and give you additional chances to score winning combinations.

Return to Player

Short for Return to Player, RTP describes the percentage an online slot returns to its players over time. If you play at a high RTP Slot with a return rate of 98.5 %, the online slot returns 98.5 cents for each $1 wagered. However, we are speaking in theoretical terms here, and the concept of RTP is a little more complex. Head over to our dedicated page on RTP to learn more.

Scatter Symbol

Scatters are instant payouts. You will receive a cash amount whenever you hit a Scatter, even if you don’t have a winning combination. Three Scatters typically unlock another slot feature, which can be a bonus game or free spins.

Slot Themes

Themes are the heart of any online slot. It’s what makes them unique and fun to play. Whether you’re into Ancient Greece, Marvel, Sports or Nature – there are online slots for every category. When we review an online slot, we add it to an appropriate theme category to make it easy for you to digest.

Volatility

Volatility is a relatively new feature that has become incredibly popular with players. A slot’s volatility gives you hints on how often you will win and whether the amounts tend to be large or small. While most slots are of medium volatility, you also come across low and high volatility slots.

Wild Symbol

Wilds is a feature available at almost every modern online slot machine. Wild symbols are like a ‘joker’ in card games and can replace all other symbols on the reels to help you score a winning combination. There are different types of wild symbols; expanding wilds, stacked wilds, sticky wilds, and more.

FAQ

Do all online slots feature wild symbols?

Almost all modern online slots have wild symbols. If you’re playing a classic slot, you might find this feature missing.

What feature should I look out for in online slots?

It depends on your style of play, but we find volatility and multiplier exciting features that make the game much more unpredictable and fun.

Is RTP considered a slot feature?

Technically yes, however, since all online slots have an RTP, we tend to consider it game fundamentals. Learn more about RTP here.

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