They say that to play slots online, all you need to do is spin the roulette wheel and hope for the best. Nothing could be more true than this: slots are just plain fun. Although some decisions may affect the final outcome of the game, the results are determined randomly. Slots paylines, the concepts of variance, and risk/reward ratios are some of the basic concepts you should understand when playing these popular online casino games.
Paylines in slot machines are simply lines on the reels. When symbols come together in these patterns, they create combinations with winnings. Payouts must be made in cash if you are playing for real money. Slots paylines can be very simple (such as a straight line) or more complex (such as a diagonal or broken line).
The very first mechanical slots, also called “fruit machines”, had just one payline and three reels. A notable example is the classic three-reel slot machine, which features double diamond, cherry, lucky number 7 and colored “BAR” symbols. You can consider yourself a winner if, for example, three diamonds fall out in a row.
Fixed paylines are where you cannot change the number of paylines you have to bet on; the default is to bet on all possible winning combinations. This is something that applies to most modern online slots.
Risk vs. reward: which online slots are right for you? Slots with consistent wins or big payouts? This is where the risk vs reward ratio comes in. In investing, this means how much money an investor can make for every dollar they risk investing. As far as online slots are concerned, it’s the same thing.
Let’s say you play a slot with fifty fixed paylines. You are really betting 2 cents on each combination if you bet $1. This means that you have to risk more to get more money.
However, if you play a slot with only ten fixed paylines, you have to bet 10 cents for each combination. This way, the total winnings will be more significant.
