have published a guide on how to become a Casino Guru and this provides an excellent summary of the terminology used at the online slots. Wilds and Scatters perform different functions while other bonus rounds such as Pick Games or Wheels of Fortune may apply.
If you don’t know your wild from your scatter then why not check the guide first. When you’re happy, it’s time to get acquainted with the bonus features that apply to each individual slot game.
What is needed to activate the bonus features? A typical slot machine will feature a free spins round which is set in motion when a certain number of scatter symbols land. Check on this point and whether there are any more bonuses in this section. Slot wins during a free spins round could also be subject to a multiplier and that will naturally boost your balance.
The bigger cash wins, including any jackpots, are likely to come during the bonus rounds and, as we’ve seen, those wins convert to points which will take you up the tournament leaderboard. It’s therefore important to check how each game functions before taking part and publish slot reviews in most cases.
One jackpot win could see you win the tournament too so this is one factor to pay close attention to. Do you need to increase to the max bet in order for the jackpot to come into play and are your comfortable playing at this increased level?
For table games, simply check up on the rules and be confident in regards to the gameplay before you commit to a stake. Being armed with all the information relating to a game, whether it’s a slot, roulette or blackjack, is essential before you even consider getting involved in a tournament.
Tournaments run on a daily basis and are listed online each and every week but remember, there is a very short space of time in which to play them and make those wins count. Those that hit the very high reaches of the leaderboard are dedicated to making slot play work for them and that means spending as much time as possible in front of the reels.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that the autoplay feature may well be disabled for those games while they are subject to the tournament window. Players shouldn’t be encouraged to set a bet limit and walk away from the screen so, winning could involve a lot of clicking.
If there are any issues regarding the age and functionality of your device then they must be addressed. Once again, that short window is in play here so we need to maximise our time on the reels. If you happen to time out before the game loads or, the reels freeze on the very first spin, you could be playing catch up with the rest of the leaders over the course of the tournament.
Of course, one big win of a six or seven figure progressive jackpot should be enough to see you fly to the top of the leaderboard. One click may be all it takes to hit the top spot and the need to keep playing through the tournament window is negated. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to land such a sum then you may not be quite so excited about a slot tournament win but it will be a nice bonus nevertheless.
We’ve mentioned the need to understand the mechanics of each slot game and that’s an important starting point. Another way to get your head around the base game and bonus features of each slot is to click on demo play. Take a few trial spins with no stakes applicable. You can then get a feel for that specific game but, as mentioned in the previous section, don’t take up too much time as the tournament window can be brief on occasions.
As we mentioned at the start of this preview, luck is at the heart of slot machine play. Each slot game and casino is tested for fairness and any wins are handed out on an evenly distributed but random basis. Return to player stats are available for each of the slot titles on our list and while these prove the amount of wins that can be expected, they also underline that some players will grab a higher share than others.
Therefore, we cannot guarantee that you will soar up the leaderboard but by following the advice offered in this guide, you stand a better chance of adding to your slot wins by landing a big cash prize as a tournament bonus.
Are you looking to take a few spins at the online slot machines but don’t know your scatters from your wilds? Perhaps you are eager for some hands at the poker tables but are struggling to tell the difference between the flop and the river.
We know that there are specific terms to all types of casino play that can be confusing at times. That’s why we’ve published the following glossary which will aim to cut through the jargon and provide you with a more comfortable and entertaining experience when you next log on at to play online casino.
This is a term that is primarily used in lottery and keno games. All or Nothing means that all numbers on the ticket have to be matched in order for a cash prize to be awarded.
A bankroll merely applies to the amount of money that you take into a game. Most commonly, this term will be applied to poker.
Slot machines can become very complex but when they first appeared online, they followed a simple pattern. In general, these games featured one, solitary payline and a fixed jackpot that didn’t change. They still exist and are commonly referred to as ‘basic slots’.
Also known as ‘tumbling reels’ this is a bonus feature that applies to some slot machines. When a win lands, symbols will disappear and be replaced by others with the hope of providing a follow up win. The reels are said to ‘cascade’ or tumble.
Top Rated Online CasinoA bonus or set of bonuses is usually offered by a casino to add value to a customer’s account. This could be a welcome bonus such as free spins or a match on an opening deposit. Alternatively, bonuses can reward existing customers through loyalty programmes or one-off deals.
Tournaments are available in certain areas of a casino or bingo site. Like all tournaments, they are offering players the chance to take on other account holders for the chance to win a prize.
Poker tournaments are the most common, as far as the casinos are concerned but it is possible to find competitions for slot play too.
This is a term used in roulette and it applies to a bet placed on a certain column of numbers.
When casino sites talk about coins, they are referring to your stake. So, if you have taken a bet on the slots, you have staked a certain number of ‘coins’ ahead of each spin.
This term relates to poker games and cards that are available to all players. In a game such as Texas Hold’Em, two cards are dealt face down and three community cards will then be dealt face up for all players to form hands.
This is the pocket on a roulette wheel marked as 00. It can only appear in the American Roulette version.
This is the pocket on a roulette wheel marked as 00. It can only appear in the American Roulette version.
This is a term that is specific to the game of French roulette. The phrase literally translates as being ‘in prison’ and, when a zero lands, it allows players to take back half of their stake or leave it in prison to bet on the next spin.
Scroll down a little to read the description of a wild symbol and its effect on a slot machine game. A standard wild will only occupy one position but when it expands, it can cover an entire reel.
This is the first of the community cards in a poker game. So called because it flopped down onto the table, it’s the third card available to players.
A free spins round is a common bonus feature in slot machines. Players will usually need to land a certain number of special symbols, known as the Scatter, in order to activate a certain number of free spins.
A high roller is a player who deposits and plays through large amounts of money at a casino.
A jackpot is the biggest prize available in any game. It will commonly apply to slot machines but it can also refer to poker, bingo, roulette and even sports betting. There are two types of jackpot - a fixed sum is clearly listed and doesn’t alter while a progressive jackpot can increase.
A payline is any invisible line along the reels of a slot machine. Matching symbols must align along this line for a cash prize to be awarded.
Before tackling any casino game, we’d like to know the prizes that are at stake. A paytable is commonly used in slot machines and it simply lists the cash sum that you will win for matching symbols along those paylines.
We’ve briefly mentioned progressive jackpots but how, exactly, do they work? Rather than offer a top prize from one specific casino, a progressive jackpot takes a small percentage of stakes from all players using the slot machine in question and this sum comes from a number of operators.
You are welcome to share your ideas with us in comments.