Unlike traditional slot machines, which had limited features, modern online slots are packed with exciting elements that make gameplay more engaging and potentially rewarding.
These features include wild symbols, scatter symbols, free spins, multipliers, cascading reels, gamble features, jackpots, 243 ways to win, and the popular Megaways mechanic. Each of these features is designed to enhance your overall slots gaming experience.
Wild Symbols
Wild symbols are a common feature in online slots, acting as substitutes for other symbols to help create winning combinations. They are one of the most beloved features by slot players because of their ability to increase the chances of hitting a win. Wild symbols can come as stacked, sticky, or expanding wilds.
Stacked wilds appear in stacks, covering several positions on a reel. As such, these symbols can significantly increase your chances of forming a winning combination, especially when multiple reels are filled with stacked wilds.
On the other hand, expanding wilds, as the name suggests, expand to cover an entire reel when they appear. This feature is particularly exciting during bonus rounds, where an expanding wild can turn a near-miss into a big win.
When you land a sticky wild, it will remain in place for the next several spins. This boosts the chances of creating potential for multiple wins in a single spin session, as the wild stays on the reels while other symbols change.
Scatter Symbols
Unlike the usual symbols that need to align on a payline to trigger a win, a scatter symbol can land at any position the reels and still create a winning combination. Typically, scatter symbols are used to trigger bonus rounds or free spins.
Usually, you are required to land several scatter symbols, three or more, to activate a bonus feature. Scatter symbols trigger a free spins round, a bonus game, or a jackpot feature. The beauty of scatter symbols is their ability to unlock some of the most lucrative parts of a slot game, adding excitement and anticipation to every spin.
Free Spins
Free spins are a favorite among slot players because they offer the chance to win without risking additional money. During free spins, the slot spins a set number of times without deducting your account balance. The number of free spins you receive varies depending on the game but some slots will award you up to 10 or more.
Another interesting aspect about free spins is that they often come with other additional features. For example, certain symbols might become wild during free spins. Some slots also offer retriggerable free spins, when you land more scatter symbols during the free spins rounds.
Multipliers
As the name suggests, these symbols will multiply your winnings by a certain value. Multipliers often range from 2x to10x or more. These can appear during the base game or be part of a bonus feature or free spins round.
For example, if you win £10 and a 3x multiplier is applied, your total win would be £30. Multipliers can be game-changers, turning small wins into significant payouts. Some slots feature progressive multipliers that increase with each win or consecutive win, adding an extra layer of excitement.
Cascading Reels
Cascading reels, also known as tumbling or avalanche reels, are a feature that replaces traditional spinning reels. When a win is created, the winning symbols on the reels will disappear and the cascading reels allow new symbols to fall into place. This increases the chances of creating consecutive wins from a single spin. This is because the new symbols falling into position can form new winning combinations.
A popular example of a slot with cascading reels is Gonzo’s Quest by NetEnt. In this game, each consecutive win increases the multiplier, leading to potentially huge payouts.
Gamble Feature
The gamble feature is an optional bonus that allows you to risk your winnings for a chance to double or even quadruple the amount won. Generally, this feature often includes a mini-game where you are required to guess the color or suit of a hidden card or spin a wheel of fortune.
For example, you might be presented with a face-down card and required to answer whether it’s red or black. If your prediction is correct, your winnings are doubled. If you choose to guess the suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades) and guess correctly, your winnings could be quadrupled.
Unfortunately, if your answer is incorrect, you’ll lose all your winnings. Thus, while the gamble feature gives you a chance to win more, it is highly risky.
Jackpots
Jackpots are among the most popular features in online slots. They offer the potential for massive wins, often much larger than the payouts available from regular spins. Jackpot slots often have progressive or fixed jackpots.
Progressive jackpots are designed in such a way that every time a player places a bet, a small portion of each bet is contributed to the jackpot. These jackpots can grow to life-changing amounts, often reaching millions of pounds. Examples of slots with progressive jackpots include Mega Moolah, and Mega Fortune by Microgaming and NetEnt, respectively.
Fixed jackpots offer a predetermined prize that doesn’t change, regardless of how many people play the game. While the payouts are generally smaller than those of progressive jackpots, they are still significant and can be easier to win. An example of a slot with a fixed jackpot is Divine Fortune by NetEnt.
