What do the many slot game symbols mean?
Online slots are extremely popular. For beginners, understanding their symbols is the first step toward a win. We discuss what the many slot game symbols mean in the text below.Once upon a time, fruit symbols, bars, and lucky sevens were all you saw on slot games. However, the digital era has brought a host of exciting themes and new ideas to amp up the excitement. At their core, however, most slot games remain the same, and knowing the basic symbols can be a massive help.
Changing symbols
Firstly, it is worth noting that all slot games change the imagery of their symbols. Unless you are playing a classic fruit machine-style slot, you will have to look this up in the documentation that comes with the game. For instance, new casinos like Flashdash Casino will have a range of slots. These will go from classic themes like Giant Fruits to games where symbols are more indicative of differing themes, like the explorer-tinged icons in Rich Wilde and the Book of the Dead.However, most games will have very similar mechanics behind the symbols. They can be broken down into high-paying, and low-paying, along with wilds, scatters, and a few others.
Basic symbols
The basic symbols in a slot game fall into low, medium, and high-paying symbols. Depending on the game, you will need to land these in a combination to unlock a win. The rarer the symbols the more the game will pay out.At the bottom end are the low-paying symbols. Even in themed games, you may find these are simply icons from cards, such as clubs, aces, and jacks. While they appear more often, they will provide the minimum amount you can win. Medium payouts are slightly less frequent and offer a high windfall.
The high-paying symbols are really what most slot players are looking for. They are lesser spotted but provide bigger payouts. When they come combined with multipliers, players can really start winning big.
Wilds and scatters
Not all games will have wild and scatter symbols. However, they are where the magic really starts to happen and you enter the realm of advanced slot game mechanics. You may find that they are often tied to other features, like the ability to access bonus rounds.Wild symbols are probably one of the most useful symbols in a game. They effectively act as any other symbol that will provide you with a payout. Need three cherries in a row and only have two? If you have a wild symbol amongst them, it will act as a cherry giving you a win.
There is also a whole host of advanced wild symbols you may find in certain games. For example, sticky wilds will hold themselves in place as you spin other reels, increasing the chance of a win. You may even find other wilds appear, making your board much more receptive to a payout. Expanding wilds are another, which spread out across the playfield filling more spaces.
Scatter symbols appear less frequently than others. Usually, you only need one to be visible to unlock the prize it brings. This usually takes the form of access to a bonus round or free spins. In some cases, you may even manage to get both.
Free spins are a big draw for slot games. Essentially, they let a player spin the reels without risking their bankroll. Very often, free spins rounds can result in further free spins, letting people play for some time. When combined with other features, it can result in a volatile game where a player can go from winning very little to suddenly finding they have a large amount coming.
Bonuses and multipliers
These symbols are where you can really start to clock up the total. Bonus symbols are the ones that allow you access to special game rounds. These will differ depending on each game. However, if a title says it has a jackpot, you can guarantee you need to be in the bonus round to get hold of it. If it is a progressive jackpot, then a small amount from each wager across linked machines is added. This can create huge totals, that are inevitably won by one lucky person.Multiplier symbols are a way to increase your total. They will take any win you already have, and multiply it by the given amount. They can be added to standard base game wins, or more often in bonus rounds. When they combine with more free spins and other features, they can really push up your total.
Slot games will vary a lot depending on the developer, and the type of title. Aside from symbols, you will find many have unique mechanics like cascading reels and cluster pays. Use your welcome bonuses to try these out before risking your bankroll, and always read the slot guides that provide help. Soon, you may even find yourself at the end of a slot game win.