Online video slots have evolved since the days of classic one-armed bandits in dimly lit pubs and bars, ushering in an era of diversity, innovation, and limitless potential. Read on to learn about our recommended video slots and find top-rated casino sites to play them.
Understanding Video Slot Basics
Learn the basics of real money online video slots before playing! By understanding the core components of video slot games, you’ll be able to make informed picks and get the most out of your online reel-spinning adventures.
Reels and Rows
In the heart of every online video slot lie the reels and rows. These are usually the 5×3 vertical and horizontal divisions that create the playing grid, where symbols come to life. Most video slots come with five reels and three rows, but variations with more or fewer reels and rows are also quite common. The spinning of the reels ultimately determines the outcome of each spin, and it’s when they come to a stop that the excitement really begins. In some online casino slot games, features like tumbling reels add extra intrigue as winning symbols disappear and make way for new ones to cascade down, potentially creating additional wins.
Paylines and Winning Combinations
Paylines are a deciding element of casino video slots, determining winning combinations when symbols align along them. They usually range from 3 to multi-line paylines with added chances of winning. Multi-line slots allow betting on multiple lines per spin, featuring complex paytables that detail winning combinations and payouts. Familiarize yourself with a game’s paytable before playing to understand your potential winnings and suitable bet sizes per line.
There are also triple slots, with just three reels and limited paylines, which offer a traditional gambling experience reminiscent of early land-based slot machines. These 3-line video slot games have simpler paytables and fewer winning combinations than multi-line – they still suit slot gambling enthusiasts that seek a straightforward or nostalgic casino experience.
Wild, Scatter and Bonus Symbols
Symbols are the vibrant images that adorn the reels of video slots, and they come in various looks, each with its own significance:
- Wild symbols: These versatile symbols can substitute for any other symbol (except scatters and bonus symbols)
- Scatter symbols: 3 or more scatters can trigger special features, such as free spins or bonus game rounds
- Bonus symbols: These icons activate bonus features that can lead to extra wins or access to mini-games.
Winning Combinations and Payouts
The ultimate goal in any online casino video slot game is to hit winning combinations. These occur when you land a specific sequence of paying symbols along an active payline. Payouts are determined by the type and number of matching winnings symbols and the amount you bet on that spin. Some low-volatility slot games offer small, frequent payouts, and others have high-volatility gameplay with the potential for big wins that come less often.
Top Features in Online Casino Video Slot Games
As you delve further into video slot gameplay online, you’ll soon discover a plethora of interesting game elements and features that you may want to investigate.
5, 10, 15 or 20 Free Spins
Who doesn’t love spinning the reels without spending real cash? Free spins are a popular video slot bonus feature that allows you to play a specific number of spins without deducting any credits from your casino balance. They’re typically triggered by landing a certain number of scatter symbols on the reels, and sometimes, they come with added perks such as multipliers, extra paying symbols, or sticky wilds.
Video Slot Bonus Games
Adding an extra layer of mystery, bonus games are mini-games that can be activated within the main game. They often feature unique game mechanics. To access these bonus rounds, you’ll usually need to land a specific combination of bonus symbols.
- The rewards from bonus games can vary, ranging from instant cash prizes to more free spins or added in-game multipliers.
Multipliers as Symbols and Features
Everyone loves a good win, but a win multiplied by an impressive 10x or more? That’s even better! Multipliers are a feature that can boost your winnings by a certain amount, usually ranging from 2x to 10x or more. Multipliers can apply to individual base game spins, entire rounds of free spins features, or during specific bonus games. Some slots even have progressive multipliers that increase with each new win.
Expanding and Stacked Symbols
Expanding and stacked symbols are the top-rated features available in online video slot machine games. They highly increase your chances of landing winning combinations. Expanding symbols can grow to cover an entire reel, and stacked symbols appear one on top of the other, occupying multiple positions on a single reel. These two can lead to some truly massive payouts when they appear in the right combinations.
Megaways and Cluster Pays Mechanics
Video slots online are always evolving, and mechanics like Megaways and Cluster Pays are prime examples of how casino game developers push the boundaries. Most megaways slots, developed by Big Time Gaming, for example, feature a dynamic setup where the number of symbols on each reel changes with every spin. This results in a varying number of ways to win, often exceeding 100,000 paylines.
Meanwhile, Cluster Pays video slots, such as Shangri La Slot and Aloha Cluster Pays popularized by NetEnt, ditch the traditional paylines in favour of clusters of matching game symbols that touch either horizontally or vertically. When you form a cluster, the winning symbols often disappear, allowing new symbols to drop down and potentially create more winning clusters.
How to Choose the Best Video Slot for Playing
The best European online casino operators feature between 2500-5000 online video slots on their sites, meaning you might find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer variety of games. Fear not! Onlinecasinoinfo.eu is here to help you navigate this landscape. Keep these factors in mind when selecting an online casino video slot to play — they can improve your gaming experience!
Return to Player (RTP) and Volatility
Consider the RTP and volatility of a slot when making your choice. The RTP is the percentage of all wagers that a game returns to players over time. The higher the RTP, the better your chances of seeing a return on your bets in the long run. Volatility, on the other hand, refers to the frequency and size of payouts. Low-volatility slots offer smaller, more frequent wins, while high-volatility games feature larger wins that occur less often. Choose a game with an RTP and volatility level that aligns with your preferred playing style and risk tolerance.
Theme and Design Preferences
From ancient civilizations and mythical creatures to movie tie-ins and futuristic worlds, video slots come in a wide range of themes and designs. Opt for a game that sparks your interest and captures your imagination. High-quality graphics, engaging soundtracks, and animations can greatly enhance your casino slot gaming experience, so keep an eye out for these elements as well.
Betting Limits and Bonus Buy Options
When choosing an online casino video slot, choose one with betting limits that match your pre-set gambling budget, as they can range from as low as 0.01 to hundreds of Euros per spin. Some slots provide a bonus buy feature, letting you access bonus 5, 10, or 15 free spins rounds for a set cost instantly. While this slot gambling feature offers immediate excitement and potential rewards, remember that the cost of a bonus buy can be quite high compared to playing with regular bets.
Try Big Bass Bonanza Video Slot (Our Pick)
Picture yourself casting a line into the deep blue waters, hoping to reel in the catch of a lifetime. Welcome to Big Bass Bonanza! This is a popular online video slot by Pragmatic Play that takes you on a fishing adventure to hook up some impressive wins.
Developed by Reel Kingdom and powered by Pragmatic Play, Big Bass Bonanza boasts an underwater theme with colourful graphics. The game features a 5×3 reel layout, 10 paylines and scatter symbols, providing a classic, easy-to-understand gambling experience.
The main attraction of Big Bass Bonanza is the three-stage free spins feature with 2x, 3x and 10x multipliers. Triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols, represented by the golden fish, you’ll be awarded up to 10 free spins. During this bonus feature, the fisherman is the dominant symbol and collects fish displaying different cash values that appear across the reels. Catching the fisherman four times advances you to a new stage, granting 10 more free spins and a new multiplier.
- We had some big wins, as you can see on our YouTube video, during the 2x and 3x multiplier stages totalling 1858 EUR. However, we didn’t win anything at the 10x multiplier stage.
Big Bass Bonanza’s RTP stands at a respectable 96.71%, with medium volatility, meaning a decent balance between win frequency and payout size.
Compare Classic and Videos Slots
| Classic Slots | Video Slots | |
|---|---|---|
| Gameplay | Simple with few paylines and basic symbols | Complex with multiple paylines, bonus rounds, and special symbols |
| Visuals | Traditional design with retro symbols and sound effects | Modern with high-quality graphics and animations |
| Payouts | Low variance with smaller but more frequent payouts | High variance with larger but less frequent payouts |
| Bonuses | Rarely offer bonuses or special features | Often offer bonus rounds, free spins, and other special features |
| Popularity | Popular among seasoned and nostalgic players | Popular among players who enjoy innovative slot features |
Top Video Slot Casinos Online
While there are plenty of online casinos and gambling sites on the internet for playing games, we recommend selecting one of the top 10 European casino sites listed below. These casinos offer 3000+ modern video slot games, professional customer support, and fast withdrawals, ensuring that players like you can enjoy the slotting sessions without any hassle.
Winz Casino
- Rating: 4.8/5
- Bonus: 300 free spins on a €100 deposit (no wagering)
- Read Winz Review
Bitstarz Casino
- Rating: 4.8/5
- Bonus: up to €100 + 180 Free Spins (wagering: 40 × Bonus)
- Read Bitstarz Review
BC Game
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Bonus: up to 270% 1st deposit match bonus
- Read BC.Game Review
CasinoFriday
- Rating: 4.7/5
- Bonus: up to €500 + 200 Free Spins (wagering: 40 × Bonus)
- Read CasinoFriday Review
How do I choose the best video slot game for me?
Just like with any other type of online slot, to find the ideal video slot for you, pay attention to factors such as the game’s RTP, volatility, theme, design, betting limits, and mobile compatibility.
What is the importance of RTP and volatility in video slots?
RTP (Return to Player) is the percentage of all wagers that a game returns to players over time, while volatility refers to the frequency and size of payouts. Understanding these factors can help you choose a game that aligns with your preferred playing style and risk tolerance. High RTP games offer a better long-term return, while low-volatility slots provide smaller, more frequent wins compared to high-volatility games that feature larger payouts occurring less often.
What are free spins in online video slot games?
Free spins are a special feature in online slot games that all slot players enjoy. When you get free spins, you can spin the reels a certain number of times without it costing you any money. This is a bonus game that an online casino slot gives you, and it’s usually triggered when you get a certain number of scatter symbols on the reels.
What are the differences between classic slots and video slots?
Classic slots are reminiscent of traditional real casino slot machines, usually featuring three reels, simple gameplay, and iconic symbols like cherries, sevens and bars. Video slots, on the other hand, offer advanced video graphics, modern soundtracks and come with numerous paylines, free spin bonus features, and unique gameplay mechanics.
Who makes the best video slots?
The “best” video slot maker is subjective and depends on individual preferences. Some popular and reputable game providers across Europe include NetEnt, Play’n GO, Big Time Gaming, Thunderkick, Yggdrasil, Nolimit City, Pragmatic Play and Quickspin.