Slots

Step one - pick a game that suits you

Slots have two parts, the first being the theme. Putting it less poetically - this is about which symbols you want to see lining up in a row - they can be fruit, beautiful ladies, portraits of pharaohs or plain numbers - it makes no difference to the substance. This is the easy part; here you have nothing to rely on but your own taste, and we are not the style police.

The second part - which, depending on the relationship you had with your high school maths teacher, is considerably duller but no less important. These are the concepts you need to know - RTP and Volatility.

RTP (Return to Player)

RTP is a percentage showing how much money a game theoretically returns to players over the long run.

• Example: A 96% RTP means that out of every €100, the game theoretically gives back €96.
• Tip: Pick games with an RTP above 96%. It will improve your odds of playing longer.

And here's a dose of harsh reality - many players think that if a machine has eaten a lot of your money, it will suddenly switch into payout mode and start showering you with gifts from the horn of plenty. Every spin is completely random - RTP simply tells you the logic that the game's mathematical core runs on.

Volatility (Risk)

This determines how often and how much you'll win.

• Low volatility: Frequent but small wins. Great for beginners who want to enjoy the game longer. (Example: Starburst)
• High volatility: Rare but big wins. A higher risk of losing money fast, but with hope of the big one. (Example: Book of Dead)

To sum up - high volatility slots are for people who consider go big or go home a mantra to live by.

The most popular types of slot machine

• Classic slots: They imitate the historic, classic machines - minus the physical mechanisms, of course, and with better graphics. The games have clear, defined lines on which symbols must land. Raising your bet unlocks more lines.
• Megaways: Games where the ways to win change with every spin (up to 117 649 ways!).
• Jackpot games: Games where you can win a huge sum of money that accumulates from every player's bets.

Special rounds and features in slot games

What could be better than 3 lemons in a row? Honestly, quite a lot - because slots come with a whole range of special games and rounds that briefly replace the comfortable one-armed-bandit routine. But jokes aside. The special rounds, often called Bonus Rounds (Bonus Rounds), are separate game modes within a slot that offer bigger win chances than the base game, along with unique game mechanics. They break up the usual reel spinning. Here's a breakdown of the most popular special rounds and how they work:

1. Free Spins

This is the most common special round.

• How it works: You're granted a set number of spins (for example, 10 or 20), which cost nothing from your balance.
• The special mechanics: During free spins the game often activates extra features not available in the base game, such as:
  • Multipliers: All wins can be multiplied by 2x, 3x or growing amounts (for example, Unlimited win multipliers).
  • Sticky Wild symbols: Wild symbols that land on the screen stay in place for the rest of the round.
  • Expanding symbols: A specific symbol expands to cover the whole reel (popular in "Book of" style games).

2. Hold and Win (Respins)

This mechanic has become hugely popular lately (for example, Money Train, Divine Fortune).

• The goal: The aim is to fill the screen with money symbols or jackpot symbols.
• How it works:
  • When the round triggers, all standard symbols disappear, leaving only the "Money symbols" that triggered it.
  • You usually start with 3 repeat spins (respins).
  • If a new Money symbol lands in an empty spot, it stays there ("sticks"), and your remaining spins counter resets back to 3.
  • The round ends when you run out of spins or fill the whole screen (often awarding the "Grand" jackpot).

3. Pick-and-Click

This is an interactive minigame that requires player action.

• How it works: A new screen appears showing several objects (treasure chests, vases, planets and so on).
• The action: You click on the items to reveal instant cash prizes, multipliers or extra free spins.
• The end of the game: You usually keep picking until you reveal a "Collect" or "Game Over" sign, at which point the round ends and you receive the winnings you've gathered.‍

‍4. Wheel of Fortune

• How it works: You spin a big wheel divided into sectors.
• The prizes: The sectors usually hold cash prizes, multipliers or access to a higher-tier bonus round. This is often how Progressive jackpots get awarded (for example, Mega Moolah)
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5. Gamble Feature

This is a risky "special round" available after a standard win on many classic machines.

• How it works: After a winning spin you can choose to "Gamble" (Gamble) with your winnings.
• The mechanics: You usually have to guess a card's colour (Red/Black) to double your win, or its suit to quadruple it. Guess wrong, and you lose that spin's entire winnings.

How do you trigger them?

• Scatter symbols: The most common method. Spinning 3 or more "Scatter" symbols anywhere on the reels triggers the bonus.
• Collectors: Gathering a set number of symbols over several spins to fill a meter.
• Bonus Buy: In many modern machines you can pay a set amount (usually 100x your bet) to skip the wait and trigger the special round immediately.

Safety and Responsible Gambling

Playing at a casino is entertainment, not a way to earn money.

• Only play at licensed casinos: Check that the casino holds a Latvian (IAUI), Maltese (MGA) or British (UKGC) licence. It guarantees fair play and data security.
• Set limits: Before you start, decide how much you can afford to spend. Casinos offer tools for setting deposit and loss limits. Use them!
• Don't chase losses: If the money's gone, stop playing. Don't try to win it back.

If you'd like to learn more about the basics of safe play, we invite you to visit our site's safe gambling section.