Slot machine games, pokies, fruit machines, one armed bandits or puggies – no matter what you call them, slot machines are one of the most popular forms of gambling around the world. From casinos to pubs and beyond, slot machines are commonplace. With the rise of online casinos, they’re easier to find and play than ever.
The online casino market has grown so quickly that the options for online pokies are now in the thousands, with hundreds of different online casinos offering them to players. An entire game development industry is flourishing by constantly creating new slot games. But where to begin for the new player just trying to get started?
The library of online pokies at SkyCity casino and other top online casinos like it can overwhelm new players – there are just so many different games to choose from. The great thing about online slot machine games, though, is that they all have the same rules, basic betting structure and gameplay. So, after reading this handy guide, no matter which games you decide to play, you’ll be starting off on the right foot.
Choosing an online casino
Choosing the right online casino is the first step to navigating online pokies. All of the leading online casinos have libraries of online pokies games numbering in the hundreds, while some will even have several thousand. Some of the top slot game studios to keep an eye out for are Microgaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger and Play’n GO.
After establishing that there’s a good selection of pokies, check the casino’s license status. All online casinos need to be fully licensed and comply with local legislation. This varies by country. The leading licensing bodies are the UK Gaming Commission, Malta Gaming Authority and the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. A reliable and safe online casino should also be using SSL 128-bit encryption software for security. This type of encryption keeps player information safer from hacking attacks.
Lastly, make sure that the online casino accepts a wide range of payment methods for both deposits and withdrawals. Digital payment methods like e-wallets and payment apps have made paying for goods and services online easy and secure, and everyone has their preferences for how they like to pay online.
Return to Player and volatility
Return to Player (RTP) and volatility are two metrics that online casinos use to rate slot machine games so that players have some idea of what to expect when they play. The RTP is the average amount a player can expect to win back over time on a specific game. It is typically between 91 and 97%. The higher the RTP, the better for the player.
Volatility isn’t quite as straightforward but most players have a preference for either high or low volatility games. With a low volatility game, the player will steadily win and lose small amounts. In a high volatility game, wins are less frequent but tend to be bigger when they do eventually happen.
Progressive jackpots
Progressive jackpots have become a major trend in online slot pokies. A traditional slot machine has a set amount that the jackpot can be. With a progressive jackpot slot, the jackpot grows as people play the game. As a result, progressive jackpots can end up being huge.
Progressive jackpot slots are very tempting because of how high the jackpots can go. The reality is that with so many players competing at the same time for the jackpot, the odds of actually winning it are very slim. The level of excitement, however, is hard to beat.
Bonus offers
Standing out from the crowd is getting harder in the online casino industry, so most online casinos will offer welcome bonuses to attract new players. The best welcome bonuses include some form of deposit matching, usually on the first deposit but sometimes spread across a player’s first three deposits.
For players who love the pokies, these offers usually have an added bonus – free spins on one of the most popular slots currently on the site. Sometimes, the free spins can be used on multiple games, but more often there is one particular game being promoted where they are accepted. Don’t worry if the game doesn’t sound very good – online casinos want to give new players an experience worth coming back for, so it’s usually a very popular, enjoyable pokie.
One thing new players should keep in mind is that there is a wagering requirement before any winnings made from a bonus can be collected. Being able to meet this requirement is what really makes a bonus a great one.
