Online Slot Features Explained
Not too long ago a slot feature didn’t mean much. Yes, it meant a few nudges towards a possible win but it was nothing near what it is today. There are as many online slot features nowadays, as there are symbols (and also dedicated slot features) that unlock slot bonuses, which is essentially what you are after when you spin the reels at any online casino.
Online slot features can be as simple as wild symbols (aka the Joker), multiple paylines or scatters that can result in a win regardless of where they land on the reels. But, to truly make the best from these slot features and slot bonuses, you need to understand what they are and how they work.
Lucky for you, we’ve made a list of all the casino functionalities present in modern-day slots, so that you can have a better idea of the many exciting online slot features that will enhance your playing experience.
Ready to start mastering the art of online slots bonus features? Keep your eyes locked on BitStarz, we’re about to cover everything!
Wild Symbols
If you’ve played slots in the past couple of years, we’re sure you have stumbled across all the wild slot features around. The wild is one of the most classic online slot features and can earn you slot bonuses pretty easily. This is because it helps form a winning combination by substituting for any other symbol on the reels, except a scatter and a bonus symbol – more on that later>
When you play slots with bonus games, you need to know which wilds unlock slot bonuses. This information is found on the paytable of any online slot. If you want to find the best slot machine bonuses, this is the first place you need to head to, so keep that in mind the next time you are searching for the best online bonus slot around.
Let’s explore how these different types of wilds impact gameplay and also how they unlock an online slot bonus that’ll have you reeling in the cash.
Stacked Wilds
Stacked Wilds occur when wilds appear stacked on the reels. It is one of the online slot features that help a player get a winning combination in a flash, because any payline that passes through this bundle of wilds is likely to be a winner.
You can find stacked wild slot features on almost any feature slot game and although they are usually stacked vertically, they can also appear as horizontally stacked wilds on occasion. This, however, doesn’t really change anything because you have the same chance to land a winning combination or to unlock slot bonuses.
Make no mistake about it, when you use stacked wilds properly, there is nothing to stop you from stacking up the cash.
Expanding Wilds
Expanding Wilds will always be one of the most exhilarating online slot features around, as they usually work alongside Stacked Wilds. As the name suggests, this slot feature allows an Expanding Wild to expand, sometimes to the size of the entire reel.
Even when you play free online slot games with bonus features or bonus wheel slots, these expanding wilds are triggered by stacking a specific number of wilds but in some games, slot bonuses can be triggered every time you land a wild on the reels.
Sticky Wilds
When you play bonus game slots, the Sticky Wild is definitely one of the online slot features to look out for. This wild sticks around for more than one spin, if you are lucky enough to land it that is. What this means is that you will have more chances to land a winning combination for a select number of spins on a feature slot game.
Scatter Symbols
The glorious Scatter is also one of the many slot features that you need to look out for whenever you spin the reels of an online slot. It is special in the sense that it might trigger many different types of slot bonuses, a bonus game slot, or it can act as a slot multiplier by substituting any other symbol to form a winning combination.
What makes the Scatter even more interesting is that in some features for fun games, such as big-time BitStarz slot Book of Dead, for example, it can act as a Wild as well as a Scatter. When the Scatter appears as a Wild in this game, it substitutes any other symbol to form a winning combination and if it appears as a Scatter, it triggers free online slot games with bonus features, meaning that you’re guaranteed double the fun.
It is also known to be one of the highest paying online slot features so make sure your game of choice has a Scatter in it so you don’t miss out.
Prize Multipliers
When you play online slots, it is strongly recommended to play multiplier slot machines, because these slot features multiply your win by a specified number of times. Not all slots have the online slot features that double, triple or in some cases even multiply your winnings by as much as 1000x.
It is also important to note that some have pretty easy rules, while others are a little bit more complex. This is another big reason why it is important to head over to the paytable before choosing a bonus game slot. Not only to ensure that you choose a game that offers the best online slots bonus features, but also to ensure that your winnings from these bonuses are multiplied in a major way.
Multipliers in base games are not common and if they do have them, they will only multiply the value of a winning payline. For example, if you get 5 symbols and a 3x multiplier on a line, your payout for landing 5 symbols on a winning payline will only be 3x.
In my opinion, you should opt for free spins multipliers that will not only unlock slot bonuses, but also boost your wins at the same time. You also get these exciting slot features in free slot games with bonus features and although the free rounds are automatically multiplied and added to your account, you also find games that will ask you to choose your multiplier from hidden icons.
This creates even more excitement when playing free slot games with bonus features, because it gives the player an extra sense of interaction, so make sure you take advantage of these exhilarating online slot features when you can.
Free Spins
Now that you know that free spins can be multiplied to increase your winnings, you are most probably asking – are there free slots with bonus features at BitStarz? The answer is definitely yes!
The good news is that there are many free slot games with bonus spins to choose from in our huge game catalog. Online casinos like ours seem to be very generous with slot bonuses (and for good reason), but how do you get free spins and how do they work?
If you are new to the marvelous world of online gaming, you can get to know all the online slot features by playing free slot games with bonus features for fun. Then, as soon as you understand all the different slot features, you can register an account at an online casino and receive free spins on sign up. These free spins can be used on a wide variety of slots including video slots, slots with wheel spins, classic slots and many more.
This means you can play free slots with bonus features without spending any of your own cash and who knows, you might even trigger slot bonuses with multipliers that will give you a flourishing bankroll to start off with.
Let’s look at the different types of free spins you can use to make use of next time you spin the reels.
Deposit Bonus Free Spins
The free spins deposit bonus is when the casino rewards you with free spins for every deposit you make. Some casinos will give you as many as 250 free spins spread over a number of deposits which means that you will have 250 free spins to explore the many online slot features while standing the chance to trigger slot bonuses.
No Deposit Free Spins
This is when you receive free spins without spending any money at all. The number of free spins isn’t usually a lot, but who would say no to 20 free spins that allow you to play a slot game with many different slot features?
The only drawback to this no deposit bonus is the wagering requirements, even if they are generally manageable. This refers to the number of times you will need to play through the bonus amount before you will be able to transfer your wins to your casino account.
But, you should be able to play through it and while doing that, you will be able to get to know all the different online slot features that the game has to offer, and all of this is 100% free!
No Wager Free Spins
To get slot bonuses without any wagering requirements is incredibly rare, but there are some out there. If you see one, grab it with both hands because this means that you will be able to play with free spins to make use of all the different slot features. And, if you win, your winnings will be credited to your bankroll automatically.
Can you imagine triggering online slot features such as multipliers on your winnings without any playthrough requirements? That’s online casino bliss if you ask us!
Promotional Bonus Free Spins
When a new online casino or a new game is launched, promotional free spins are often offered to attract new players. It comes in many different shapes and forms and can be any of the above. Watch out for these free spins slot bonuses, because they are usually quite useful and can let you rock the reels without the cost in an instant.
Gamble Feature
You’ve most probably heard the term ‘’Double or Nothing’’ and that is exactly what the gamble feature in online slots is. It is like a flip of a coin that has a 50/50 probability of winning or losing. It is one of the most exciting slot features, because you can either double your winnings or lose everything by one action – clicking the gamble button.
The gamble round traditionally consists of deciding the next color of the card, either red or black. This online slot feature can pop up numerous times in one game, depending on the slot you are playing, while the rules remain the same for all consecutive gamble rounds.
Another way of play when triggering these slot bonuses is to predict if the next card will be higher or lower than the card shown. You can also find slot features whereby the player gets a globe with two different colors to choose from. Although, most slots do stand by the well-established pick the red or black card gamble round.
The gamble round might be old school, but don’t worry, as this round is just as powerful as ever, as it can easily double your money or more!
Understanding Online Slot Payout Percentage
It is an age-old question: ‘’How much do slot machines actually payout?’’ To be precise it is between 75% and 98%, with the latter being more common. There is no point in understanding all the different online slot features without understanding how to choose a slot with a good RTP (Return To Player) because the better the RTP, the better your chances of triggering slot bonuses.
The RTP refers to the percentage of the total amount the slot takes in, that is paid out over a period of time. It is great to know that all slots, slot features, online casinos and game developers are strictly regulated and audited to ensure fair play but don’t believe that you will always get back 98% of what you spent if the RTP is 98%.
This percentage is worked out over thousands of spins and it is only the RNG (Random Number Generator) that triggers a win randomly. It is not possible for a slot to know which player spent how much and when. Wins are triggered totally at random and there are no online slot features that can change this.
If you understand all the different slot features, however, you will choose wisely which will, in turn, give you a better chance at triggering slot bonuses.
Bonus Feature Fun!
Online slots have become insanely popular over the last decade. The casino industry is growing at the speed of light, so new and exciting online slot features are popping up constantly.
Game developers are creating slot features that keep you glued to your seat, while casinos like BitStarz are offering slot bonuses that will knock your socks off. If you are a gambling enthusiast, you couldn’t ask for much more.
By understanding all the different features, you will not only enhance your playing experience, but it will also give you the advantage of possibly putting more in your bankroll.
We are sure you are now confident enough to choose wisely, so head on over to BitStarz huge slot game selection and start spinning those reels!