If you’re new to any subject, it can be especially helpful to be able to access a list of those terms and phrases which are obvious to the familiar but can be a little odd for those who are not. Online slots are no different, and that’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive list of terms. There was some argument over the title, but this title won over ‘Slotspedia,’ Slots Glossary’ and the slightly annoying ‘Slots Terminology’ and perhaps we’ve invented a new term.
Anyway, read on to fill in the gaps in your knowledge about some of the more mysterious slots terms and phrases.
| Bonus Features | The extra games and free spins available when playing online slots |
| Bonus Symbols | Symbols which activate bonus games and other special features |
| Cascading Reels | Symbols which disappear when making a winning line and are replaced by new ones. |
| Coins | This is the standard method of adjusting bet levels when playing |
| Comp Points | Online casinos award comp points to customers for regular play. Can be swapped for cash and other prizes. |
| Dollar Ball Jackpot | A lottery-style progressive jackpot offered by developer Playtech |
| Expanding Wilds | Certain games include a feature where the wild expands to fill all visible places on one reel, enabling a larger number of winning possibilities |
| Free Spins | Free Spins are often awarded as part of a game’s bonus feature. Some online casinos also offer free spins to new players. |
| Fruit Machines | The UK version of a slot machine |
| Marvel Slots | Developers Playtech and Cryptologic have a range of progressive online slots based on Marvel comic characters |
| Mini-Games | A type of bonus feature which can include some user interaction |
| Mobile Slots | An online slot which has been optimized for play on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet |
| Multipliers | These will multiply your wins by an absolute number. |
| Multiway | Developer IGT’s method of increasing the paylines to 243 |
| Nudge | Occasionally nudges are available to push reels up or down slightly to form winning combinations |
| One-Armed Bandit | A traditional name for the original casino slot machines – a lever was pulled to spin the reels |
| Online Slot Machine | The online version of the traditional casino slots and fruit machines |
| Paylines | Symbols must be matched on an active payline to win. Players can usually select the number to play. |
| Paytable | Provides instructions and prize amounts for each online slot |
| Pokies | The Australian version of a slot machine |
| Progressive Jackpot | Huge jackpots created by linking networks of slots together |
| Random Number Generator | The software behind the slots which ensures that all spins are 100% random. |
| Reels | Online and offline slots feature three or five reels – each reel contains vertically stacked symbols |
| Scatter Symbols | Symbols which can create winning combinations without being on active paylines |
| Slot Finder | The Slot Guru’s amazing new way to find your perfect slot and a cash bonus |
| Stacked Symbols | A reel which includes similar symbols on top of each other is said to have stacked symbols |
| Symbols | The essential characters on the reels which you must match on paylines to form winning combinations |
| Variance | A description of the frequency and size of payouts, compared to the stake |
| Vegas Slots | A term used to describe the primary type of three reel slot familiar in Las Vegas casinos |
| VIP | In casino terms, a valued and high-spending player. |
| Wagering Requirement | This refers to the number of times you must bet your bonus winnings before they can be withdrawn. |
| Wild Symbol | A symbol which can act like any other basic symbol to complete winning combinations |
