Slot machines, winnings and odds

Q. How do I win and how much?
A. The goal of the game is to spin the reels so that the symbols on all reels line up on the payline in a winning combination. When this happens, the slot machine pays out according to a payoff table listed on the machine. The payoff table indicates what the possible winning combinations are and how much each combination pays; based on the number of coins the player has put in the machine before the spin.

Q. Why play Online Slots?
A. The reasons for playing slots online are probably as many as there are slot players. However, one huge reason is the BIG PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS that some casino sites offer. Check out the casinos listed on CasinoDirectory.com for the "best" slots right now!

Q. Are all slot machines the same?
A. No. Slot machines can vary based on the number of reels, the number of symbols on each reel, the denomination of coins played, how many coins one can play at the time, as well as the number of possible paylines.
The most common machines have three reels, but some machines might have four or five. The odds of winning are essentially based on the number of reels the machine has and the number of symbols included on each reel. Usually, the more reels and symbols, the harder it is to hit a winning combination - or the jackpot for that matter.
The typical slot machine has one payline. However, there are machines with more than one. For slots with several paylines, a coin must be played for a particular payline in order for that payline to be able to pay out a win.
A player might also encounter some differences regarding the payout of winnings when it comes to multiple coin playing slots. With some slots, the winnings are proportional to the number of coins played, while other machines might pay out more than that. However, note that some of the machines that pay out more than what is proportional to the number of coins played usually do not pay out a jackpot if only one coin is played.

Q. Can I count the number of symbols on the reels to determine the odds of winning?
A. No. This is basically impossible. The slot machines of today are computerized and equipped with a Random Number Generator, or RNG. It is the RNG that determines when the reels stop. On a slot machine with only three reels, there are still thousands of combinations that might pop up.

Q. What is the difference between Straight Slots and Progressive Slots?
A. The only real difference between straight slots and progressive slots is the way the machines pay out the winnings. The straight slots pay the winner a predetermined amount (the one listed on the payoff table), while the progressive slots have a jackpot that grows by a percentage of each coin played. Usually, a number of progressive slots feed into one big jackpot, where any slot machine in that particular group can pay out the jackpot.

Q. Why are slot machines so popular?
A. Well, anybody who has played the slots knows. First, it is a machine that you can play at your own pace. Second, it is a game that you do not have to have any particular skills to play. Third, the suspense and anticipation the slots provide make them very hard to resist. For instance, since the reels stops in sequence, even if you lose, you often get the feeling that you were really close to winning. So you just have to spin those reels again. Last but not least, the sound the machines make when they pay out is like music to a slot gamblers ears.