Free online slots glossary
Unlike free table games, online slots don’t require you to memorize complex rules. They are, without a doubt, the easiest casino game to enjoy at no cost, making them a truly enjoyable option.
In our experience, what makes free slots even more fun is understanding how certain game features and mechanics work. Familiarizing yourself with them will allow you to select a slot game that suits your preferences.
Explore how free slots work below, with our beginner’s glossary:
Contents
Active Payline
This is the line marked on the reels where the combination of symbols must land to trigger a win. Some slots allow you to turn paylines on and off to adjust your bet.
Auto Play
This is a slot machine setting that allows the game to spin automatically, without you needing to press the spin button.
Bet Per Line
The amount of money you bet on each slot game line.
Bonus Game
A mini-game that appears within the base game of the free slot machine. It allows you to win additional prizes or jackpots.
Bonus Buy Option
Slots with this option allow you to buy a bonus round and access it instantly, rather than waiting for it to trigger while playing.
Classic Slots
Classic slots are three-reel slots with traditional symbols associated with old fruit machines, such as BARs and Sevens.
Free Spins
A bonus round that rewards you with extra spins, without the need to place any additional bets of your own.
Gamble Feature
A “double or nothing” game, which offers players the chance to double the prize they received after a winning spin.
Infinity Reels
Created by ReelPlay, the Infinity Reels feature adds more reels with each win and continues until there are no more wins on a slot. In theory, you could get an infinite number of reels.
Recommended game to enjoy this feature: Tiger Kingdom Infinity Reels slot by Relax Gaming.
Jackpot
The biggest prize you can win in a slot machine game.
Link & Win
Link & Win is a unique re-spin mechanism created by Microgaming. Here, re-spins reset every time you land a special symbol. You can trigger this feature by landing between six and 14 Link & Win symbols in any position.
Recommended game to enjoy this feature: WWE Legends Link & Win slot from Microgaming.
Megaways
Created by Big Time Gaming, Megaways is a slot payout mechanism that is best described as a random reel-modifying system. This means that the game is dynamic, with symbols multiplying across the reels to create thousands of ways to win.
Recommended game to enjoy this feature: Wheel of Fortune Megaways slot from IGT.
Progressive jackpot
A jackpot that keeps growing the more players play a specific slot game. If someone wins the jackpot, the prize is reset to its original starting number.
Reels
The reels are the vertical columns of an online slot machine, and each one spins independently.
Symbols
These are the images that cover the reels of a slot machine. They usually follow a specific theme.
Video Slots
Refers to modern online slots with video game-like visuals, audio, and graphics. Typically, video slots have five or more reels, as well as a larger number of paylines.
Scatter Symbol
This symbol appears randomly anywhere on the reels. It allows you to trigger a winning combination, without needing to be on a payline. You can even win free spins or bonus games with its help.
Multiplier
A special symbol capable of increasing your winnings during gameplay. Multipliers can start with small values, such as “x5,” but can even reach “x100”!
Wild Symbol
This symbol replaces others to complete winning combinations. There are different types of wild symbols:
Sticky Wild (or Sticky Wild): it stays fixed on the reels for several spins, providing you with benefits for a while.
Expanding Wild – A single wild symbol that expands as the game progresses, increasing your chances of landing prizes.
Wild Avalanche – A sequence of wilds that land on the reels in a cascading fashion, giving you the chance to win additional prizes.