Slot game basics: Symbols, reels, and sequences

Game providers around the world always find ways to give gamblers a new way to enjoy slot games at online casinos. If not new, they improve upon existing ideas and create more refreshing experiences. This strive for discovery and improvement keeps moving the slot game industry forward, paving the way for progress for years to come. 

Progress can sometimes create confusion among gamblers who are not updated with the latest trends. For example, Gamdom is host to multiple types of slot games with different ways to recognize a winning sequence. Some need a payline while others don't, then there are those with irregular formats. Despite their differences, they all follow the same basic elements. All you need to do is to understand the following. 

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Two basic divisions of normal symbols

If you wonder how many symbols on a slot machine reel, it depends entirely on the game. The average number is between 10 to 13 but there are a few titles that have either below or above those numbers. Normal symbols usually only take 9 or 10 in total with the rest being for bonus features. They are further divided into two categories such as the following:

Low-paying symbols

Low-paying symbols have low payouts where three of a kind usually only pay 0.3x of the ante at minimum. Some slot machine reels myths refer to them as useless so one should look for games where there are more high-paying symbols than low-paying ones. The truth is that they make hits more frequent as getting a five of a kind or more is easy. 

Many of Gamdom’s games display normal symbols as elements from a standard deck of playing cards. If there are only four low-paying symbols, then the motifs are usually the suits such as Clubs(♧), Spades(♤), Hearts(♡), and Diamonds (♢). If there are five, then it uses the following characters to represent the top five ranks:

• A (Ace)
• K (King)
• Q (Queen)
• J (Jack)
• 10
   

If there are six normal symbols then 9 would also be included. Some games in Gamdom use other images that fit the theme. For example, games with themes surrounding animals will have low-paying symbols that can be treats or grooming items. 

High-paying symbols

High-paying symbols are always images based on the theme of the slot game. If it’s about Ancient Egypt, then you can see them as statues of popular gods or their artefacts. It can be difficult to tell their values so Gamdom’s games always have options that let you check their value such as clicking on them or checking the paytable. They can have a payout as low as 0.5x with a pair then 1:1 with a three of a kind. 

Wild and scatter symbols

Wild and scatter symbols are staples in a slot game but they are regarded as special despite being as common as the normal ones. The wild can substitute for any normal symbol in a winning sequence. Scatter, on the other hand, triggers the free spin mode if you get at least three of them anywhere on the reels.

Some slot games in Gamdom will sometimes put a value on a wild equal to the highest-paying normal symbol. This lets players win if they get a winning sequence filled only by wilds. Slot games choose the highest payout so you are guaranteed to get the best result in every outcome. 

Some games make the scatter function as a wild so the game could either have two or it is the only special symbol in its reels. The way their bonus triggers function differently between titles, too. Most will give you more free spins for every additional scatter you get past the three of a kind while others raise the multiplier rather than extend the feature. 

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Bonus slot game features

Every slot game will have a handful of features in addition to the free spin mode. Some of them are constantly present throughout the base game while others are only part of the free spin mode. A lot of them can be generalized because they are present in multiple slots in Gamdom. Although they are not completely unique, what makes a slot game stand out is how they execute these bonus features.

The most common of them thus far is the cascading reels or tumble feature. Its name depends on how the game providers call them in the game’s description but the functions are the same. The cascading reels will cause winning sequences in a slot game to disappear then have all symbols above it fill the vacant places. 

Reel lock gives players the option to lock symbols in a column so they can be used on the next spin. It charges an additional cost and the value depends on what symbols were captured. Scatter symbols are the most valuable, so they often double the stake. 

Some games have special effects on any symbol on the reels which trigger at random. A few examples include splitting a symbol into two to double the possible ways to win or create a wild in any position. The most popular one is the randomly-assigned multiplier for all wins. 

Paylines and ways to win

Most modern slot games in Gamdom count the potential sequences you can get in a game as ‘ways to win’. It refers to all of the possible combinations based on how the reels work and the number of positions. The more traditional term is ‘paylines’ but it refers to the specific pattern of sequences in a slot game. Thus, it cannot be used to refer to potential wins in a slot game that uses other formats.

The most popular alternative to paylines is megaways, which lets a stream of similar symbols win as long as there is one copy in each adjacent column starting from the left. Another popular alternative is colour matching which only needs five or more similar copies adjacent to each other horizontally or vertically. Scatter reel is less common as it lets you win as long as there is a minimum number of copies of the same symbol anywhere on the grid. They don’t need to be in a line, in every reel, or touching to count as a win.

Slot reels myths that need to be clarified

There are a few slot machine reels myths that need to be clarified. They are often created based on a pattern that worked in one test but they are not consistent in every attempt. Here are some examples and the truth behind them:

You can stop the reels just in time to affect the outcome

Stopping the reels or letting them roll won’t affect the outcome of a spin because it is already decided before you place your bet. Slot games use a random number generator (RNG) to create pre-randomized arrangements of symbols per reel. This means that you cannot influence the results using your hand-eye coordination skills. 

You have to wait a long time between big wins or jackpots

The RNG ensures that every spin is completely random. If the slot game has a form of accumulating bonus feature, then it will always indicate it on one of the heads-up displays. You can hit big wins or even the jackpot in two spins in a row. 

You need to pay a large ante to win the jackpot 

There was a time when slot machines locked bonus symbols based on the size of the ante. However, that is no longer the case with most modern slot games. How many symbols on a slot machine reel is the same and you can still reach the max payout even if you are betting with the lowest ante. Gamdom’s slot games assure you that they offer equal opportunities between high-roller and low-stakes gamblers.

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Words: Clarence Clarke