Volatility, Reels, and Symbols – 5 Factors That Convince a Player to Choose a Slot Game

Choosing my next pokie machine is both a thrill and a chore. I know I will play again and again until I’m tired of it and never look back. So, the process starts over, and I need to find something new. There are a lot of factors that go into that. I’m looking at factors like volatility, reels, themes, and more, and they haven’t let me down yet. Take a look at the different elements of a demo I look at to find my next favorite pastime.

Theme and Graphics

Let’s face it: we’re magpies. We see something shiny and want it. So, as much as I might browse the newest free games and scrutinize analysis for the biggest Return to Player and jackpots, I also just want gun time. And I don’t think I’m alone there. All that stuff is secondary to a fun concept and eye-catching visuals. So this means that you are going to be looking for interesting graphic styles or concepts and clear-cut graphics. No fuzzy resolutions for us.

And there’s plenty to choose from. Graphic quality only improves every day, and themes are expanding more and more. You can find new takes on the classics like Egyptian, Irish, and Chinese demos, but also niche concepts like the famed Tiger King of the lockdown days and ghost hunting and a plague mask-wearing psycho killer with the Crazy Killer machine from KA Gaming. There is no shortage of wacky adventures to go on in the pokie world.

Volatility

Volatility is a great factor that I judge machines on, but what does volatility mean in slots? To say someone is volatile is like someone’s going a little off the rails or maybe getting wildly emotional. In the spin world, it’s about going to extremes. A reel with low volatility will be a relatively peaceful experience with consistent but smaller wins, whereas a machine with high volatility will be longer periods without a win, but when you win, you win big.

Personally, I love demos with higher volatility because it’s a long period of tension building up to a massive win.

Reels

The reels are a big factor to me because there are so many ways they can go. Sure, the standard is, say, three reels and five rows of icons that make up paylines that go from left to right. But the developers I love are the ones that offer something new. There are reels that are one spinning wheel, like Wheel of Fortune, and you’re betting on where the wheel will land, closer to roulette. There are reels with expanding icons, or my personal favorite, the cascading reels feature, where your winning icons will disappear and more land in their place, giving me a chance for another win.

Progressive Jackpots

But the best of the best, in my opinion, is the progressive jackpots. Jackpots in demos come in all shapes and sizes, so committed users like me can always find something new when browsing demos. The most popular of these is the progressive jackpots, which fill and fill in real time, so the more you play, the higher your prize gets!

But there are variations on this too. I see a lot of machines that feature a meter which you have to fill, by winning paylines, to reach the jackpot at the top of the meter. I love these ones because the more you play, the more your chances of winning and you can see yourself getting closer and closer to the jackpot. It really ramps up the tension.

Other gameplay features

While I’m mentioning jackpots, I think I should mention the other gameplay features in fruit machines that turn a traditional fruit machine into a fun thrill ride.

Keep a look out for features such as:

● Wild symbols

● Scatter symbols and free spins

● Multipliers

RTP

However, the most useful factor I think you should look for is the RTP. This is a percentage figure that shows you how much money you’re supposed to get back from the casino in winnings.

Putting it simply for those of us who failed maths, if an RTP is set at 96%, which is average, you, as the bettor, are likely to see $96 come back from the $100 you spent betting. The higher the percentage, the better your chances of winning. On the low end, you get a lot of demos that say only 94%. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but trust me, it adds up. You want to look for the highest RTP you can see amongst the demos on your chosen site.

Conclusion

I love spinning reels, but not all reels are created the same. Follow this guide and you’ll be able to differentiate the jackpots from the duds.

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