Royal Panda Blog
Slot machine games: the evolution
The do’s & dont’s before you spin
It’s easy to get confused because of a large catalog of online slots machines on your screen. Our team at Royal Panda are here to explain the science behind the games and help you pick the best ones. You will learn not only the basic features and technical filling, but also useful tricks and recommendations to play at Royal Panda!
Online slot machines are purely games of luck, and often come with different plots and options. You play them by setting your bet and spinning the reels in order to get winning combinations or activate bonus spins.
In our large catalog you’ll find hundreds of casinos slots to play on your mobile or PC. Together, with our partners we release new games with innovative features on a regular basis. These include cascading reels, infinite reels, and Megaways ™.
So, how do online slot machines work? We’ll explain this and give you an overview of the best slots you can play at Royal Panda. But first, let’s learn how slot machines evolved and how you can play online slots.
How were slot machines invented?
The first land-based slot machine was launched by Sittman and Pitt in New York 1891. It was a poker-based machine with 5 reels and 50 card faces. But, the most well known is the Liberty Bell that was the first variation of slot machines we see today. It was created by Charles Fey in 1894, and the machine had 3 reels displaying symbols like diamonds, spades, and hearts. Today, this slot machine can be found in Nevada.
You may also remember the old-school one-armed slot machines of the 90s. You could see these machines in real gambling halls or in public places. Moreover, these are still popular at brick and mortar casinos. But the industry has significantly evolved, and you can now save your time and play slot machines online instead.
Today, modern slots are more diversified. You activate free spins, get more paylines, land different bonus symbols, and more. You can also play these slots not only from your PC, but on your mobile device on the go.
Here at Royal Panda, you’re able to find new slots in our lobby with the latest mechanics and features. These include expanding reels, thousands of paylines to win, or amazing 3D animations, which are some of the features the latest online slots machines provide.
If you like classic slots with the vibes of the 90s, Blazing Clusters will get your groove on with a chance of a maximum win of 1,201x. Another slot we recommend is Sugar Rush from Pragmatic Play. It’s a modern online slot machine similar to popular Sweet Bonanza, with clusters and a max win of 5,000x that will get your heart pumping.
Slots are still evolving and in the future, you will also find casinos slots based on VR and with other modern features.
What do online slot machines look like today?
Slot machines have come a long way since their introduction in the late 1900's. Today, most slots have 5 reels instead of the classic 3, and they are all filled with extra features to enhance your gaming experience. The grid on your screen consists of the reels with rows, where you land winning combinations.
Located below the grid, you’ll find the control panel with the online slot machine settings. In some games you can find it on the side of the grid. You see your balance, you can set your stakes, paylines, and hit the auto-spin. You will also find the menu with the game rules and the pay tables. After choosing the gameplay parameters, you launch the casinos slots reels by pressing the start button.
Slot machines online vs real slot machines
Thanks to an opportunity to play online casino slot machines, you can access your favorite games from any location, at any time. You’re able to launch the slots directly in your browser on desktop or on mobile devices, be it iOS or Android. It’s also impossible to find land-based casinos which will offer such a wide range of games as in online casinos, and Royal Panda is no exception.
In our catalog of slot games you will always find new releases with rewarding features. These can be free spins, cascading reels, special and expanding symbols, Megaways™ and cluster pays.
Another advantage of playing slot machines online is the availability of fast and convenient payment methods. With its flexibility, there are a range of different options including e-wallets, card payments and direct bank transfers for instant deposits.
Here are the advantages of playing slots online:
- Flexibility
- New game releases
- Rewards & bonuses
- Fast payments
- Large selection of online slot machines
How does RTP work in online slots?
To learn how to play slot machines, you also need to understand their payout mechanics. These parameters are connected with RTP and RNG.
RTP is the Return to Player percentage, which determines the amount paid back to players. For example, if the RTP is 96%, so players are paid back 96% of your stake over a period of time. It leaves the house edge at 4%, and the higher the RTP, the better it is for the player. This parameter is determined by the provider and you can normally find out the RTP of a slot in the slot’s menu.
Besides the RTP, the science behind slot machines is connected with RNG (Random Number Generator). This means that your games are random and fair, so no one can influence the outcomes. All our games you ‘ll find at Royal Panda are RNG-tested, which are audited by certified third-party labs obtained by the providers.
Why are online slot machines so popular?
Slots today are diversified and packed with different characteristics****that make the gameplay more thrilling and personalized. This means that you need to consider certain parameters to understand how these features work. Yet, the rules of playing modern slots are quite simple. So, let’s dive in and see what you need to know before you start your royal gaming experience here at Royal Panda!
Features
To learn how to win at slot machines, you need to take into account the features, which will make your gameplay more exhilarating. We’ll mention the best features like free spins and special symbols, and the Royal Panda online slots where you can experience them:
Feature | Description | Slot |
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Scatters | Scatters can land anywhere on the reels and still be a part of your winning combination., as soon as you get 3+ Scatters, you’ll activate the bonus games or free spins | Gonzo’s Quest from NetEnt |
Wilds | Wild symbols substitute for all symbols except for the scatters. Wilds can be Expanding and Stacked, as well as also trigger re-spins | Sakura Fortune from Quickspin |
Re-spins | When the spin is finished and the feature is triggered, you get another spin for free | Starburst from NetEnt |
Cascading reels (Tumble Feature) | When you have a winning combination, its symbols explode or disappear, and new symbols fall down and land so that you can have another winning combination | Sweet Bonanza from Pragmatic Play |
Megaways mechanic | You will access not dozens but thousands of paylines, which can come up to 117,649 or even more | Piggy Riches Megaways from Red Tiger |
Free spins | You’ll get free spins for landing Scatters, charging a special meter, or via any other mechanic. You play these spins as part of your current bet | Book of Dead from Play’n Go |
Infinity reels | This is a modern feature to be experienced on new slots. New reels are added to the existing ones when you have consecutive wins | Age of Beasts Infinity Reels from Reel Play |
Bonus buy | Thanks to this feature, you can buy free spins and other bonuses at any time | Gates of Olympus from Pragmatic Play |
Gamble | When a slot has a gamble feature, you can optionally agree to a risk game, which can double your winnings | Power of Gods: Hades from Wazdan |
Base game
When you start a game, your basic play is the standard layout of the base game. You spin the reels and when they stop, the symbols which land in a winning combination on the paylines give you a payout. This will depend on your betting stake. It’s engaging, but as soon as you land bonus symbols, you move to the bonus rounds, which are even more thrilling.
Bonus game
Bonus games have different mechanics, but they are all beneficial for your gameplay. Free spins are the most common bonus play and almost every new online slot machine has one. But you need to meet requirements. For example, you need to land a certain number of specific symbols, charge a meter by having winning combinations, or make special symbols merge in a cluster.
Bet size
Each casino slot has a bet size. You determine your stake in accordance with each of your spins. You do it by pressing ‘+’ and ‘-’ in the control panel, and the total bet amount depends on your bankroll and gambling appetite. On average, the bet limit on slots online stands at €/$ 0.01-100. The values in the paytable are displayed in accordance with your current bet.
Payout
Payouts are based on your total stake, winning symbols and the paylines. Depending on the value of the symbols and how many you land in a winning combination, will determine how much you will be paid out. Multipliers are also a factor that count when it comes to your payouts. Some online slot machines have them in the base game, while others in the bonus games.
Autoplay button
Autoplay is convenient when you are playing long sessions. Instead of hitting the spin button every time, you set the number of spins according to your own preferences. These often range from 5 - 100, and you do this by pressing ‘Autoplay’ in the slot’s control panel. It’s often located at the bottom, next to the spin button, or at the right side of the grid.
Some online slot machines even let you set a loss and winning limit on the spins. Additionally, your autoplay will stop when a bonus game is triggered. If you need to stop the mode beforehand, press the ‘Autoplay’ button again.
Volatility
Volatility is a characteristic that determines how often you receive winnings and how large they are. There are 3 volatility levels, and below we explained them for you in more detail:
- Low: This level will suit you if you are a newbie and enjoy long gaming sessions with regular, yet small winnings.
- Medium: At this volatility level, you will get regular payouts and average winnings. Playing medium volatile slots will keep you playing longer on a budget, but you might miss out on the big wins.
- High: When the volatility is high, you receive rare, yet large winnings, and it’s more suitable if you’re an experienced or high roller player. These online slot machines are often jackpots or Megaways ™ .
Leading game studios
Here at Royal Panda, you will play slot machines online developed by the best providers for casino players. We have partnered with some of the most renowned, and below, is our list of top providers and their top game you’ll find here at Royal Panda:
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Relax Gaming - Money Train 2
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Playson - Wolf Power Megaways
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PearFiction - Squealin’ Riches
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Play’n Go - Fire Joker
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Pragmatic Play - Wolf Gold
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Netent - Narcos
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Big Time Gaming - Extra Chilli
The above is not all we have to offer. Our library is rich in games, packed with interesting mechanics and features.
What slot themes are the most popular?
We all have different tastes and styles, and when it comes to playing slot machines online, there is no difference. For this reason, our team has put together a selection of the most popular themes you can play in online casinos. In our collection, we have handpicked the best ones for you, ranging from classics to Ancient Egyptian themes.
Below, we’ve listed the most popular themes of online slots for you at Royal Panda:
- Classic
Classic online slots usually have only 3 reels with symbols like bells and horseshoes. They use simple mechanics, such as only 1, 3, and 5 paylines. A popular title with classic slot fans is Sizzling Bells. It has 5 reels with 5 paylines and the max win is up to 15,000x your stake.
- 777
The 777 is a trademark of slots. They come in many different shapes and forms, but they all have one thing in common, the jackpots. They are also similar to classic slots when it comes to the symbols, featuring bars, a single 7, double 7 and a triple 7. Our top pick is 777 Royal Wheel, with a maximum win of up to 235,000x your bet.
- Fruits
Fruit-themed slots combine both old and modern mechanics, but you recognize them because of fruit symbols like strawberries, cherries, melons, oranges, apples, and grapes.
A Popular online slot machine here at Royal Panda you can play is the Tiki Princess fruit slot. If you’re super lucky you can win 250,000x your bet.
- Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt has fascinated us for centuries, so much that it’s one of the most popular themes in online casinos. These are modern video slots with 5 reels or more, offering rewarding bonus games with re-spins, free spins and multipliers, like in the Book of Dead slot from Play'n GO.
Furthermore, you’ll find slot themes based on movies, animals, wild adventures, mythical characters, and more. Here at Royal Panda, you can use our search bar to find the themes and games you are looking for. Type in the name of the game and the results will be displayed straight away.
Top 5 slots to check out
Royal Panda offers a great selection of slot titles to online players, therefore, you will find different games with engaging features for all tastes.
Here, we highlight****the top 5 online casino slot machines for you to play at Royal Panda:
- Hyper Strikefrom Microgaming
Enjoy a retro slot that greets you with sevens, bells, and cherries. Here, you play with a medium volatility on 20 paylines, and if you’re lucky, you activate that hyper wheel with a 3x multiplier that pays up to 7,500x your take. - Hot Spin Megawaysfrom iSoftBet
Welcome to a classic themed slot with plums, cherries, watermelons, and crystals on the grid. This Megaways game offers you 117,649 ways to land winning combinations and a potential win of up to 50,000x your bet stake. - Lucky Clucksfrom Crazy Tooth Studio
Are you ready to visit a farm with crazy chickens? If so, you can enjoy a farm themed slot with 576 paylines and a varied RTP. You also win both ways, both form the left and the right. And if you're lucky, you trigger the Big Build-up feature that can land you a potential win of up to 2,289x your stake. - Bison Battlefrom Push Gaming
In this 5 reel and 4 row slot, you are playing with a high volatility, but with the chance of winning up to 50,000x your bet. A North American wildlife themed slot, so be prepared for meeting bears, eagles, and, of course, bison.
Top tips before you play
In our how online slot machines work guide, we have helped you to maximize your gaming experience. Below, we have highlighted some additional advantages. Use these top tips to get you started:
- Check the volatility
Before you play, always check the volatility of the slot. If you are a newbie, go with low or medium volatility, and if you are a high roller, you’re more suited to pick a slot with a high volatility. - Analyze bonus features
Before you launch a game, read the game description in the menu. If you’re after exciting bonus features it will be explained. Many slots come with re-spins and free spins. - Play responsibly
When you are playing slots, remember the risks. Make sure to set a win and loss limits, especially when you’re using the autospin feature. - Try different slots
At Royal Panda, you’ll find a large catalog of online slots, so you can try out different themes and variations to suit your needs.
With our guide at hand, you will enjoy any online slot at Royal Panda. Use these tips, view the catalog of excellent slots, and press the ‘Spin’ button!