How to play slots: a beginner’s guide
A slot is a game of chance: you spin reels full of symbols and win if a winning combination lands. This guide explains how it works, step by step and without jargon. You can practise with NovaCopa’s free demos, which use play credits, not real money.
You choose your bet, spin and, if a winning combination lands, you are paid what the paytable says. Every spin is random: there are no tricks and no better times to play.
What a slot is
A slot has reels (the columns) and rows. Classic slots have 5 reels and 3 rows; others, like Gates of Olympus, have 6 columns and 5 rows.
Every spin is decided by a random number generator. One spin does not depend on the last one and does not change the next: that is why streaks cannot be predicted.
How to play, step by step
- Pick a game and try its free demo first.
- Check the paytable, usually behind the «i» button or in the game menu. It shows what each symbol pays.
- Choose your bet with the + and − buttons. That is what you stake on each spin.
- Press spin. The reels stop and the game checks for wins.
- If a winning combination lands, you are paid what the paytable says. If not, you lose that spin’s stake.
Many games have autoplay, which keeps spinning. If you use it, always set a limit.
Three ways to win
- Paylines: you win when matching symbols land next to each other, left to right, on a set line. This is how classic slots work.
- Pay anywhere: you win when 8 or more matching symbols land anywhere on screen, even if they do not touch. Games like Gates of Olympus use it. See pay anywhere.
- Cluster pays: you win with groups of matching symbols that touch. See cluster pays.
Special symbols
- Wild: stands in for other symbols to complete a combination. Not every game has one.
- Scatter: usually triggers free spins and pays wherever it lands.
- Multipliers: multiply the win. In Gates of Olympus, Zeus’s orbs reach 500x. See multipliers.
The most common features
- Free spins: a round of spins that cost you nothing. Usually triggered by scatters.
- Cascades: winning symbols disappear and new ones fall; if another combination forms, you win again. See cascades.
- Bonus buy: you pay a fixed amount to go straight into free spins. Not available in every country. See bonus buy.
- Jackpot: a special prize that builds up or has its own draw inside the game. See jackpot.
RTP and volatility in two lines
- RTP: the share of stakes a game pays back in theory, worked out over millions of spins. See What RTP is.
- Volatility: how wins are spread. High volatility means rarer but bigger wins; low means the opposite. More in volatility.
Demo or real money
In the demo you play with play credits: you neither win nor lose money. It is for learning how each game works.
With real money you play at a casino and can lose what you stake. Only do it if you are of legal age and gambling is legal where you live.
Play responsibly
- Decide beforehand how much money and time you will spend.
- Never chase losses.
- There are no tricks, systems or better times: every spin is random.
- If gambling stops being fun, ask for help. Contacts are in responsible gambling.