The slot game is easily one of the most popular components of any casino, be that online or a brick-and-mortar establishment. There is such a huge range of slot titles available from the biggest game developers in the industry that gamers have more choices than ever. There is much more than simple 3-reel slot games filled with fruit symbols and 5 paylines from which players land payouts, though fans of the classics can still find titles like this.
Development in casino slot gameplay mechanics has resulted in bigger and better payout potential. Developers have increased the excitement and ways to win with video slots through bonus features. These can come in many different shapes and sizes to allow gamers to land bigger payouts, so players must know exactly what they’re dealing with!
History of Slot Bonus Features
The development of bonus features in casino slot games has occurred at different paces since introducing a second-screen bonus feature in 1996. The first game to offer such a bonus was called Reel Em. This fly-fishing slot game was released by WMS Industries and included a random prize payout feature when triggered.
Over the years, casino slot games have evolved to feature different entertaining bonus features to match the improved graphics and game mechanics used. Development has led to more innovative bonus features to enjoy and bigger payouts to aim for, including huge jackpot prizes available in many titles.
The best Slot Bonus Features
For many players, the Bonus Features in slots are what they are aiming to trigger from gameplay. The main features players can expect to find in slot tiles include Wild symbols, Multipliers, Free Spins, Pick Em, Instant Win, and Bonus Wheel jackpots. These can be triggered in different ways depending on each individual slot title, so it is always worth reading the game information or any reviews on offer before placing a stake.
Wild Symbols
These are commonplace in most modern video slots and make it easier for players to trigger base game payouts. The Wild symbols help by substituting for any base game symbols in play to complete a winning combination. This means if a player is 1 symbol away from a payout, a Wild symbol in the right place could reward this, or added to a paying combination could make the reward even bigger.
Multipliers
These bonus features allow players to increase any wins in play, making all symbols or payouts even more valuable. Multipliers accessed in video slots can start as low as 1x the payout and reach values in their 1,000s. The maximum payout of a slot is often displayed as a multiplier; for example, the highest payout in the popular Gonzos Quest slot is 3750x the stake.
Free Spins
This is the most regular and popular bonus feature that can be triggered across video slot titles. It provides players with several spins to play through using the stake set on the triggering spin, which they will not need to pay for. Ultimately Free Spins allow players to access base game payouts without paying for it out of their balance. There are various Spins available to be triggered, with games offering anything from 1 Free Spin to Free Spins bonuses in their hundreds. Some games will also incorporate other bonus features into the Free Spins game, such as multipliers, Wild symbols and instant cash payouts!
Pick ‘Em
This slot game bonus feature allows players to select a reward randomly. These often give players symbols to choose from that, once picked, will reveal a prize; this could provide anything from a cash payout or multiplier to Free Spins. The Pick’ Em rewards are automatically given to players, be that cash values paid into the balance or multipliers attached to any payouts from that spin.
Instant Win
As the name suggests, this bonus feature gives players an instant cash prize during gameplay. This doesn’t require a symbol combination to be won and can include value payouts not determined by the bet stakes in play. An example of Instant Win gameplay is landing the Wild fisherman symbol alongside fish cash symbols in the popular Fishin’ Frenzy slot from Reel Time Gaming.
Bonus Wheel
Fans of game shows are sure to enjoy the excitement of spinning this wheel to find out which bonus they will claim. These wheels often contain numerous different prizes, be that the number of Free Spins available or the Jackpot payouts they could claim. Sometimes the bonus wheel can contain various layers deciding, for example, the number of Free Spins, multiplier and symbols in play. There is a lot of potentials to win from Bonus Wheels, along with exciting gameplay as the wheel comes to a stop!
Summary
Newcomers to casino slot games can see the importance and potential of bonus features in play. The prizes on offer make gameplay a lot more interesting and entertaining. Despite these being the main factor in the gameplay of most new slot games, there are still plenty of games that offer classic main grid payouts. With so many bonus features to learn how they work and what they offer, some gamers prefer sticking to classic play.
If you want to find out about the various bonus features or lack thereof in video slots, then check out the in-depth game reviews available online. This will inform players what to expect for a slot title, how to trigger it, and the potential payouts on offer.
It is important to practice responsible gambling when trying out the brilliant range of slot games available online. Many casino sites will include features to help players ensure they are spinning the reel responsibly, including deposit and time limits on site.
