Among the insanely popular hyper-casual games, slot machines occupy a distinguished position. They are like the textbook definition of the genre: they require no commitment, they are incredibly easy to learn, and they can be set aside in an instant. Slot machines are very popular and also incredibly diverse, with dozens of developers having thousands of games in their library, both in real-money online casinos like Spin Casino – which, by the way, has a massive library of games – and social casino apps as well.
But, as we said, not all casino games are created equal. While the differences between them are not too significant when you play them in a social setting, they can be quite important when money is involved. Here are some metrics that you should check before you commit to an online slot machine.
RTP
RTP or “Return to Player” is a metric that expresses the amount of money a slot machine pays back to the player over a large number of spins. RTP is usually expressed as a percentage. It doesn’t show you how often the slot machine “hits” (as in pays out a win) but how much you can expect to win – or better said, lose – if you play the game in the long term.
A slot machine with an RTP of 96% (which, by the way, is around the industry standard) will pay you back 96% of all the money wagered in the long run. So, if you start with $100 and play for long enough, you’ll eventually have $96 left in your pocket when you walk away.
Note that the RTP expresses an average in the long term, usually millions of spins.
Volatility
Another metric that’s good to know when choosing a slot machine is its volatility or variability. This metric, usually published by the developer in relation to the game, expresses how often the game will hit – and gives you a hint about how big of a win you can expect with each hit.
High volatility slot machines will usually hit less often but the winnings for each hit are usually higher. They are perfect for slot machine players with large bankrolls who don’t shy away from a series of non-winning spins and are willing to wait for a bigger hit in time. These slots may, in turn, be a bit boring for those playing them casually.
Low volatility slot machines, in turn, pay quite often. The payouts, in turn, are much smaller. These games are perfect for those who are looking to play for small stakes, casually, and for fun.
Entertainment value
Finally, here is the most important thing you should keep in mind when you play a slot machine: it has to be fun. There are countless slots out there, each one with its own theme and metrics – but not all of them are fun to play. There are those select few that don’t turn repetitive and boring quickly – those are the ones you’ll enjoy even when playing them with no money involved.
Finding them is not easy – it takes a bit of trial and error or some digging among the many game reviews out there. But when you do, you can actively seek out games from the same developers or with a similar theme, and make sure you’ll always have a supply of fresh and fun hyper-casual slot machines to play.