The intention of people for playing Online Slots can have many different reasons. Some just want to rewind after a long day at work whereby others are after big winnings and the newest features.
Bonus features and bonus rounds are what takes a slot game to the next level and gives a player a thrilling casino experience. These features appear as Multiple Paylines, Wild Symbols, Free Spins, Jackpots, Bonus Wheels and many more. Such bonuses bring more value to a game and make players come back more often.
As a player, especially as a beginner, it’s not always easy to figure out what bonus features you should look out for and what is actually considered a bonus feature. Today you can find nearly as many bonus features as there are symbols found on the reels and therefore you should find the features which you enjoy the most and really add that extra thrill to your Online Casino experience.
We created a simple overview for you of the most popular bonus features you can find in various slot games.
Paylines
Slot games in general are centred around paylines, which are a series of winning combinations across the reels. The number of symbols in one single payline depend on the number of reels. Regardless of whether you are playing a classic slot game or the latest themed videoslot, you’ll find a minimum of a single payline or as many as 1,000 and more. To get an idea, a classic slot usually comes with three reels and only one payline.
Before you start spinning, however, check out the paytable of your chosen game to get an overview of which winning combinations are triggering big winnings as well as where the paylines are located. Furthermore, many games allow you to decide how many paylines you’d like to play, which are referred to as variable paylines. Other games, like Megaways slot games, restrict you to play all paylines at all times, which are considered fixed paylines.
It is therefore recommended to understand what slot game you are playing and to reflect on your personal budget to always play responsibly.
Progressive Jackpots
Another great and popular feature is progressive jackpots, which you can find in progressive slot games. Progressive jackpots increase with every non-triggering spin in value and can therefore lead to huge winnings.
Especially players who are longing for experiencing a huge win considering these games as their favourites, since they also offer most of the other bonuses and features. A good example of such a progressive slot game is Divine Fortune.
Overall you’ll find fewer progressive jackpot slots than standard slot games, but we are convinced at SkyCity Online Casino you can find one, which suits you the best.
Free Spins
Almost all modern slot games nowadays come with their very own Free Spin feature, meaning you are able to trigger extra spins in the base game without needing to pay for them.
To trigger this feature you usually need to land a specific combination of symbols. Most of the time it’s required to land three or more Scatter symbols to enter the Free Spin Bonus Round where you earn 10, 15 or even more Free Spins. Some slot games also combine the Free Spin feature with additional bonuses, such as extra Wilds or a Re-Spin Feature.
This kind of information as well as the amount of Free Spins you can win you can always find within the game information and the paytable.
Retriggered Free Spins
Besides the classic Free Spin Feature, you can also find retriggered Free Spins. Slot games with this feature allow their players to activate the bonus feature while it’s still in action, which means a Free Spin bonus will be triggered again and again and could result in 30, 50 or 60 extra Spins. And the best part is, this feature can be already activated when playing with small stakes.
There are different ways of retriggering. For example, the slot game Jack and the Beanstalk will activate 10 Free Spins when landing three or more Scatters, while three or more Scatters during the bonus round earn you further extra rounds.
Always refer to the game information to learn about the Free Spin feature of your chosen game.
Wild Symbols
Even though the Free Spin Features is one of the most popular features in the world of Online Slots, games released without this feature mostly come with a different approach to keep players interested.
One approach is implementing a Respin Bonus, which often comes in conjunction with Wild Symbols, the so-called Expanding Wilds. When triggering these you not only earn a Free Respin, but also the Wild Symbol becomes sticky and stays on the reel as well as expands. Should you land more of these Expanding Wilds during any of your Respins, you are triggering additional Respins with more reels covered by Expanding Wilds.
Not only were Wild Symbols invented by game providers but also invented further in the form of Moving Wilds, Shifting Wilds, Sticky Wilds and more.
A good example of having the chance of triggering Expanding Wilds is NetEnt’s true classic slot game Starburst.
Multiplier Symbols
Another very common bonus feature is a Multiplier, which can appear in many different ways and forms.
The most basic form of a Multiplier Bonus is attached to regular wins. For example, should you hit Free Spins you could earn an additional Multiplier on top of them, so your winnings will be multiplied by a respective number.
Most of the time you’ll be finding Multiplier Features within slot games with five reels, which can be triggered by landing Wild or Scatter Symbols, triggering Free Spins, hitting a series of consecutive winning paylines or even with a respective Multiplier Symbol.
Check out the paytable in your chosen slot game to learn more about how to trigger this Feature when available.
Gambling Feature
A very popular bonus feature among slot games is the Gambling Feature, which can be designed in many different ways and calls for your action.
The classic Gambling Feature triggers as soon as you hit a winning spin and can be usually found in low-volatile games. A Gamble button will appear and let you decide on how to proceed. Very typical in that moment is a Playing Card, where you need to decide on the suit or colour of the upcoming card.
However, there are also other forms of Gambling Features to be found in different slot games, like a Double Up Feature, a Gambling Wheel or the very simple and straightforward Gamble and Collect Function. This last feature mentioned can be found in Play’n GO’s most popular slot game Book of Dead and will be activated after each winning spin. The buttons ‘Gamble’ and ‘Collect’ glow until you decide on whether to collect your winnings or continue gambling the amount.
This kind of gamification adds a lot of excitement to your gameplay, but keep in mind to always consider your next move carefully.
Cascading Reels
And finally, we have the Cascading Reels or even Avalanche Reels as another very popular bonus feature. A great slot game example is Gonzo’s Quest by NetEnt.
When activated after a winning spin, symbols will drop down from above – basically like an avalanche – and can lead to promising additional wins.
As always, familiarise yourself with how this feature is triggered in your chosen game before hitting that spin button.
Now you are ready to discover the slot game jungle again and find your slot with your most favourite bonus feature.
