The iGaming industry is built on a backbone of slot games. Online slots have a certain allure to them that simply cannot be denied. They are easy to play, they are fun, and many can be quite creative as well. These factors all come together to elevate slot games to the top of the iGaming industry. They serve as most people’s introduction to the market.
But because they are so popular, many gamblers dive headfirst into these games without know much about them. That is why we are here to help. The goal here is to explain some basic slot game terminology. We hope that when you bet on online pokies NZ with Christchurch Casino you can see some improvement in your enjoyment.
Return to Player (RTP)
The first term we have to know about is RTP. The Return to Player percentage signifies the amount of total wealth that the machine is expected to payout throughout the course of its run. Many people become confused, thinking that a game with 97% RTP will payout that much to each individual player. That is not the case at all. The 97% refers to the overall wagers placed on the game in the long term. Make sure you understand that before you start playing.
Volatility
Volatility, or sometimes called variance, refers to the likelihood of a machine to pay out. Games with high volatility are ones that will pay out players less frequently. Those marked as “low variance” will pay out a lot more frequently. Usually, game developers try to make up for a high volatility machine by making the payouts bigger on average. There are also medium volatility games, that manage to strike a balance between frequency of payouts and the amount being given.
Random Number Generator (RNG)
Random number generator software is the backbone of the slot market. How RNGs work is pretty self-explanatory. They operate by producing a random assortment of numbers when triggered. The tool has been used in slots since their inception. Slot games have these random numbers be tied to outcomes on the reel, which is a great way to replicate the original analog slot games of the past. It is how the modern digital era of gambling manages to pay tribute to Charles Fey’s original slot game from the 19th century.
Jackpot
The jackpot is the grand prize in slot games. Not all slot games feature a jackpot giveaway. But the ones that do usually manage to attract quite a large crowd. It is important to know that there are two major jackpot variants in modern iGaming:
- Progressive Jackpots: Jackpots that grow with each time that the prize is not paid out.
- Static Jackpots: Jackpots that remain static no matter how many times they are or aren’t paid out.
Though most players seem to prefer progressive jackpots, there are still plenty that flock to the classic, static version of the game. Jackpot slots continue to thrive in the modern gambling market, and will likely draw more fans as the technology surrounding slots improves.
