With the iGaming industry experiencing record growth worldwide, many former skeptics of online gambling have taken the plunge. With this comes the convenience of accessing games anywhere at any time, secure payments, and great chances to win.
One of the most significant advantages of online gambling is the incredible number of game choices available. While physical casinos are severely limited by space, gambling websites can host hundreds (and often thousands) of the latest games released by the best developers in the industry.
Although this is a dream for almost any gambler, it also poses the unique challenge of sifting through an overwhelming number of games to find something you like. To aid with this task, we have created a list of things Canadian gamblers should look for when choosing a video slot to play.
Theme
There are hundreds of themed slots that players have the option to try. The possibilities are seemingly endless, from those based on movies and video games to those that transport you to ancient civilizations as you hunt for treasure.
Although these various themes are available, it doesn’t mean that every player will enjoy them. Those who prefer traditional video slots may not like playing more modern slots because their advanced graphics and futuristic imagery could be somewhat distracting. Likewise, players who love everything modern and high-tech are unlikely to spend much time playing games from the early slot era.
As such, one of the first things to look for in an online slot is that it has a theme you’ll likely enjoy while playing. Many websites allow you to try demo versions of the latest games, meaning you can find a few whose themes you appreciate without spending a dime. The downside is that if you do manage to trigger a win on video slots while playing for free, you might feel disappointed that you weren’t playing for real money.
Features
The days of simple spin and win slots are long gone—although these are still available for players who prefer the simplicity of these. However, they have been replaced en masse by games that are oozing with features and bonuses that make playing even more thrilling.
For Canadian players looking for the best entertainment, paying close attention to the features of a slot is crucial. These make the game more fun and offer unique ways to boost your winnings—meaning better chances of a possibly generous win.
The best of these features include expanding wilds, which can turn any regular win into one to celebrate, and free spin bonus features. These features allow you to play without wagering any money and usually include additional bonuses, such as multipliers.
RTP (Return to Player)
The RTP rate of a slot machine determines what percentage of the total money the game receives is paid out to players in the form of winnings. As such, slots with a higher return-to-player rate pay out more than others.
A benefit of online slots is that they have higher RTP percentages when compared to their physical counterparts. This is because online casinos don’t have the overheads that brick-and-mortar casinos have and can, therefore, afford to pay out more of their profits to players.
When searching for a new slot to begin enjoying, paying attention to its RTP could be more lucrative than other options. It should be noted, however, that a higher RTP doesn’t necessarily mean a slot will pay out more often.
A single jackpot payment could account for a large percentage of the money a game has received, boosting its RTP without making a big winner out of multiple players.
Volatility
After finding a slot with a decent RTP, the next thing to check is the game’s volatility. Developers use three types of volatility ratings: low, high, and medium. The difference between these can have a very material impact on your game and how much you win.
Low-volatility slots are those that pay out reasonably regularly. Therefore, if you love hearing the exciting chimes and sounds of a winning slot, these are the ones to look out for. The downside is that, although they pay out more often, the win amounts are less.
In contrast, high-volatility slots offer larger payouts and are more likely to pay out jackpots. The catch is that these payouts aren’t as frequent, and you may find yourself playing for a while before encountering even a small win.
Finally, medium-volatility slots are among the most popular for a simple reason: they are the perfect middle ground between high and low volatility. They offer decent payouts that happen neither frequently nor infrequently.
Bonuses
Although not strictly related to video slots specifically, bonuses offered by online casinos are often applied to particular slots unless specifically mentioned in the terms and conditions. As such, searching for slots with bonuses attached is an excellent way to boost what you get from playing them.
Since the Canadian iGaming market is so competitive, finding bonuses that offer rewards on slots is relatively easy. Almost all online casinos provide a number of these bonuses or promotions to lure new players away from competitors or keep existing players incentivized to continue playing.
With free spin bonuses widely available, others that can be used to benefit a player are reload and deposit match bonuses. These can be applied to your chosen slot game (unless specified to only work with a particular game) and boost the overall enjoyment since you know you have received something extra for the time and money you have invested.
Conclusion
In addition to the things listed above, other factors that Canadian gamblers should look for when choosing a slot include the validity of the casino the slot is found on, the payment methods that can be used to fund playing the game, and if the game is provably fair (if playing on a crypto casino).
Being mindful of these factors can help you find a video slot that will (hopefully) bring you a few steps closer to a win that will leave you smiling. And if it doesn’t, then at least the entertainment you experienced while playing will more than make up for it.
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