Online Slots & Jackpots in South African Casinos

If you’re new to the world of online casinos, TheCasinos.co.za is a good partner to have. We’re here to provide you with the necessary knowledge you’ll need to have in order to enjoy your time while gaming. Online slots are a crucial part of the offer of many online casinos, and understanding how they work will be of utmost importance. Below, we’ve explained the world of slot games, including the very special jackpot feature that has the potential to bring more significant winnings.

What Are Online Slots?

Online slots are casino games in which players bet on the outcome of the spin of the reels. The players can’t affect the spin, and their goal is to match a specific set of symbols, defined in the game rulebook.

Throughout history, we have witnessed a number of different slot types, and it’s evident that the industry is continuously evolving. While, in the humble beginnings, most slots consisted of only three reels and a small number of possible winning combinations, nowadays, we can see games with 10 or more slots, a number of special features, and thousands of ways to win. 

Of course, the popularity of the industry grew over the years, and that’s why we get so many new games developed every year. New titles are consistently showing up, and the providers are trying to one-up each other in graphics, gameplay, and marketing.

What Are Jackpots?

In today’s online casino world, the term jackpot represents a substantial sum of money. In most cases, jackpots are won in slot games. But, as there are multiple types of slot games on the market, many different jackpots also exist. In the article, we’ll discuss both the most popular types of games and the types of jackpots that you should be aware of.

Different Types of Online Slot Games

Too many types of slot games exist to mention them all in the article. The industry has become so popular that the existing games can be filtered in an unlimited number of ways. Below, we’ve listed some of the most popular types of slots that you should know about, considering that you’ll run into them on your online gaming journey.

Classic Slots

Naturally, the first thing you should think about when “classic slots” are mentioned are the old-school Las Vegas fruit machines. They were introduced in the 20th century and consisted of three reels and only one payline. The three symbols that could appear on the reels were fruits, bars, and sevens.

Eventually, the design of classic slots was upgraded to five reels and a maximum of seven paylines. Regardless, classic slots still had the same gameplay. Matching the symbols on the payline was the only way to win.

Video Slots

Video slots are sort of like classic slots on steroids. They introduced multiple paylines, better graphics, additional options, and the immediately popular Free Spins feature, along with multipliers. With all of these benefits, the appeal for slots became even greater, raising the industry to new heights.

3D Slots

If graphics are your main concern, 3D slots are the type of slots you should look for. These slots are similar in gameplay to other types of slot games but bring a new level of design. These games feature 3D graphics and allow you to enjoy gaming with more realism.

Mobile Slots

As everything is moving to mobile nowadays, the gaming industry has also made a turn, with most online casino games being available on mobile devices. In most cases, you don’t need to download an app and can play all of the games from the library on the mobile version of the site. Often, the mobile version of the site may include additional promotions, so playing over your phone may pay off extra.

What Are the Most Popular Types of Jackpots in Slot Games?

Progressive Jackpots

Progressive jackpots are likely the most popular jackpot type in the online casino world. Every bet placed contributes to the jackpot, growing it progressively until one lucky spin brings the entire amount to one player. This type of jackpot can be linked to one game, a genre, or a specific set of games that contribute to the overall sum. Naturally, the more games contribute, the faster the pile grows. Usually, progressive jackpots don’t have a maximum limit, but grow until someone wins the full prize.

Fixed Jackpots

Fixed jackpots have a set amount that rewards the lucky player. Unlike progressive jackpots, with fixed jackpots the overall prizepool doesn’t grow over time but is set in the game’s paytable. 

Local Jackpots

Local jackpots limit who can win the prizepool and only include players from a specific area. Usually, the casino will separate its entire network into regions and reward each one with a local jackpot. As there are more of them, local jackpots tend to have smaller payouts.

What Are Slot Reels and Paylines

The spinning vertical columns that you see in most online slots are called reels. This is where all the symbols are appearing. With every click of the spin button, the symbols on the reels rotate, displaying a new combination with a potential winning outcome.

The reels are essentially the most important part of any slot game, as the number of reels plays a factor in the number of winning combinations that exist, and what the outcome will be.

The number of paylines also plays an important part in determining how many winning combinations a game will have. Nowadays, the number of paylines a game can have goes anywhere from one to thousands, with some games that allow you to modify how many paylines you wish to include. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to place a certain amount of credits for each line you add.

What Are the Most Popular Slot Themes?

If you’ve tested any slot games by now, you’ve likely realized a slot can revolve around many different themes. Some games have pirates and boats, while others include sports symbols, or fruits only. 

Many gaming platforms let you filter your search based on the theme of the slot, so knowing which types exist should be helpful in learning which you like best. Here are some of the most popular slot themes you can find at South African casinos:

• Egyptian Slots
• Asian Slots
• Aztec Slots
• Adventure Slots
• Sports Slots
• Wizard Slots
• Animal Slots
• Cartoon Slots
• TV Show Slots
• Movie Slots

Of course, nowadays, there is an unlimited number of slot themes, as new games are developing daily. 

What Types of Slot Symbols and Special Features Exist?

The symbols that show up on the reels are what are supposed to keep your attention and entertain you while playing. The success of new slot games relies on creating unique symbols that appeal to players and make the game more interesting.

However, the importance of symbols doesn’t lie only in their appearance but also in their value. Not all symbols have the same function, and they don’t all bring the same payout. Below, we’ll mention the symbols you’re likely to encounter when playing online slots.

Standard Symbols

Standard symbols bring the smallest payout to the player, but they appear on the reels most often. With progressive jackpots, even they can bring higher amounts, so don’t disregard them.

Wild Symbols

Wild symbols are more attractive than standard symbols, as they replace any symbol in the game except for special symbols. With the help of wilds, you can create a winning combination more easily. Often, landing a wild symbol also multiplies the value of your payline. There are multiple types of wilds out there, and they all come with a unique set of special features. Be on the lookout for expanding wilds, trailing wilds, sticky wilds, and more.

Scatters

A scatter is a special type of symbol that usually triggers a bonus round or some sort of special feature unique to the game. By landing a set number of scatter symbols, you can even win an immediate payout, free spins, or multipliers. And, scatters aren’t required to be on a payline. However, we advise checking the paytable to understand what each symbol brings.

Multipliers

With multipliers, the potential winnings increase with every spin. Landing a multiplier symbol usually multiplies the payout, spinning the reels once again, in search for another symbol of the same kind, only to keep spinning and increasing the payout. Recently, games with multipliers have become increasingly popular, and seeing the potential payouts reveals why.

Bonus Symbols

Bonus symbols are similar to scatters but only bring bonus rounds. In most cases, landing three bonus symbols will bring a specific number of spins in the bonus round, while landing more will lead you to the same bonus round but with an increased number of spins.

Tips for Playing Online Slot Games

Here are a few tips you might want to remember if you wish to get the best experience when playing online slot games at South African casinos:

• Read the Paytable

The paytable will explain what you’re looking for when the reels start spinning. You’ll be able to understand which symbols are worth more and what you need to land in order to trigger the bonus round.

• Try Different Slots

There are too many different slots out there to be stuck with one type. Try different themes, gameplays, and bonus rounds to understand which ones are the most fun for you.

• Pay Attention to the RTP

The return-to-player ratio determines which percentage of bets a slot game returns to players in the form of winnings. Naturally, the higher the RTP, the better your chances are.

• Don’t Forget About Your Budget

Managing your bankroll is a crucial part of online gambling. Slot games are meant to be fun, not bring additional income. Stick to your budget to keep playing games for fun.