Overview
An online slot is a reel game in which a certified random number generator (RNG) decides where each reel stops the moment you press spin. Animation, sound and near-misses are presentation only; the result is fixed before the reels stop moving and does not depend on previous spins.
How a Round Works
- Open the game information screen to check the paytable, the number of paylines or ways, and the published return to player (RTP).
- Choose your stake per spin. The total stake is shown in CAD before you confirm.
- Spin. The RNG selects the reel positions and any winning combinations are paid according to the paytable.
- Feature rounds such as free spins or pick-and-win bonuses are triggered by specific symbols and are settled within the same game.
Rules
Paylines and ways
Fixed-payline games pay combinations along set lines, usually left to right. Ways-to-win games pay matching symbols on adjacent reels regardless of row, which is why the number of ways can run into the hundreds or thousands.
Wild and scatter symbols
Wilds substitute for other symbols on a line. Scatters usually pay anywhere on the reels and are the most common trigger for free spins.
Volatility
Low-volatility games return smaller wins more often; high-volatility games pay less often but with larger individual wins. Volatility does not change the long-run RTP, only how unevenly results arrive.
Malfunction rule
A malfunction voids all pays and plays. If a game is interrupted, the round in progress is restored or settled from the server record when you reconnect.
Common Variants
- Classic three-reel
- Simple layouts with a single or small number of paylines and few or no features.
- Five-reel video slots
- The most common format, with multiple paylines, wilds, scatters and free-spin rounds.
- Cluster and cascade games
- Wins are formed by groups of touching symbols, which are removed and replaced, allowing several wins from one paid spin.
- Progressive jackpot slots
- A small share of each stake funds a jackpot that grows until it is won. The share is part of the game design and is disclosed in its rules.
Payouts and House Edge
RTP is the percentage of all money staked that a game is designed to return to players over a very large number of spins. Published RTPs for online slots commonly sit between about 92% and 97%. A 96% RTP does not mean you will get back CA$96 from CA$100 in a session; short-term results vary widely, and over time the difference between stakes and returns is the game's margin.
Figures are standard mathematical values for the rules described. Each game displays its own rules and RTP, which apply if they differ.
Fairness
Slot outcomes come from RNG software that is tested by an independent laboratory before release and is not adjustable during play. The RTP shown in each game's information screen is the certified figure for that game configuration.
Play Responsibly
Slots resolve a stake every few seconds, so spending can add up faster than it feels. Turn off autoplay if you find yourself not watching results, and use the session and loss limits in your account. See responsible gambling for the tools available in your account.