Slots Glossary

Puzzled by paylines, Second-guessing on Bet levels, or just need some advice on how to maximise a Wild symbol? We’ve got you covered with slots 101 on all of the most common terms in slots gaming. 

Looking to learn how to play and master the extensive world of slots? Check out our handy-dandy article on How to Play Slots to become a master in seconds. 

Slots Glossary

Reels

The reels are the playable columns that spin each time that you press the spin button. When pressed, they will spin before revealing a number of symbols on each reel that will activate if any wins are visible. 

Most standard slots contain 5 reels with some older/classic slots utilising 3 reels similar to how old-school mechanical slots used to be. Some slot variations have even more reels than normal including Megaways which have 7 and Cluster Pays which can include up to 9. 

Paylines

Paylines are the available winning lines that can be activated on a slot. Most slots have a set number of paylines that will activate a win when matching symbols are lined up along the payline. When a win is achieved, the payline will trigger and the symbols matched will calculate a winning value based on the matched symbol and the current bet level.

You can check the number of available paylines and the pattern needed to activate them in the paytable options. Slots will activate paylines automatically when a win is achieved meaning you can sit back and enjoy the action. 

Base Game

The base game is the standard mode when the game begins and the normal method played on each spin. During the base game is when you have the chance to activate bonus features like Free Spins, Hold & Win, or any original bonus games for a given slot. 

When a bonus game or free spins mode is activated, you are taken from the base game into the specific bonus mode and, when the round is finished and payouts received, you are returned to the base game, 

Paytable

The Paytable is the list of available paying symbols that you can win with on a given slot. Paytable values are dependent on game, symbol, and bet level with higher bet levels receiving higher potential payouts from the paytable symbols. 

Paytable symbols are generally separated into themed symbols such as characters which represent the higher paying symbols, and card suits A/K/Q/J/10 that represent the lower paying symbols. Matching 3 along the paylines is the standard number for creating a win but some high-paying symbols can create wins for as little as 2 matched symbols. 

Payouts

Payouts are the winning values achieved from a given slot on a successful spin. Payouts are dependent on the values of the paytable symbols as well as the current bet level. Once a win is achieved, your payout will trigger and award an instant cash prize that is added to your MrQ account.

All games contain a max payout win that, if achieved, will reset the current spin progress and start the next spin. Each game has a different max win value that can be found in the game’s paytable options. 

High payout games include Mental  (66,666x), Rick and Morty Megaways (50,000x), and Money Train 3 (100,000x). 

Bet Levels

Bet levels are the value that you set for a given spin and can be altered with the ‘+’ and ‘-’ symbols next to the bet value. Bet levels are the real money value that you place on each spin and affect the paytable symbol values and the potential payouts available. Each game has its own minimum and maximum bet levels based on the max potential win value available. 

Some slot games also use bet levels to determine what extra features are available during play. Games like Cash Stax and 88 Fortunes award additional paytable symbols or available paylines dependent on the current bet level. 

To check what games utilise unique bet level mechanics, check out the game’s paytable for more information. 

RTP

RTP or Return to Player, is the percentage of average winnings a player might receive back from their initial bet. All slots have different RTP percentages with the average RTP on MrQ being 95%-96%. 

Need to know more about RTP works? Check out our cheeky vid on RTP in 60 seconds and become a pro on how RTP works. 

Wild Symbol

The Wild symbol substitutes for any paytable symbol in a winning line. Essentially, whenever you have a symbol match on the reels that contains a Wild symbol, the Wild will transform into the symbol needed to make a successful match. 

Some games that utilise Wilds also contain additional mechanics on the Wild symbol including bet multipliers, bonus games, or unique Wild symbol wins. 

Scatter

Scatter symbols are present in most slot games and are the symbol used to activate the bonus games/free spins modes. On a standard slot, landing 3 or more Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels will activate the game’s bonus mode with the number of Scatters determining the activated prize. 

In some games, more Scatters means upgraded symbol payouts or multipliers and, in others, it will grant a higher value of free spins. Scatters can also be present during the bonus games to help with adding even more modifiers or free spins to the mix. 

Mystery

Mystery symbols are present in some slot games and, as the name suggests, are a Mystery when spinning on the reels. Once they land, all Mystery symbols transform into the same paytable symbol to help create payline wins. 

Mystery symbols can transform into any of the available paytable symbols on any spin from the highest to the lowest with the results being random on each Mystery symbol activation.

See the mystery in action on games like Beast Mode and Majestic Mysteries Power Reels. 

Free Spins

Free spins is the most common bonus game offered on a slot and, as the name suggests, awards you a number of free spins to bag some wins. Free spins are activated generally through landing a minimum number of Scatter symbols with the number of free spins awarded dependent on the game and the number of activating Scatters. 

Free spins modes can present a number of new mechanics and modifiers to spice up the action including win multipliers, expanded reels, and brand new bonus features. 

Some games have their own way of activating free spins or extra spin modes including Starburst that utilises a special Scatter Wild symbol that instantly activates a respin, or Megaways titles like Gonzo’s Quest Megaways that awards free spins for reaching a minimum number of consecutive wins on the same spin. 

Bonus Bets

Some slot games contain Bonus Bets that can be activated at any time for an additional percentage of the current bet level. When activated, the current bet level will be increased automatically and the effect of the Bonus Bet activates. 

Bonus Bets can add special modifiers including additional chance of activating the free spins mode, special win multipliers, or additional columns or rows to create wins along. 

Bonus Bets can be toggled ON/OFF at any time during play and will increase/lower your bet level automatically. 

Slot Variations

Megaways

Megaways slots up the action with 7 active reels and thousands of potential paylines active on any spin. Megaways slots randomise the number of symbols on each active reel with 2-7 symbols available on each reel on any given spin. 

Some Megaways slots feature up to 117,649 potential ways to win including Bonanza, Wild West Gold Megaways, and The Dog House Megaways. Others can feature even more available paylines including up to 1,000,000 potential ways to win on any given spin. 

The number of available paylines is visible at the end of each spin so you know how many ways to win there are on every spin. 

Hold & Win/Spin & Win

Add a brand new bonus game with the Hold & Win/Spin & Win style slots. As well as standard slot mechanics like paylines and the Wild symbol, Hold & Win games add a new Hold & Win bonus game to the mix.

The Hold & Win bonus game is played similarly to a free spins mode but with a few key differences. You are awarded a number of spins (the average is 3) and the standard paytable symbols are replaced with a number of bonus symbols. Every time you land a symbol successfully on the reels, it will stick with the number of spins being reset to its maximum total. This continues until the entire set of reels has been filled or the number of spins has reached 0. Once either occurs, all landed symbols activate and award a feature cash prize. 

Hold & Win games have been made from a variety of providers and can be enjoyed on games like Lanterns & Lions Hold & Win, Lion Gems Hold & Win, and Wolf Power Hold & Win.  

Cluster Pays

Forget the traditional paylines with Cluster Pays slots. Bundle a minimum number of symbols next to each other on the reels to trigger a win. Cluster Pays slots can also contain 7-9 active reels to match symbols across.

Most Cluster Pays slots also contain a cascading wins feature with matched symbols being removed from play and new symbols dropping in from the top to replace symbols matched. This is used to create consecutive wins on any given spin and extend your Cluster Pays action.

Experience Cluster Pays fun on slots like Sugar Rush, Dragon Clusterbusters, and Aloha! Cluster Pays. 

Jackpot Slots

Up your slots game with juicy jackpot prizes that can award fixed instant cash prizes or ultimate progressive jackpot prizes. Jackpot slots work very similar to your favourite traditional slots but include special Jackpot prize bonus games that can activate on any random spin. Play a Jackpot slot for the chance to win a progressively increasing cash prize or from a number of fixed jackpot prizes that have some juicy rewards.

Try out progressive jackpot slots such as Skywind’s Must Win Jackpots or Jackpot King games like Fishin’ Frenzy Jackpot King and King Kong Cash Jackpot King. 

Pay Anywhere

A variation of the Cluster Pays mechanic but no need to bundle up symbols together to win. Simply land a minimum number of symbols anywhere on the reels to trigger a win with even bigger prizes for matching up more symbols. 

Top Pay Anywhere slots include the sugary Sweet Bonanza slot as well as Gates of Olympus and Sword of Ares. 

Unique Slot Mechanics

Epic Strike

Brought to you from Games Global and present on games like Squids In!, 9 Masks of Fire, and 9 Pots of Gold. During play, special Bonus symbols will be available that correspond to a ladder of instant cash prizes. Discover 4 or more Bonus symbols in a spin to win the corresponding cash prize. 

Winning the max prize for an Epic Strike slot is to discover 9 Bonus symbols on the same spin that will award the maximum available prize on the ladder. 

Xbomb/Xnudge

Staples of the titles from NoLimit City, the Xbomb and Xnudge mechanics heat up the action with brand new symbol effects. 

The Xnudge feature is active on the Wild symbol that will move a number of spaces to fill the entire reel when landed partially on the reels. For every space it moves, it will add a win multiplier to the symbol applied to any wins involving the symbol. Check it out on titles like Deadwood and DasxBoot. 

Hear the hissing of the Xbomb symbol that will explode to remove a number of symbols from play and expand the reelset. Try it out on games like Misery Mining and Evil Goblins Xbomb. 

Fortune Play/Fortune Spins

Blueprint have added the Fortune Play/Fortune Spins feature to some of their top slot series including Eye of Horus and Fishin’ Frenzy. Activate the Fortune Play/Spin button and quadruple your chances of winning with 4 active sets of reels spinning and collecting wins. Each of the 4 reels will act the same as the base game with the same number of available paylines. 

Amazing Link

Hitting the scene from Games Global, the Amazing Link feature adds a brand new free spins mechanic similar to your favourite Hold & Win titles.

By matching up 6 or more Amazing symbols anywhere on the reels, you can activate the mode with all activating Amazing symbols sticking to the reels. 3 respins are awarded and, for any additional Amazing symbols that land, the total resets to 3. Fill the reels to win cash prizes and fill every space to be awarded an instant Mega Jackpot cash prize. 

Have an Amazing Link time with some of the top Amazing Link titles like Amazing Link Bounty, Amazing Link Riches, and the deep-sea adventures of Amazing Link Poseidon. 

Super Stake

Coming from Stakelogic and active on some of their premiere slot games including Book of Adventure and Book of Cleopatra, the Super Stake feature allows for an additional side bet to be played that can activate special bonus features depending on the game. 

Activate the Super Stake feature at any time by pressing the Super Stake button that will double the current bet level and activate its special effect. Book of Adventure’s Super Stake feature allows for higher paytable wins to land on the reels more frequently and for a higher chance of activating the free spins mode. 

Prize Lines

 Blueprint have brought slots and Slingo together on some of their top titles including Fishin’ Frenzy and King Kong Cash. Spin on the reels and, if a symbol appears, it will stick to the reels. Create a line of matched symbols vertically, horizontally, or diagonally to work your way up the ladder of prizes and fill the entire board to win a max prize or activate special bonus games. 

Prize Lines add a new mechanic where you can purchase an additional spin on the current game progress for the chance to improve your overall win. Each spin can be purchased for a one-off cost with the value being dependent on how close you are to a full-house. 

Best Slot Games to Get You Started

These are the cream of the crop to get you started on your slots gaming adventure. Play some of the most popular games now on MrQ including: 

Best Slot Variations

There’s more than just standard slots to sink your teeth into at MrQ. Here are some of our top recommendations for game variations to spice up your slots life:

Top Unique Slot Mechanic Games

These are the games that like to do things a little differently. From cash collect, to expanding Wilds, to instant jackpot prizes, here are some top games to further dip your feet in new territory of play:

Where can I play all of the Best Slots Online?

You can play all of the best slots, including all of the top slot variations and original games, on MrQ. Sign up today and play all of the premiere games from some of the biggest names in slots including Games Global, Pragmatic Play, and Blueprint.