Online slot games are a lot more sophisticated than their electromechanical counterparts. In land casinos and in reputable online casino sites, there are mechanisms that spin the reels, but the outcome of a spin is determined by computer software, known as a random number generator (RNG). Online casinos have these independently tested by expert agencies to ensure the results are truly random and unbiased.
Players set their stakes and click the Spin button, and then the reels begin to spin. If the same symbols line up in a row when the machine stops, the player wins credits. How many of these symbols are required to win depends on the game and the symbols available in it, along with the payout factors and RTPs of those symbols.
Some slots have special symbols called Wild symbols, which can substitute for other symbols in a winning combination. Scatter symbols are also available, which can pay out a win without needing to appear on an active payline. These are used to trigger bonus rounds, where the player can win even more credits.
Online slot game makers come up with a wide variety of genres to attract and keep players. Fruit-themed slots are classics, but there is also a large selection of movie and tv themes, music genres and fantasy and action themes. The popularity of branded slot games is growing, too – some examples are Sex and the City, Motorhead and Game of Thrones.