Terms for Slot Machines That Every Newbie Should Know in 2025

Are you new to playing slots online? You're not the only one. There are terms for Slot Machines that are used in slot games that can be hard to understand at first. This guide is for you if you've ever looked at words like "RTP," "scatter symbols," or "megaways" and had no idea what they meant.

In 2025, let's go over the most important phrases that every slot machine player should know. If you know these words, you'll be able to make better choices whether you're playing for pleasure or to win real money.

1. Return to Player (RTP)

RTP, or Return to Player, is a percentage that represents how much a slot machine pays back to players over time.

A slot with a 96% RTP, for instance, will give you back €96 for every €100 you bet, on average. Higher RTPs usually suggest better possibilities of winning in the long run.

Tip: Find slots with RTPs of 96% or above.

💣 2. Changeability (Variance)

Volatility is how often and how much a slot machine pays out.

• High volatility means large wins, but not as often.

• Low volatility means smaller winnings, but they happen more often.

Pick based on how much danger you can handle and how you like to play.

3. Payline Terms for Slot Machines

To win, matching symbols must land on the paylines, which are the paths across the reels. Old-fashioned slots might have 1 to 10 paylines, but new ones can have hundreds or even thousands.

You can change the amount of active paylines in several games. More paylines normally indicate more chances to win, but they also entail bigger stakes.

4. Wild Symbols

Wilds act like other symbols to make winning combinations, just like a joker in a card game.

There are many kinds:

• Expanding Wilds (cover all the reels)

• Sticky Wilds (remain in the same location for a few spins)

• Walking Wilds (walk around on the screen)

5. Scatter Symbols

No matter where they are on the reels, scatter symbols normally start additional features like free spins.

When you get three or more scatters, you usually get a bonus round where you can win without paying more credits.

6. Free Spins

With a free spins feature, you can spin the reels a certain number of times without having to bet more money. This is usually caused by scatter symbols or extra features.

You can get free spins with:

• More than one

• Adding more symbols

• Unique reels

7. Multipliers

Multipliers can make your earnings go up by a set amount, such 2x, 3x, or even 100x.

They can show up at random times, during bonus rounds, or during free spins. You gain €50 if you win €10 with a 5x multiplier.

8. Megaways

Megaways is a type of slot machine that has thousands of ways to win, often more than 100,000.

The quantity of symbols on each reel changes with every spin, which makes for huge combinations and makes it hard to predict what will happen.

Some of the most popular Megaways slots are:

• Bonanza

• More Chilli

• Megaways: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

9. The Avalanche Feature: Cascading Reels

Cascading reels drop new symbols into position following a victory, and the winning symbols dissolve instead of spinning. This lets you win more than once from one spin.

Each cascade can either raise a multiplier or start additional features.

10. Bonus Buy

Players can pay extra to skip the base game and go right to the bonus round with the Bonus Buy feature.

It can be fun, but it's also dangerous, so only use it if you know how it works and how much it costs.

Last Thoughts

Beginners will have a big advantage in 2025 if they know these basic slot machine words. Not only will you enjoy the games more, but you'll also know how to pick the best ones for you based on your style and goals.

Remember these rules the next time you spin, and always play safely.