Slot Games – Important Terms Every Player Should Know

The success of the iGaming industry means that more and more people are being exposed to online slot games. This doesn’t come as much of a shock, as pokies have always been an incredibly popular pastime for casual and hardcore gamblers. However, newbies may not understand the current state of slot games as well as some more experienced gamblers. That is why, in this article, we would like to go over some of the most important terms associated with online poker, that every gambler should be aware of.

Return to Player

At the top of the list is “Return to Player” or simply RTP. In plain terms, RTP is a percentile depiction of the amount of money that a slot game (or any casino game) is going to pay out throughout its entire duration. If you check out the online pokies at Christchurch Casino, you will find that most of the games in their library have their RTP listed. That is because RTP is not unique to slot games.

All casino games must have a return to player percentage listed, which is why learning what it is and how it works is important for any gambler. It is important to keep in mind that the percentage refers to the money that the game is expected to return in the long term, and does not refer to each individual player.

House Edge

The opposite of an RTP is a house edge. Usually, casino games have listed either the house edge or the return to the player, but not both. The reason is that you can easily find out what the house edge is by subtracting the RTP’s percentage from 100.

So, if a game has an RTP of 96%, then the house edge would be four percent. But, what does a house edge mean exactly? Well, this percentage refers to the amount of cash that the casino is expected to retain from a game. Remember, the long-term rule still applies.

Payline

When playing a game, it is important to understand the most basic of rules first. In slots, the rule is simple; you have to spin the reel and get the same symbols in a certain sequence. When the Liberty Bell machine was first created, it had a single reel, with three columns, and the goal was to get three symbols on the line. If you could do that, you’d get a payout.

 Hence, the term payline. In modern slots, there could be as many as ten reels, each with its own unique lines of payment. The most common in online slots is a 3×5 reel slot, with 15 paylines. However, there have been games with as many as 25, 50, or even hundreds of pay lines.

Jackpot

One term that most people are almost certainly familiar with is jackpot. At this point, we’ve all heard someone say, or have even said it ourselves, when something good, yet unexpected, happens. Jackpot, in terms of slots, refers to the grand prize of a game. It is the biggest sum you can win from a slot machine, be it online or land-based. In 2025, progressive jackpot slots are quite popular, as they offer the promise of greater rewards.