Slots are popular among new visitors to the casino, because the results of the spins depend only on the RNG. Some have special symbols for the unusualness of the gameplay. The percentage of return (RTP) remains the same but the game becomes more dynamic. The definition of a slot machine with reels and lines is available at Wikipedia. It is recommended that readers familiarize themselves with the terminology.
Names and Functions of Special Symbols
Slots are most often endowed with three kinds of special symbols. Their names and purposes are described in the table.
| Wild | The main function is to replace unsuccessful icons (if they appear in the right position). With the help of a special symbol, the chance of creating prize combinations is increased. It can be paid with the maximum coefficient (not always). |
| Scatter | The symbol is paid without reference to the active paylines (when displayed in different places on the screen). It can activate free spins or other bonus options. |
| Bonus | It does not always pay by itself. Used to activate free spins or thematic prize rounds. |
You can find slots with special symbols on the page https://www.slotsup.com/online-casinos/wheelz. It publishes a review of a legal casino with a license from Malta. The pros include an extensive collection of gambling games produced by world-renowned developers. Users can choose their own interface language. In addition to English, there are Japanese, Finnish, German, and French.
Other Special Symbols
Multiplier is a symbol with which the amount of winnings is multiplied by x2, x3, x5, x10. It can fall during:
- main game;
- free spins;
- bonus round.
A special Wild symbol is sometimes endowed with multiplier opportunities. Such an example is the slot machine Wild West Gold, the developer of which is a company Pragmatic Play.
Another icon with advanced capabilities is Jackpot. When it falls, you can participate in the drawing of the biggest prize – standard or progressive. Most often, it is necessary to collect a combination of five such icons. Users sometimes participate further in a round where the jackpot win depends on the victory.
Advantages of Special Symbols
Special symbols have advantages over regular symbols. There are four of them.
- The uniqueness of the gameplay. It becomes more interesting to test the machine.
- Getting additional earnings (in case of winning).
- Activating the bonus game (any prize round).
- Increasing the award (in the case of the fall of multipliers).
Before starting the slot, it is important to read the information in the paytable. Users will find the answer to the question by which icons the bonus round is activated.
Scatter in Slot Machines
Scatter can be applied to all or more reels. The icon has one of three functions:
- activation of the prize game;
- starting free spins;
- forming payable combinations.
In the latter case, the payment is awarded if three or more symbols appear in different places on the screen. Active paylines are not taken into account. The amount of winnings is calculated as follows: the bet is multiplied by the coefficient. The latter is published in the payout table.
It is considered that the appearance of the Scatter icon is associated with the amount bet. The bigger it is, the higher the chance. This statement can be equated with a myth. The fallout of special characters depends only on the RNG algorithm. It is embedded in the program, but the result is evident in the long run (which consists of millions of spins).
One of the prize features of Scatter icons is the activation of free spins. Three wild animals (orangutan, gorilla and zebra) have to fall out in the Safari Sam slot machine to activate the round. There are five pictures in Bumper Crop slot about the work of a farmer in this category:
- a bag of seeds;
- shovel for digging a hole;
- bright sunshine;
- hardworking farmer;
- watering can.
They launch free spins. The purpose of these icons is to fill the indicator with the icon above each reel. The latter changes after each roll. It requires five different icons to fill it completely, then each picture on the reel becomes a Wild symbol. A round of three or four free spins starts.
Bonus in Slot Machines
Bonus icons are often used to start thematic bonus rounds, and less often – free spins. In the first case, the most common option is to choose an object. The scenario of such a bonus round remains the same in different slot machines.
How does Pick Up? The choice is rarely made directly on the reels. The image on the screen changes more often. An additional room with objects appears:
- shells;
- bags;
- chests.
Users need to click on each item to find out the amount of winnings. If there are several items, the reward is summed up. There are slot machines whose developer has laid down a more complex scenario. For example, Street Fighter II: The World Warrior by NetEnt.
It has two themed bonus rounds ( it runs without special characters in certain game situations). In “Car Smash”, a person crashes a car, after which users have the right to change the fighter. It is possible to leave the same hero.
There are several levels in “Beat the Boss”. They continue until one of the participants wins. Maximum winnings are given when fighting four bosses (Balrog, Vega, Sagat, Bison).
Conclusion
Information about special symbols is available in the payout table. It is revealed without registration and replenishment. Three icons are the most common – Wild, Scatter, Bonus. There should be accurate information about their purpose. You may see a single symbol when users participate in the drawing of the progressive jackpot.
In some cases, information about big winnings is published in the CNN news. Visitors find out who got the most lucrative prize in U.S. history. The situation took place in 2021.
