If you’re looking for a new slot bonus machine to try, look for the ones with bonus games. These minigames can be extremely fun and lead to some major payouts. Just make sure to read the paytable to understand how they work.

These events break up monotonous spinning by offering players a chance to win money, and can release a surge of adrenaline when they’re triggered.

Bonus events

Bonus events are a major component of modern slot games. Whether they take the form of pick’em screens, free spins, wheel spins or any other variation springing from designers’ imaginations, these added game elements can add a whole new level to the slot experience. They also give players a reason to keep playing when the wins slow down.

However, the percentage of the overall payback that comes from these game events varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some concentrate a much lower share of the return on them, while others put more into them.

The most common bonus event is a one-pick feature in which the player chooses a lion, elephant or hippopotamus from a selection of animals. These events guarantee added payouts, but many players question their fairness. Some believe that the picks are predetermined, arguing that any picking or spinning is just visual eye candy for an outcome that’s been decided by the RNG in real time.

Bonus symbols

Most online slots offer a number of features, though the exact amount varies from game to game. Traditional fruit machines might have just a single feature, while modern video slots will often include a scatter and bonus symbol along with different reel setups like tumbling reels or infinity pay grids. Some games might also have extra wild and sticky multiplier symbols, which can boost payouts when triggered in specific combinations.

Bonus symbols in slot games can improve your chances of triggering a bonus round or free spins. Some types of bonus symbols can even trigger jackpots and unlimited progressive multipliers. Others can help you collect special symbols or expand existing ones. Some games will let you buy a bonus feature with real money and activate it whenever you want. Other games will simply deliver the bonus round on random occasions. Regardless of what kind of bonus symbols you use, it’s important to check the game’s payout table to ensure that you’re winning the most from your play.

Bonus rounds

Adding fun features to slots is an important way to keep players engaged. These can range from pick ’em rounds to spinning wheels. These features may also include second-screen minigames, instant payouts and multipliers. Some even have a storyline that unfolds over the course of a game session. These extras don’t need to offer life-changing amounts to be exciting, but they should provide enough to generate excitement and make players want to come back.

The best way to see what’s included in a slot’s bonus game is to check its paytable. This can be found on the main gaming interface, usually near the settings, options, autoplay, and help buttons. The paytable will explain everything in detail, so you can understand what’s happening when you push the spin button. You can also find out if the bonus game is predetermined or uses RNGs to decide outcomes in real time. This is a key trait that some players look for to determine whether a bonus game is rigged or not.

RTP

The RTP in slot bonuses is the average return to player percentage for a game over millions of spins. It is not a guarantee that you will win or lose, as the house edge is still there, but it is an important indicator when choosing an online slot machine. The RTP of slot machines differs by casino, but the majority are set at 95% or higher. Land-based casinos have limited space and are unable to offer slots with as high an RTP as their online counterparts.

While most players choose a slot game at least partly based on the theme, it is also worth checking its volatility or variance. This is an indication of how often and how big a slot pays out, with low volatility slots paying out small amounts more frequently while high volatility slots pay out bigger wins less often.