When you want to try your luck at winning a jackpot, online slots are the way to go. However, many people wonder whether these games are worth the money or not. This is particularly true for those who have experience playing land-based slots and are wondering if they can expect the same return. The truth is, there are a lot of factors that go into making online slots worth the investment.

To start, you’ll want to find a slot with a high RTP. This is the percentage of your total bet that will be returned to you on average over millions of spins. The higher this number, the more likely you are to win big. Additionally, you should look for slots that have special symbols like scatters and wilds. These work just like jokers in card games and can be extremely helpful in creating a winning combination. They may also come with multipliers that can increase your payout.

You’ll also want to check out the pay table for the slot you’re interested in. This will give you all of the information that you need to make a bet. The pay tables will tell you how much each symbol is worth, what each payline does, and what the top payout is. Some online slots also have progressive jackpots, which means that a portion of every wager goes into a special bank. This adds up over time and can result in a very large payout.

The next step is to decide how much you’re going to bet per spin and how many paylines you want to activate. There are some slot games that only have one payline across the reels, while others can have up to five different ways for symbols to line up and create a win. The more paylines you activate, the greater your chances of winning.

Once you’ve decided how much to bet, you can click the “spin” button and the software will begin spinning the reels. If any of the symbols match up to a winning combination on an active payline, you’ll win that amount and your winnings will be added to your account balance. You can then continue to play with the same or a new bet.

Some online slots even offer free spins as part of a signup bonus. These will allow you to test out the game and get a feel for its tempo without risking any of your own money. They’re also a great way to practice your strategy before you deposit real money. If you’re interested in putting your skill to the test, you can even compete against other players in online slot tournaments. These competitions are typically held on weekends and can be fun for the whole family. These are often advertised on online casino websites, so be sure to keep an eye out for them!