One of the major advantages of online gambling platforms over their land-based counterparts is that they allow players to test their products without spending money. You can’t walk into a traditional casino and ask to play blackjack hands for free, or pull a slot machine lever without dropping a coin.
The learning curve in traditional casinos requires playing for real money. So familiarising yourself with the rules of a new game can be an expensive undertaking.
Fortunately, online gambling enthusiasts do not have this problem.
Virtually every online gaming platform allows demo-play of their software products. If something runs on a computer algorithm, you’ll likely have the opportunity to experience it without using your casino balance. Given that slots are a premium option in the digital sphere, it’s always wise to spin the reels of a particular title a few times in its demo version before risking your hard-earned money.
A great way to get to know a slot game
If you’re new to online slots, you’re probably not yet familiar with terms like drum/tumble mechanics, cluster-pays, Megaways and so on.
If you think that most modern slots resemble the old Vegas-style fruit machines, think again. The format of games with three reels, three rows and five to ten paylines is almost extinct. The new versions offer gameplay that expands the boundaries of the slots genre to previously unimaginable horizons.
Therefore, if you are a novice, the process of understanding the rules of the game may be more arduous than you assumed before sitting down to play.
A demo game is a great option to get a feel for the game. Sure, you can read articles that explain specific concepts, but nothing beats first-hand experience.
As little as fifteen minutes of free-play should prove to be enough for you to learn everything you need to know before embarking on the adventure of playing for real money.
It is extremely important that you have a good understanding of how the bonus rounds in the game work, as this is where new gameplay concepts are most likely to come into play.
Easy accessibility
If you want to test a game, you can do so without registering with an operator. All you need to do is open the games lobby on your chosen site and go to the slots tab. Then choose the game you fancy and select the demo mode. You don’t even have to visit an online casino to use this option, as most reel-spinners can be found to test on casino review sites that post them on their review pages. Demo-play is instant. HTML5 technology makes online slots playable without installation on countless operating systems.
Check out the specifics of the game in a short period of time
We’ve all read many articles about return to play (RTP) and variance. You may see a review that recommends a game with above-average RTP and low variance as an ideal option for low-volume players. However, most articles fail to mention that these specifications come from tests that involve millions of drum spins. Far longer than any human can physically play these games. These are theoretical numbers based on incorporated mathematical models or results gathered from accelerated simulated gaming sessions. So, in the short term, these attributes cannot be relied upon.
For example, the listed hit rate of 25 means that every fourth spin should result in a win. However, given that such a high hit frequency is most often associated with low variance games, the prize you receive may be less than the amount of your bet. There is no guarantee that a hit will result in a profit. Furthermore, the statistic of winning in every four spins is a theoretical average. It does not mean that you will experience such results during a thirty-minute playing session.
Using the demo game option allows you to see the true nature of the slot. This allows you to assess whether it is right for you. That is, whether it agrees with your goals and what you want to get out of the gaming experience. A thirty-minute free-play session can be an eye-opening experience that will show the short-term variance.
How often and what size of rewards the slot will bring, on average. Of course, you shouldn’t rely on just one session to get this picture. Nevertheless, it should give you a pretty decent idea of what to expect.
