Nova Gems

The top prize is capped at 1,000x your stake. On a $1 spin that is $1,000; on $0.20 it is $200. When the cap is reached the round usually ends immediately.

Multipliers are applied to wins as they land; in many games several multipliers add together or multiply each other, which is where the largest wins come from.

RTP is a long-run average across millions of spins. Any single session can finish far above or below it, especially on a volatile game.

Free spins

A bonus round of spins played at no cost to your balance, usually triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols. Wins during the round are added to your balance, and many games let you retrigger extra spins.

Bonus buy

Lets you pay a fixed multiple of your stake to enter the bonus feature straight away instead of waiting for it to trigger. It raises variance considerably and is not available in every country (it is banned in the UK).

Wild symbols

Wilds substitute for regular paying symbols to help complete winning combinations. They do not normally replace scatter or bonus symbols.

Stacked wilds

Wilds appear in vertical stacks covering several positions on a reel, which can connect wins across many lines at once.

Multipliers

Multipliers increase a win by a set factor, such as 2x or 10x. They can be attached to symbols, applied to a whole spin, or grow during a feature, and are a main driver of the biggest wins.

Respins

Selected reels or the whole grid spin again without a new stake, usually triggered by a specific symbol combination or near-miss feature.

Gamble feature

After a win you can risk it on a double-or-nothing guess, such as the colour of a card. It does not improve the game's long-term return.

• Bonus wagering: at 96.4% RTP, clearing $1,000 of wagering costs about $36.00 on average. Check the bonus terms, as some casinos exclude specific games. Run your numbers in the wagering calculator.
• Set limits before you spin. Decide your loss limit and session time in advance and stop when you reach either. No pattern or betting system changes the outcome of a spin.

More on this in slot RTP and volatility explained and bankroll management.