How to Win Real Money on Scatter Slots
The first slot machines, which appeared more than a hundred years ago, offered only one way to win. Gamblers got payouts for collecting combinations of identical symbols, and the amount of money depended on the symbols face value. Modern slot machines are much more variable in this relation, offering many specific mechanics and features that allow you to get winnings in different ways and make your gameplay more diverse. Let’s talk about the ways to win real money on scatter slots in the USA and what they really are.
What Are Scatter Slots
The main feature of these slot machines is the availability of scatters: special symbols that activate bonus options. When two, three, or more scatters appear on the reels, a bonus game or a series of free spins is triggered; the exact rules may vary in different slot machines.
How Do They Work, Graphics & Sound
Slots with scatter symbols work just like any other slot machines: they use a random number generator, which determines the results of all spins. In a split second after starting a round, RNG performs complex mathematical calculations, and it is impossible to predict outcomes or influence them in any way.
In terms of visuals, there are no significant differences: scatter titles also use 3D or 2D images, the same animations, and other visual effects. However, providers have to develop graphics not only for a standard round but also for an additional one, where a bonus game takes place.
Soundtrack is unique in each slot. Background music and sounds for different actions, such as starting a spin or collecting a payable combination of symbols, are recorded separately. You can turn off sounds and music or change their volume in the settings; as a rule, you can find these buttons at the bottom of the playing field.
What Are RNG, RTP & Volatility
Your chances to win real money on scatter slots do not depend on you since a random number generator determines all results, and its work does not depend on your actions. You can only affect the bet size and several other related options; for example, in some slot machines, you can also change the number of active lines and the coin value. All other things depend only on luck.
iTech Labs, eCOGRA, and other independent auditing companies issue certificates confirming that RNG is reliable and works fairly.
However, there are two critical slot criteria that can significantly influence gaming session results:
- RTP. A theoretical percentage of return of funds. This criterion shows how much money from the total investments all players will receive in the form of payouts. The higher it is, the more profitable your game potentially becomes.
- Volatility. This pretty abstract criterion determines the spread in the frequency and size of payouts. High volatility usually provides longer losing streaks; the minimum payout can be even less than your initial bet. However, high-volatile slots also have an enormous payout potential; the maximum prize you can get can reach a really huge amount.
When choosing a slot, keep these criteria in mind, and make sure they match your preferred style of play, your tastes, and your bankroll size. Remember that you need a large bankroll to play high-volatile slots.
Slot Characteristics
Although the most important characteristics of any slot are RTP and volatility, there are several other criteria you should pay attention to before starting the game.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Number of lines | Ways to form prize combinations |
| Minimum bet | The minimum amount of money you can bet at one round |
| Maximum payout | The maximum amount you can get while playing |
You can check these and other criteria in the Help section of a particular slot machine, or in its description on the provider’s website.
Free Coins
Most online casinos provide bonuses, and thanks to them, you can get the opportunity to place a certain number of bets for free. Gambling venues usually give a specific number of free casino chips for registration, making a deposit, or when you spend a particular amount on bets. Even if you lose free coins, your balance remains unchanged, so you do not risk anything.
Bets
Principles of bet management depend on the type and mechanics of a particular slot machine. In most cases, you can choose the spin cost from the list, but in some slots, there are more options to affect your spending. Most often, you can change the number of lines, the number of coins, and the coin value.
Jackpot
Answering the question: “Can you win real money on scatter slots?”, make sure you have considered all available options. Besides standard prizes for forming lines of identical symbols, some games provide many others, including jackpots.
A jackpot is a special prize fund that can be fixed or cumulative. If you hit a fixed jackpot, you get a specific amount of money which is fixed and depends on your bet. In the second case, the jackpot constantly grows due to all players’ bets, as a small part of each goes to a prize fund.
Why Bet on Scatter Slot Machines
Slot machines with scatters make up a large part of any online casino lobby of gambling games, and several features can easily explain their popularity:
- More ways to win.
- Possibility to activate free spins or a bonus game.
- A more diverse gameplay.
The scatter mechanics are much simpler than many other features; even newbies can master it. All you need to know is the required number of such symbols to activate a bonus game.
Types of Scatter Symbols
The general scatter principle is the same in all slot machines, but these symbols may differ from each other visually. Moreover, some of them provide additional mechanics.
Cherry
You can find such scatters in fruit-themed slot machines, and usually, they can also bring payments; more cherries on the reels provide bigger payouts. Most often, you need to collect from two to four cherries to launch a bonus game.
Classic
Initially, when scatters first became parts of slot machines, they didn’t take part in the formation of prize lines and weren’t paid separately. Their only purpose was to activate free spins or a bonus game, and you can still find such classic scatters in many slot machines. Some providers even use them in the newest slots to provide a bit of nostalgia for good old times.
The primary disadvantage of classic scatters is that they interfere with a prize line formation if you don’t have enough of them to trigger a bonus round.
Successive
If a slot has mechanics of the consecutive collection of scatters, rules are quite different. If at least one scatter appears on the playing field after your spin, there is a second spin. If another scatter symbol appears, there will be another spin, and so on. The feature stops working when spins are over or you have collected the required number of scatters.
You do not lose money for repeated spins, that allows you to get several payouts in one spin.
A prime example of such a slot is The One Armed Bandit, released by Yggdrasil Gaming. To trigger a bonus game, you need to collect five scatters, and you have five spins to do it.
Multiple
If you want to win real money on scatter slots and get the biggest prizes regardless of the risk, you can pay attention to games with multipliers; Fat Banker is a great example. If you collect a sufficient number of scatters for one spin, and at least one will be a multiplier, you can count on increased payments in a bonus game.
How to Choose Scatter Slot Games
Before making a deposit and risking your own money, you should pay maximum attention to choosing a gambling site. Your comfort, potential benefits, and safety directly depend on your choice, so take into account several criteria described below.
Gambling Legislation Features
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that gambling is allowed in your country or state, so check your local laws and find out if you can make bets at casinos. If online gambling is not allowed, do not try to register and make deposits at any site, as you can just lose your time and money.
Security & Trusted Sites
Trust only those online casinos that have confirmed their reliability and have official gambling licenses issued by local regulators or foreign gambling commissions, such as Curacao, Malta, the UK, Kahnawake, and so on. A clickable validator in the footer confirms that the license is valid, so you can be sure gambling at this venue is safe and secure.
Software Providers
Gambling studios develop slot machines and other casino games; hundreds of software providers worldwide exist. Not all of them create products of the same high quality; however, many studios stand out against their competitors and offer the most exciting combinations of mechanics, impeccable graphics, perfect soundtracks, and beautiful animations. The list of such companies includes Pragmatic Play, Yggdrasil Gaming, Hacksaw Gaming, Thunderkick, and many others; these studios are market leaders, and their slots are the most popular. Make sure that the casino’s game catalog includes providers you are interested in, and only then create an account; you can see the list of available providers on the homepage or in the game lobby.
Free Spins and Other Bonuses & Promotions
Don’t neglect bonuses: always pay attention to the number and conditions of promotions available on a website. Not all of them are profitable, but many can help simplify your game at the start and get extra money. What’s important to consider:
- Bonus size and content.
- Conditions for activation and wagering.
- Restrictions on use and withdrawal.
For example, if you activate a sign-up bonus, you can get your first money to play without risk just for creating an account. And welcome offers allow you to increase your first deposit amount significantly.
Loyalty programs deserve special attention, as they allow you to receive rewards for playing actively: spending a specific amount of money or reaching new VIP levels. The more money you spend, the more favorable conditions you get: one-time cash bonuses, sets of free spins, regular cashback, and so on.
Account Creating
Convenience is one of the main criteria for choosing an online casino, and it strongly depends on the requirements for creating an account. If you don’t want to fill out large forms and enter a lot of personal data, choose gambling venues with a quick registration. However, keep in mind that in the future, you will still have to specify personal information to verify your account and withdraw funds.
It is essential to know that different US states have different minimum age requirements for players; in some, you have to be at least 18 years old to gamble, and in others, only persons over the age of 21 can play casino games. Also, you cannot have more than one casino account, but you can register at several gambling sites.
Mobile Gambling
If you are an active smartphone user and prefer mobile gambling, make sure that the casino you want to register at offers a convenient mobile version or a downloadable mobile app.
The game features of mobile and desktop versions usually do not differ, only in design and interface.
It is impossible to download slot machines to your smartphone, you can only install a casino app, but you still need an Internet connection to access games. It does not matter what device you play, as slots’ characteristics don’t change depending on this.
How to Play Scatter Slots for Real Money
Thanks to the emergence of many online casinos, gambling has become available to many people, as playing on the Internet doesn’t take time and money on a trip to another city, accommodation, and food. You only have to perform the following steps:
- Choose an online casino and create an account.
- Make a deposit of any amount through the cashier.
- Open the game catalog, choose a slot machine, and run it.
After that, specify the bet size and start making spins; all prizes will be credited directly to your balance.
Tips on How to Win Real Money on Scatter Slots
Since you cannot influence a random number generator and spin results, you can only minimize the risks in order to increase the chances of winning: just follow the recommendations described below.
Choose Regulated Online Casinos
Register only at casinos that are licensed and operate legally; otherwise, you run the risk of fraud and deception.
Check whether a particular website has an appropriate gambling license before signing up.
Playing in a casino that does not have a license has certain risks. For example, if a dispute arises, you can not protect your rights in court since, officially, a venue does not operate in the country, and its activities do not fall under US jurisdiction.
Practice Free Games
Before risking money playing a new slot, you can usually test it in demo mode; most modern casinos provide such an opportunity. This way, you can avoid any risks, but you won’t win money either.
Demo versions of slots are perfect if you want to get acquainted with a particular game; all features and mechanics do not differ from a standard playing mode. The only difference is that you use virtual chips for making bets, not real money, but there are many benefits also. You can assess a particular slot’s quality and understand whether you want to play it.
Look for High RTP
It is easier to win real money on scatter slots for USA users in games with a higher return-to-player percentage, especially if you plan to play regularly. Try to choose games with an RTP of at least 94%.
Prefer Classic & Multiple Scatter Slots
Such slots are potentially more profitable in the long run and also allow you to keep your bankroll longer within a single session. However, do not forget to check specific characteristics, such as RTP, volatility, and several others.
How to Withdraw Winnings
When you get your first prizes, you can withdraw them to your e-wallet, bank account, or crypto wallet. The main thing is to meet the minimum withdrawal amount restriction; otherwise, you will not be able to cash out.
Before requesting your first withdrawal, you have to complete verification; your identity confirmation is necessary to cash out wherever you want.
To withdraw money, you need to log in, open a cashier, select the Withdrawal section, specify the payment tool, and confirm the transaction.
Fast Payouts
Withdrawals may take a different time depending on the rules of a particular gambling site and the selected payment method. To check the maximum time frame, open the financial operation section, or contact customer support. Usually, the processing of transactions takes from a few hours to seven business days.
Cryptocurrencies provide the fastest payout speed; such withdrawals can even take less than an hour. However, not all US casinos support cryptocurrency payments.
Pros & Cons of Scatter Slots
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Many bonus features and rounds | Limited choice of slots |
| More diverse gameplay | If scatters feature additional mechanics, you have to master them first |
| More ways to win | Some people may feel gambling addiction trying to activate bonus features |
