What is an Online Slot?

Online slot is a type of casino game that allows players to win money by spinning the reels. They are a computerized version of classic fruit machines and come with special features such as wild symbols and scatters that can help you line up winning combinations. Some online slots also have a progressive jackpot that grows every time someone plays the game. You can usually see how much the jackpot is worth above the middle row of the reels. The winner of the jackpot gets to keep the entire amount.

Modern online slots offer many ways to win, from stacked wilds and expanding wilds to multi-level games, free spins, and bonus rounds. These features can increase your chances of triggering a winning combination, but be aware that they can also make the game more volatile.

When you play an online slot, it is important to read the paytable and rules before you start playing. These should cover everything from the maximum coin size and number of paylines to how the jackpot is won. You should also check out the volatility of each game, which is how often it pays out small wins. Some games have high volatility, while others have low volatility.

While online slots appear simple on the outside, the internal mechanics are much more complex. The software that runs them uses a random number generator to determine which symbols display on the reels after a spin. The RNG is tested by independent agencies to ensure that it is unbiased and cannot be tampered with by casinos or players.