“Is there really any difference between slot machines?” I hear that question a lot. It’s a fair question, but at the core, they’re all pretty similar. Reels are spun and you win or lose based on matched symbols. There are, however, subtle differences that set the games apart from each other. One of those differences is the bonuses that are offered. The bonuses, like all other outcomes in slots, are triggered by randum number generation.

There are several different kinds of bonuses that online slots tend to offer. Some slots offer all of them, some don’t offer any. Most are somewhere in between. Whenever you look for an online slot to play, check out the bonuses that are offered, because if one offers more bonuses or the bonuses are more generous, it can be a better deal than the others.

One of the most common bonuses is a multiplier bonus. If you hit that bonus, which usually is the result of a scatter symbol being used in a winning combination, instead of getting the standard payout for that win, your winning is multiplied by a predetermined amount. Sometimes it can double your winnings, while it’s not uncommon to have multiplier of up to 30 times your bet.

Another common goodie found on bonus slots is the free spin bonus. The bonus is pretty self-explanatory. If it is triggered, you get to take some spins on the slot without paying any money for the wager. Often the above two bonuses are combined and all wins on free spins are multiplied.

In addition to those common bonuses, online slots sometimes have second-screen bonus mini-games. In those bonuses, you play games unrelated to spinning slot reels as a way of earning bonus money or free spins. Common bonus mini-games include matching games and guessing games.