Looking to take your slots play to the next level? 

It's important therefore to choose a game that's right for you.Start with a theme and game style. If you like bonus features, pick a 5 or 6-reel slot. If you prefer no nonsense action, go for a classic 3-reel game.

Choose a theme that you will enjoy. If you love movies and TV, pick a branded slot. If sport is your thing, choose a football or cricket-themed game with bonus features.

Every online slot has a paytable. The paytable features the list of available payouts in a game, plus information on any bonus rounds you can trigger.

The RTP, or Return to Player percentage, is the expected payout made to players over the long term. For example, an RTP of 95% means that £95 is returned to players on average for every £100 wagered. The higher the RTP, the better your long-term prospects are. The RTP can fluctuate, of course, and it doesn't take into account short-term swings.

Every online slot is volatile. You have to work out whether the volatility is low or high. A low-volatility slot will pay out little and often. The regular payouts might be low but they are more frequent. On the flipside, a high-volatility slot pays out big, but less often. So, how can you work out whether a slot is highly volatile? Other than testing out a lot of spins on the practice play version, start by looking at the prize payouts.

Compare the payout for five of a kind on the top-paying symbol. Now compare it to the lowest payout for five of a kind. If the gap is large, the slot is highly volatile. If the gap between top and bottom is small, say 3-4x, the volatility will be low.

Most highly-volatile slots will have big bonus features that carry large jackpots. For example, slots with progressive jackpots will have the highest volatility of all. But don't dismiss classic slots because of their low payouts. Classic slots are closest in nature to your favourite fruit machines. They have minimal paylines and maybe one bonus feature at best.

But classic slots are easy to play, work well on a range of devices, and offer lots of quick spins. If you aren't concerned with free spins or hitting a progressive, classic slots are hassle-free.

Try a range of slots and pick four or five games for your Favourites list. Try to choose a range of volatilities, themes and bonus structures to maintain interest. It will also give you a more rounded group of slots to play. That is always beneficial over the long term.