Video slots are evolving at a faster pace than ever before. While just a few years ago, users were pleased by flashy graphics and bonus spins, today's audience wants excitement, dynamism, and personalisation.
Casino Market experts discuss 10 mechanics that make entertainment solutions successful and 3 features that are no longer relevant in 2025.
Free Spins
They are an essential attribute of any game. Bonus rounds with additional rotations appeared in land-based slot machines in the 1990s. Over time, the function began to be used in online solutions as well.
NetEnt and Microgaming were the first companies to implement the option into their content. Play'n GO, Pragmatic Play, and other market leaders followed.
How Free Spins Work
Players activate the set number of spins without placing extra bets, but preserving their chances of winning.
Key characteristics of no-deposit rotations:
- they are launched after scatter symbols appear on the screen (users must collect 3–7 such icons, depending on the panel’s format);
- free spins are often accompanied by additional multipliers or special images (Wilds or Sticky Wilds).
Some casino software vendors implement “super versions” of the feature with unique rules and increased chances of obtaining prizes.
Deposit-free spins are part of an online casino's welcome or bonus package. To receive them, clients must replenish their accounts on the website and then meet several conditions. This may include a certain number of reel spins or betting requirements.
Features of the Use
The accrual of extra rotations has no direct restrictions. At the same time, many jurisdictions state that they should be awarded transparently and without hidden wagering terms. Similar rules exist in the UK, Sweden, and other countries.
Purchase of Bonuses
This is one of the most popular options in the field of slot machine development. It allows customers to bypass the standard gameplay and immediately enter the additional round (complete a task, develop a character, and gain any other advantages).
The first to widely implement this feature was the Australian provider Big Time Gaming. Pragmatic Play, NoLimit City, NetEnt, Relax Gaming, and others followed.
How to Activate the Mode
A button appears on the screen with the words “Buy a Bonus” or similar text. After clicking it, the special round will begin immediately.
The acquisition cost may vary depending on the slot’s characteristics or online casino rules. Typically, it is 50–100 times higher than the minimum price of one spin.
Why the Audience Loves This Feature
Its key benefit is a significant acceleration of the gameplay. The option is often chosen by impatient clients who want to quickly familiarise themselves with a video solution, test its functions, and win a big prize.
However, frequent use of this option can lead to huge costs. It is important for casino visitors to maintain a balance to avoid overdrawing.
In the UK, the Bonus Buy feature is prohibited because it is considered a stimulation of excessive betting. In other regions, the tool is available, but online casinos are required to warn players of the potential risks.
Megaways
This is an innovative payline system patented by Big Time Gaming.
The first slot to have this solution was Dragonborn Megaways (2016). Other projects followed, including Bonanza Megaways. The product became a true hit and set the trend for a decade.
How the Mechanics Work
Unlike slots with a classic grid (for example, 5x3), the number of active symbols is randomly determined with each spin.
From 2 to 7 images can appear on a single reel. The quantity of ways to win also changes dynamically: from several hundred to 117,649. This dynamic makes each spin unique, creating a sense of novelty and constant change.
Megaways can be combined with the following popular features:
- cascading wins;
- multipliers that increase with each new successful combination;
- bonus rounds with free spins.
Legal Restrictions
Megaways is a registered trademark and patented technology. To use this mechanic, developers must enter into a licensing agreement with Big Time Gaming.
In some jurisdictions, slots that include such a function undergo stricter certification. The additional verification is required due to the high number of paylines and variable volatility. This practice is applied in the UK, Sweden, and other EU countries.
Streaming Wins
In the case of Cascading Reels, after a winning combination is formed, the symbols involved in it disappear, and new icons fall from above to take their place.
This process can be repeated several times in a row, creating highly paid prize lines and allowing players to make a chain of wins in just one spin without placing additional bets.
Gonzo's Quest from NetEnt was one of the first products to support the feature. Cascades were called Avalanche Reels, emphasising the visual effect of falling images.
Nuances of Use
Advantages of applying the function include:
- High dynamics. Thanks to winning chains, a single spin turns into a series of unique events. This makes the game more exciting and holds the attention of customers for a long time.
- Combination with multipliers. In many slots, a coefficient (for example, x1, x2, x3, or x5) is applicable to each subsequent cascade. The longer the series, the higher the potential payoff.
- Visual and sonic aesthetics. Avalanche rotations provide scope for a spectacular animation. Symbols can explode, melt, crumble into crystals, and be accompanied by flashes and music.
Why Players Love Cascading Reels
They are one of the most popular mechanics in 2025 that add dynamism to slots, make each spin unpredictable, and increase user engagement. A single round can activate a series of wins. The appearance of prize combinations is always impressive and exciting.
Multipliers
Coefficients increase people’s victories by 2, 5, 10, and 100 times, or even more.
The concept originated in the 1980s and 1990s. In land-based slots of that time, wild symbols could double winnings, bringing huge rewards.
In the iGaming industry, this mechanic became popular thanks to NetEnt. The developer combined multipliers with bonuses and cascades in Dead or Alive 2, Gonzo's Quest, and other branded content.
How These Coefficients Are Used
There are several types of such boosters:
- Fixed. These are predetermined values. For example, the wild symbol always doubles the winnings.
- Random. Here, the multiplier is randomly selected at the time of its appearance. The amount varies from x2 to x500.
- Progressive. This type increases in accordance with the player’s activity (in cascades or bonus rounds).
- Symbolic. These coefficients are attached to selected icons (for example, a wild image with x3).
Progressive multipliers are the most popular format in 2025. The more wins or cascades customers receive, the higher the final indicator.
Legal Nuances
Coefficients are part of the gameplay, not a separate tool. Therefore, there are no direct prohibitions on the use of these mechanics.
At the same time, many regulators (the UK Gambling Commission, MGA, Curacao, etc.) require that:
- the probability of the multiplier’s appearance is clearly stated;
- RTP took into account the impact of the odds;
- there is no misleading advertising (for example, operators cannot promise x1,000 every time).
Sticky Wilds
These symbols do not disappear after a single spin, but remain on the panel for several rotations in a row or until the end of the bonus round.
The main purpose of such images is to increase the probability of forming prize combinations. They often act as “jokers”, substituting for other icons on the screen.
The mechanic is activated in sessions with free spins, but it sometimes occurs in the main game as well.
Where Sticky Symbols Are Used
NetEnt was one of the first providers to offer wilds of this kind. Its slot, Dead or Alive (2009), received cult status, thanks in part to its innovative functions.
Over time, sticky images have become a must-have feature. Today, they can be found in the portfolios of Microgaming, Play'n GO, Pragmatic Play, Quickspin, and other major brands.
Legal Requirements
There are no direct restrictions on the use of such symbols.
The mechanic complies with regulators' standards for several reasons:
- it does not mislead players;
- the principle of randomness is not violated;
- the feature can be clearly described in the rules of the game.
Providers are required to specify how sticky wilds work (how many spins they last for, in what modes they are active) and to certify the mechanics in independent laboratories. These include eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI, and other accredited centres.
Jackpots
These are special prize pools that can be awarded to a casino visitor when certain conditions are met.
They first appeared in land-based slots in Las Vegas in the mid-20th century. With the transition to the online environment, this feature was further developed by industry giants such as Playtech and Microgaming.
The latter is a pioneer in creating progressive jackpots. Its Mega Moolah solution, introduced in 2006, became a world record holder for the largest payout. Many people won tens of millions of euros, making the video slot truly legendary.
Playtech created its signature Age of the Gods series, which also included a multi-level prize pot.
Types of Jackpots
There are several options available to gamblers:
- Fixed sum. The amount of rewards is predetermined and does not change during sessions. These functions are most often used in classic slots and card entertainment.
- Progressive series. Here, the jackpot grows with each bet and can reach tens of millions of dollars. It can be local (accumulated on a single platform) or network (combined across all online casinos where the game is offered).
- Multi-level solutions. There are several prize pots of various sizes (for example, Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega). Clients can win one of them under certain conditions or by random selection.
Benefits of Adding These Mechanics
This is a great marketing ploy. Progressive jackpots always attract the attention of the media and streamers, making the slots “viral”. Players also return to entertainment sites that offer such features more often since a big prize can be received at any time.
All winnings are subject to taxes. This practice exists in the US, Canada, the UK, and other countries.
Gamification
The concept can be described as the introduction of video game elements into slot machines. Providers add missions, challenges, achievement systems, levels, progression, and other options. Unlike classic products, where each session is independent, this tool creates a long customer journey.
Instead of a typical series of spins, users gain a full-fledged experience comparable to action entertainment.
Nuances of Application
Increased audience engagement is the main reason to add gamification to online casino content.
Clients return to the website to complete missions or quests and reach new levels. All this makes the sessions last longer, visits become more frequent, and a strong emotional connection between digital platforms and their customers is formed.
Play'n GO and Yggdrasil were the first to implement such game components.
Thus, the latter is famous for its signature Vikings Go series. Each character there has a fury meter. By upgrading the protagonists, players unlock bonus battles and earn prizes.
Legal Restrictions
Gamification elements are becoming the subject of regulation:
- The Netherlands and Belgium. These countries strictly control mechanics similar to loot boxes. If the rewards are random and could be considered gambling outside of the main slot, such content is prohibited.
- The United Kingdom. Local authorities require transparent descriptions of gamification features. People must understand which missions bring bonuses, and what the chances of receiving remuneration are.
- The US and Canada. Regulation varies depending on the state and province. The key requirements for developers are RNG certification and the prohibition of the audience’s deception.
Hold and Win
The mechanics were developed by the Booongo European company.
In the 2020s, the vendor introduced several slots with locked symbols and additional multipliers. The most famous games in this category were 15 Dragon Pearls and Sun of Egypt digital slots.
How the Function Works
It is activated when certain special symbols appear on the panel, after which:
- players receive a fixed number of spins (usually 3);
- each new image that appears on the reels sticks to its place and resets the remaining counter of rotations to 3;
- winning multipliers are calculated at the end of each round.
In the classic version, all collected icons have a monetary value. Advanced versions may also include jackpots, expanded coefficients, and other additional options (such as an increase in the game grid).
Why the Feature Is So Popular with Casino Visitors
Slots with the Hold and Win mechanics are often chosen by high rollers due to the volatility and the possibility of winning big.
Beginners also enjoy this solution, primarily due to its colourful design and understandable rules. When special symbols stick to the panel and form prize combinations, it always looks bright and memorable.
Social Features
These game elements allow customers not only to spin the reels but also to compare their results with other users or participate in shared activities.
Unlike classic single-player slots, social mechanics create a sense of community and competition.
Main Formats
The most popular offers in the market are:
- Tournaments. People compete against each other, receiving generous prizes and other privileges.
- Leaderboards. Ratings show the best gamblers based on points, winnings, or progress.
- Seasonal events. These are long-term campaigns with missions and quests that must be completed within a week or a month.
- The “Share” function. It allows clients to tell about their achievements on social media or messaging apps.
The addition of social features increases engagement and retention indicators.
For example, tournaments and missions encourage players to return to the betting site more often to avoid missing an advantageous position. Such events can include cash prizes, free spins, or exclusive bonuses for winners.
The possibility to share results creates organic advertising on media platforms. Gamblers spread the word about slots and casinos, talk about their success, and post memorable moments.
How Social Mechanics Are Used
Playtech and Pragmatic Play were the first to implement full-fledged tournaments in online casinos.
Playtech offered contests with leaderboards where clients could compete based on points. Today, the classic system of ratings and challenges is applied in many slots of the company.
Pragmatic Play has made social mechanics mainstream with its Drops & Wins program.
Yggdrasil also offers branded campaigns called Yggdrasil Missions. These are seasonal tasks, completing which gamblers receive generous bonuses.
3 Features That Should Be Removed
Let us consider which functions should not be used anymore:
- Overly long animations. Players accustomed to dynamic action can be irritated by forced pauses. Such effects become especially annoying after small payouts, causing significant delays in the system.
- Fruits and Sevens themes. Such symbols became a classic of the genre back in the days of land-based slot machines. However, in 2025, such icons no longer evoke positive emotions. Experienced bettors consider such games “outdated”, while beginners see no plot in them.
- Accelerators of victory. The Turbo Win option was originally conceived as a convenient solution for casino visitors. In practice, it eliminates the emotional component. Players do not have time to enjoy the moment of anticipation, which makes each spin feel like a mechanical pressing of the button.
The Main Things about Popular Gambling Mechanics in 2025
The existence of interesting functions in online slots guarantees a quick acquisition of customers and their prolonged retention.
Key aspects that operators should take into account:
- In 2025, the best mechanics are those that create a sense of progress and engagement. These include free spins, the purchase of bonuses, Megaways, cascading wins, multipliers, and sticky wilds. It is also important to add social tools, jackpots, and gamification.
- Entrepreneurs need to avoid too long animations, accelerators of victory, and fruit themes. Such elements seem outdated and can scare off players.
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