Online slot machines offer real-feel gaming complete with authentic slot features such as free spins, wilds, multipliers and the famous holds and nudges. However, while holds and nudges are interactive features that are controlled by the player – are they really any thing other than an extension of luck? Take a look at the hold and nudge facts………..

Holds and Nudges

Essentially, holds enable you to freeze the lit-up icons on one or more reels of a slot machine, when they randomly triggered after a spin. In contrast, nudges allow you to shift the icons up or down, one or more notches. Now, many gamers swear they use specific slot strategies to win more frequently with holds and nudges – but the fact is – there is no genuine right or wrong ways to use them in your slot sessions. For example, you could hold 3 jackpot icons then re-spin and not hit the jackpot, where as you could potentially not hold any of the jackpot icons but re-spin and match all 5 jackpot symbols! The point is, random slot luck can always create winning or losing scenarios – whatever strategy you play with.

However, does that mean it's not worth using any logic when playing the online slots? Well – not necessarily. For example, let's imagine we did spin and return 3 777 Jackpot icons on reels 1, 2 and 3, with holds on each one. The options available are two-fold:

1 > Hold the jackpot icons and re-spin
2 > Don't hold the jackpot icons and re-spin

Now, logic would indeed dictate that it's a good idea to hold the icons, because you then only need 2 more jackpot icons to hit the big win. However, as we've discussed above – you could also win by not holding the jackpot symbols! See – there isn't really a right or worng and it really depends if you're feeling in a logical slot mood or prefer opting for daring plays. Both could lose – and both could pay off! Most online slot machine gamers combine the best of both worlds and use random 'logic' and 'dare'.

• The Advantages Of Online Slot Contests (0)

Online slot gaming has become the Summer's biggest hit after Microgaming launched an innovative slot tournament. Most gamers will be aware the slots are now playable in multi-player contest format – but no contest until now has allowed a slot player to top the leader board and scoop a guaranteed 1 million euro reward. Check out the specifications of the online slot comp – plus the advantages this style of gaming has over traditional slots……

The web's biggest ever slot contest

The Grand Slam of Slots is being held at Microgaming casinos. The initial contests are qualifers to win a pass the the grand final later in 2009. Essentially, finalists will play on Tomb Raider slot with 9,000 credits and 60 minutes to hit a high score. However, it's the prizes that have got people raising their eye brows – there's a €1,000,000.00 grand prize, €50,000.00 second prize, €25,000.00 third prize and a cool 482 reward levels. Not bad for a contest that you can win entrance to for the cost of a few scratch cards or lotto tickets!
The advantages of online slot contests?

One of the major advantages offered by online slot contests is the fact you can buy your ticket to a gaming session and know your costs before you start – that makes them highly attractive for gamers on a budget or players who tend to spend more than their session limit. In addition, slot competitions have guaranteed prizes unlike normal slot machine which don't always payout jackpot rewards. Is this the end of normal slots gaming – 100% not because classic slot machines are still the world's most popular leisure game. However, they do have real competition from the growth in contest gaming.

Most online slot gamers now swap between the two slot genres – but be warned you need quick spin fingers to fire out hundreds of spins during the competitions!

• Online Slot Machines (0)