Slots Editor

Daniel Mertens

Meet Daniel Mertens, our Slots & Games Editor

Slots & Games Expert at YummySpins

Slots editor who reads game mechanics before reviewing themes. Tests RTP, volatility, and feature behaviour in demo and cash mode against provider spec sheets.

RTP & volatility
Game mechanics
Software providers
Demo-first testing
Slot themes

What Daniel covers

Slots & Games Slot Themes Software Providers

What makes Daniel an expert

Daniel reads a slot the way a developer reads code: by what it does, not what its promo page claims. He has played through hundreds of titles in demo and cash mode, and he pays attention to the numbers that decide a session, return to player, volatility, hit frequency, rather than the theme or the trailer. He can usually name the studio behind a game from the way it pays.

How Daniel fact-checks

Every figure in a game review is checked against the provider's own published data: RTP, max win, volatility rating and feature mechanics come from the studio's spec sheet, not a casino's marketing. Where a casino advertises a modified RTP, Daniel flags it.

How Daniel stays up to date

Providers tweak games and ship new mechanics constantly, so Daniel re-tests rather than trusting an old note. He replays titles after provider updates, tracks new releases from the major studios, and revisits RTP figures because operators sometimes swap in lower-paying versions of the same game quietly.

Q&A with Daniel Mertens

What number matters most in a slot?

Volatility, not RTP alone. A 96% slot can still empty a balance fast if the variance is high; RTP tells you the long-run average, volatility tells you how brutal the ride is.

What is the biggest trap for players?

Bonus-buy features. They feel like a shortcut to the fun part and are one of the fastest ways to lose a balance.

How do you pick which games to feature?

By how they actually play, not by how new or flashy they are. A clear, fair game with honest volatility beats a loud one with a hidden max-win cap.

What it's like working with Daniel

Daniel is who I check with when a bonus is tied to specific games. He knows instantly whether the slots behind an offer are worth playing or just there to burn wagering.

Sofia AlmeidaBonuses Editor

Daniel reads a game's maths the way I read a data set. If he says a slot's volatility is brutal, it is, and the player-facing reviews are better for it.

Michael ThompsonChief Editor

Daniel Mertens articles overview

Updated December 10, 2024

Meet the rest of the team

Michael ThompsonChief EditorData-and-maths analyst who scores casinos on RTP, regulation and payout reality, not the size of the welcome banner. 15+ years in data analytics and statistics.

Sofia AlmeidaBonuses EditorFinance-trained bonus analyst who reads the full T&Cs before rating any offer. Specialises in wagering requirements, game weighting, and cashout caps.

Eva de JongPayments EditorPayments editor with a fintech background who judges casinos by their cashier. Tests real withdrawal times, KYC flow, and supported methods.

James WalshContent WriterLaw-trained guide writer who explains house edge, game rules, and gambling regulation in plain numbers. Honest about what no betting system can beat long-term.

Daniel Mertens