Let’s get right to it - there is no magic formula for how to win on slot machines. But in this guide we will explore some ins and outs of slot machine tricks.
Unlike video poker games where there is a mathematically correct way to play every hand, slot machines are completely random and it’s impossible to predict what they’re going to do or exactly when they’re going to hit.
Having said that, there are ways you can ‘play smart’ and make the most of the games that are offered.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide:
Author’s Note: Slot Macine Popularity
It used to be that slot machines were a side bar attraction, something for the wives and girlfriends to do while the real players were playing the table games, like craps and blackjack.
Not anymore!
Since the advent of 1 cent computer-based video machines (thank you, Aristocrat!), incisive player tracking and the growth of the player’s clubs, the slot floor has become the main revenue source for US casinos and for most casinos worldwide, often accounting for up to 80% or more of the casino’s total revenue.
All the video slots are based on Random Number Generators.
These are small computers that generate hundreds of reel combinations a second, and as soon as you hit ‘Spin’, the machine knows the combination it is going to display.
Importance of Return to Player (RTP) Rates
Here are the typical hold percentages programmed into the machines across slot floors worldwide. Substitute the local currency and the Hold and RTP will be similar, if not exactly the same.
| Denomination | Hold % | RTP |
| 1 or 5c slot | 8% to 15% | 85%-92% |
| 25c slot | 5% to 10% | 90%-95% |
| $1 slot | 2% to 7% | 93%-98% |
| $5 and up | 0.5% to 3% | 97%-99.5% |
How RTP Impacts Winnings
As you can see in the table above, RTP can have a big impact on how much you can win.
A 1 cent game with an RTP of, say, 88% is going to be extremely difficult to win on.
A $1 game with an RTP of 98% is going to offer the player a longer time on the device and a much greater opportunity to win.
Identifying High RTP Slots
The table above is the giveaway.
High denomination games have a higher RTP than lower denomination games.
Ultimately it comes down to revenue per square foot (RSF).
A $1 game takes up exactly the same amount of space as a 1 cent game.
But in order for them to have a similar RSF, the 1 cent game has to hold way more than the $1 game.
Understanding Volatility
Essentially, there are three types of slot players. Some like to “go for it” and have a big budget to do it, playing machines with a big jackpot and realizing that they may not hit very often, but when they do, it’s for a substantial win.
They’re the very definition of “gamblers.”
Other players like to have ‘time on device’ (TOD) or time in play, and to accomplish that, the machines are set up to pay small or medium amounts more frequently, with only small jackpots to play for.
Many players fall between these two and prefer to play slots that blend a bit of both – the possibility of a substantial win, and also the ability to play for a long time on the machine.
Typically, the gamblers who prefer the high volatility games have a bigger budget than the ‘Time on Device’ (TOD) players.
The manufacturers know there are different types of players and make the games’ software perform accordingly.
This is referred to as ‘Slot Volatility.’
There are a growing number of manufacturers who are servicing the online slot market.
Rather than be in the slot manufacturing business, they are in the slot software business.
No cabinets, hardware, circuits, glass, player tracking interfaces, wiring harnesses, high-security locks and so on to source or manufacture.
Simple software design. That’s all there is to it.
Of course, this is also the most complex part of the operation.
Slot math is an art, and it is also where the science meets the art of slot design.
And online seemingly can offer more complex and sophisticated games, whereas land-based casinos tend to have tried and true machines that the operators and the vendors know are going to be popular.
When it costs approximately $35,000 to purchase one new machine, the operators have to be very selective about what games get put on their floor.
When it’s just software, it’s a lot easier to make changes and try new things.
Here are some pointers to improve your slots strategy:
Tip 1. Check out the ‘must hit by’ slot machines
I’m sure you’ve seen them.
Some of the online games have a defined jackpot and a time limit - so this machine will pay out $1,000 before the clock gets down to zero.
There are 9 hours, 16 minutes and 30 seconds to go, and it keeps counting down.
The other type is the ‘must hit before the progressive jackpot gets to $100,000’.
The reset amount is $5,000, and the meter keeps going up as the play intensifies as the progressive gets closer to $100,000.
Obviously if the clock is at 4 minutes and 20 seconds remaining, or $99,860, this is a good time to play the maximum on either of those ‘must hit by’ machines.
Tip 2. Choose the Right Slot Machines
Themes are important to the players’ engagement with a game.
If you respond to ancient Egyptian themes, then the ‘Cleopatra’ game will be a favorite.
The Wolf Run or Salmon Run games will attract a different type of player, just as the 88 Fortunes, Dancing Drums, and Coyote Moon will speak to another type of player.
The features offered are also what can attract you to a particular game. If you like the bonuses to be paid in free play, or as small, gift-wrapped boxes and so on, these will be more attractive to you.
Tip 3. Practice with Free Games
Many online casinos let you play slots for free.
It’s a good way to become familiar with a new game that you’re interested in, and you can find out the little details about how the game plays, what the bonuses look like and so on.
Tip 4. Learning Game Mechanics without Risk
It’s a good thing to play the game before putting real money at stake, because you can see if you like the way the game plays.
Do the bonuses make sense, do you like the theme and the way the game is presented to you. Those are all important considerations.
One thing to be aware of, though, is that those free games aren’t exactly the same as the ‘real money’ version of those games.
The free games are set up with a higher RTP than the ‘real money’ version of the same game. Sometimes a much higher RTP.
So be aware of that when you seem to be winning a lot on a free game, and just use the experience to get comfortable with how the game plays.
Tip 5. Importance of Bankroll Management
We all know that bankroll management is an important part of a successful slot strategy.
Deciding how much you’re willing to lose is high on the ‘important things to do when gambling’ list.
But for me, a more important strategy is ‘how much am I willing to win’?
Because every one of us has been winning and continued playing only to end up losing the winnings, and then also losing more money on top of that.
Don’t be that guy!
Tip 6. Playing Higher Denominations
The higher denomination games have a greater RTP than the lower denomination games, so it makes sense that you should always try to play the highest denomination game that fits your budget.
Tip 7. Balance Risk with Reward
Choose the game that matches your goals for that particular session.
If you want to spend some downtime, have a couple of cocktails and watch the world go by, a low volatility DaVinci Diamonds or Wolf Run video game will fit the bill.
If you’re willing to lose a few hundred and have an opportunity to hit a big jackpot, a high volatility game like Ainsworth’s Mustang Money 2 may fit the bill.
88 Fortunes is another game that is highly volatile and is a very popular game.
In the $1 denomination, it has a maximum bet of $88.
And yes, you need a big bankroll to play at that level.
Tip 8. Betting the Maximum (this is important)
Make sure of two things before you start to play, especially if you’re playing a high volatility game and going for a big jackpot.
- Activate All Lines and Features: Check the machine carefully to be certain that you are betting enough to activate all the lines and features of the machine.
- Maximizing Potential Payouts: Always bet the maximum because it takes the maximum bet to be eligible for the top jackpot. If you don’t bet the maximum and hit the jackpot, you won’t get paid the top award, but only the secondary award (and perhaps not even that!). So you’ll be funding the big jackpot for someone else to win it, without having an opportunity to win it yourself.
Tip 9. Be Aware of The Impact of Extra Features on Odds
Extra features like free bonuses and free play and so on aren’t actually free.
The machine pays for those added features by taking a small percentage of the money going to the jackpot – so the jackpot is reduced.
The more bonuses and features, the more the jackpot is reduced.
Expert Tip for Playing Slots
The more complicated the game, the less big jackpots you can win!
Now let’s look at some more pro level tips that you should definitely consider if you want to maximize your chances:
Leveraging Casino Bonuses
Make sure you get the most out of the various bonuses you’re offered.
The initial ‘sign on’ bonus, the ‘play this and get this’ bonus and so on can all turn out to be quite financially beneficial.
Also make sure you take advantage of the various slot promotions and always use your player’s club card to qualify for the offers included in the slot loyalty program.
It may seem that you’re not going to qualify for anything worthwhile, but these offers quickly add up and turn into something worth having.
Types of Casino Bonuses
In an online casino, they can’t offer you dinner at the buffet or free show tickets because they don’t have those amenities to offer.
What they do is offer you sign up bonuses.
They may match or give you a good percentage of your initial deposit as free play.
It can be as low as 50%, up to as much as three or four times your initial deposit.
The casino will require some ‘rollover’.
That’s casino jargon for you having to match the criteria you need to qualify for the bonus.
It may be a certain amount of time and/or coin-in you have to play.
Understanding Wagering Requirements
Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? How much do I have to bet on this machine to be eligible for the top award?
But it’s one of the things where inexperienced slot players can make mistakes, and that can prove very costly if you don’t get paid the big jackpot because you didn’t have the right amount bet.
Check and make sure!
There are a few betting strategies that have become popular over the years, so here’s a few of them.
Levels Betting
Levels betting refers to the size of the bet based on your bankroll.
For example
The first level you choose is 1% of the initial bankroll, and you will make five losing bets in a row at that level.
Let’s say you have $100. 1% means that your first five bets are all of $1.
If you lose all five, then you go to the next level, which is 5% of the initial bankroll - a $5 bet. For five spins in a row.
If you lose all five of those, you go to the next level, which is 10% of the initial bankroll, which is $10 per spin. For five spins in a row.
To get to the next level, you would have to lose 15 spins in a row. And even the coldest machine is unlikely to not pay anything for 15 spins in a row.
Once you hit a winner, then you reset to the beginning, and go back to the 1% of the bankroll bet.
This is similar to the Martingale system, where you increase your bet as you lose.
The idea is that you will ultimately win and recoup all the losses, and hopefully be a little ahead.
Obviously, the risk here is that you hit a very cold machine because it will become hard to continue to bet as the amounts get bigger and bigger.
The second ‘Levels Betting’ strategy is to bet the winnings back at the machine. It’s similar to the Paroli system.
Let’s say you start with $100:
- After a few spins of $1 each, you hit a winner of $17! Yay!
- So now you increase your bet to $3 per spin.
- And hit another winner on the fifth spin of $22.
- So increase your bet again.
And so on.
Fixed Percentage Betting
There are a few ways to manage this strategy, but the one that most players have told me works for them is to bet a fixed percentage of your bankroll.
Let’s say you start with $100.
And you decide to bet 3% of it.
So that’s $3 a spin.
After 8 spins, you are down $24, but hit a nice mini jackpot of $48.
So now you have $124.
And now your 3% bet is going to be $3.72.
Not everybody is a numbers nerd, so they take a calculator to the casino with them.
And some games aren’t conducive to betting an odd amount like $3.72
The plus here is that it’s self-regulating. So as your bankroll gets depleted, your 3% bet goes down, too.
It’s a bit too complicated and involved for me (especially after a couple of cocktails!), but it may work for you.
Progressive Jackpot Strategy
This is where the big dogs play!
Of course, occasionally the average tourist kind of player is going to take a $20 - $40 shot at it, but if you’re serious about going after one of the big progressives, ‘… you’re going to need a bigger boat …’
Those big jackpots can be in the hundreds of thousands, and potentially into the millions.
So you’re going to need a big bankroll to stay in the game for long enough to have an opportunity to hit something big.
Recommendation
Make sure you know what is required to be eligible for the top award.
Maximum coins in? Check
Got to hit the bonus round to win the top award? Check the game info.
Make sure you’re playing for the jackpot when it’s really high. Usually this means that someone hit the winning combination but they didn’t have the max coins bet.
The odds of hitting the jackpot are the same at $10,000 as they are at $150,000.
Now many people wonder if they should get cash over card at the casino. Here’s my two cents on the matter:
The Psychological Impact of Using Cash
Use cash to play with. It seems simple, doesn’t it? Inserting cash into a machine, and you see how much you’re playing. That’s a $20 bill. That’s a $100 bill.
Using just the ticket doesn’t register with you that this is real money.
By using the slot ticket, you remove the value of it, and it just becomes a piece of paper.
Much better to use the cash.
Responsible Gaming and Mindful Play
Gambling addiction is brutal.
Alcohol and drugs are very difficult to deal with, but gambling?
Please make sure that you are monitoring yourself when you play.
There is help available, and all casinos are on board with helping people who ask.
Most casinos have lots of mandatory training in place to help their staff recognize all the indicators of problem gambling.
And I can tell you, we absolutely do the best we can to help the player who displays this type of problem.
The short answer is no.
With a Return to Player (RTP) of anywhere between 85% and 99% it’s impossible to win every time. The machines are all programmed to be as random as possible but are still set up for the casino to win in the long term.
But what you can do is take care to make the best of all the free play, bonuses and offers, and play smart, so you can maximize your opportunity to win, and minimize your losses.
Conclusion
Decide what kind of player you are. Do you prefer high volatility or low volatility games?
Choose the right games for your playing style and budget.
Make sure you get the most out of the deposit and buy-in bonuses, the free play offers, the slot promotions and the player’s club loyalty offers.
Take the time to explore new games that look interesting by playing them for free to get a feel for the game before you play for real money.
Don’t play with money you can’t afford to lose. It’s best to have a separate account for your casino play money.
Here at Chipy, we have many articles about slots - both land-based and online. Our experts have put together some comprehensive and detailed information about the games in the academy that you will definitely find helpful in your journey.
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