How to Win at Slots - 15 Actionable Slot Machine Tips - Tricks, casino slot tactics.
Casino slot tactics
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For online slots nuts and enthusiasts, the flash of slots games are known for coming in a variety of themes, payouts, paylines and betting platforms, each featuring staggering arrays of winning potential ready to reward with the next big jackpot. No deposit bonus codes are the online casino equivalent of free prizes. Have you ever been to your favorite retail store to find a “buy one get one” deal? Well, no deposit codes are even better. While many online casinos offer staggering bonuses and promotion options, whether daily or weekly.
How to win at slots – 15 actionable slot machine tips & tricks
For online slots nuts and enthusiasts, the flash of slots games are known for coming in a variety of themes, payouts, paylines and betting platforms, each featuring staggering arrays of winning potential ready to reward with the next big jackpot.
However, you might wonder what it takes to beat these enticing machines, because developing an effective slot winning strategy is not always self-evident. After all, anyone can spend hours on the internet seeking the latest slot machine tricks to put more weight on their bankroll, and there are many slot machine strategy articles out there, but not to worry, we’ve got you covered.
The reason slot machines are an overwhelming favorite at both online and land-based casinos is because they require no skill to play. Slot machines utilize random number generator (RNG) software, so each time you spin the wheels winning is a random event.
However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t tricks to help you win at slots. Here are a few tweaks to help you up the pay percentages. Without further ado, see our tips to on how to win at slots!
Slot tip #1: know your limits and play within your budget
Not setting a gambling budget is perhaps one of the most over-looked features in gambling, and one that we recommend you not avoid. To play slots correctly, it is critical to set a loss limit. Sure, casinos are highly entertaining places, and it is easy to let the gambling bug take hold, but without a loss limit you may end up with more spills than thrills if you can’t call it quits when the chips are low.
Stinkin rich is one of the most popular slot for casino newbies
Players love to win, and studies have shown that when you are winning you are more likely to fail if you do not quite ahead of time. Before you head to the casino floor, set a loss that you can afford, whether that figure is $100, $200, $500, $1000 or more; if you’re having a bad night or even week, don’t exceed your limit, because the longer you play the better your chances are of losing your money. Never chase your losses.
Gambling is a great source of entertainment, and on a good night, there’s no better feeling than winning big, but be sure to play responsibly and not overdo it. Playing slots effectively takes patience, but if the rounds are not in your favor, do yourself a favor and take a break.
Slot tip #2: keep an eye on the edge
Every player should be mindful of those every looming house edges, but for slots games this differs depending on where you play. On average, the house edge for real money slots games will fluctuate based on where you play and the type of slot machine you are playing, anywhere between 85-98%.
This factor relies greatly on manufacturer or slot machine operator, and can be found online for land-based slot machines with a little bit of digging, as casinos are required by law to keep a record of the payouts. However, if you are playing free slots online, then this factor is not exactly critical.
Slot tip #3: the higher the denomination the higher the payout
The numbers don’t lie, despite the fact that many nickel or penny slot machines will advertise true odds or over 100% pay percentages, in reality, you’re better off playing higher denomination machines.
It’s common sense, while penny slots only offer a fraction of return in dollars, it makes more fiscal sense to invest your time into higher denomination slot machines. Statistically their win potential is more favorable, and can turn that $20 or credit wager into hundreds, if not thousands, or in some cases millions!
Higher denomination machines are programmed with higher payout percentages simply because each wager is higher. Granted, the house odds still apply, and in terms of probability, the more you play on a given slot machine the more your inevitable payout will resemble the casino edge. However, the house edge does not take into account short-term anomalies, which means that after just a short period you could win big.
Slot tip #4: bet maximum credits
Although you are not able to influence the outcome of the spin, one slot machine trick is to max your wagers. Betting maximum credits is the best slot machine strategy, because you do hit that winning payline combination you’ll receive the maximum amount of reward.
Statistically speaking, even if you are seeing minimal return, you don’t want to start out by betting small, because you are more likely to make up for losses if you continue to bet max and win. Because once that big win occurs, and it will, you will more than make up for lost dividends. Picture hitting a line multiplier or a bonus when you’ve already hit $700 on a winning payline, with max betting you’ll take your gambling bankroll to new levels.
Slot tip #5: avoid progressive slots, play random jackpots
There is an unspoken rift between slots enthusiasts, which boils down to which type of slot machine is preferred, one with a fixed or a slot with progressive jackpot. However, we suggest going random; this is a fixed slot machine with a random jackpot payout.
In a nutshell, fixed slot machines have a jackpot amount that does not change, while progressive jackpot slots require more playtime and coin from other players. In other words, the jackpot of a progressive slot machine will fluctuate, i.E. Increase or decrease, depending on how many people play that particular slot. It’s accumulative.
However, don’t be a fool and fall into the progressive jackpot pool, because your chances of winning are not good. Progressive jackpots might sound enticing, but the odds of hitting are astronomically high.
We suggest going random, because the best slot strategy is to choose a fixed machine with a random jackpot. Although many players will argue the way to become super-rich is to go progressive, on the contrary, statistics have shown that random jackpot slots have better odds than the lottery, while progressive slot machines can equal lottery odds depending on the frequency of play. In terms of winning, that is one heck of a long shot.
Slot tip #6: sign up for slot or casino bonuses and rewards
If there is one thing that you wish to take away from these casino slot machine secrets, the number one seller that keeps players coming back to their favorite gaming sites are the added incentives, i.E. Rewards for online players, and the best online casino bonuses available at their choice of casino.
One of the best things about playing slots is to take advantage of the latest casino bonuses offered. These benefits can range from new joiner bonuses, match deposit bonuses, free spins, exclusive VIP packages, holiday and weekly promotions and customized incentives. Loyal players can also sign up for player benefit or rewards cards, which determine rewards based on frequency of play, even if you do not win.
Our recommendation is to register for a player account when playing free or real money slots, because the rewards can be substantial; allowing your gambling dollar to stretch a lot further than playing without these bonuses and rewards offers.
After all, if you are going to spend your hard-earned money gambling, why not utilize bonuses when signing up. Some online casinos will even give you points back as cash, or offer customizable options. It is a surefire way to win at slots, giving you a more consistent percentage of return.
Slot tip #7: play around and don’t “tough it out”
If you’re on a slot machine that doesn’t seem to be paying out, then it really might be time to consider changing machines or switching to a different online slots game. The best slot machine strategy for a dread losing streak is simply to move on to a different slots game. Since each spin is a unique event, feeding more coins into a losing machine in no way increases your chances of winning, although technically it won’t hurt either.
However, browsing around and finding another type of game that varies based on payline or theme just might be the simple tweak you need to help break the cycle of loss. Toughing it out won’t do you any good, and can often be a waste of time, and in the worst case money. Slot machines are about feeling, not science.
Slot tip #8: play the casino – not the slot
Location. Location. Location. This is often what you’ll hear a realtor tell you, however, you might not be aware that this also pertains to slot machines. For instance, did you know that if you are playing slots in the U.S., you can redeem some of the best value bonuses of any players throughout the globe.
When playing online it’s best to seek out the slots site or online casino that rewards you best, and many of them can be found with a little bit of digging. You can take advantage of the various factors offered at each casino, and find the one that suits you best, thus multiplying your bankroll tenfold and no strings attached or hidden red tape.
Pro tip: be on the lookout for a slots site that offers many options, not a little, and if you do decide to seek out those bonuses, be sure to get ones with low wagering requirements as well as no maximum cash-out limits.
Unfortunately, many online casinos will try to trick online slots newbies with massive bonus offers or incentives, but the fact of the matter is that they will hide the big deposit required or playthrough requirements, or in the worst-case scenario offer absolutely no free slots options! If you are playing slots for real money, be sure to find a wager requirement of 10 times or less.
Many casinos have wagering requirements that can be as high as 50x, which means that for the case of say, a $100 deposit, you won’t receive your winnings or be able to withdraw until played at least $5,000 in bets! The phrase “max cash-out” tied to a bonus is also a bad one. There are few things worse than a casino putting a limit on how much you can win because of hidden limitations. It would be like winning a jackpot and only receiving a fraction in return.
Slot tip #9: find a slot machine that suits you
Sometimes if you are uncertain, it helps to head to a land-based or choice of online casino and browse around. That is the beauty of playing options! If you are looking for games with a maximum jackpot or for instance, games that extend play with frequent small wins, then check the slot first before you decide to play.
Finding a suitable game is more than just picking a theme and style. To find out how to win at slots, you need to invest a little time into the payouts. After all, slots machines come in all sorts of platforms, but it helps to follow a few guidelines. For instance, classic three-reel slot machines tend to put more emphasis on their top jackpots, but will come at the cost of lower hit frequencies for winning combinations and more losing spins, simply because they offer less in-game features. In other words, these types of machines can give you the best chance to win big, but also a chance to lose fast.
Another example is video slots that feature touch/click screens for picking gift boxes or other rewarding game icons to reveal bonuses. Although these machines come with higher hit frequencies with many small wins for extended play, you are nowhere near getting a big jackpot, or at least it is more difficult to do so. Any slot machine that comes with a more stunning array of bonuses or free spins, generally video slots, will fail to deliver the caliber of jackpot as three-reel games do.
However, the best thing about selecting a slot machine that offers free spins or free games is that when you are utilizing the slots free games or free spins mode, you have the chance of winning anything from multipliers to the top jackpot, and at no extra cost! This is no guarantee however, because you could also walk away empty-handed with slots free spins.
Slot tip #10: choose the best online casino
It should come as no surprise that there are a ton of different online casinos out there, and after doing a little research you’ll find that it might be difficult to find the right one. In fact, there are so many that you might simply feel overwhelmed, but if casino bonuses aren’t enough to add ammunition to your winning slot machine strategy, then you want to add slot game variety.
Only the best gaming sites offer a wide selection of games, satisfying the hardest of slot machine enthusiasts with layers of immersive game play. For slots, you want to find an online casino that runs the gamut of types of slot machines, from classic three-reel and fruit machines to the latest graphics and themes in video slots.
Keep an eye out for all ways pays, spectacular in-game features like free games and hidden features, doubling wilds, a range of betting options, and much more. All of these are critical in broadening the spectrum of chance on how to win on slot machines. Free play and practice mode help you improve your skills, so you don’t have to risk coins every time you choose to spin the wheels. More on that later.
Slot tip #11: take advantage of no deposit codes
No deposit bonus codes are the online casino equivalent of free prizes. Have you ever been to your favorite retail store to find a “buy one get one” deal? Well, no deposit codes are even better. While many online casinos offer staggering bonuses and promotion options, whether daily or weekly.
No deposit bonuses are essentially free money. If you can find a code or offering that gives you a free chip or certain amount of spins without having to pay for it, then you’ve found the perfect chance to go all in and win money without having to spend a dime.
Sites that offer no deposit codes often require that you register for an account, but this usually cost zero money, so your chance to win at slots without the risk of losing real money is 100%. Do a little research, invest some time into finding this holy grail of casino bonuses, and you will not regret it. Or just simply pick the bonuses slotu has specially selected for you!
Slot tip #12: go free with instant play or practice mode
We all like to win at slots, but one of the best ways to enjoy slots and test your slot machine strategy is to play at online casino that allows you to play for free using and instant play feature or practice mode.
If you don’t feel comfortable risking your money playing slots, but want to develop an effective strategy on how to win on slot machines, then playing free is the way to go. It is the perfect way to study the paytables and get a feel for each slot game.
Our aforementioned slot machine tips will help you when playing in free mode, and are sure to make you an expert in not time on how to win on slot machines. It is a free lesson in putting the above tips into practice without the risk. The games are still highly entertaining thanks to the free spin features, slots with bonus rounds and multipliers, which vary for each slot machine.
Slot machine tips, tricks and best strategies
Have you ever stumbled upon a scam website presenting a secret slot strategy which will make you a lot of money? Don’t expect anything like that in this article. Slots can’t be defeated in the long run.
Although slots are theoretically unbeatable, there were some cases of players able to legally or illegally take advantage of their weaknesses and make money. You can read more about them in my article how to beat slots.
Really useful slot strategies are actually about finding the balance among following factors:
- Chance to win
- Size of the winnings
- Cost
- Thrill
- Playing time
Every player looks for something else, so there is no ideal strategy that fits everyone. I will show you my strategies, each suitable for a different kind of players. Finding out which of them fits you best is up to you.
You’ll more likely understand how my strategies work when you have already understood the concepts of slots RTP and variance.
At first glance it seems online slot machines are a 100% game of chance. And they really are, at least in the terms of a single game round. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t influence your chances by using the right betting strategy and choosing the right game to play.
Here is a list of factors that define your slots betting strategy:
- How to determine a bet size
- Decision when to stop
- Selection of a slot game
- Decision when to use the gamble feature (red or black)
- Selected number of winlines
In the rest of this article I’ll teach you how to use the choices above to play slots more effectively.
While slot RTP and volatility apply to a single game round, the RTP and volatility of betting strategy apply to the whole game session or casino visit. The following article describes in detail what I mean by a betting strategy.
Tips & tricks for slots
All casino games, including slots, are disadvantageous for a player. Their RTP is lower than 100 % and they favor the casino. That means that you need luck to win, which is exactly why higher volatility is generally better for you.
Let me explain… in low-volatility games, the results over time tend to stay closer to the expected return, which is lower than 100 %. On the contrary, in high-volatility games, you are still losing money in the long run, however, you have a chance to win a big sum of money, thanks to the high volatility.
From a different perspective, you can win the same amount of money while placing smaller bets. If you place smaller bets with higher volatility, you will lose less in the long run, while also maintaining a chance to win big.
That’s why the majority of my slot tricks and strategies are based on increasing volatility, while also considering the game’s RTP.
Trick #1: avoid bet types which significantly decrease RTP
The majority of online slots have the same RTP for all kinds of bets. However, some slots derived from land-based slot games add significant disadvantage to certain bets. In this case you should always choose the bet type without the disadvantage. I will use two examples to demonstrate this fact.
Bet on all 3 winlines costs 2 cents and bet on 1 winline costs 1 cent. It’s quite obvious that bet on 1 line has a huge disadvantage and its RTP will be extremely low. Therefore, it is always beneficial to choose the bet of 2 cents.
Example 2: full bets unlock bonus features that double your win on three joker symbols. The game without this feature probably won’t have very attractive RTP. So either choose another slot or play the full bet with highest RTP.
Trick #2: use double up feature to regulate the volatility
The double up feature (red/black) gives you the option to double your win with a 50% chance. In some games (like slots from novomatic) you can do this multiple times in a row (13 I think).
This feature dramatically increases the volatility of the game. From a long-term perspective, you exchange a lot of smaller wins for proportionally fewer wins of higher value.
For example, without using the double up feature, you could win 40 times, winning $1 each time. However, if you used the double up feature up to 3 times, you could win 5 times, winning $8 each time. The long-term expected value is the same, but the individual wins are bigger.
If your goal is to win big, then double up feature is exactly what you need. It’s predictable and easy to simulate, I use it in some of my recommended slot strategies.
Note: be careful about using the double up feature when playing with bonus money, as it might be forbidden by the bonus terms and conditions. This applies also when playing with free spins no deposit bonuses, where your choice is also limited by the game for which you've received the free spins.
Trick #3: decrease the number of winlines to increase volatility
Did you know that if you set the game to 1 winline instead of 10, you’ll most likely get 5 to 10 times higher game volatility?
When you bet $2 on one line, your average win will be much higher (and less frequent) as when you bet $0.20 on 10 lines. When you bet on 10 lines at the same time, the wins in the paytable are 10 times smaller. In most slots you usually hit a winning combination only on a small number of the 10 lines, so your average wins are also lower.
Note that this trick usually can’t be used by high rollers, as the maximum bet per line is usually restricted. But there are also slots which are an exception – like cleopatra from IGT.
However, if you are a player who doesn’t bet more than $2 in a single round, this trick is a must-have.
How to win big on slots
The simple answer to this question is – you have to risk big to win big. However, if you want to win big with highest possible odds, you have to push the volatility of your strategy up to the sky.
Controversially, the most effective way to WIN BIG is to try to lose as fast as possible. That doesn’t make sense, does it? Let me explain.
Statistically (in the long run), you lose money with every bet you place. That is how the RTP works. To lose less in the long run, you have to minimize the total sum of your bets. To minimize the total sum of your bets, you have to try to lose your budget with as little betting as possible. If you do so and RTP remains the same, the principles of statistics reward you with a better chance for a big win.
Slot machine betting strategies
Now for my favorite part of the casino.Guru website. Slot math is really my passion and some of the strategies below were invented by me independently from strategies published on other websites. I tested each of them with my own simulation software using reverse-engineered slot games. Any sharing is appreciated :).
"smart gambler" – gamble up to desired win
- Volatility: variable
- RTP: very high (up to 96%)
- Time of play: variable
Smart gambler is my favorite slot betting strategy. I derived the name from the "gamble button" that gives you chance to double your win with a 50 % chance.
The main idea of the smart gambler strategy is this:
You spin with very small bets. When you hit a winning combination, you start doubling up the win using the gamble button. You keep doubling up until you either miss and lose, or until you win that high amount that you can happily withdraw and leave.
The smart gambler strategy is almost ideal. It has very high RTP, while it also allows you to choose the size of win and how long you will be able to play with your budget.
Here is a step by step guide how to play smart gambler strategy:
- Choose a slot which has a gamble feature.
- Decide how long you would like to play. Divide this time by the average game round time and you’ll get the approximate number of game rounds.
You want to play for 1 hour = 60 x 60 = 3600 seconds. If one round takes around 4 seconds, then you actually want to play 3600 / 4 = 900 game rounds.
- If your selected game has restricted maximal number of double-ups, then I recommend you increase the game’s volatility by configuring just one winline (with the same total bet). With this strategy, you will avoid the low initial wins that you can’t double up to your desired win.
- If your budget is very low, you can even play on one winline for 1 cent. With my smart gambler strategy and an adequate amount of luck, you can still win big.
- Playing slots is not a race. You can play faster with a lower initial bet or enjoy one spin a little longer with higher initial bets. It’s up to you.
Now you probably wonder, how this strategy is doing in terms of betting system RTP.
It's doing awesome!
Here’s the explanation. You only do two types of bet. The initial spin costs you statistically 100 % minus the RTP of the game. If a game’s RTP is 96 %, it means that the initial spin will cost you only:
100% - 96% = 4% of the bet
That’s just $4 for a one-hour-long gaming session with a $100 budget and a $0.10 initial bet. The double up bet has a win probability of 50 % which gives it a 100 % RTP. In other words, the double up bet costs you nothing in the long run. Therefore,
"the RTP of my smart gambler betting system is (in an ideal scenario) equal to RTP of the selected slot game."
Note that this betting system still doesn’t guarantee you will win, but gives you a fair chance.
Simulation of the smart gambler strategy
The following tables show the results of a million player simulations using my smart gambler strategy. The simulation was completed on a slot with 96 % RTP. The variables were the desired win and the maximum number of allowed double ups.
If the win was lower than expected, then the whole win was placed on roulette. A budget of $100 with a $0.10 initial bet gives you 1000 rounds – around 60 to 90 minutes of playing.
Max. Allowed double-ups | desired win | % of winners | average win | strategy RTP |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 | $1000 | 6.53% | $1415 | 92.5% |
8 | $1000 | 6.52% | $1448 | 94.5% |
16 | $1000 | 6.83% | $1401 | 95.8% |
no limit | $1000 | 6.86% | $1402 | 96.14% |
4 | $10000 | 0.67% | $13546 | 91.1% |
8 | $10000 | 0.64% | $14436 | 92.34% |
16 | $10000 | 0.67% | $14189 | 95.5% |
no limit | $10000 | 0.69% | $13892 | 96.35% |
4 | $50000 | 0.125% | $70601 | 88.64% |
8 | $50000 | 0.13% | $70275 | 91.3% |
16 | $50000 | 0.128% | $73317 | 94.12% |
no limit | $50000 | 0.145% | $66786 | 96.75% |
Simulations prove that RTP of this betting strategy is very high. RTP increases with higher number of allowed double ups, as no additional roulette bets are required. For unlimited number of double-ups, the RTP is equal to the game’s RTP (small differences in measured RTP occur due to extreme volatility in this strategy).
Simulations show the smart gambler strategy keeps fair chances even when aiming for a giant win (500x the entire budget). However, the chances of such a big win are proportionally low. Be very careful and don’t fall in to the "I’ll once win my money back" loop. A healthy target is something around 5x-20x your daily budget.
For all the reasons mentioned I consider this to be THE BEST SLOTS STRATEGY (apart from not playing at all).
Here are slots suitable for my smart gambler strategy:
- Book of dead (playtech)
- Novomatic slots (such as book of ra)
"moonshot" – the ultimate all in strategy with IGT slots
- Volatility: extreme
- RTP of betting system: very high (93%-96%)
- Time of play: extremely short
This is the craziest and the most volatile strategy I could figure out amongst all casino games. It’s similar to betting "all in" on a number in roulette… just MORE volatile.
Some slots made by IGT allow you to make a huge bet on a single winline. If you first decrease the number of winlines to one, then the game allows you to increase the bet on that line up to the total maximum allowed bet. In some slots this can be up to $100.
With a $100 bet on a single line at diamond queen slot, your potential wins range from $500 to $100k.
As a result, you either lose everything in just a few spins or win an amount in the range from nice to legendary.
You remember, right? The less you bet in total, the higher is the RTP of your betting strategy. That’s how this strategy works. If you go all in and leave with a win, then the RTP of your betting strategy equals to the RTP of the game. In the case of diamond queen, it’s (according to the game’s paytable) between 92.97% and 96.08%. In case of cleopatra, it’s around 95%.
So your one-spin "session" would statistically cost you only $5-$7 (in the long run). The rest would be eventually paid out to winners who use the same strategy.
I have found three slots which support this feature: diamond queen, wolf run and cleopatra. Cleopatra offers the highest possible win – 10 000 times the bet. However, I would choose diamond queen, as it seems more balanced.
There are 3 things to remember with this strategy:
- IGT slots cap the maximum win to $250k. So, if you bet $100 on single line in cleopatra, you risk that you’ll win $1 million, but only get $250k.
- Don’t risk a high win in a casino which can’t afford to pay it out. Use this strategy only in huge casinos with monthly revenues over $1 million like leovegas.
- Never exceed your initial budget. Spin and leave when you’ve reached your budget. Don’t use this strategy if you’ve had any sort of gambling problems in the past.
If you were crazy enough to try this strategy and then managed to hit it big, please let me know. I’ll share your story.
P.S.: I plan to reverse engineer diamond queen and calculate the chances for different win sizes.
"reverse martingale" – reinvest the win strategy
- Volatility: high
- RTP of betting system: high
- Time of play: variable
Reverse martingale is a good betting strategy if your favorite slot doesn’t have a double-up feature. Do you know the roulette betting strategy called martingale? Reverse martingale does the opposite.
Martingale betting strategy (actually doesn’t work) suggests you to double up your bet after each loss. The idea is that once you have to win and then you’ll win back all your former bets. In reality, your bets grow exponentially and you risk your whole available bankroll in order to win just the initial bet. If you keep using the martingale strategy, you’ll go bankrupt eventually.
The main idea of reverse martingale is to play for small initial bets and bet the entire win in the next round until you win big enough. This strategy is similar to the smart gambler strategy, but it uses increased bets instead of the double up feature.
You start with $100 and bet an initial bet of $0.10. After 15 rounds lost, you suddenly win $4.41. The next round you bet the closest possible amount to your win – in this case $4.40. If you lose, then you continue with the initial bet. If you win again – for example $35, then continue with a $35 spin. If you lose, you get back to betting $0.10 each round. Repeat this until you win a satisfying amount or lose your entire budget.
If your win exceeds the maximum bet in the slot which you are currently playing, start placing the maximum bets. Be careful to not spend more than you have won in the previous round. Otherwise you’ll lose big part of your budget and significantly shorten your time of play.
The reverse martingale has slightly lower volatility and lower overall RTP than smart gambler, but its advantage is that you can use any slot that you like, even if it doesn’t have the gamble feature.
You can use any slot you like with the reverse martingale strategy, unlike with the two aforementioned strategies.
Also, the time of play is predictable and you can easily estimate it from the initial bet and your budget.
Time of play = (your budget / initial bet) * 1.3 * 4 seconds
The win amount is less predictable than with the smart gambler strategy, but more predictable than the casual player strategy or the moonshot strategy.
Reverse martingale strategy doesn’t work that well for high rollers, as they’ll hit the maximum bet of a slot quite often.
Tips for reverse martingale strategy:
- When you hit a win with your initial bet, write down your current balance (before the win is added to it). This will help you to do the proper math and you’ll be less likely to exceed the bet which would lead to losing the balance dedicated for the small initial bets.
- If possible, configure the slot to only one winline. The increased volatility plays in your favor.
Simulation of the reverse martingale strategy
The following tables show the results of a million player simulation using the reverse martingale strategy. I made the simulations on a 96 % RTP medium variance slot with a $50 maximum bet per round. Each simulation was a session of 1000 rounds with basic bet + additional rounds, so players either lost the entire budget or won a satisfying amount.
I was experimenting with various parameters for the initial bet (budget) and satisfying wins.
Initial bet (budget) | min. Satisfying win | % of winners | average win | strategy RTP | average # of rounds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$0.10 ($100) | +$500 | 11.5% | +$1050 | 85.04% | 1271 |
$0.10 ($100) | +$1000 | 4.4% | +$1766 | 82.15% | 1293 |
$0.10 ($100) | +$5000 | 1.09% | +$6506 | 71.91% | 1321 |
$0.10 ($100) | +$10000 | 0.5% | +$11862 | 62.7% | 1331 |
$0.10 ($100) | +$50000 | 0.028% | +$51938 | 14.57% | 1360 |
$0.20 ($200) | +$500 | 13.5% | +$1074 | 86.25% | 1210 |
$0.20 ($200) | +$1000 | 8.5% | +$1770 | 83.6% | 1249 |
$0.20 ($200) | +$5000 | 2.1% | +$6500 | 72.9% | 1304 |
$0.20 ($200) | +$10000 | 1.01% | +$11781 | 60.72% | 1324 |
$0.20 ($200) | +$50000 | 0.05% | +$52060 | 14.44% | 1382 |
$0.50 ($500) | +$1000 | 18.49% | +$1813 | 85.56% | 1175 |
$0.50 ($500) | +$5000 | 5.25% | +$6515 | 73.66% | 1301 |
$0.50 ($500) | +$10000 | 2.52% | +$11782 | 61.9% | 1350 |
$0.50 ($500) | +$50000 | 0.13% | +$51840 | 13.82% | 1499 |
$1 ($1000) | +$5000 | 9.86% | +$6522 | 74.2% | 1306 |
$1 ($1000) | +$10000 | 4.96% | +$11807 | 63.58% | 1400 |
$1 ($1000) | +$50000 | 0.27% | +$52056 | 14.07% | 1703 |
$1 ($1000) | +$100000 | 0.0135% | +$106272 | 1.45% | 1775 |
$5 ($5000) | +$10000 | 19.12% | +$11804 | 64.26% | 1967 |
$5 ($5000) | +$50000 | 1.22% | +$51850 | 13.84% | 3475 |
$5 ($5000) | +$100000 | 0.07% | +$102430 | 1.5% | 3837 |
$5 ($5000) | +$500000 | - | - | - | 3879 |
$10 ($10000) | +$50000 | 2.15% | +$51770 | 13.26% | 5756 |
$10 ($10000) | +$100000 | 0.124% | +$101947 | 1.39% | 6446 |
$10 ($10000) | +$500000 | - | - | - | 6521 |
The simulations above illustrate how effective this strategy is when playing with a smaller initial budget. They also illustrate how it becomes ineffective when initial bet gets closer to the slot’s maximum bet.
Your chance to win 10x your budget is 4.4% with $100 budget and $0.10 basic bet. With $5000 budget and 5$ bet (same proportion) this chance drops to 1.22% and for $10 000/$10 drops even further to 0.124%. Out of one million high rollers who started with $10 000 and played with $10 initial bet, none of them managed to get over $500 000.
The reverse martingale strategy works properly only if the maximum bet is at least 100x-200x higher than the basic bet. That’s true for the majority of casual players.True high rollers who desire high RTP and extreme wins should look for a different strategy.
Note that for budgets and basic bets with which this strategy actually works, the average number of rounds played is around 1300. That’s 1.3x more than rounds played with initial bets. This explains the 1.3 coefficient in time of play formula above.
"casual player" – constant bet strategy
- Volatility: depends on slot and bet size
- RTP of betting system: depends on bet size and satisfying win
- Time of play: depends on bet size and satisfying win
The strategy which I call "casual player" is one of the simplest strategies you can use. You start spinning with a certain bet size and keep spinning with same bet until you lose everything, win enough or decide to stop after certain amount of time.
This strategy is used by many casino players. I have decided to analyze it mainly to illustrate how ineffective it is compared to my strategies.
Let’s start by defining "the casual player". I know that many players change the bet size according to their intuition or increase the bet when they are on a lucky streak, but for the sake of simplicity, I’ll keep the bet the same during the entire simulation.
So let’s describe our casual player as a player who:
- Starts with a budget of $(A)
- Bets $(B) per round
- Stops playing when wins more than $(C)
- And plays max. (D) number of rounds
Simulation of the casual player strategy
For each setup I simulated one million players with the same 96% RTP medium variance slot. Normal gaming session may take 1-2 hours, so I have decided to fix (D) to 1500 rounds (number of rounds after which player leaves regardless of his current bankroll). Then I have experimented with a $100 budget.
Note: most slots work in a way that a win is always proportional to the bet. So the simulation using a $1 bet, $100 budget and $500 desired win will return the same results as the one with $10 bet, $1000 budget and $5000 desired win. Therefore, I made all the simulations with a $100 budget and I changed only the bet and the satisfying win.
Here are the tables with simulations for $100 budget and max. 1500 rounds. There are 3 tables with satisfying wins of $200, $1000 and $5000 respectively.
Bet | % of players with satisfying win | % of losers (avg. Loss) | % of winners (avg. Win) | strategy RTP | average # of rounds | thrill factor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$0.10 | 0% | 64.85% ($16) | 35.15% ($14) | 94.6% | 1500 | very low |
$0.50 | 2.96% | 66.23% ($72) | 33.77% ($73) | 76.67% | 1294 | low |
$1 | 15.2% | 74.47% ($94) | 25.5% ($169) | 72.81% | 754 | medium |
$5 | 21% | 79% ($100) | 21% ($312) | 88.4% | 64 | high |
$10 | 19% | 81% ($100) | 19% ($375) | 91.88% | 23 | high |
Simulations of the casual player strategy, $200 satisfying win
bet | % of players with satisfying win | % of losers (avg. Loss) | % of winners (avg. Win) | strategy RTP | average # of rounds | thrill factor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$0.50 | 0% | 66.26% ($73) | 33.74% ($72) | 76.33% | 1311 | low |
$1 | 0.005% | 75.4% ($94) | 24.6% ($159) | 68.3% | 883 | medium |
$2 | 0.75% | 86% ($99) | 14% ($357) | 63% | 502 | medium |
$5 | 4.9% | 94% ($100) | 6% ($1022) | 69% | 172 | high |
$10 | 5.7% | 94.3% ($100) | 5.7% ($1303) | 79.6% | 56 | very high |
Simulations of the casual player strategy, $1000 satisfying win
bet | % of players with satisfying win | % of losers (avg. Loss) | % of winners (avg. Win) | strategy RTP | average # of rounds | thrill factor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$1 | 0% | 75.3% ($94) | 24.6% ($158) | 68% | 882 | medium |
$5 | 0.003% | 94.3% ($100) | 5.7% ($978) | 60.6% | 219 | high |
$10 | 0.21% | 97.2% ($100) | 2.8% ($2044) | 59.7% | 111 | very high |
$20 | 0.94% | 98.5% ($100) | 1.5% ($4437) | 65.8% | 48 | very high |
$50 | 1.21% | 98.79% ($100) | 1.21% ($6533) | 80.5% | 11 | extreme |
$100 | 1.17% | 98.83% ($100) | 1.17% ($7291) | 86.5% | 3 | extreme |
When you look at the table above, you can find everything a good strategy should have:
- High RTP
- High wins and thrill factor
- Adequate time of play
The problem is that at the same time you can have only two of those things.
- You can bet $10/spin, have nice RTP and aim for very high wins, but your gaming session will likely end within few minutes.
- You can bet $0.1/spin, kill time and not spend much money, but your chance to win more than just few dollars is minimal.
- Or you can bet $2/spin, aim for medium wins and play for half an hour in average, but you have to accept a low strategy RTP.
The play time with constant bet strategy is unpredictable. The average play time value might look good at first glance, but in reality it’s highly biased because of the lucky players who managed to play until the end. Following chart illustrates that for $2/spin and a $1000 satisfying win setup.
You can clearly see that 55% of players ran out of their respective budgets within the first 300 rounds. The chance that you’ll lose your budget sooner than you intended is very high. This increases the risk of exceeding your budget, which is one of the signals of pathological gamblers.
The analyzed setup with $2 bets is the one with the most balanced time of play. The setup with a bet of $5 per spin is even more unbalanced with 80% of players losing their budgets within the first 200 rounds.
While unpredictable play time may be considered as clear negative, the unpredictable win size may increase the fun. Following plot displays the distribution of net wins/losses in my million player simulation.
I have intentionally omitted players who lost everything because there would be a huge spike at the beginning of the chart. The distribution reminds me of a "gauss curve". The spike at $1000 value reminds how important is to know when to stop.
My next chart illustrates the distribution of wins/losses without the satisfying win rule.
This chart resembles "gauss curve" even more. The "know when to stop" spike is flattened.
Conclusions
The constant bet strategy is the simplest betting strategy there is. You can achieve different results by choosing a different bet size, but you’ll never have good results like with the smart gambler strategy or the reverse martingale strategy. The biggest difference is in the time of play. With constant bet, the time of play is quite short and unpredictable.
Also, if you aim for a giant win, choosing a different strategy is a must. You will almost certainly not get there with the casual player strategy.
I can recommend casual player strategy only to those players who wish to kill time with low bets, low losses and even lower wins. In that case, I recommend placing one thousandth of your evening budget per spin.
"my mom’s strategy"
- Volatility: zero
- RTP of betting system: 100%
- Time of play: none
The optimal strategy of playing slots is surprisingly the simplest one. Don’t play them at all. I can call this "my mum’s strategy", because I knew that if I asked her which strategy she would use to play slots, she would tell me "I wouldn’t play slots at all". So I have asked her and she really gave me this answer.
Mathematically, she is right. This is the only strategy with a 100% RTP. I made a computer simulation of million players who went to the casino and haven’t played slots. The simulation confirmed that none of the players lost anything so the theoretical RTP of this strategy is really 100%.
The disadvantage of my mum’s strategy is absolutely no thrill factor as obviously you can’t win anything. Also, zero time of play may be problem in some brick and mortar casinos or gaming venues which require you to play once you are in. The solution for this might be to find some other excitement in your life. Money spared on gambling give you countless options ;).
Online slots strategy
Is there A online slots strategy?
Slot games are one of the most popular casino games in the world. Over a million people play online slot games just to hit the jackpot and see their lives rocket into stardom. Some may play just to multiply their winnings and pay off their debts. Whatever reason they have, it’s clear: online slot games are here to stay and every year, more and more people play them to win the money. But is there really such a thing as an online slots strategy? Here are some great tactics to mitigate or minimize risk when playing online slots. So yes, an actual online slots strategy does exist.
A rising trend in the slot game world is the online slot games. What are they exactly? They’re slot games which have been translated to virtual versions. If you have pulled levers, and waited for the symbols to align, while sitting in front of a slot machine, you can now sit in front of your computer, press a button, and wait for the symbols to align all over your screen. There are so many versions to try out that it is fun to play in the convenience of your home. You can play them in your bathroom, in your garden or in your dog house (but would you really want to play in the doghouse?)
Spellcast
Break da bank A
High society
Alaskan fishing
Tomb raider
Pure platinum
Thunderstruck 2
Cashapillar
Break da bank
Break away
Mermaids millio
Burning desire
Silver fang slo
Deck the halls
Avalon
Agent jane blon
Thunderstruck 2
Gold factory
The twisted cir
Megaspin break
Immortal romanc
Thunderstruck F
Tomb raider slo
While online slots are, well, online, you shouldn’t discard them just because of that. What you have played in slot machines in person will apply to online slot games. You cannot just say, “but it’s just determined by some pre-rendered code, or can it be hacked.” no, these online slot games were developed to imitate the physical slot games. What you play in person has been translated well into the virtual world.
Now that you know what online slot games are, it might have this question: is there a strategy for online slot games? The answer is YES, there is. Online slot games, and physical slot games are the same in the way they are designed, with a few modifications. Therefore you are going to need different strategies while playing. Following there is a guide to help you with the online slot games:
1. Build up your bankroll (or the bank of your bets)
When you’re playing the online slot games, build up your bankroll. Just like their physical counterparts, you have to build up the bankroll to keep your betting higher and higher. It might seem boring and tedious, but you’ll come to love this strategy when you find out its secrets. To build your bankroll, bet on the minimum, and keep going until it is t nicely built. Afterwards, when you want to, increase your bet, but still keep your bankroll at a reasonable amount. Eventually, your bankroll will be big enough to make risky bets that aren’t so risky.
2. Choose your best game
Don’t for one second think you’re mr. Slot master. Sometimes, one online slot game isn’t your game. Always choose the best slot game that improves your skills, and play the games at which you excel. If you’ve got a better bankroll (see no.1), then you can experiment. But don’t play too much of the slot game that you cannot master
3. Understand the slot game mechanics
You’ll often see slot machine games online that may look familiar, but are actually new to you. Follow no.1 (build a bankroll), play the minimum, and get familiar with the mechanics. This will build up to become your best game (no.2). Sometimes, the mechanics will appeal to you, and sometimes they won’t. So keep exploring to find the ones that really suit you.
4. Make an exploit of the games
You’re not the anonymous hacker so don’t hope you can hack into the slot games, and rake in winnings illegally. When you’re making an “exploit”, it means you have to find a sort of loophole that stays consistent in the game. Sometimes, you might find that a game will play accordingly by your side, and sometimes it won’t. The online slots that play by your side can be exploited. You can even make some bankroll tricks to win more and more, and then you can use them to your advantage.
5. Choose the most basic and then get into the most advanced
If you want to get good, you’re going to have to do the basic slot games online. Go for the 3 reel and then get into the most advanced ones such as the 3D slots, and movie-themed. You’ll have to familiarize yourself with the online slot game world to really get more out of it.
6. Find games that have a bonus round
3D slot games and movie-themed slot games have bonus rounds. They’ll net you more winnings than the regular game. Find out how to activate the bonus round and once you have activated it, take advantage of it. Keep getting more winnings for as long as you last.
7. Be ready for the loss
Just like the physical side of slot games, you have to always expect to lose in the online slots. You can’t go with the expectation of winning 100% on each spin; at your first try you may or may not lose. Remain calm if you lose; eventually, you’ll know what your limit is, and how you can bet accordingly. Besides, you’ll learn a lot from your losses. But remember to follow no. 1 (build a bankroll).
8. Bet big on it, bro
The best winnings you’ll ever get when playing slot games is betting the max. As much as you’d like to just play it safe, sometimes it won’t get you anywhere. Those that believed they had won a jackpot that would change their lives may just end up getting a shocking surprise because they didn't select max bet. First, build a bankroll (no.1), then when you’ve seen the opportunity, bet big. You’ll thank yourself when you’ve finally hit the jackpot.
9. Pick the free credits then go big time with the real money
Following no.1 (build your bankroll), and the subsequent numbers, it’s advisable to try out the free credits before you go for the real money. Since online slot games can be used with real money, you’re going to have to practice with the play money. It might not be like the real thing but having a grasp of how bets work will help you in the future. So imagine it’s the money for your college tuition, and how are you going to win back if you have lost it all?
10. Change your strategy when switching to different online slot games
Sometimes, your strategy for one slot game will not work with the other. So it’s best to adopt a different strategy when you play a different slot game. This will help you net more winnings. Using the same old strategies spells disaster, so keep with the times, and change strategies.
11. Withdraw from the bets while you still can
The most important strategy when playing online slot games is to know when to stop. You might think, “it’s the last bet now. I can win one more!” that last bet might be the cost of your chance to get the jackpot. You have to realize that not all of the bets you make will make you an instant winner. In fact, it could be your downfall, therefore, know when to stop, and do it.
12. Take the winnings and then do this: save a part of it to your bank and keep a part of it for bankroll
Now that you have the winnings, you’re satisfied with what you’ve have, and you have everything you need, what’s next? Take what you have won and divvy them into two sections, one for the bankroll and one for your savings. This will increase your chances to bank in more money for your bank, and for your bankroll.
So there you have it. Is there a strategy for online slots? YES. There is a strategy. Whether it’s the online 3 reels or those 3D slot games, you’ll need a strategy for all the online slot games. From building the bankroll to exploiting the mechanics, you’ll never really know what you’re going to expect until you take that risk. So don’t be afraid, casino gamer; with a little strategy and luck, you’ll be on your way to becoming the master of the online slots.
A look at slot machine paylines
The amount of paylines that a slot game offers is one of the things that slot machine players look for. The reason that experienced slot players pick their games using paylines as one of the criteria is because the more paylines that are offered, the more betting at one time that is permitted. The original slot machines were not capable of this as they really only offered one line. Now, modern slot machines, especially those that are online slots, have multiple reels, and this affords the player more ways in which they can win.
Technically, with online slots, there is no real limit to the amount of reels or the amount of paylines that can be put into a game. Because it is software, the software developer can put in hundreds of paylines if they wanted. That would just be fine for those slot players that play in small amounts, but the high rollers would even have a hard time betting €$20 on every line of a 1000 payline slot game.
Most slot games will have paylines around ten, twenty and fifty to 250. There are some rare cases where there are more.
Nearly all online slot machines give players a section in which they can learn the amount of paylines, but also the configuration of the payline. When players select anything above payline 1, payline 2 and payline 3, they will discover that there are a lot of variations of different configurations that can produce a win. Most paylines past the first three deal with diagonal combination configurations. There are some paylines that resemble letters such as “N” and “Z” and then there are other features such as wins from left to right and payline wins from right to left. The number of combinations is ultimately finite, so players will start to see the wins as they stay with one slot machine to the next.
Straight slots
When you hear the word slot machine, you already know what it is: it’s the casino game everyone can play. There’s no need to know a system of counting cards or a system of thinking. Just put in all your coins (no, actually, just put in SOME coins), pull the lever (or in the case of online slot games, push the button) and voila! You have yourself a winning. You might get one or might get a lot, it doesn’t matter. What matters is it’s easy and it’s fun. Kids, adults, teenagers, seniors and even a talking dog can do it (then again, would talking dogs have the time to play slot games in their lives?). All in all, slot games are really the kinds of casino games people can play.
Before you go flock to the nearest casino (or nearest computer, if you love online slot games), you should probably have a grasp first of the slot machine in its most basic form. Before you had your thrill with paylines, multipliers, scatters and other gigs of the slot machines of today, you should know what the slot machine was like before all of this stuff were added. Do you even know what it looks like or how it plays? Have you seen them in your early years? No? All right, it’s time to refresh your memory and reintroduce you to: the straight slots.
Now, what are straight slots? Are they slot machines on a straight path? Are they slots that have straight reels? No. Straight slots are the original type of slot machines. That’s right: the original type. Before the additions were added to slot machines, slot machines were the straight slots. They didn’t have anything added to them; no jackpot, no wild symbols, no scatters, nothing. It’s just an ordinary slot machine. No frills, no gigs. You can just slap a sticker on it and it’s still the same. You can put fairy dust on it and it’s still the same. Nothing changes it.
Straight slots differ from today’s slots because first: they have no added features. As mentioned previously, straight slots have no added features. Which means the winnings you get from straight slots are unchanged. If you got 3 coins, then you got 3 coins. No more, no less. Second: the amount paid is fixed. Straight slots didn’t have the mechanics to multiply winnings so each straight slot always had a payout that was fixed. So if a payout was 5 coins for every coin betted, then you got 5 coins. But it would never go beyond what it listed.
Machinery wasn’t advanced at the time so don’t blame the creators of the straight slots if they couldn’t make a good winning mechanic for them. Third: there’s a schedule. Next to the payout was the schedule. The straight slot would always show you what day and week the payout rates would be. Maybe this week, the payout is 6 coins and then next week, the payout is 7. The creators or the engineers would change the mechanic to keep the fixed amount scheme running. The schedule and payout also show the symbols you must make to get the payout.
There is a variant of the straight slot game and that is the multiplier. The multiplier slot machine takes a bit of the straight slot’s features like the fixed amount but now adds the multiplier mechanic to it. Here, if you make a 2 coin bet, then you may have a chance of getting 10 coins back. It is also dependent on the symbols you make when you make a spin.
But remember though: it’s a straight slot machine. You never gain any advantage if you play max coins, whether on the straight slot or the multiplier. This is where the basic skills of building bankroll come in. Since you have no telling whether betting max is good, you can always take the chance and build your bankroll from the ground up. It may not be much but once you get into it, you’ll have a bucketload of coins to use. This can teach you on what to bet and what not to bet.
There are also straight slots available online. If you’re lucky enough with google, you might just be able to find some of them. They’re good practice since they use in-game credit so you can fail and succeed all you want.
So that’s about it for it for straight slot games. They’re fun, cheap and easy-to-get into. Though they don’t include the cool bonuses you get from modern slot games, always remember that they were the original type of slot game. All the slot games of today were based on the straight slot so for a change, why not have a crack at a straight slot? You might just learn a new thing or two about the slot games.
Slots gaming guide offers proven results for betting & winning
When it comes to the world of online gambling, the stakes are high and the interest huge throughout the U.K., canada and australia, state various TV and other media reports in these countries. In fact, there are numerous website strategy guides for success at various online forms of gaming.
Detailed gameplay is offered, but the risk is still yours to take and understand because you may be wagering pounds or canadian and australian dollars. However, the best advice from longtime gamblers is to understand that strategy guides offer â€Å“unofficial†techniques and basics about online slot machines, slot betting and how to understand pay tables and pay lines. In general, online gambling and free slot games online are similar to betting in a casino or betting parlor.
Winning at online slots
Another aspect of slot machine gaming guide for online success at winning is linked to a certain amount of knowledge, and a learning curve that is viewed as user friendly once you get the hang of a popular online slot website. For instance, most online slot games are specifically designed to mirror the same types of machines – and expected payoffs – as one would find in a brick and mortar casino.
Thus, the best way to win at any type of online gaming is to go for a massive jackpot, and bet the maximum each time, so as to win the jackpot. The view from regular online slot players is to enjoy it as a recreation or entertainment activity, and to make sure you are having fun and not playing with pie in the sky views that you can win each and every time.
Slot basics for online slots
There are all types of online casino and slot clubs that entice players with various perks, including the assurance that it gives back a certain percentage of what gamers are wagering each hour or during a set period of time. In general, the basics of any online gaming web page are aimed at convincing the player that winning at slot machines is not an exact science. Still, there are some best strategies that involve a bit of education about pay tables, pay lines, slot machine betting, various slot bonus features, the auto play buttons, what is â€Å“bet max,†and how do progressive slot games really work. First you have to know who to play online slot machines or risk losing pounds or dollars on games of chance that you might not fully understand.
Free slot machines
Slot games are the world’s most popular casino games. Don’t deny it; you see millions and millions of people flock to their favorite casinos (or if they’re too busy to run, walk or drive there, to their computers), to have a shot at luck. Slot games, unlike blackjack, poker and other casino table games, are the easiest options for winning more money. Bet the minimum or bet the max, and you’re bound to win something. All you need, in some games, is to align the symbols on the payline, and you win! It’s no wonder the slot game is one of the world’s popular casino games.
You might be frowning right now because you don’t have any money. That’s right; you don’t have enough cash to place a bet. Not even for a minimum bet, you can join the ranks of slot game players around the world or even in your local neighborhood. You want to play to see if your luck is in, but no money, no play. Or maybe you’re putting on a frown because you don’t know how to play slot games properly. You’ve probably lost all your cash on one game because you thought lady luck was cheering you on like a cheerleader.
Well, slot game player, there’s no need to be disappointed; you have another shot at getting it right with the slot games. All you need is time, and willingness to learn. It’s time you got yourself involved in something most people don’t even know about: free slot machines.
“free slot machines, you say?” yes, that’s right. Play slot games without having to place a bet. You can just engage in it, without any kind of commitment, and you’ll be playing like you actually had placed a bet. You don’t need to bet your clothes, your dog or your house; you don’t need to bet anything at all. It’s all about the time, the fun and the willingness to learn.
What exactly are free slot machines? These are slot games that use in-game credit rather than real money. The game will provide you with credits that are built-in, and it’s up to you to increase the pot. You don’t have to put in your money or anything. Just keep your money, and let the games begin.
How different are these free slots from ordinary slot games? These are a few differences:
These are online slot machines that you can play for free.
Online slot machines, that are free, are offered by casinos to attract more players. It’s almost like a way of promoting.
Free slots use their own credit built in the game.
As mentioned previously, the games use in-game credit. This means, again, that the game has its own money, so you don’t have to make any real-world bets to play the game. When you start the free game, you’ll be given credits that you will use for playing. Say you play a free slot and then you have 150 credits at the start: those 150 credits you got, from the start, are yours to bet.
Free slots help you learn the art of building the bankroll.
If you’ve been making your real-world bets badly, these slot games can teach you the way to make those bets correctly. Since you have in-game credits, you may have the tendency to use them unwisely. Stop, and pay attention: learn to build the pot as you would with real money. Imagine those in-game credits are real money, and it’s up to you make a good bankroll while playing with them. You’ll soon learn to use different strategies while playing your credits.
Good slot games for practice.
If you are really bad playing slot games, you can use our games as a practice board. You can fail at free slot games many times, and not be affected. You can play them for hours, days, months, years, and you can still keep them as a good practice. You’ll eventually lose, but the credit keeps resetting over and over, so be patient and don’t lose faith. You don’t have to fear losing your money.
No wait time.
Remember the times when you wanted to play a good slot game, and then you see a waiting line that stretched up the road? There’s nothing like that with free slot machines. Since these games are online, you can play the games without waiting on line.
Lots of variety.
Just like the physical counterparts, free slot machines have several variants. From the 3 reel, the 5 reel, bonus rounds, progressive jackpots, the 3D slots, movie-themed, and more. You can pick any or all of these; they’re still free for you to play. Do you want to play betsoft action slots or neteller games with a story? Do you want to play the 3 reels, and then 5 reels? How about playing the progressives? You’ll never run out choices. You can keep playing all of these variants without spending a dime.
Downloadable slots or instant play.
If going online (play in your browser) isn’t your thing, why not download the game? Some online casinos allow you to download free slots. Go ahead and download or play directly from your browser with an instant play online casino.
Don't have to deal with other players.
If there’s one thing that makes free slot machines great for playing, is that you won’t have to deal with other players: when you play the physical slot machine, there are times you might get into an encounter with someone who claims he or she won the jackpot YOU have worked so hard to get. It is no fun to deal with that kind of situation, especially when you’re in public, and people in the casino are watching you. Now with free slot games, there’s no chance of a confrontation.
You can get suggestions on online about which are the best free slot machines.
If you want the public opinion, you can check our reviews for the online slot games. See for yourself what which games are popular with the public or just start playing.
Keep playing your favorite slot game.
If you have a favorite slot game, and you somehow found its free version, you can use that free version to practice. Most free slot machines are different from one another, in terms of design, but there are some slot machines that are the exact version of their physical counterparts. Therefore, being able to find the exact same version can truly be a blessing. This gives you a chance to practice the free version, so when it’s time to play the physical one, you’ll have a better idea as how to do it.
You and a friend can game together.
Do you have a friend who wants to become a slot game master, too? Why not play the game together? You can both learn the mechanics of the slot games, and you can start a contest between yourselves, to see who can build the best bankroll or who can win the jackpot.
Fits in with your busy schedule.
The best part about free slot machines games is that you can fit them on your personal agenda. That’s right; they can be adjusted to your own schedule. Whether you’re a stay-home person, a working-class hero, a band player, a president of a small country or any other kind of person, you can play the free slot machines in your spare time. All you need is the internet and the computer, and you’re all set.
These games are definitely good ways to get started in the world of slot games: they’re free, have in-game credit for practice, and other benefits that will help you become a better player. Learn ways to master these free slot machines games, and move on to the world of slot games, in casinos and online, with your real money. Good luck!
Online slots gaming
Online slots gambling has literally thousands of these very wonderful and fun to play machines to pass the time in a sometimes profitable way. Some slot machines are extremely easy to play, while there are others, which contain very intricate bonus triggers and online slots bonus rounds.
Classic 3 reel online slots machines
The majority of the classic online variety of slot machines usually have 3 reels. However, the most popular type of slot machine is now the five reel and these are overtaking its predecessor. Some would say that the higher the number of the reels that the slot has, the more combinations may be able to successfully hit the pay lines successfully. These pay lines are specific lines that the reel symbols must be lined on in order to claim a reward. This translates to, in terms of a slot machine that has numerous reels with just one jackpot line, that your overall chances to hit the jackpot line can end up being very slim.
Classic slot games are just one option that is open to players online. Nonetheless, these games are still popular all the same, and for all the right reasons which is a good thing in its own way. This is because players first become familiar with this kind of slot machines when playing at land-based casinos. They just develop a strong liking for the game and decide to take it up on the internet instead. Classic has their own appeal for their very own reasons.
All about video slots on the internet
What is a video slot machine online? It is a form of slot machine that simulates those slot machines in the real casinos. It uses a random numbers generator to come up with a wide array of symbols for each reel. Many online video slot machines do follow the three reel layout for traditional slot machines that are in land-based casinos. The traditional slot machines that have three reels will only produce ten to twenty different symbols total, per each 3-reel slot machine that is available. Online slot machines are sometimes referred to as video slots.
Because the symbols have an equal chance of making an appearance on the wagering line. The very early slots could be examined to check the chances of a single combination of symbols being hit. What a person needed to do in order to check the chances was to count the total amount of symbols that were on a reel to ascertain what was what and then go from there. As an example, if a slot machine did have three reels, which came with fifteen different symbols on them. It means it has 3375 possible different combinations to it, which translates to 15X15X15, and creates a 1 in 375 chance of ever hitting a jackpot on this slot machine.
Nevertheless, video slot machines can have animated video reels, many of them do place bonus rounds built into the games. These games don’t have to use any reel mapping in them, and this is because they aren’t confined by just having thirty-two stops on every reel. This is done basically to be able to free up the designers of the game and to assist them in being able to place any amount of numbers for each video reel that they may wish to incorporate into them.
A lot of the modern video slot machine games out there available for play already do have five existing reels on them that tend to pay out between fifteen and twenty-five pay lines each. This is indeed a welcoming and ambitious option for a gambler in every sense of the word. The players can play as many lines, as they wish to play. They can also bet as many coins as they want on them, in accordance with the machine’s set limits or those imposed by the casino. Video slot machines openly allow players to have a lot of fun.
The basics of online slots include:
Reviewing the online slot room online, and decide which games appeal to you for various reasons; including the amount that needs to be bet, what is the maximum that can be won and bet, and what are the bonus features.
Familiarize yourself with the online game instructions for betting and how to locate and use the slot spin button. Also, note if there is an automatic spin feature so you are not caught unaware.
Take time to decide on how much to bet or not bet before committing your pounds or dollars so as to control your wager, and be happy with your decision.
Review the best slot advice from experts that betting the max often results in high payoffs, but it still means you are wagering a potentially large amount depending on your budget for this gaming experience. – be especially sure to fully understand the rules of the slot games you are playing to see if there are any specials, or bonus games or requirements to earn the big jackpot.
Slot clubs offer special pays and general slots feature a standard paytable so gamers can evaluate their potential earnings.
Again, playing online slot machines is similar to betting at a traditional casino but the good news is you can do all this in the comfort of your home or wherever you are enjoying online slot games.
When it comes to “free slots,” make sure this is a sample game or a special promotion to familiarize you with an online gaming site. In turn, free slots are played the same as regular online games of chance.
Also, the website that offers free play really do mean free while most online slots are safe to play when it comes to any worries about legal issues in the U.K., canada or australia where online slots are fully legal.
In general, the aim for any online slot player is to enjoy a bit of legal gambling fun and not to consider it as revenue to pay your bills or something extreme in terms of personal finances.
Not all online slot machines are the same
A BBC TV program investigation revealed how most online slot gamers in the U.K. And overseas thoroughly enjoy this form of entertainment when cautions are employed so they won't overbet or become hurt financially. In turn, the BBC program featured a short tutorial that emphasized key areas of online betting. For example, a casino expert explained how most online slot games feature both single and multiple pay lines.
The expert said some gamers experience sour grapes when they fail to fully understand how a slot game performs.
He noted that playing a multiple line online slots, while only betting 50 pence on just one line, may result in a potential big win if only the player chose to cover all the lines.
Overall, there is a whole wide world of great online gaming featured at top slot machine casino styled websites that are designed for both fun and winning big jackpots.
Movie themed slot games
Whenever you go to the theater to a watch a movie, you always want to experience the thrill of a lifetime. Movies take you to different worlds; you’ll see the worlds of aliens, of agents, of undiscovered ruins, of married couples, of children imagining things, of people looking for a car, worlds about anything the writers and directors can create. There’s really nothing like the movies. Whether it’s one hour, one and a half hour, or even three hours long, you’ll never forget the experience of watching a movie. Heck, it might still be in your mind after watching those scrolling credits. Did the hero die? Was it actually a dream? Is the world safe? You will always have a good, or a bad experience, when you go to the movies.
It’s really a surprise to see that, sometimes, movies end up being shown in different media outlets: there are television shows, comic books, novels, audio products, the internet and… slot machines? Yes, that’s correct; you’ve read it right. Movies have come to the world of slot games, and if you’ve been wishing to play a new variant of a slot games, this is your chance to venture into a new genre of the slot game world: movie themed slot games.
What exactly are movie themed slot games? These are slot games that are based on a movie theme. You can tell just by looking at the design, the structure, the layout, and all the other features if it is a movie themed slot game. You can already see the slot game was designed with a movie in mind. Both, online and physical slot games show you the movie as a whole. Do you like indiana jones, or do you like the godfather? The movie themed slot games can give you games based on these movies
Movie themed slot games, just like 3D slot games, are hybrid slot games, which have an array of features taken from different variants of slot games: the multipliers, the paylines, the bonus rounds, the jackpot, the progressives, and others. You might play a movie-themed slot game with 3 reels, and a multiple payline, or you might play another with 5 reels, and multipliers. Since they’re hybrids, expect to play more than the usual game you play most of the time. But don’t worry; they still play like your usual slot game, so you don’t need to read a manual, or follow different rules.
The designs of the movie themed slot games can be some of the well-known movies in history. From the adventurous indiana jones to the suspense-creating jaws, slot games, based on the movies, can really be extremely interesting. The developers, and designers put a lot of thought creating the design on slot games; they stay true to the design from the start, and continue as the game develops. When it comes to the physical side of slot games, the movie themed slot games are designed, in such a way, as to engage anyone who’s a fan of the movies. It’s more or less like making it an integral part of the game. The makers don’t want you to feel like you’re playing an ordinary slot game; they want you to know that the slot game has the same atmosphere as the movie itself.
When it comes to online slot games, this is where the developers express their best ideas. Because of the versatility of computer software, they’re able to integrate the movie, making the online games more engaging than the physical counterparts. For instance, in the 3D slot games, the developers add different kinds of elements, to truly make the movie themed slot game feel like the movie itself. It’s not just for show; they’ll use parts of the story, and implement it into the game, giving you have an incentive to play more. An example of this would be lord of the rings. In the lord of the rings slot game, before you play the game, you’ll see footages of the actual movie. After the video is over, it’s your job to play the slot game well, in order to see more of the story. This added feature gives the slot player a motivation to play more, in order to see the outcome of the story. The movie themed slot games, allow the player to feel as if he is participating in the movie. This kind of design really does wonders for all other movie-themed slot games that are being played.
There are some other things you should know about movie themed slot games. First, the game was designed with the fans of the movie in mind. Players that are not familiar with the film, will likely miss out on subtle, plot related humor or references, as they might not recognize some of the well-known plot elements. Games such as gone with the wind, and gladiator, feature plot elements as symbols. If you see these symbols, and think they’re just ordinary symbols, you’re wrong. Also, with some movie theme slot games, you may inadvertently catch the end of the movie that you were planning on seeing one day. Some movie themed slot games are developed by the same people who created the 3D slot games, which is why, some of the games might look very familiar to you. On the other hand, there are movie themed slot games that were rushed to market to satisfy fans of the film, and are really not well thought out; they are nothing more than games designed just for show, and they play like your ordinary slot game.
A distinctive feature in the movie themed slot games is the unique bonus rounds. Did you know that there is a unique bonus game of “hide-and-seek” within jaws online slot game. That’s right, slot machine player; you played hide- and- seek with the blazing shark. When you unlock the bonus round, jaws will hide in a pre-arranged set of blocks, and it’s your job to pick the block where he is hiding. If you pick the right one, you’ll get the bonus winnings. It might be a multiplier or a payline, but you still win by just playing hide-and-seek. There are more bonus rounds that are very unique, so keep watching for other movie themed slot games.
Do strategies for the non-movie themed slot games apply to the movie themed games? Of course they do. Whether you want to play the godfather, or play phantom of the opera-themed slot games, the old-school strategies still apply. In fact, if you’re the master of the ordinary slot games, you’ll feel right at home playing the movie-themed slot games. You’ll nail them better than anyone else.
Now that you have an idea what movie themed slot games are, you might want to know what best movie themed slot games you should try? Well, here they are:
Phantom of the opera – this is the movie inspired by a broadway musical. This themed slot game combines the features of 20 paylines, 5 reels, and a progressive. You’ll not only get bonus rounds that are unique to this game, but you also get a chance to play a random spin via the feature “autoplay”. This way, you don’t have to input a bet manually.
Jaws – the slot game based on the award-winning thriller about a shark, this game is well-known for its unique bonus round, which was mentioned previously, in which you have to play hide-and-seek with the shark. Sure, it’s nice to get a bonus round, but really… seeking the shark for money? You should be glad jaws doesn’t pop out of the screen
Star wars – played mostly in vegas, this themed slot game implements the original trilogy of episode IV, V, and VI. If you happen to be a fan of the movie with darth vader, go to the vegas casinos, and get your hands on this one. It’s a progressive jackpot, so you’ll definitely get a life-changing amount of money from the galaxies.
Top gun – “you’ve lost that loving feeling!” you sure aren’t going to lose the loving feeling with this themed slot game. This slot game is designed as if you were in a jet plane. You’ll definitely feel like you’re up in the skies, doing your best to get the jackpot, attached to the game. Sure, you don’t have tom cruise to see you win it, but hey, you’re winning a jackpot in the most thrilling of places. It’s time to buckle up, and get the prize of your lifetime.
This about summarizes the guide to the world of movie-themed slot games. Whether you’re a fan of the godfather, rambo, top gun or other movies, you’ll be delighted to see some of your favorites ones turned into a slot game. Sure, some games may not look good, because of the way they have been designed, and others, you just might need to get adjusted to them. In the long run, you’ll see that, even movie-themed slot games can make their place in the world of slot games. They can keep you engaged, and keep you interested as you play. Give them a try, and experience the movies even after they’re over.
Slot machine strategy guide
You’ll find plenty of awful slot machine strategy advice on the internet. Over the years, we’ve seen it all. There are electronic gadgets you can buy that promise to trick slot machines intopaying out.
Endless reams of paper have been wasted printing books that promise can’t-lose slot machine tactics.
It’s all garbage. Let us make one thing clear from the beginning – nothing on this page (or anywhere else online) will make you a consistent winner at the slot machines. That sort of advicedoesn’t exist.
That’s because slot machines are designed to return less money than they take in. In other words, they guarantee a profit, and nothing you can do as a player affects that design in any meaningfulway.
Good slot machine strategy focuses on two things – increasing your chances of winning and helping you save money you might otherwise lose.
This page was conceived as the ultimate online resource for no-nonsense slot machine strategy tips. Included here are:
- Common-sense responses to common misconceptions about slots
- A detailed guide to the basics of money management for slot players
- A section recommending other games that might be of interest to people who are drawn to slot machines
We believe that if you spend a half hour or so reading a few thousand words we’ve put together on the subject, you’ll walk away a more confident and informed slot gambler.
If you’re just looking to play slots online please check out our page listing out the best casino sites for playing slots.
An unfortunate truth about slot machines
We have lots of good things to say about slots. We like all the visual effects – it’s more entertaining than watching a ball bounce around a spinning wheel. We like the variety of games. We likethe variety of wager sizes available.
Truth is, we could wax poetic about the charms of the humble slot machine for thousands of words, but that wouldn’t get us anywhere in terms of game strategy.
There’s one thing we don’t like about slot machines that we wanted to get out in the open right away. The worst thing about slot machines, from the perspective of a player interested in strategy.
You can never know the house edge for a particular slot machine. In fact, it’s the only casino game we can think of for which you can’t come up with anything like a house edge.
Think of a video poker game. Video poker is an easy to game to calculate a house edge for, since we know the likelihood of different hands appearing. We know that because the winning hands arebased on poker hand rankings.
That means that we can look at a video poker game’s pay table, use the information we already know about the odds of drawing different hands, and come up with the casino’s built-in edge. We canactually do this for any game.
A roulette wheel has 38 positions where the ball might end up. We can figure out the odds of any single number (or feature of a number) coming up, because we know the overall odds of any numberappearing.
Without information about a slot machine’s house edge, things like bankroll management and game strategy get tricky. Slot machine strategy is thus more of an art than a science. Have no fear,though – it’s an art that we’ve studied and participated in for decades.
Bankroll management tips for slots players
Let’s start with some thoughts on how slot players can better manage their money.
Create a win and loss limit
This tip will save you a lot of time. You don’t have to work out a budget. You don’t have to figure out a unit bet size. You don’t need to do any math. So long as you create a limit forwinnings and a limit for losses, then quit playing as soon as you reach one of them, you can cross bankroll management off your to-do list.
You can track your play through your slot club card. (we discuss joining the slot club a few paragraphs down.) you can also track your play simply by how much money you have in the machine.
When we go to the casino to play slots, we figure out how much money we can handle losing, then we divide that by the number of hours we hope to gamble. Take a look at an example. Let’s say youplan to gamble for ten hours over the course of a weekend trip to your nearby casino.
You’ve done your personal budget for the month and you’re bringing $1,000 with you to burn at the slot machines. In order to have enough cash to play for ten hours, you can’t afford to losemore than $100 an hour. That means if you hit $100 in losses for a given hour, take a break until the next hour starts.
As for win limits, that’s more of a personal thing. For some, if they head to the casino with $1,000, as in the above example, they’d start to get nervous if they doubled it, winning another$1,000.
But up to that point, they’d probably keep playing. Maybe you’re more conservative than that. It doesn’t matter where you set the win limit, so long as you have a point where you agree to walkaway.
Creating a win limit will keep you from turning a big win into a loss.
It can be tough to stick to win and loss limits. The desire to keep gambling, or to gamble and make up for losses, can be a powerful thing. If it helps, you can recruit a friend to help youstick to your win and loss limit commitments.
You could also set yourself an alarm every 45 minutes to gauge how you’re doing and remind yourself of your limits. The point isn’t to nag you about your finances, but to keep gamblingentertaining, and to prevent a budget disaster.
Play the lowest-denomination machine that interests you
This trick is designed to help you extend your bankroll. We’ve noticed that newcomers to casino and especially to slot gambling often have no idea how to pick a machine. They gravitate towards$1 slots, because that’s a nice round number they can understand.
However, not many people walk into a slot session ready to play at $1-per-credit games, and a lot of these players watch their bankrolls evaporate.
We recommend that you look at all the available denominations, then pick the cheapest one that still piques your interest. Obviously, penny slots offer you the least risk, but that’s becausethey offer the least in terms of rewards.
You’re not going to get rich playing penny slots, but you’re probably not going to go broke either. High-dollar slots work just the opposite – you stand to win more large prizes, and you’regoing to play more side games and other features, but you’re likely to lose a lot of money in a short period of time.
Picking a denomination is all about finding your comfort zone. Maybe you hate losing money, and you want to play slots just for a diversion. Penny slots may be perfect for you, in that case.
If you have a sizable amount of money to blow on slots and you want the latest and greatest in slot entertainment, a high-denomination game is probably just right.
Join the slot club
You should always join the slots club, player’s club, rewards club, loyalty club, or any other club that a casino is offering. It won’t cost you anything, it’s easy to use (you just swipe it inthe slot you want to play before you start), and it’s literally the only way that a casino can track and reward slot players.
If the casino can’t track your play, you can’t earn free stuff. Believe it or not, those free adult beverages you’re earning are shaving a tiny fraction off the casino’s edge.
For starters, you can exchange casino club card points for cash at most casinos, but only once you’ve accrued a certain number of points. Most clubs offer $20 per 2,000 points or something likethat.
Those points really add up, and if you’re playing high-dollar games or making large per-spin bets, you’ll be surprised how much free cash you can earn. And cash is the easiest prize to redeem –accepted everywhere, recognized by all.
Of course, you could also use those casino slot club card points to get free food and drinks. Don’t look down your nose at these offers – the exchange rate is usually way more friendly than theexchange-for-cash rate, so you can get a lot of goodies for very little betting.
Take note that only some casinos will let you use club points to buy booze – casinos like to hand out drinks of their own accord. Heck, even just having the card will often get you apercent-off discount at a casino restaurant or bar.
The last reason you should join the slot club – you’ll start getting coupons and other offers in the mail in exchange for your membership.
These emails and letters will include coupons for cheap stays, free meals, or even free betting cash, depending on “how loyal you are,” read: how much money you handed over on your last trip.
Using these casinos is another way to cut into the casino’s edge. You’re not going to stuff your bank account taking advantage of casino club promotions, but it’s better than going in withnothing.
Basic slot machine strategy tips
We’ve distilled the best slot machine strategy advice available online into the following three basic tips. Follow these tips, along with the bankroll management tips in the above section, andyou’ll be putting yourself in the best position to lose less often and hold onto a bit more of your cash.
Always “bet max”
Slot machines allow players to choose how much they wager per-spin. Not only can you choose your denomination, you can also choose how many units of that denomination to wager on each spin ofthe reels.
In exchange for your larger bet, you get access to larger prizes and more valuable bonus rounds and side games. For example, a game with thirty pay lines may only pay its max prizes and giveaccess to its most valuable jackpots for players who wager one credit on all thirty lines.
If you land a combination of symbols that leads to a big jackpot, but you’ve only bet a single pay line, or maybe two pay lines, you’re going to never stop kicking yourself. Since slot machinesare totally random, there’s no way to know when you’re more or less likely to land those combinations. Therefore, you should always bet the maximum amount, on every spin.
There’s a codicil to this tip – this means you have to pick a machine that you can afford to play at a max bet for the entirety of your session. Understand that slot machines spit out tons ofdecisions per hour.
If you’re playing a fast game, you may see 600 decisions per hour of play. If your bet max rate is $1.50 per spin, you’re looking at a much different outlay than if you’re playing on a $0.25machine, where the per-spin rate would be $7.50 per spin.
It’s important to work out the size of a max bet on every machine before you play, since you should never be betting anything smaller than the maximum number of credits.
The simplest games give you the best odds
Decide what sort of slots player you are:
- Either you’re looking for the best possible odds
- The best possible entertainment
If you’re into slots for entertainment, you better have a big bankroll. The games with the most entertainment value (audio clips, video clips, bonus games, progressive jackpots, etc.) are alsothe ones with the longest odds, and to make things worse, they also tend to have high per-spin costs.
If you’re the type of slots players that’s looking to save money and get every cent you can out of the casino, you should stick to the simplest slots you can find. Skip any game with a bonusround. Stick to games with just one or three pay lines.
Find the classic-style slots on the floor and plant yourself there. Whatever you do, make sure you’re playing a game that other people might describe as “boring.” so long as you aren’t havingtoo much fun, you’re probably getting a good deal from an odds perspective.
Avoid progressive slots
Progressive slots attract bettors with promises of life-changing payouts in the millions of dollars. The largest single jackpot in the history of las vegas came on a slot machine – a jackpot inthe neighborhood of $36 million on a megabucks progressive machine.
Unfortunately, these progressive prizes also draw in gamblers who have no business playing long-odds contests with huge risk, like progressive games. If you’re looking to make your bankrolllast as long as possible, never place a single bet on any progressive machine.
These games cost a lot to run – a piece of each wager is added to the progressive jackpot, which means the games are altered so that they’re a bit less advantageous for the player. Casinooperators have to take the cost of the progressive jackpot from somewhere – surprise, surprise, it comes out of the gambler’s end.
Four alternative casino games for slot fans to try
As we said at the top of this page, slot machines are awful games, in at least one important way. You can’t work out the house edge. It’s impossible. That means that on some level slot machinestrategy is a fool’s errand.
If you’re sick of losing to the house over and over on the same old slot machines, consider one of these four casino classics:
1. Video poker
Why video poker? For starters, a video poker game looks and acts just like a slot machine. It’s a machine, usually kept near the slot machines, and you sit in front of it and interact with itjust like a slot.
The biggest difference is the game itself. Rather than spinning and hoping for random luck, you’re making choices about which cards to hold, to give yourself a better chance of forming ahigh-value poker hand.
We think slot gamers are naturally predisposed to becoming video poker fanatics, and not just because the two games have some passing physical similarities.
We’ve already talked about how slot machines max out at a house edge of about 95% – these are usually the most boring games on the floor, with the least replay value and very little in the way ofoptions.
Every other slot has a house edge lower than that. Some states allow the casino an edge of up to 25% – a ridiculous number that would make a slot the worst gamble in the casino by far. Slotgamers will be pleased to find out that many video poker machines carry a house edge of 98-99%.
Video poker rewards player skill. You can actually practice the game, and learn to follow basic strategy, and you’ll perform better, lose less money, and put yourself in a better position to winjackpots.
In that respect, it’s totally distinct from slot machines. If you find yourself losing too often on slots, craving a bigger challenge, or wanting to use your skill to win more, consider a switchto video poker.
2. Mini-baccarat
Mini-baccarat is an american game, in every sense. It was invented at american casinos as a way for the everyday gambler to play the game of the ultra-rich at a much lower price and in a casualatmosphere.
Since traditional european baccarat is meant to be played by the super-wealthy, there’s a strict dress code, and most gamblers in today’s las vegas wouldn’t make it through the VIP door.
Mini-baccarat is a great game for slot players to try, because it’s just as democratic as the humble slot, but it offers a step up in class.
If you’ve always wanted to try traditional table gaming but never had the guts, we’re here to tell you that mini-baccarat is the game for you.
Mini-baccarat is cheaper than slots, but it still moves at a quick pace. Mini-baccarat is simple, a bit more complex than slot machines, but easy enough to learn in a few minutes. That’s becausethe game offers just three bets. As an added bonus, two of those three bets offer really short odds.
The house edge on these bets? 1.06% on the banker bet, 1.24% on the player bet, and 14.44% on the tie bet.
If you stick to bets on the banker only, you’re playing one of the best games in the house in terms of the casino’s edge. At a normal pace of 120 hands per hour, and $10 per wager, you’re lookingat an expected hourly loss of $12.
3. Roulette
For slots players looking to break into table gaming for the first time, roulette should be very appealing. Roulette is a visual game, just like slot machines. It’s a social game, which slotmachines can be if you’re sitting at a bust enough bank of games.
Roulette isn’t complicated – you can learn the game in a few minutes of observation and trial betting. Also, just like slot machines, roulette gives you a wide variety of ways in.
You can stick to minimum bets on even-money propositions, which give you the best possible odds against the casino. Or you can take big risks on single-number bets, risking large amounts of moneyfor a 35:1 payout.
Roulette may not be the first game slot players think of when they go to try out something new – but it should be. Every casino hosts multiple roulette games, electronic roulette, mini-roulette,and other variations. It’s an ideal game for people used to the variety and visual interest of the slots.
4. Craps
Okay, so this may be a bit of a stretch. We think we can justify advising slot lovers to give craps a try mainly by pointing out that craps moves at a quick pace, like slot machines. We alsothink slots players will like the drama of a craps game, how the crowd backs the shooter, how everyone’s bets live and die with one another.
Craps is an old-fashioned game, far removed from the beeps and whistles of modern slot machines, but we think a match between slot fans and the craps table is appropriate. After all, at one timecraps was the new game on the block that everyone was obsessed with.
And in case you think of craps as a long-odds proposition, understand that lots of bets on the craps board give the house an edge lower even than video poker.
Slots are the great casino mainstay. Gamblers all over the world gravitate towards slot machines, at a greater rate than any other game on the floor. Slot machines are the backbone of thegambling business, often keeping casino operators in the black single-handedly.
We’ve gone over all the ways that slot machines can be dangerous. But remember, all slots aren’t created equal. Some slot games offer theoretical return percentages that aren’t that far off fromother floor games.
At the end of the day, slots aren’t the best gamble – that’s why you so rarely see hardcore advantage gamblers pulling slot levers. But that doesn’t take away from their entertainment value atall.
We’ve called slot machines “the most adaptable and varied game on the casino floor” on another page, and we stand by that. Slots are now a legitimate casino classic, not all that different from agame of blackjack, a poker tournament, or a round at the roulette wheel.
They’re underappreciated entertainment gadgets that most gamblers (if they were honest) absolutely love to play. We hope that our page has taught you something, prepared you for your next casinotrip, and smashed a few stereotypes you held about the games.
HOW TO WIN AT SLOTS
Slot machines are games with odds based in math, just like all other casino games. But few players understand just how those odds work, and whether they can do anything to improve their odds.
- Slots machine results are as random as humans can program a computer to be.
- Odds of the game are set so the house will have an edge
- Except in rare cases, slot machines are not games of strategy
The objective of this chapter is to introduce you to how slot machine odds work and what that means to your chance to win.
HOW THE HOUSE GETS ITS EDGE IN SLOTS MACHINES
Casino games make money for the house by paying less than the true odds of winning the bet. On table games, that can be relatively simple. At double zero roulette, for example with numbers 1 through 36 plus 0 and 00, the true roulette odds against any specific number are 37-1, but the house pays single-number winners only 35-1.
HOW MANY POSSIBLE OUTCOMES?
Slot machine odds work in a similar fashion to the roulette example, except there are many more possibilities on the slots. There are thousands, and sometimes millions, of reel combinations. There also is an open field for game designers to assign how much each winning combination pays. The number of winning combinations and the payoffs per winner work together to determine a game’s odds.
The sheer number of possibilities makes the math that goes into slot machine odds more complicated than on table games.
- On early three-reel slots with 10 symbols per reel, there were 1,000 possible combinations (10 x 10 x 10).
- If blank spaces between lines are used as stops, the number of combinations increases to 20x20x20, or 8,000.
- With bigger reels holding 20 symbols and 20 spaces, combinations increase to 40x40x40, or 64,000.
The change to virtual reels enabled programmers to make the reels to behave as if they had any number of stops. With 100 stops on each of three reels, there are 1 million combinations. The megabucks three-reel slot that paid the world record jackpot of more than $39 million has about 50 million combinations. Most modern video slots have five video reels can be as long as the gamemaker needs them to be. With 100 symbols on each of five reels, there are 10 billion combinations.
A SIMPLIFIED SLOT
To see how slots pay less than true odds to give the house an edge, let’s set up an example that’s as streamlined as slot odds can get, a game of the type used in the early decades after charles fey invented the three-reel slot machine in 1895. A hypothetical three-reel slot game with one 7, two bars, three cherries and four watermelons per reel would have 1,000 possible combinations and return 83.2 percent to players with this pay table.
IN OUR SAMPLE GAME:
- Each of three reels has 10 symbols. Each reel has one 7 – that’s the top jackpot symbol.
- Each reel also has two bars, three cherries and four watermelons.
- There are 1,000 possible three-reel combinations – 10 symbols times 10 symbols times 10 symbols.
- Only one combination – or 1 x 1 x 1 – will be three 7s.
- Eight combinations will be three bars, 27 will be three cherries and 64 will be three watermelons.
- 900 of the 1,000 combinations mix different symbols.
If the game paid at true odds, then the payoffs would be set up so that each 1,000 coins wagered would bring 1,000 coins in payoffs. One way to do that would be to have payoffs of 170 coins on three 7s, 30 on three bars, 10 on three cherries and 5 on three watermelons. But the casino must have an edge, or it couldn’t pay the bills and offer the game. So instead it pays 160 on three 7s, 25 on three bars, 8 on three cherries and 4 on three watermelons. Multiplied by the frequency of wins, those payoffs total 832 coins. By paying less than the true odds of the game, the machine has a payback percentage of 83.2 percent, or a little less than today’s 1- cent games.
SLOTS TODAY
Modern slot machine or online slots odds work in much the same way, except that the math is more complex for several reasons:
- Random number generators work from much larger number sets, leading to exponentially greater possibilities.
- Many more than four reel symbols are actually used.
- Most modern slots have more paylines than the one line in the sample slot above.
- Game programmers have to account for the effect of bonus events.
SLOTS EXAMPLES AND EXPLANATIONS
In the classic WMS gaming video slot super jackpot party, there are eight reel symbols that form winning combinations, plus the noisemaker and party guy symbols that launch a bonus event. All of the symbols need to be assigned sets of random numbers, and payoff values assigned to three-, four- and five of a kind winners. That makes calculations much more complex than in our example game above.
The number of paylines also complicates the math. Even if there’s only one jackpot symbol on each reel, a 30-line game means there are 30 chances to line up those symbols in a winning combination, instead of just one. So it goes for every possible combination – programmers have to account for each combination 30 times.
As for bonus events, nearly all modern slot machines have events in which regular play stops, and with no further wagers, you get a spin of a bonus wheel, a pick’em event, free spins or some other extra. Bonus event payoffs have to be included in the calculation of the game’s overall return.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
We can’t see the random numbers being generated, and it’s those numbers that really determine whether we win. In fact, there’s a list of things we can and can’t see that are important to our chance of winning.
- We can’t see the odds of the game.
- We can’t tell if one machine is higher paying than another.
- We can see a machine’s pay table, and that gives us a clue to volatility.
- We can see what kinds of bonuses are offered, and that also is a volatility clue.
Casinos don’t post payback percentages on individual games, and there’s no way for a player to calculate the odds since all the random number details are regarded as proprietary and not revealed. Even on different machines with the same game, we don’t know if the paybacks are the same. Game manufacturers make several versions of the same game available to casino operators, and each version has its own payback percentage. Two machines can look identical, but have different payback percentages.
However, a machine with a large top jackpot gives back less on smaller wins than a game with a smaller top prize, and that means the big jackpot games usually are more volatile. That’s not always the case – the big jackpot can be rare enough that the game still has a normal percentage of lower payoffs, but it’s a starting point.
In addition, games with free spin bonuses are more volatile than games with pick’em bonuses. Volatility matters in choosing what you want out of a game. Are you the type of player who wants to maximize chances at a really big win and are willing to accept that fast, bankroll-eating losses are part o f the game? Then you want a high-volatility game.
Would you rather have a game that gives frequent small wins and extends your playing time, but rarely pays big? Then you want a low-volatility game. But regardless of whether the game you choose has high volatility, low volatility or something in between, you can be sure the house has taken an edge with payouts that are less than the true odds of winning your bet.
- Casinos have an edge on slot machines because winners are paid less than true odds.
- Slot odds are mathematically complex because of the number of possible outcomes and the different paybacks per winner.
- You can’t look at a slot game and tell the odds. In fact, two identical-looking games can have different odds.
- Looking at a machine can give you a clue as it its volatility, and that can help in choosing a game.
HOW SLOTS CAN BE BOTH PROGRAMMED AND RANDOM
When a casino buys a slot machine from a manufacturer, it can choose from a variety of targeted payback percentages. The manufacturer might make the same game available in 87-, 89-, 91- and 93-percent versions, and it’s up to the operator to choose which works best in game mix and for its competitive position.
That the games have targeted payback percentages in their programming leads to misconceptions from players. A common theme in my email over the last 20 years has been, “how can games be both programmed and random? The programming must keep them on track for the percentage.”
The short answer is that slots are programmed for a target percentage in the same way table games are: odds of the game are set so they will naturally lead to an expected payback percentage.
A TABLE ANALOGY
Let’s use roulette as an example, because the math is uncomplicated.
- A double-zero roulette wheel has 38 numbers – 0, 00 and 1 through 36.
- The odds against any specific number coming up on any spin are 37-1.
- The casino pays only 35-1 on any winning single number.
- The two-unit difference between 37-1 odds and 35-1 payoffs is kept by the house.
- Divide that two-unit difference by 38 possibilities and you get 0.0526, for a 5.26- percent house edge.
In that way, roulette is “programmed” so that in the course of thousands of wagers, the house will keep 5.26 percent. Results can be random. The same number can turn up three or four or five times in a row. But over time, the odds of the game lead to that percent-edge.
SLOT “WHEELS”
What if instead of reels with symbols and results driven by a random number generator, we set up a slot-like game with slot-like payoffs by using a series of roulette-like wheels?
- Let’s say we line up three roulette-type wheels, each marked into 100 segments.
- We mark each segment with a slot symbol. Each wheel gets one 7, five bars, 10 cherries and so on.
- We have a dealer spin and drop a ball on each wheel.
- The total number of three-wheel combinations is 100x100x100, or 1 million.
That’s the same number of possible combinations you’d get on a slot machine if the random number generator was working with sets 100 numbers for each reel.
From there, it’s easy to calculate the number of possible combinations that have the ball landing in the same symbol on each wheel. For the 7, since there is only one on each wheel, it’s 1x1x1 – there is only one three-7s combination. For bars, it’s 5x5x5, or 125 out of the million total combinations. For cherries, it’s 10x10x10, or 1,000 three-cherry combos.
Note that we’re not using computer software here. We’re using physical equipment, but it’s giving us the equivalent of “programmed” combinations and odds. That’s just how the odds work on modernized computerized slot machines. They don’t force a game to pay an exact percentage, they just let the normal odds of the game drive long-term results to an expected percentage, the same way table games do.
PROGRAMMED VS. RANDOM, FAQ
The notion that slots are both programmed and random can be difficult to fathom. Confusion over slot programming has jammed my email box for years. Here are some of the questions readers ask most often.
A. “random results” is not the same as saying “equal results.” A game doesn’t have to be programmed so that a jackpot symbol shows up as often as a blank space, or a bonus symbol as often as a cherry.
The odds of the game are set so that blank spaces will show up more often than winning symbols and small winners will show up more often than big winners. On three-reel slots, that will lead to there being more losing spins than winners, and on five-reel video games it will lead to more “wins” for amounts less than the size of your bet than bigger winners. The programmer sets the odds of the game, and then lets random chance take its course.
A. Streaks are a normal part of the probability of the game. Let’s take a three-reel game with a 12% hit frequency -- you’ll have a winner an average of once per 8.333 spins. On your first spin, there’s an 88% chance it’ll be a loser. There’s a 77% chance you’ll lose two in a row, 68% chance you’ll lose three in a row, and so on.
At 20 in a row, there’s still a 7.8% chance of every spin being a loser. That’s easily within normal probability. Anyone playing a machine with a 12% hit frequency for very long will have streaks of 20 or more losses.
A. Your choices do make a difference in pick’em-style bonus events, but not in any way you can predict or control. The programmer knows that over a very long time, the bonus even will yield an average payback.
Let's make up a simple slots bonus event, in which you pick one of three symbols to reveal a bonus award. If you touch one symbol, you get 25 credits, if you touch a different one, you get 50, and if you touch the other you get 75. You don’t know which symbol hides each award, so your results are random. However, over a very long time, you’ll get each award about a third of the time, so will average 50 credits.
The programmer can build that average into calculations for the payback percentage. You have a random result contributing to odds that drive paybacks into a long- term average – the same as on the reel-spinning part of the slot game, and the same way table games work.
- Slot machines have targeted payback percentages built into their programming, but results are random.
- Programmed percentages on the slots work in the same way as percentages on the tables – the odds of the game lead to expected returns.
- Random results are not the same as equal results. Odds are set so big winners turn up less often than other combinations.
BEATABLE SLOT MACHINES
With some rare exceptions, las vegas-style slot machines with random number generators are not designed to be tests of skill. There is no strategy that can overcome the house edge.
Games are not beatable in the long run. There could be a change coming as both brick-and-mortar casinos and online operators try to reach out to the millennial generation. The state of nevada legalized fully skill-based electronic games in 2015, and it’s expected some games will make their way onto casino floors in 2016. In some international markets, skill already is part of the mix. Japanese pachinko parlors offer games known as pachisuro, a blend of slot game play and traditional pachinko, and skillful play may improve your results. Still, las vegas is the trend-setter in slot development, and its random number generator slots are designed to so the house can count on its edge. Even so, a few beatable games have made it to casino floors.
BANKED BONUSES
In the mid-to-late 1990s there were a flurry of games where you could collect coins or symbols on a video screen until you reached a trigger point for a bonus award. Players in the know could look for machines that were already part way toward slots free bonus territory, and play only when enough of the trigger was completed to give the player an edge. Such games are rare today.
In a casino with older equipment, you still might spot such games occasionally.
Piggy bankin:
This WMS gaming three-reel slot was the banked bonus trend-setter. Piggy bankin’ had a dotmation screen in the top box, above the mechanical reels. Every time the reels showed three blank spaces, a coin was added to a piggy bank animated in orange dots. When the break the bank symbol landed on the payline, an animated hammer broke the bank, and the player collected the amount displayed. It was soon discovered that if you played only with enough coins in then bank, you had an edge.
Racing 7s:
Before taking a full plunge into video, IGT had its “vision series” with a color LCD panel in the top box. Racing 7s featured red, white and blue 7s on a track. Each time a corresponding 7 would land on the payline in the main game, that color 7 would move a notch closer the finish line. To get an edge, you looked for a screen with 7s already close to the finish and a bonus payout.
Fort knox and buccaneer gold:
Silicon gaming, no longer in business, offered several games with banked bonuses.
On fort knox, if five numbers in a 10-digit code had already been solved through reel spins, you had an edge. Once the full code was solved, the vault would open for your bonus. In buccaneer gold, the object was to collect five daggers sticking in the ship’s rail. If there already were three or four daggers when you started, you had an edge.
S&H green stamps:
This was bally technologies’ entry into the banked bonus field. During play, you’d collect green stamps as they landed on the video reels. If you filled a book of 1,200 stamps, you’d go to a slots bonus event. The trick was to look for machines with 600 stamps or more already in the book. At that level, the player had an edge. In casinos with all new equipment, you won’t find these games. In casinos with older equipment, it’s possible. More important than the specific games is that you understand that if you ever see such a build-a-bonus, banked game, starting close to the finish improves your odds.
JACKPOT HUNTING
A number of players over the years have told me they beat the slots by looking for larger than usual progressive jackpots. It’s a method that works better on video poker where the house edge on the base game is smaller than on the slots. Slot payback percentages are low enough that even what looks like an oversized jackpot may not be enough to overcome the full house edge. Still, if you always wait to play a game until its jackpot is a certain size, you will be playing a game with a lower house edge than if you played for lesser amounts.
Here’s the method a jackpot-hunting player relayed to me:
- She starts by making daily rounds and charting jackpot amounts on different machines.
- Of the machines she tracks, she notes the payoff amount when someone wins the jackpot.
- Over many readings, she gets an idea of the average size of the jackpot when it hits.
- She then plays only when the jackpot reaches that average. For example, if the jackpot starts building from a $1,000 base and her chart of dozens of jackpots or more shows it hits at an average of about $2,500, then she starts playing the game only when the jackpot is $2,500 or more.
JACKPOT HUNTERS, BEWARE
If you’re going to play such games anyway, there’s no harm and some gain in delaying your play until the jackpot exceeds a targeted amount. However, profits are not guaranteed.
- Knowing the average size of the jackpot does not tell you the break-even point.
- There is no guarantee that you’ll be the one to hit the jackpot.
- Waiting for the jackpot to be a certain size does not increase your chances of winning the jackpot.
Let’s expand on that a little. Imagine a game where the jackpot usually hits at about $2.500. Unbeknown to you, the jackpot has to reach $5,000 before the game’s return reaches 100 percent. That means even if you start playing only when the jackpot is $2,500 or more, you still are playing a game on which the house has an edge. Waiting does ensure that when you do hit the jackpot, your average payout will be higher than if you started playing at the base level.
So if you’re jackpot hunting, good luck, but be aware there are pitfalls as well as big rewards.
SKILL-BASED BONUS EVENTS
Chapter 5, BONUS EVENTS, will deal more extensively with skill-based events. For now, understand that even though fully skill-based gaming has not yet launched in nevada, there are games with skill-based bonuses. Among those marketed in recent years are IGT’s centipede, where you play a version of the old arcade game in your bonus event, and GTECH’s zuma, based on the popular online game.
Though your skill makes a difference in these games, they are not beatable slots. Even if you’re a centipede grand master, the house still has an edge. With some variation by jurisdiction, a maximum of 4 percent of a game’s overall payout can be based on skill, and the house edge is high enough that getting the full 4 percent will not take you into profitable territory.
HOW TO WIN AT SLOTS - FAQ
Question 1: does the house gets an edge on slots by blocking winning combinations?
No. The house gets an edge by paying less than the true odds of winning on slots.
Question 2: on a mechanical slot with three reels and 10 symbols on each reel, how many possible three-reel combinations are there?
1,000 possible combinations.
Question 3: how many reel combinations are possible on modern slots with video reels or virtual reels?
Slots can be programmed with any number of slots on a virtual reel or video reel, so there can be as many reel combinations as the game designer needs.
Question 4: do identical-looking machines always have the same payback percentages?
No, identical-looking machines don’t always have the same payback percentage. You can’t tell a game’s odds by looking from the outside.
Question 5: do the slot payback percentages are “programmed” only in that the odds of the game are set to lead to a desired payback percentage?
Yes. Slot payback percentages are “programmed” only in that the odds of the game are set to lead to a desired payback percentage.
Question 6: does randomness mean all symbols must turn up on an equal portion of spins?
No. Results can be random while still setting the odds so some symbols occur more often than others.
Question 7: do long winning or losing streaks defy the odds of the games?
No. Long winning or losing streaks are part of normal probability.
Question 8: on most slots, is there an opportunity to overcome the house edge and be consistently profitable?
No. Most slots do not offer an opportunity to overcome the house edge and be consistently profitable.
Question 9: what is a “banked bonus”?
A banked bonus is an event in which you collect representations of coins or symbols until you have enough to trigger a bonus event.
Question 10: does waiting until a progressive jackpot reaches a certain size increase your chances of winning the jackpot?
No, until a progressive jackpot reaches a certain size does not increase your chances of winning the jackpot, but it increases your average payout when you win the jackpot.
Top 10 tips for beating casino tactics
I recently read the list on 10 tricks casinos use on you, and found it interesting. As someone who has worked in the casino industry, I was well-aware of these subtle, but powerful, jedi mind-tricks, and I’ve developed a few defenses of my own that I wanted to share. These are in no particular order.
This may seem like basic advice, but you’d be surprised how many people actually think they have an edge over the house. Regardless of how good you are, or how much experience you have, or what technique you use, the casinos have been at this for a lot longer than you have. The odds are stacked in their favor, and while you may win in the short term, you will eventually lose. Knowing this can keep help keep your head clear.
I used to be asked which machine paid out the most often in the casino, and my answer was always the same; “the one with the letters A-T-M on the front.” when you decide to go to the casino, you must assume that you are going to lose, and treat it as such. Decide beforehand how much money you can afford to spend on the evening’s entertainment, and take no more than that amount in cash. Leave your checkbook and credit cards in the room or at home. When you have played through the cash in your pocket, leave.
This seems, again, like an obvious point, but it is something that gamblers often forget. Always be aware of your win-loss ratio. At any time, you should know exactly how much you have spent and how much you have won since you began this session. It doesn’t seem like much when you’re playing quarter slots until you realize that you’ve been shoving five-dollar bills into the machine!
The casinos love to quote the old adage, “A winner never quits and a quitter never wins,” but the opposite is true when it comes to gambling. My wife and I have a standing rule: we play only what we intended to play before we arrived (see #2), and, if at any time, we reach double the amount we came in with (or greater), we cash out and leave. Just as small losses add up quickly, so do small wins. We go to the casino to eat about once every two months or so, and when we go, we usually bring a little extra cash (often $5 or $10) to play in the machines. In general, we lose or break even, but we have won (and walked out) often enough that, over the course of three years, we’re up by about $25.
There’s a reason that few casinos have clocks or windows. Compensate for this by wearing a watch or carrying a timepiece and referring to it often. At any point, you should know exactly how long you have been sitting at the table or the machine. If you’ve been at the same location for more than 15 minutes and you haven’t at least broken even, it’s time to cut your loses and go. Sometimes, in addition to limiting the amount of money I bring with me, I also set my watch alarm to 30 minutes or so. When the alarm goes off, regardless of whether I’m up or down, I leave.
Alcohol dulls the senses and impairs judgment; that’s why they keep offering you those free drinks. Fortunately, combating this tactic is as easy as saying, “no thanks.” of course, the waitress will keep tempting you. After all, her job is to keep you there at the table or in front of the machine. If you need an excuse, you can always claim to be the designated driver and they will usually leave you alone. Just remember, they can’t force you to accept the alcohol.
All too often while working the floor, I would see people sitting in the same location for hours on end. Sometimes (it happens much more often than you think), these people would not even leave to take a bathroom break, instead simply urinating (or worse) right there in the seat. Sometimes they would shift to another seat, but more often, they simply sat in their own filth and kept playing. Such is the drive of greed. Get up once in a while and walk around. Go to the restaurant (if there is one) or snack bar and get a soft drink. Use that time to check your win-loss ratio (see #3), and if you find that you’re ahead, it might be time to go.
There’s no shortage of people trying to sell you on time-tested methods for beating the casino. Everyone seems to have a “system” that they claim works for them, but if you ask around, you’ll find that they made their money selling books, not playing casinos. If all of these systems worked as well as they say, how would casinos still be in business? And doesn’t it stand to reason that the casino operators have read these books too? There is no perfect system that can defeat the odds that are weighted in favor of the house, and it’s a waste of money to try. Gambling is largely luck, and you have no control over that factor. What’s more, most casinos write the rules such that the odds go to them.
Many slot machines today offer varying levels of payout with the number of coins played. Of particular importance to note are linked machines that are placed in different casinos across the country, and tied to a central mega-jackpot. Often, in order to win the big money, you must play the maximum number of coins playable. I have been witness to two occasions in which someone got the winning combination (and won a small jackpot), but was “cheated out of” the big money because they did not play the maximum number of coins. By law, this information must be made clear on the face of the machine, but casinos are good at hiding it amongst the colorful designs and other eye-candy.
Cashiers in casinos have been trained (or machines, where they replace humans, have been programmed) to provide you with the largest possible denominations of bills when giving cash outs. This is because they know that you have to pass through the maze to get back out, and you might be tempted by the lure of a particular machine. You sit down to play just “one more dollar,” only to discover that the smallest bill you have is a five…
It would be wrong to say that no one ever wins. In fact, casinos are filled with winners, sometimes big winners. But stop and ask some of these people how much they have spent trying to get to that point and the numbers become a little more revealing. It is very rare to win huge amounts of cash without having paid excessive amounts to achieve that goal. Ever notice that casino winners (in large part) tend to be in the ages of 50 and upwards? Who else has all day to spend in front of a slot machine, shoving coins into it?
Sometimes, you get lucky. I’ve had days when I’ve walked into a casino with two dollars and come out two hours later with $20. There have also been days when I’ve gone in with $20 and come out in 15 minutes with nothing. The best way to win? Don’t play. But if you must, then these tips will at least help balance the odds a little.
13 do's & don'ts slot tips you must know
It’s a given among people who run both live casinos and online casinos: people love to play slot machines.
In some nations, including the united states, slot machines are the most-played casino games. In the rest, popularity is surging to the point slot play is rivaling table play.
That naturally leads players to the big question: “how do you win on the slot machines?” it also brings the related questions, “are there systems for beating the slot machines?” and “how have others beaten the machines?”
Odds on slot machines are unchanging. There’s nothing you can do legally that will change the outcome, though scam artists sometimes have succeeded until caught, arrested and imprisoned.
But there are approaches that will help you get the most out of the games.
Let’s take a two-tiered approach to the big questions, with tips for playing slot machines, systems for playing with their strengths and flaws, and slot machines cheats & scams.
SLOT TIPS: THE DO'S
SLOT TIP 1: HIGHER DENOMINATION SLOTS HAVE HIGHER PAYBACK PERCENTAGES
It was true when three-reel games ruled slot floors, and it’s true now when the large majority of games are video slots: dollar slots yield a higher payback percentage than quarter slots, which may more than nickel slots, which pay more than penny games.That doesn’t mean everyone should rush out and play dollar slots.
There are factors beyond payback percentage, including entertainment value and what you want from a game.
Even in pure dollars and cents, playing higher-denomination games means bigger bets and more risk. If you’re betting $3 on a three-coin dollar slot that pays 95 percent, your average losses will be more money than if you’re betting 40 cents on a 40-line 1-cent game that pays 86 percent.
SLOT TIP 2: IF YOU PLAY PROGRESSIVE SLOTS, MAKE SURE YOU BET ENOUGH TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE JACKPOTS
On progressive slot machines, a percentage of each wager is added to the jackpot or jackpots.
Three-reel slot machines usually have a single progressive jackpot on the top payoff, and you must bet maximum coins to be eligible.
On a three-coin dollar slot machines, for example, you can’t win the progressive if you bet only one or two coins. Instead, landing the top jackpot combination on the payline brings a reduced payoff at a fixed amount.
On video slots, progressive jackpots usually are multi-tiered. Anywhere from two to 12 progressive levels have been offered.
Typical is a four-tier progressive with levels labeled mini, minor, major and grand, or bronze, silver, gold and platinum, or something similar.
On some video slots, all players are eligible for the jackpots regardless of bet size. On others, you must make a separate bet to be jackpot eligible.
The jackpots are the main events on progressives, and aside from those jackpots, the games usually pay less than other games.
Don’t settle for a lower paying game. Make sure you make the bets necessary to be eligible for the jackpots. If you can’t afford those bets, choose a non-progressive game.
SLOT TIP 3: CHOOSE GAMES THAT FIT YOUR GOALS AND PLAYING PERSONALITY
Are you looking for games that give you maximum jackpot opportunities, games extend play with frequent small wins or something in between?
Lines can be a little blurred as game designers experiment in all formats but there are a few general guidelines.
Three-reel games put more emphasis on their top jackpots but have a lower hit frequency with more losing spins. They give you the best chance to win big, but also the best chance to lose fast.
In video slots with pick’em bonuses, you touch the screen to pick gift boxes, restaurant dishes, alien creatures or other game icons to reveal your bonuses.
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Video slots that feature pick’em bonuses usually have high hit frequencies with many small wins that give you extended play, but a lesser chance at a big jackpot.
Video slots that feature free spins as their main bonus events usually fall between the three-reel games and the pick’em games in both volatility and the chance at a big win.
During free spins you make no additional bets and can win anything up to the top jackpot. However, it’s also possible to win nothing on the free spins.
That possibility of a zero-bonus balances the possibility of bigger wins than you see in pick’em bonuses.
It’s up to you to decide where to find the most value – in jackpot chances, in the player-participation opportunity of pick’em bonuses, or in the hit-and-miss nature of free spins.
SLOT TIP 4: ALWAYS PLAY WITHIN YOUR BUDGET AND BE WILLING TO LOWER YOUR BET OR STOP PLAYING IF YOU HIT A LIMIT
Most sessions on slot machines will result in losing money, and there’s nothing you can do to chance that.
Sometimes you’ll win at slots, and even win big. Enjoy those times when they come.
But never bet money you can’t afford to lose, and be sure you’re playing games that fit your bankroll.
As a basic rule of thumb, your gambling bankroll should cover 250 bets to give you a 90 percent chance of lasting three hours.
Here’s a breakdown of recommended bankrolls for that 90-percent chance of three hours without spending it all in some common configurations:
If you walk into a live casino or log onto an online casino with $200, you can’t afford to play dollar slots. Should you decide you want to try them anyway and find you lose a quick $100, be prepared to either walk away or drop to penny slots with the rest of the money.
Slot machines don’t give player the opportunity to make multiple bets in combinations like craps or roulette , or to take advantage of ever-shifting odds as card counters do in blackjack . Nevertheless, slot machines players have tried systems play for generations.
Ultimately, however, slot machine odds are unchanging, the same on every spin. The most creative systems might be fun to try, but they can’t make you a consistent winner.
SLOT TIP 5: START SMALL TO WIN BIG, OR “PRIME THE PUMP”
Prime the pump bettors assume the wins won’t come right away. They start with small bets and work up and hope to be betting big when the wins come.
Actually, you’re as likely to win early as later on, and starting small will miss some winners. The payback percentage will be the same as if you’d bet the same amount on every spin.
Chuck flick, a slot player who tested many systems, tried priming the pump by stepping up his bets in a regular pattern. In five trials, he had four losing sessions and one winner – a normal outcome even if you’re not starting small.
SLOT TIP 6: PLAY SLOT MACHINES AT THE ENDS OF ROWS
The theory is that machines at the ends of rows are visible to passers-by and casinos want those other customers to see slot players winning.
That’s of much less importance today with payoffs by bar-coded ticket rather than by coins dropping in a tray. The obvious signs of winning are gone.
In modern casinos, games of the same type in a row usually have the same payback percentage.
SLOT TIP 7: SCOUT SLOT MACHINES OF THOSE THAT ARE PAYING BIG
Some players like to play games that have made big payouts, figuring they’re hot machines. Others avoid those games, figuring they’re due to go cold.
The opposite applies, too. Some players figure cold machines are duds. Others think they’re due to get hot.
In reality, allstreaks are just blips on the radar to machines that yield a normal payback percentage over hundreds of thousands of plays.
Machines are never “due” to go hot or cold, and recent paybacks do not offer any clue as to how a machine will perform for you.
SLOT TIP 8: LOOK FOR NEAR MISSES
Scouting near misses means looking for games with jackpot symbols on the reels or screen, but just short of a winning combination.
If you’re in the right frame of mind, the scouting can add a little intrigue to choosing a game, but near misses aren’t really any indication of what’s to come.
Near misses give no indication of future outcomes.
So it goes with slot systems. They can add a little interest to the games, but they can’t change your outcomes or lead you to a winning machine.
SLOT TIPS: THE DON'TS
In any business where a lot of cash changes hands, there will be people willing to go outside the law to game the system.
Slots in live casinos, where cheats can work on the physical device, have been more vulnerable to scams than slots in online casinos.
The law in jurisdictions with licensed casinos takes a very dim view of cheating the slots. Cheating licensed casinos is a felony and can carry stiff prison terms.
Nevertheless, here are a few scams players have tried.
SLOT TIP 9: STRING THEORY
When all slots were three-reel games with coin slots, cheaters worked a scam in which they tied affixed a string to a coin.
They’d drop the coin into the slot, trip the mechanism that gave them credit to play, then use the string to pull the coin back out.
One woman in nevada was caught using a coin on a brightly colored piece of yarn, easy to spot from a distance. Others were less obvious, but those who were caught were prosecuted.
Manufacturers designed more secure coin acceptance devices to make this cheat impossible. Today, most slots accept only paper currency or tickets and no longer have slot heads.
SLOT TIP 10: SLUG IT OUT
Fake coins, or slugs, were a problem for casinos as long as slot machines accepted coins.
Some were no more than a rounded piece of metal, with no design. Others were more elaborate, and counterfeiters in the eastern U.S. Stamped slot tokens that looked much like those used in new jersey.
As long the metal and manufacturing costs were a lot less than the value of a real slot coin, there was incentive for cheaters.
Coin recognition software grew progressively more sophisticated to combat the problem.
SLOT TIP 11: MAGNETIC FORCE
Some slot machines in the 1960s and ‘70s were vulnerable to ordinary magnets.
Cheaters could use the magnets to make the reels float freely instead of stopping on a spin. The scam artists would remove the magnet only when the reels had aligned in a winning combination.
More sophisticated were top-bottom devices, used into the 1980s. The top was a metal rod that was bent on one end, and the bottom a strand of wire.
The wire would be inserted in the coin slot to hit a metal contact, and then the top would be jammed in the coin slot. The combination completed a circuit that would activate a coin dispenser and send free coins pouring into the slot tray.
Protection had to be built into the games to shield vital parts from magnets and to make it impossible to hit contacts and create an electrical circuit.
SLOT TIP 12: INSIDE JOB
This scam was pulled on so-called “big bertha” slots in the 1990s. Big bertha’s are bigger and wider than other slots.
A team was arrested in nevada after they crowded around a big bertha. The front of the machine was opened, a woman climbed inside and the machine was mostly shut. She then rigged results.
With team members blocking view, everything looked normal to casual passers-by, but security was alert enough to halt the cheats.
SLOT TIP 13: CHEAT BY CHIP
A software engineer for the nevada gaming commission programmed chips that functioned normally in slot machines, except those in the know could take advantage of a cheat code.
When the cheats inserted specific numbers of coins in a specific order, the machine would pay out.
The engineer was arrested, of course.
Last update: december 15, 2019
For nearly 25 years, john grochowski has been one of the most prolific gaming writers in the united states. He’s been ranked ninth by gamblingsites among the top 11 gambling experts at gambling sites and his video poker answer book was ranked eighth among the best gambling books of all time.
In some nations, including the united states, slot machines are the most-played casino games. In the rest, popularity is surging to the point slot play is rivaling table play.
In some nations, including the united states, slot machines are the most-played casino games. In the rest, popularity is surging to the point slot play is rivaling table play.
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Win at slots: 6 tips to improve your chances
Just because slot machines are the loudest and brightest game in any casino, doesn't mean it's easy to win at slots. Keep in mind these online casino strategies to maximize your chances of winning at slots.
Many people might believe that playing online slots is one of the simplest forms of gambling. Though this may be true in some regard, strategic thinking is also involved when playing slots, just like with online poker strategies.
How do online slot machines work?
Most players do not understand how to play and how to win at slot machines, perhaps because of negative assumptions like the simplicity behind the game, the high probability of winning and the theory that no online strategies are needed. Know that winning isn't necessarily easy and luck is very important as well as a basic idea of the how slot machines work.
- Every spin on a slot machine is totally random. Every time the machine is played, the computer program picks a random symbol on the first, the second, then the third reel.
- The payback or return of the machine is then based on the probability of lining up the winning combinations and the payout for these combinations.
- The sequence of the symbols cannot be influenced, therefore, every spin has the same chance of winning as the previous spin.
Slots probability
The probability to win a significant amount on slot machines is slim to none. Normally, casinos do not disclose the odds on slot machines, except for in the UK. So, often players cannot be informed of their chances of winning, but the chances are low.
Generally speaking, the easier the game is, the worse the odds are and because slot machines are played much faster than other casino games they also take your money faster. Furthermore, whatever the slot odds are, they are usually worse than table games such as baccarat and blackjack.
Start placing your bets with caesars casino slots:
How to win at slots & play for real money
When it comes to online casinos and games you can rely on for slot strategies (as well as for good bonuses from some of NJ's best licensed online slots casinos). Here's are our top picks:
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up to $1,000 first deposit match bonus (NJ only, 21+) | Offline slots strategiesGranted, there's a low probability of winning a substantial amount on slot machines. That said, there are some offline strategies to improve your chances to win at slots. Keep reading to get the lowdown. Strategy # 1: the one playThis is one of the simplest strategies for slots and also one of the most effective. The whole idea of this one play strategy is that you play the slot machine once with the highest amount possible. If you win, you play it again, if not you try another machine. It is a very simple strategy but does require a little bit of luck too, however it saves players from sitting at the same machine for hours. Strategy # 2: the standard deviationThis strategy uses an advanced mathematical equation to determine what are the chances of winning on a certain slot machine. As on many other occasions, this strategy takes patience, concentration and budget to complete, however, a return is nearly guaranteed. Follow the steps below – how to use the standard deviation strategy?
Online strategies: 6 casino tips to win at slotsHere's a list of picks we suggest you follow if you want to step up your game with online casinos and video slots: Stick a fixed maximum payoutSome video slots have a fixed maximum payout whereas others have progressive jackpots which means they have a meter which increases the jackpot with every play without a return. Therefore, the more people play them the higher the jackpot. Progressive games might seem the most attractive due to the high return. However, the huge disadvantage of the progressive games is that in most online casinos they are all linked together. Because of the number of people all playing for that huge jackpot amount, your odds of winning on a progressive game are lower. That goes not only for the jackpot amount but also for the odds of winning smaller amounts as well. Therefore, it might be more profitable to stick to games with a fixed maximum payout and limit play on progressive games with huge jackpots. Choose games with smallest jackpotsTo have the best chance to win at slots in the short term, choose the games with the smallest jackpots. The smaller the jackpot, the easier it is to win, increasing your chances of walking away a winner. The bigger the jackpot, the harder it is to actually hit and the more likely you'll lose in the short-term. It takes a lot of playing hours to create the huge jackpots which are why your chances are lower. Furthermore, games that are novelty themed with huge jackpots have the worst odds so stick to smaller returns. Avoid video reelsSlot machines with videos might look more attractive and fun. But the reality is that these machines pay back far less than the normal machines. It can be anything up to a 5% less return, which might seem like nothing but is, in fact, a great amount for slots. The reason for this? The videos and entertainment features on slots take a bit longer to display. While this is happening the casino is not making money. So, the machine is programmed to take a little more money from customers when they are playing. Therefore, a good idea is to stick to the classic slot machines in order to improve return. How to win at online slotsNot all online casinos are created equal. You need to find one that has big named slot games and in your preferred type of genre. Remember, more is better. The return to player is the theoretical percentage of money that you’ll earn playing a slot game. A high RTP, like 96%, means that you’ll usually make 96% of your investments back on average when playing a slot. Would you rather have small, consistent wins or is it more fun to try and get infrequent yet huge wins? Highly volatile slots tend to have fewer payouts with more money; low volatility slots usually have more frequent wins at a smaller value. Many but not all online slots have bonus rounds that are triggered if certain conditions are met. In the bonus rounds, you get some special rules, game-play, and extra or free spins of the reel. Slot games with these bonus rounds often have huge payouts, although they can be volatile. Have a set amount of money you’re prepared to spend on the slots. If you’re playing this afternoon with $40, you stop whether or not you’ve lost it all or have made a nice profit. Online slots should never be a way to make money or strike it rich. Knowing the above tips can make your slot-playing experience even better! “the house always wins”, but you can still have a ton of fun while playing. Best NJ bonuses to win at slotsHave a look at our recommended best online casinos to play in NJ. Read our reviews of their apps and services. Find out which casinos offer the winning slots experience for you. The above bonuses are only available for new jersey residents, over 21 years old. Promotions verified last on mar 6, 2020 Slot machine strategies that actually workSlot machines account for 70% of all gaming revenue. That means there are a lot of people coming home with empty pockets after visiting the casinos. Slot machines are no longer used to keep the women occupied while the men bet the “real” money on table games. Slot machines now bring in the “real” money, and slot machines are played by both women and men of all ages. There are no secret tips that can guarantee a person will win on slot machines. Any claims that are made that slot machines can be beat are completely fraudulent. Every slot machine is programmed to payback less than the amount of money it takes in. In other words, if you own a slot machine you are guaranteed to make money. That being said, there are some strategies that can help a player increase their chances of success while playing slot machines. I am going to present to you ten useful strategies and tactics that will improve your play. Strategy #1- determine your bankroll before you get to the casinoThis is the most important tip I can give you. Before you ever sit down to play a slot machine, you should have already determined a fixed amount of money that you are prepared to LOSE. You need to assume you are going to lose all of your money. I am going to go over ways to keep that from happening, but you must be fully prepared for the worst case scenario. Make sure you are okay with losing that amount of money, and if you are not, then reduce the amount. Do not have access to any other money while you are playing. Use the bankroll that you have, and that is it. Strategy #2- difference between class II and class III slot machinesOne of the hidden secrets in the gaming industry is the use of class II slot machines instead of class III machines. Class III slot machines are known as “vegas-style” slot machines. They’re the machines that most people think of when they think of a slot machine. However, slot manufacturers have managed to develop class II machines that look and play very much like class III machines. Why is that a problem? Well, class II machines were developed in states that had laws against the use of slot machines. Many of those same states allowed the game of bingo. Slot experts figured out a way to side-step the law. They developed a slot machine that was based around the game of bingo. The class II machines today look and play almost exactly like a regular slot machine, but internally they are very different. Any class III slot machine in a regulated gambling jurisdiction must have a random number generator (RNG). The RNG insures that every spin of the slot machine is completely random, or at least as close to random as humanely possible. The specifics of how the program works are unimportant, the important part for the player is to know that each spin of the machine is truly random and not programmed into the machine. Class III machines in regulated jurisdictions such as las vegas and atlantic city are often tested to make sure this holds true. Class II machines are not completely random. Unfortunately, the exact workings of class II machines are a bit ambiguous and therein lies the problem. Supposedly, the games are based around the game of bingo and you are competing against others in the casino. Each spin represents a numbered ball that corresponds to a board similar to a bingo board. The bottom line is it has already been determined who is going to win. The spins are not random, they are programmed into the machines. You cannot hit the jackpot on every spin of a class II machine, but on class III machines you can. Class III machines provide the security of knowing that every time you push the spin button you have the same chance of hitting the jackpot. My advice is to make sure any machine you play is a class III machine that works with a random number generator. I would be hesitant to play any class II machines. If you want to learn more about class II and III slot machines, I have written an entire post on this that you can view here at my professional gambling blog. Strategy #3- casino must be regulated and have independent third-party oversightThis strategy relates to the previous strategy because usually you find class II machines in casinos that are not state regulated. Most class II machines are found on indian gaming reservations where many state regulations do not apply. Most indian casinos are self-regulated by a tribal gaming counsel that is composed of fellow indians. This is not to say that they are unfair, but there needs to be independent third-party oversight with any casino. For land-based casinos, make sure they are state regulated by some type of gaming commission that answers to the state and the people, not the casinos. For online casinos, there are now independent third-party regulators who test the accuracy of the software that online casinos use to make sure that it is completely random. Whether the casino is on land or on the internet, there needs to be an outside unbiased party that is regulating the casino where you are going to play. Tips to win at las vegas slot machinesTricks to win big on slot machinesSlot machines consistently amount for 70 percent of all the business in casinos. These games have been popular since the 1980s. The slot machine offers jackpot amounts that can make someone a million dollar winner with a simple $3 bet. The progressive nature of the game makes the casino player feel like they have a chance to break the bank. The simplicity of the game also draws people in as little skill is required. Know the payoutsAlways look for machines with higher payout percentages. This can vary from game to game, as well as from casino to casino. Being familiar with the machines that pay out in the 96 percent to 98 percent range will allow the player to have the best shot at winning. Talking to the slot floor manager could also provide information on the best games to play. Casino specials are also a way to tell what machines might be paying out more. Machines that are shown in the advertisements are the machines the casino could be directing people to so they have people winning and telling others about those winnings. Know your bankroll limitMake it a habit to only play slots with the money from your initial bankroll, and not from any credits you may have earned along the way. As soon as you have reached the limit you have set for yourself, walk away. Walking out with money will make you feel like a winner. If that strategy is not acceptable to you as a player, set a limit on the amount of winnings you will be willing to lose (not including your bankroll). Then walk away when you have reached that loss limit. Play low dollar machines firstPlay the machines that have a lower number of reels on them. The machines that have only three or four reels are easier to read and will cost you less money per spin. While it is generally true that the higher stakes machines pay out larger amounts over time, if they don't fit your budget then they should be avoided. Only play those machines when you build up your bankroll to a comfortable level. Maxamize your betPlaying all the lines on a slot machine will enhance your chances of winning. Slot machines reward the players who consistently play the maximum bet by offering higher payouts. If your bankroll will not allow you to play the maximum bet on a machine select a machine that better fits your budget. Get the reward cardMost casinos offer membership programs or rewards for allowing them to track your play. It is free to join a casinos rewards club, which will entitle you to free comps and promotions even if you do not win. This way, you will insure you get back something of financial value for your time spent gambling. These cards show how much you gamble, which can help in budgeting your bankroll as well. So, let's see, what we have: for online slots nuts and enthusiasts, the flash of slots games are known for coming in a variety of themes, payouts, paylines and betting platforms, each at casino slot tactics |
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