If you remember your first casino trip, you likely recall the pinging bells and sounds of the slot section – with its numerous machines and glowing lights. Slots are arguably one of the heart and soul areas within a casino – and for good reason.
Though it’s far harder to win at slots than it is at poker or blackjack, there are certain things you can do to improve your odds of getting lucky. While many guides out there focus on the positives, they hardly ever mention that the RNG of the slot machines makes it very difficult to figure out how to get a winning machines. But here are a few tips to help:
Low risk vs high reward
Most slot machines, from three-reels and up, have a single progressive jackpot as their top payoff option, while video slots offer progressive multi-tiered jackpots. Both have their place but in order to stand a chance of hitting the jackpot, you’ll have to pay in extra. If you don’t, the payout the machines yield isn’t worth wasting your time on, as there are other machines you can find with a better payout option.
Video slots that have free spin options have a high risk but an equally high reward option and are ideal for those who enjoy the surprise element, with the possibility of a big payout falling their way due to luck.
Video slots with bonuses that you can pick usually have a good chance of you winning something small, to extend your play period, but the big jackpot prize is usually less commonly reached. These are great options if you play them continually.
Know when to switch machines
When playing slots, knowing that you’re going to lose more often than not means you need to have a set budget in mind per game or machine, and the will to walk away once you’ve hit a certain point. While there are times you’ll win – and could even win big – it’s best to cash out as soon as possible and count yourself lucky.
As always, never play with money you can’t afford to lose, and if you find you’re on a losing streak and have lost over half the money you’ve paid in to any given slot machine, it’s time to look at dropping to lower value machines and playing on them with what you have left. You’re as likely to win on a quarter slot, as you are on a dollar slot – and playing with $100 will see you go much further on the quarters than watching those dollars disappear.
Research which machines pay out more
Good old-fashioned research can come in handy, especially if you’re hoping to find a game that will pay out more than those around it. Look online for reviews from casinos that showcase the return to player percentage and aim for ones at 96% or higher as your main stops as you have a higher chance of winning on them.
While wins are never guaranteed, slot machines are fun to play, especially if you have a favourite one that has good returns – and if you quit while ahead, you’ll definitely walk away with more in your pocket than you started with.