Slots use a random number generator to determine the winning numbers, meaning the outcome is totally random. So, is there anything you can do to help improve your chances of winning when you spin? You might not be able to employ strategies like you do in other games, but there are some steps you can take to help you win more long term.
1. Take Advantage of No Deposit Bonuses
Playing slots can be an expensive hobby. That’s particularly true if you’re playing with the maximum bet to try and win the highest jackpot sum.
One way to cut the cost when playing slots is to search for no deposit bonus offers by online casinos. It’s essentially free money. Yes, they’ll have minimum wagering requirements but you can’t argue against free credits for spins.
2. Target Smaller Jackpots
The glamorous side of online slots is very seductive. We’ve all seen the stories about players becoming instant multi-millionaires after playing a few spins on the latest top slot. The largest online slots progressive jackpot ever won was on Microgaming’s Mega Moolah back on September 28, 2018 at Grand Mondial Casino for €18,915,721.
Those wins are rare so it’s important to set your sights lower. The smaller jackpots might not be as lucrative but they occur more frequently and cost less to trigger.
3. Keep an Eye on Slots That Haven’t Paid Out for a While
It’s a common scene around land-based casinos. The wily old dear keeping tabs on each slot machine on the casino floor. Waiting to see if the punter on the game lands any wins before swooping in and playing on the ones that haven’t paid out.
The same is the case for the online slots. Keep an eye on the last time the jackpot paid out. If it’s a while then you never know. It might be more likely to burst.
4. Check Out the RTP
If you’ve played slots for a while then you’ll be familiar with the term “RTP”. It stands for “return to player” and it is the percentage of the money taken from bets that is returned to the player in the shape of winnings over time. The higher the RTP percentage, the more likely it is that you’ll trigger a payout.
5. Read the Pay Table
In the information and rules section of an online slot it displays how to play the game and explains all aspects of the game play. This includes the symbols, free spins, bonus features, and the paylines. It also shows the pay table where the value of each symbol within the game is displayed.
If you want to maximize your chances of winning then it helps to understand the value of the symbols and winning combinations on the reels.
6. Stick to Your Bankroll Management Plan
Every time we talk about playing at a casino, one of the most important things we say is to manage your bankroll effectively. Playing online slots is no different. You must have a bankroll management plan before pressing that spin button.
If you go into slots play without a plan then you’ll end up losing track of the money you’re putting on bets and the amount of winnings you’re triggering. That’s when it becomes dangerous and you leave yourself exposed to huge losses.
7. Play for Free Before Real Money
One of the best things about playing slots online is the fact that many online casinos offer you the chance to play the games for free. You can even visit a number of slots developer websites where they offer free-play versions of their games.
Use this opportunity to play for free before you play for real money so you can get used to how the slot game of your choice works. The more you know about a slot, the greater the chance of you hitting the big wins.
8. Choose Wisely
The slots market online is now such an intense platform. Revenues have increased ten-fold over the past decade. This has meant that slots players have never had more choice with regards to their games. There are more developers creating the slots than ever before. Technological advancements also mean that mobile, virtual reality, and 3D slots are all commonplace now.
Take your time when choosing your next slot. Pick a slot you think you’ll enjoy. Pick a slot you have heard good things about. Pick a slot you think you’ll win big on. It could be a progressive jackpot slot such as NetEnt’s Mega Fortune or even a classic like Cleopatra by IGT. It’s up to you, but pick wisely.
9. Stick to What You Know
Online slots often have a theme or a style of game play that gives the game its own identity. You can have the Action Stacked Symbols in Konami Gaming slots or the Cascading Reels in IGT slots or the Locked Reels of NetEnt slots.
Developers will often release slots that group together and can be considered very similar in the way they are played. If you’ve enjoyed success on a certain slot for whatever reason then find other slots that play in a similar way.
10. Enjoy It!
Ultimately, playing slots should be about enjoyment. Yes, winning is a crucial part of it all but what’s the point in spending hours spinning reels on a slot game you can’t stand? If you find playing a slot fun and you have the bankroll to fund the game time then you’re more likely to keep playing until you win.
