Slot machines, also known as slots, are said to be some of the most random casino games out there, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t tricks, tips and recommendations when it comes to betting money responsibly and with higher winnings (or lower losses).
That said, and to be clear, there are no sure-fire strategies to win at slot machines. The reason is that they are programmed so that only between 3% and 8% of games or bets are winners. In fact, the probability of winning something in a game with a slot machine is 18.3% of the times played, according to data from the professor of Applied Mathematics at the CEU San Pablo University, Miguel Córdoba, in the book Anatomía del Juego . A comparative analysis of the chances of winning different games of chance.
But don’t be discouraged! There are tricks to minimize losses and play responsibly to get the biggest wins. Here are 10 tips to be successful at slots.
Benefit from bonuses and promotions
Most online casinos offer welcome bonuses to attract new players and also loyalty programs to encourage their users to keep playing. They usually send newsletters via email or post their promotions in a specific section of their website.
These promotions can consist, for example, of getting a no deposit bonus so you can try their games in a real way without investing any money, of having your deposit doubled to play with or even of getting a percentage back of the losses during a certain period; therefore, they are a good option to minimize losses and get a larger amount to play with.
However, it is important to take into account the features, rules and restrictions of these promotions, since the most common is that you must meet certain conditions to receive the benefits (for example, wager X times the bonus amount received).
If you want to know what types of bonuses and promotions there are, you can read our article The best casino bonuses for slot machines. There we explain the exclusive bonuses for this gambling game, the most recommended ones, how they work and their advantages and disadvantages.
Choose the right slot machine
An important variable to consider in order to win money when playing slot machines is the choice of machine. Much has been said about false myths and legends about how to choose a slot machine whose reliability is doubtful. However, there are some recommendations that you should consider when choosing the slot machine that will benefit you more than others:
● Choose slots with the highest payout rate. This point is explained in the following section.
● Choose games with good pay tables. This point is explained below.
● Play at casino slots, not in bars (if you want to play physical slots).
The reason is one: the payback (payout rate) of slot machines in such places is usually much lower than in physical and online casinos.
In casinos, the payback rate ranges from 95% to 99%, while in other types of premises it can range from 50% to 75%.
Avoid advanced machines.
Playing a progressive slot with the goal of winning the accumulated jackpot can be very tempting. However, the chances of winning the jackpot are about the same as the chances of winning the lottery. In addition, most of them require maximum bets, so you will need to have a very large budget to support the game.
Choose slots with the highest payout rate
As we mentioned earlier, slot machines are programmed so that 92-97% of bets are non-winners. This means that the odds of winning on any given spin are low, but they can be even lower if you don’t choose well which machine you want to play on (whether online or physically in a casino, bar or game room).
The question now is: How do I know what the payout rate of each slot machine is?
Online Slots: You can refer to the reviews published by the casino websites themselves or even check out casino forums where users share their experiences and knowledge.
Physical slot machines (casinos, bars, arcades): Check with the staff and other players in the room. It is also useful to watch a particular slot machine to see if it pays out a lot of prizes per day or not.
Choose the games with the best pay tables
Most online casino sites have pay tables that display the payouts made in the various games over the last few hours, along with the winning amounts. Some even tell you how much the winning person bet.
Use this information! Study your favorite games to see which games bring the most money and choose the most profitable ones.
Consider the different types of slot machines
The logic and operation of slot machines is the same and the same for all of them. That is, they are games of chance, and probabilities or statistics cannot predict their behavior at all, since all numbers or symbols have the same probability of appearing in each of the new spins.
However, it is interesting to know that there are different types of slot machines because the different characteristics between the different types allow you to choose different types of games and thus your chances of winning on the slot machines will be higher (or lower).
An example is the paylines available, the number of numbers or symbols available depending on the number of reels of the slot machine in question, or whether or not there are bonus phases. All of these variables affect your gameplay, so it is important to take them into account.
If you want to know what these different types of slot machines are, we explain them in the article Types of online slots: There are 7. Do you know the differences?
If you win a progressive jackpot, change the game
If you have won a lot of money playing a pure gambling casino game, switch and try another one because the casino game you won on is unlikely to give you a big jackpot.
This is especially true if it is a progressive slot machine. Once you have won the jackpot or progressive jackpot, the machine will reset to zero and although you will still be entitled to prizes, if you win the progressive jackpot (the odds of which are as low as winning the lottery, but there are always some) it will be a small amount.
In fact, our recommendation if you win a progressive jackpot would be to stop playing and go out and celebrate!
Set a budget and stick to it
It is very important that you decide before you start playing what amount you are willing to play (bankroll) and do not exceed it. This can sometimes be difficult when we think that “the machine is hot”. That is why we give you some tips and tricks to make it easier for you to set a limit.
Stick a post-it note on the screen of your computer or device with the amount you want to spend so that it is always visible.
When you play physical slots, do not carry any credit or debit cards. Only the amount of cash you will be playing.
To control your losses on online slots, you can contact the customer support of the casino website you are playing at and ask them to limit your daily, weekly and/or monthly deposits.
Do not gamble under the influence of stimulants such as alcohol.
Read the instructions and options of the games
Okay, this may seem very simple or unnecessary; but it is important. When you play an online slot machine, there are usually bonus levels that open on another screen when 3 bonus symbols match in a row.
It is possible to win back a fair amount of money in these bonus games, but it is important that you know the game instructions so that you are prepared. You can also try them out first by playing for free on the sites that allow this.
In addition to the bonus levels, there are also special bonus symbols that can appear in the game and give you more playing and winning opportunities, such as the wild bonus or the scatter symbol.
Don’t be fooled by false tricks and myths
You hear all sorts of things. From the fact that the temperature of the machines can indicate when they will pay out, to legends about the position of the slot machines in the room and fake tricks about patterns you have to find in the machines to know when the next jackpot will be awarded. Nothing but the truth. Most of them are superstitions and unscientific myths.
We recommend that you read our article “13 False Tricks and Urban Legends About Slot Machines” to learn what the most common false reports about these slot machines are.
Play with maximum bet
As we all know, when playing slot machines, the chances of losing are greater than the winnings. This is something that you have to consider beforehand in order to accept it and not lose (or choose another type of casino game).
However, one trick is to use the maximum bet to win more money. These cases are most common in progressive slot machines, as it is important to play with the maximum bet in order to be able to claim the jackpot in case you win.
However, we recommend that you only follow this recommendation if you have a high gaming budget, otherwise you can lose your bet in seconds. The most responsible way is to play with a minimum bet and once you have doubled or tripled your winnings, invest them by making higher bets until you reach a maximum bet. This way you only play with the winnings and not the money you have invested directly.
When you win, you change the game
As we have already mentioned in the article “8 Basic Tricks to Win Money in an Online Casino”, if you have won a lot of money on a slot machine, we recommend that you switch and try another one, because it is very likely that if you have already won the same one, there will not be another big jackpot. Especially if it is a progressive slot machine, because if you are lucky enough to hit the jackpot, the score goes back to zero and you cannot scratch there anymore.
In addition, if the jackpot you have won is very large, it is best to leave the game there and keep your money in your pocket.
Don’t bet what you win
This trick to win money at slots is important, whatever you win you should put aside and not use it to continue your betting, because if you don’t you will end up with empty pockets and betting until you are down to zero, it’s that simple!
You can keep the money you won in another bag or in a special wallet if you are in a casino, bar or game room; and when you play online slots you have to keep the accounts or you have the option to enter the initial amount you want to play and then start the game. So if at the end of the game you have, for example, €50 left, those are the ones you won and you should NOT invest again.
Another option is to request a refund on your account for the part that is not reinvested in the game.
And of course, if you win a progressive jackpot… Stop playing and go out and celebrate!
Learn how to make the most of slots
As we have already said, slot machines are pure games of chance, where personal skill plays a minor role in whether you win or not. However, if we take into account the tricks mentioned above, we can maximize the winnings and significantly minimize the losses.
And, in addition, if you take the time to know exactly how these machines work, that is, what options they have, what additional features they have, whether they have bonuses or not, how the number of reels affects them, etc., then it will be easier for you to win money on slot machines by playing more responsibly and profitably. With more knowledge.
We recommend that you read “How Slot Machines Work: Get the Most Out of Them”!
If you need more information, we recommend that you consult this guide to online casinos in Spain, where you will find very complete and reliable information on what to consider when choosing an online casino, the different casino bonuses and tips and tricks for the different types of games.