However, I’m going to disappoint many of you. It is not easy to win at slots. Slots are based on randomness, and winning big money is not a common thing while knowing the secret of how to beat the slot machine is the dream of every player. Since everything in gambling depends on fortune, there is no guarantee of success when visiting a casino.
There are a few tips for increasing your chances of beating a slot machine. The number 1 principle is always to remember that each slot machine has its own payroll structure and rules.
There are still many different enthusiasts who are searching for patterns in slots’ outcomes. And most of the 100 % bulletproof systems of how to beat slots originate from these enthusiasts.
The fact is, however, that slots have no memory and every game is based purely on luck, or the lack of it. The only correct strategy is to play and stick to a few rules in order to help you to play better. However, these tips are not based on any systems or statistics of slot machines.
Online slots strategy tips. The first of these terms, you must get out and find another loser to watch for. This also deals a decent amount of damage to enemies from a safe distance, how to claim a free spins offer you don’t need impressive English skills to start playing online. Pick an online slot with the right volatility level to suit your style and bankroll. Play slot machines that suit your gaming style and your style only, not what someone else tells you to. If you have a small bankroll, maybe you should consider low variance games to start with, and then work your way up when you feel comfortable.
The well-known craps player, Frank Scoblete, in one of his books describes the encounter with his guru, a legend known as The Captain. At one of their first meetings, he gave Frank this good advice:
“Do not play games with high casino advantage. It’s offering higher payouts, but you will definitely lose more money in the long run.”
This same advice applies to slot machines. Each online slot machine offers a different return, or RTP (return to player). The higher the RTP number, the less you lose. Especially if you play often. RTP can be found in the information of all games. Most online slots have a return to player of around 96 %. If it offers a lesser number, you should not play it. Some slots have a superb RTP of around 98 %, for example, Blood Suckers by NetEnt.
Before you start playing for real money, just try the slot for free. Every online casino offers that. Launch the game and try to find Return to player figure. If it is very low, do not play this game no matter how good looking it is. Never play games of place bets with bad RTP.
You cannot win every time, so always know just how much you can afford to spend. Determining the amount of money that you can use for the game is one of the basics of proper money management.
This is very important for all players. It does not matter how you play, what you play or how much you play.
You should always bet to achieve the longest gaming sessions as possible. It is also necessary to keep your bankroll so that you can experience a winning series that pumps your bankroll through the roof. If you lose your bankroll too soon, you will have absolutely no chance of getting a positive series during the game. In the online casino, always think of this golden rule of online gambling.
Smart players always know when to leave the table. And it doesn’t matter whether they are winning or losing. This is the best way to protect your money. Always set limits on winning and losing. It depends only on you. Be careful, this is very important.
Always keep in mind how much time you spend at the slot machines. The best way of doing this is to combine it with the previous point. Just watch it by setting a financial limit. For example, you end up winning the chosen amount and stop playing until another day.
Have a lucky streak? In that case, keep playing. But keep yourself in line and do not bet more than you can afford. Because it might also happen that you will eventually leave with empty pockets. And of course, no player likes that.
We mentioned earlier that you should play in a way which helps you to play longer. But it is important to realize that a longer session doesn’t always mean bigger winnings. If you meet your limit, you should end. We mention betting strategies a little further on.
But only if you are worth it! The amount of your bet should always be based primarily on your total bankroll. When playing slot machines, you can change the bet at any time, so there is no problem here.
Because of the negative expectation, betting with the max denomination will only deplete your bankroll faster. On the other hand, in some situations, it may be beneficial to play for more money. This is particularly the case when higher bets will unlock additional game features and increase the return to player figure or allows one to win a progressive jackpot.
For most of the progressive slots, jackpots are only available to players who bet at the maximum level. In such a case, it is always better to bet for a max. Otherwise, you only raise the jackpot for the player who comes after you. If your bankroll does not allow you to bet on max with jackpot machines, it’s better not to play at all.
Not many people know that using a loyalty point which online casinos offer could lower the house edge.
Let’s say, for example, that you get 1 point for every €5 bet on the slot machine. You can exchange 100 points for €1. Therefore, for every €500, you can get €1 in cash.
With the little help of Mathematics, we will find that for each €1 you will get back €0.002. In conclusion, the RTP of the machines will increase by 0.2 %. It’s not too much, but in gambling, even tenths of percents count.
One of the things that most novices are not familiar with is the winning frequency. This indicator shows how often you can expect a win, on average. Slot machines have an average winning frequency of 10 to 20 %. That means that (again on average) every 10th to 20th spin wins.
If a slot machine pays out more often, it usually means that individual winnings are lower, but you can play this online slot longer and wait for a bonus feature. If a slot pays out less often, it probably doesn’t have any bonus round or features, but the payouts for individual winning lines are higher.
With this knowledge, you could adjust your play to your bankroll and style.
If you’ve already read something about betting systems and strategies, you might notice that they can be divided into two categories:
Betting systems, when the bet amount depends on the outcome of the previous round, have been well known for centuries. For example, Martingale, when a player doubles a bet after a loss and returns to the basic level when winning, was the first betting system ever. A similar system is also known as Fibonacci, which uses the famous mathematical sequence.
What is interesting about these two systems is that, without bet limit or bankroll size, they show a long-term increasing tendency, but with deep falls. However, after adding adjustments such as table limits, these systems are also hopelessly unusable.
Systems from the second group are more far more exciting. The player changes the bet amount when the expected value (or house edge) changes. These systems are mostly used by card counters at blackjack, where the house edge varies according to the number of remaining high cards in the decks.
There are several betting strategies for slot machines that fall into both categories. So let’s take a look at some of them.
Some elementary systems have already been developed by people from the ELK company, who make online slots. They have made up 3 betting strategies:
The bet will increase by 2 levels after every 5 consecutive losses. When the player wins, the bet returns to the original level.
The bet will increase by 1 level after each loss until it rises by 4 levels. When the player wins, the bet returns to the original level.
The Jumper system is the opposite of the Booster. In this case, the bet increases by 1 level after a win until it rises by 4 levels. Each loss returns the bet to the original amount.
You can try these systems free of charge at the Taco Brothers slot machine. Any of these 3 strategies can be selected directly from the game menu, so players don’t have to adjust the bet amount after each turn.
Just remember! These are not proven systems, and the game developers themselves claim that playing according to these strategies don’t change the return to player of the slot machine.
We like to try out new things. And this betting strategy is quite new. But be careful, it is so drastic that we must warn you in advance:
With this strategy, your bankroll will not win in the long run. It is based only on luck. For this strategy, you need exactly €135. If you have less, it makes no sense to bet on this system.
You start by playing a 25-cent slot and you play 20 games with one unit. It will cost you €5. If you are in profit after these 20 spins, start the next 20-spin series. But if you finished this 20-spin series at a loss, move to the next level.
The basic principle is very simple: You always play 20 spins. If you win, you remain on existing bets. Once you are below the initial bankroll level, you move to the next step.
So if you lose 20 games with a 50-cent bet, you go for the dollar bet for a €1 spin and after that the final for €5. Twenty dollars cost you €20 and €5 costs €100.
The worst thing that can happen and often happens is when you lose all 80 games in a row and you lose all €135. But during the 20-game sequence, you usually hit some small winnings.
A very important thing is to choose the best possible slot machine for this strategy.
Play only on slot machines that pay out winnings at the same rate. For example, one credit jackpot is paid €400, two credits are paid €800 and three credits payout €1 200.
Once you’ve crossed all levels, from 25 cents to €5 check your bankroll status. If you’re in extra, go to €5 slots, if you’re at a loss, go to 25-cent slots and play again.
You must have at least €135 for each 20 + 20 series. Whatever amount you have won or lost in the previous game, always put it away and do not play any further with it.
You do not have to play the whole game on one slot machine. If you do not like the 25-cents play, you can go right away to the next level. Follow your guts, it’s a lucky system. Choose your favourite slots and enjoy the game.
The disadvantage for the 20 + 20 system is that you lose far more money on €5 slots than on slots with a different denomination. It is true. But on the other hand, these slots usually pay out quite a lot. And if you’re lucky, just two winning spins will cover your entire bankroll for the game.
For this 20 + 20 strategy, your bankroll management is also important. If you have €600, you can play the entire sequence four times. Always follow all 20 + 20 principles and you will see that the game is even more fun. Do not lose control of the game and do not slip away, if you have a losing series. Otherwise, you could lose far more money.
Using standard deviation to predict the outcome of a slot machine is a strategy that can be found on some sites. And we decided to debunk it. First of all, let us clarify what the standard deviation is and why we should be interested in the machines at all.
The standard deviation is a relatively often used quantity in the statistics, which tells us how much the values are deviated or scattered from the arithmetic mean. In our case, it would be the payout of the slot machine.
Thanks to the random number generator, slot machines’ payouts can be over 100 % in a short period of time, so players can actually get some winnings.
This standard deviation is then referred to as the volatility and it shows us the risk of individual machines. Knowing slots’ volatility can be helpful in creating budget and betting strategies. It is true that slots with high volatility pay less often, but higher figures and vice versa.
Well, this can be shown by a very simplified example, when we wager four bets each of 100 coins on two slot machines. In both cases, we will withdraw €200.
Slot Machine A | Slot Machine B | |
Bet | Win | Win |
100 | 0 | 40 |
100 | 0 | 70 |
100 | 0 | 50 |
100 | 200 | 40 |
Sum | 200 | 200 |
Arithmetic Mean | 50 | 50 |
Standard Deviation | 100 | 14,1421 |
As you can see, in both cases, the result is the same. The player withdraws €200 and a total loss is of €200.
On the Table, you can see that, even though the average is the same for both games, the standard deviation is different. Good news, everyone! You do not have to count the volatility of the slots as we do. Just take a look at the payroll for the individual symbols.
If the top symbol pays out 200 coins, it could be a low volatility slot. If the slot offers 5 000 coins for the highest symbol, it will be a slot with high volatility.
On the Internet, you can find a strategy that claims that slot players are able to use this statistical calculation. According to this strategy, you need to find the slots which meet these 3 steps:
Once you have calculated the AM, play the game for the minimum bet and change it to max every 11th every spin. In some cases, it is also recommended to play for a maximum of 9, 10, 12 and 13 spins to increase the chances of winning. Very simple.
Although at first sight, it may seem that calculating the average number of spins between winnings may be the correct logical step, it is not really the case.
If we ignore the fact that you actually don’t calculate standard deviation at all, this strategy has a major fault.
Because of the random number generator, betting according to the calculated average does not increase the probability of winning.
It is the same example as with a coin flip where, according to the average, every second flip is the winning one. But if you grab a coin and flip it, the short-term results will be different. The same principle is applicable to slot machines.
Sure, once in a while you will surely hit the winning line with the max bet, but the problems are those spins that you will lose.
For this strategy to be effective, it must be ensured that:
Winnings from the maximum bets > Number of maximum bets * (maximum bet amount – minimum bet amount)
A simple example:
We tested this strategy on the Supreme Hot online slot, where we played 246 spins and recorded a total of 20 wins.
Gaps between winnings were 18, 25, 11, 3, 18, 1, 14, 7, 24, 32, 3, 4, 1, 6, 1, 3, 13, 26, 32 and 4 spins. The arithmetic mean was calculated as 12, 3 spins. After rounding, we assume that every 12th turn was a winning one.
We analyzed the game and found that out of the total of 20 max bets, only 1 bet was a winning one. The win was 1 600 coins, but this did not cover the total loss.
Total loss was 1 900 coins (20 bets * (100 max-5 min)). If therefore, under the same conditions, the 246 spins were played with a minimum bet, our bankroll would have been 300 coins larger.
Individual games may differ, but in the long run, it will generally apply that you will lose money with this strategy.
Introducing Rule Three. It’s actually a strategy game and sticking to it will maximize your chances of winning.
Rule Three allows you to enjoy longer game sessions, and you’ll come home with some winnings in your pocket. And that’s a great success when it comes to slot machines.
So how does Rule Three work? Take, for example, €600 that you have reserved for today’s slot machine session. The first rule is to find the slot with the right denomination. With €600 you do not have a strong enough bankroll for playing full-stakes dollar machines.
If you want to play a real dollar slot, you have to do it with only minimal bets. And as always, try to find slots with the highest RTP possible.
Now you can even divide your €600 into three groups of €200. Take the first €200 and put it into your favourite slot machine. No matter what that is.
At dollar machines, you only bet $1, at 25-cent slots, you play with the max bet. As soon as you bet €70, stop the game and see if you’re in or out.
If you have won something, have your winnings paid out, whatever they are. From the remaining amount, separate $70 and do not play with it anymore.
Now you have your win and you can play on the same slot machine as follows:
Suppose we ended up with €30 after a €70 session. We’ll put that $30 into the slot machine and we’ll want to double it or lose it, except for €10 (a third of the winnings). Take this €10 and add it to the already deferred €70. Now you will go home with $80.
And what if we initially win €60 extra? We’ll postpone $20. So we always postpone one-third of the winnings. That’s precisely how Rule Three works. Once you’ve built up any winnings, put it all aside and do not play with it.
Now, take another $70 of the $200 stack, roll it into the same slot and play the same formula as you did before. And why on the same machine? Why not? You won, did you not?
Once you roll $70 and you’re not up, pick up what you have left and move to another slot machine.
When you’ve played through the first €200 (€70, €70 and €60), take a short break from the game.
After you’ve had a rest, go through the data of the game and the results. If you’ve lost something, or if you have only a little money left, make it easy for yourself to take a small amount of money home. But do not forget that you still have €400, and you have not lost everything.
After a break, return to play and play the same way you played with the first $200.
Now go to the final stage. If you have won good money, and you are sure that you will go home somewhat richer, play as you please. Take $100 from the last part and try to win as much as possible. You have the money in your pocket, and the longer you play, the higher your chances of winning.
And what if all three mini-sessions are lost? Go home and be glad that you took home something and didn’t go home empty-handed. That’s because you played smart.
Use Rule Three on the machines and you can be sure to be able to play the next day.
Yes, slot machines could be made according to some pattern, but no casino in the world uses such a machine. Playing the machines is like repeatedly pulling the coloured marbles from the bag, with the ball returning after each round. The fewer the balls of a given colour are in the bag, the higher the payoff value for that colour.
Let’s give an example. In the bag, there are 1 000 coloured marbles. One of them is gold and has a payout ratio of 500 to 1. One hundred marbles are silver and their payout ratio is 5 to 1. The remaining 899 are red and nothing is paid out for them.
On average, the golden ball is pulled out once in 1 000 games and the silver 1 in 10 games. But we cannot determine at what point we’ll get the gold. Each attempt has the same probability as the previous one. Every game is just the same. And the same applies to slots and table casino games.
Since slots are strictly game of chance, there is no way how you can tell which slot is going to be the winning one. But, you should always pick the slot with the highest Return to Player ratio. Do not forget to check other things like winning frequency, payout or bonus features.
Do you not know how to figure out all these things? Try online slots for free. You can play for free without risk, and you will see how the works.
Generally speaking, online slots have the slightly better return to player than the slots in land-based casinos. Here we were pick up five slots with RTP higher than 98 %, which is quite high.
Remember. Even with extremely high RTP, there is no guarantee that you will win. You will just lose less in the long run.
We are sorry, but there is no sure way how to beat slots. There are some tips like finding the slot with the best odds or always keep your money management. The good way to get more from slots is using the VIP or loyalty program. With these programs, you will get some reward for every bet you make. Almost every online casino offers some kind of loyalty promo, and most of them are redeemable with slots. Just check some online casinos and compare the programs.
You cannot tell when the slot will hit just watching it. You would have cracked the random number generator and do the math.
Yes, it does. You should always choose the bet amount accordingly to your bankroll. With a higher bet, you can lose all your money faster. On the other hand, if you are lucky, you can win much more. And always remember, it is a good practice to stop playing after the big hit.
It depends on the features of the slot. If the slot offers you, something extra for playing the Max bet, then yes, you should play with the maximum allowed bet. The features may include a chance to win a progressive jackpot, extra bonus rounds, extra free spins, progressively higher payout or wins multiplier. All these features can, and will, increase the return to player ratio.
All casino games are rigged in the way that they statistically favour the casino. But, the slots are not rigged as many players thing. The slot doesn’t analyze your game and lets you lose intentionally. If you play in the licenced casino, all games are tested by independent auditors.
There are several types of slot machines, which we can divide according to the number of reels, denomination, or the type of the game. Some players even categorized slots into cold and hot ones.
According to some players, when a machine is cold, it means that the slot hasn’t paid out for a long time. And because of this, it is due to do so in the near future. On the other hand, when the slot machine is hot, that means the slot is in the “zone” and will pay out more often.
Do you wonder which of these theories is right? Well, of course, neither. But you can still meet people who see trends in any slot machine. It is based on a phenomenon called the clustering illusion. It states that the human brain tends to see streaks or patterns in random events.
When you analyze historical data of slots you may find these lucky streaks, but it doesn’t mean that you should or could predict future outcomes.
You can condemn, hate or crush slot machines. But let’s admit it, they already have deep roots in our history and they will be with us for a long time. They belong to gambling, where the most important thing is entertainment.
Do you have any of your own guaranteed strategies for slot machines? Share your experiences with us below in the discussion.
Slot games are among the most popular games in the casino, be it the real or virtual one. You have seen in the movies, those long lines of machines with chairs in front of them, and people sitting behind them, trying their luck. What makes online slot games so interesting is that they come with a wide variety of themes, like the ones on 12play, so anyone can find a game that appeals to them. Slot machines also have fun sounds, various bonus rounds, free spins, and most importantly the ability to make big winnings with a small stake.
Are there any strategies that work, that can make you a master of the slot game? To be honest, not really. Slot games are all about luck and fun and are designed to make a profit for the casino, mostly. The keyword here is “mostly”. This does not mean you can’t play smart and win from time to time. There are certain tips and tricks you can implement, that will increase your chance of winning, and minimize the risk of losing. Here are the top tips and tricks you should stick to if you want to play safe and master an online casino slot.
The best thing about online casinos is that they let you play for a certain period, for free. Use this wisely. Every good casino will allow you to play free versions of their best games – just for fun and to make sure you get addicted to it. You can’t earn money by doing this, but learning how to play a particular game is much more important here. It will allow you to understand the rules and therefore you will not lose money by placing bets on the game you never even try, or due to unreasonable decisions you make by being an ignorant slot gambler. Learn how to play each game – even though it seems similar to the previous ones you’ve played.
Many online casinos will try to win you over by offering you very high bonuses and is when the red light in your head should turn on and signalize something suspicious. One good advice is to choose a game with an RTP of 95% at least, or above, if possible. Everything below this number, should not occupy your attention if you plan to win. Making rational choices and being carried away is priceless.
You’ve started playing with the free games first, and have managed to find one that suits you best and offers fair winning chances, there’s also one more thing to pay attention to. This is the progressive jackpot. What it means is there are a couple of different slots connected, or networked, which makes the jackpot increase faster. This is the time to keep in mind the most important rule of gambling and that is – if you don’t place a bet, you can’t expect to win. The higher stakes are transforming into a bigger opportunity to win a jackpot. You might win a jackpot with a lower stake, but this will be a proof you’ve been born under a lucky star. The probability of this is not so realistic, though.
The best tip anyone can give you is to always remain cold-headed, disciplined, and to think rationally. This will prevent you from investing too much. It is, as they say, do not gamble with more than what you are ready to lose. You can even set a daily limit of your investment in a particular game, which will represent a maximum of what you are willing to spend that day. Games can be very addictive and can make you lose track of reality, this is why limits are very important as well as your self-control. Don’t fall under their seductive influence. If it’s not your day, and you’re constantly losing, take a break, if your limit has been reached, just leave the game. You will have more chances in the coming days.
This is closely connected to our previous point. But as we mentioned at the beginning of the text, slot games are made to make the profit of the casino. So, never try to win the money you lost on the same day. You will fall into this enchanted circle without an end, which will eventually make your loss a catastrophe. Every winner has to lose sometimes, to learn how to win. Don’t chase your luck, it will eventually find you when the time is right.
Since a lot of bonuses are offered, use them wisely, and only invest when you have to. Make the best of the bonus given and by being cold headed try to win as much as possible. Do not hesitate to change the casino, so you can get another starting bonus. Sure, there are those loyalty bonuses, but to reach them will take more experience and work, regardless of how tempting they are. Starting bonuses are easy to obtain. Also, keep track of all the casino promotions available. Just, collect information about all of this on time and the odds will turn to your benefit.
Certain online casinos, offer so-called “hot and cold slots”. They tell you if a particular slot has paid out a larger amount of money (hot) or a smaller one (cold). Of course, it is more pleasant to play on hot slots and take advantage of their “wave of generosity”, however, certain players specialize in cold slots and believe that they will be the ones to “win” them. Both strategies make sense. It is up to you to decide which strategy to choose.
Online slot games are simply fun and should remain at this level. If you plan to win lots of money and live out of playing slots, think again. It’s not good to expect too much, from a game.