Slot machines have been wildly popular since they first hit casino floors in the 1970s. Over the years, many variations of the original game have given players more options for playing, betting, and hitting jackpots. Penny slots are one version that allows players to bet pennies on the game. Explore our guide below to learn how to play and win Penny Slots.

How to Play Penny Slots

Nowadays, penny slots can be played on a video slot machine at a casino or online. They can be played for free or with money — with the free ones being good for newer players to practice their gameplay. While each penny slot game has specific rules for playing, betting, and winning, most operate the same way.

Penny slots are played as follows:

• Choose the number of lines you want to spin.
• Decide how much to bet per line and place your bets.
• Tap or click the spin button to begin the game.
• Multiple reels of images will spin and come to a complete stop.
• If matching images are shown in a line, you win a payout.
• If images don’t match in a line, you’ve lost your bet.

Not all penny slots require every image to be identically lined up in a row to win. Some versions offer bonuses that allow different sets of matches to win payouts.

Others allow for different win patterns. For example, instead of winning in a traditional straight line, your winning pattern could connect cards with a zigzag line or a trapezium — a type of quadrilateral that has four corners and no parallel lines.

Because of all the different penny slot variations, always check the game rules and pay table before you begin. This way, you’ll know how to play that version, how to win, and how much you can possibly win based on your bets.

How to Bet on Penny Slots

Penny slots sound like a very affordable way to play, but you actually can’t make a bet with a single penny. Unlike the original slot machines that had one row of reels, modern penny slots have multiple rows of spinning reels. Each row is known as a payline. You must bet on at least the minimum number of paylines in the same spin as set forth in the game rules.

Here’s a betting example: The penny slot game you’re playing requires a minimum bet of 25 lines per spin. Each line has a minimum bet of 1 cent (or one credit), so every spin will cost you at least 25 cents (or 25 credits).

Minimum bets vary widely, so remember to take them into consideration before deciding to play the game. Some games could cost you $1 or more per spin, which can quickly add up.

Most penny slots allow you to choose how many lines to bet on. These are known as free penny slots and they have a minimum and a maximum number of paylines. These “free” slots are different from the ones you can play for free. In these games, you bet real money and you’re free to choose how many lines on which to bet.

Fixed penny slots are games in which a fixed or set number of lines must be played. You must play all the fixed paylines every time you spin. In addition, some penny slots have an auto spin feature that lets you set the number of times you want to spin. The auto spinning stops when:

• The stop button is pressed.
• A bonus is triggered.
• There are insufficient funds to bet.
• Your loss limit setting is reached.
• Your win limit setting is reached.

A loss limit is the amount of money you’re willing to lose when playing a game. Setting a loss limit helps you reach a stopping point in the game. For example, say you have $100 you’re willing to bet and lose on penny slots. You spin the reels, making gains and losses over time. Once you’ve lost $100, it’s time for you to stop playing.

This strategy is also known as good bankroll management. Some people may get sucked into playing the game for too long if no limits are set and end up losing more than they bargained for in the end. On the flip side of a loss limit is your win limit. Setting a win limit helps you retain your winnings by stopping gameplay once you’ve won your goal amount.

How to Win Penny Slots

Every spin in penny slots is a combination that has been randomly generated by a computer. There will never be any set pattern to the combinations. Every time you spin, you have the same chance of hitting a jackpot or bonus as the last time you spun. Penny slots are pure luck of the spin — there’s no skill or strategy involved.

With that being said, how can you play to win penny slots? Here are some strategies for minimizing your losses and maximizing your wins.

• Set loss and win limits. Stop when you’ve lost the amount you can afford to lose or won the amount you set out to win. This strategy keeps you from losing too much and helps you hold onto any gains.
• Understand the game’s return to player (RTP). RTP is how much a player can earn back from their wager in the long run. It’s an average percentage of how much the game pays out from the bets that go in. The higher the RTP percentage, the more likely you’ll win money by playing the game.
• Don’t chase only big progressive jackpots. You could have a more profitable game by collecting multiple smaller jackpots instead of continuing to risk it all to try to hit the big jackpot.
• Use casino bonuses. Casinos offer different types of bonuses when playing slots. Look for ones that advertise free spin bonuses, especially those with no wagering requirements and no cap winnings.
• Consider playing max credits. This means you play the maximum number of lines and make the maximum bet on each line. Some games only offer extra perks like Free Spins, grand prizes, progressive jackpots, and bonuses if max credits are bet.

If you have a smaller bankroll to play with, playing max credits isn’t the best idea. In this case, you would want to play the minimum bets to enjoy the longest play time and stretch your disposable income as far as possible. The more times you spin, the more chances you have to win. Maximum betting is best left to those with larger bankrolls, such as those with hundreds of dollars to spare on playing a game.

For example, say you have $125 to bet on penny slots. The game you chose is fixed penny slots with 50 lines per spin. If you bet one penny per line per spin, you’ll have enough to play for three hours. If you play the max credit of five pennies per line, you would need a $625 bankroll to play the same amount of spins for three hours. In this scenario, the difference between the minimum and maximum bets is $500.

It’s possible to bet little and win big when playing penny slots. Some progressive jackpots and grand prizes pay out thousands of dollars. Just remember that, more often than not, you won’t hit these big prizes. Knowing when to stop is key when playing penny slots long term.

Play Penny Slots on GamblersPick Today

Penny slots can be one of the more affordable games to play at casinos both in person and online. It’s a quick way to get into the fun of gambling entertainment, as it’s just you against the computer. Before you spin, though, check how many paylines a game offers and what you need to bet per line to figure out how much it actually costs to play.

Are you ready to try your luck or learn more? GamblersPick is a top resource for safe and fun online casino entertainment. Find everything you need to know about all types of games with our guides, or check out honest reviews of casinos and games from real players in our community to find the right penny slots for you to play today.