If you enjoy slot machines of any kind, you surely know that all casino games enjoy a house advantage. While luck is everybody’s best friend when and if it appears, don’t be fooled into thinking that luck is your only (or even your best) shot at winning when it comes to slots. 

Learning the strategies behind playing slot machines can allow you to play smarter and longer. This article will provide tips for greater slot success and serve as a guide to slot strategies that you can practice to increase your winnings.

Understanding RTP

“RTP” stands for “return to player.” This number represents the percentage of wagers a player can expect to receive from a given slot machine and is largely based on previous slot wins. Recognizing how this amount is calculated can inform how you learn to play a given slot machine, with the understanding that slots come with millions of potential reel combinations that may influence the wins one way or another. In basic terms, RTP measures the probability of wins against the house advantage.

RTP is not a foolproof indicator, but rather a theoretical approach to gaming that can help you select slots that have a better chance of paying out. For example, if you see that an RTP is calculated at 60%, this means that you can expect to lose 4 cents on every dollar that you bet with a specific game. You can then determine whether your winnings, or even potential winnings, offset that loss in an agreeable way.

High-Volatility vs. Low-Volatility

Understanding your playing style and how that preference relates to your approach to slots is a key element of playing. Volatility, also sometimes called “variance,” describes how much and how frequently you can expect the game to pay out. 

If you’re interested in winning a big sum of money, high-volatility is the way to go. The term “high-volatility” refers to games that contain a higher inherent risk. High-volatility games, as their name implies, may produce long dry periods where few to no wins are rewarded and then pay out big suddenly. A good example of high-volatility slots is progressive jackpot games. 

If smaller wins over regular periods are more your speed, low-volatility games are best. Low-volatility slots come with lower inherent risk and are more prone to smaller wins over protracted periods. Alternatively, placing smaller bets with the same amount of money in a high-volatility game will mean you lose less over time but continue to be in position for big wins and free spins bonuses. 

It’s important to remember, though, that there’s no way to say that one type will always produce more winnings, so players need to gauge how quickly they are willing to part with their bankroll.

Slot Strategies for Success

Beyond learning the intrinsic “build” of a slot game regarding the probability of wins, strong players also practice systematic styles of slot play that tend toward greater chances of beating the house. If you are new to online gambling, it can be good to know a few basic strategies. 

Here are a few popular slot strategies you can utilize to help enhance your slot machine gameplay:

1. Monitor High- and Low-Line Bets

Some slot machines are programmed on a given day to reward only high-line bets. Other days, mostly low-line bets will take home the bonuses. When you begin a session at any slot machine, take time to experiment with high- and low-line betting to see which (if either) the game responds to. Negotiate your betting amounts accordingly and keep an eye on shifts that can occur from one spin to the next. 

For example, if you placed several high-line bets and suddenly hit a jackpot but then the machine seems to go “cold,” don’t keep placing the same high-line bet. Try lowering the amount of your bet, as some games will switch reward sequences after a big win.

2. Lower Your Bets When the Machine Isn’t Paying

Dropping down to a lower line of play when the machine is cold is prudent for several reasons. As “hot” streaks can be dictated by anything, including whether the machine is part of a progressive bonus program or cyclical internal program patterns, there is never a point in betting more when the machine is not hitting. As many slots are also programmed to win once a certain amount of money is spent or a certain amount of time is invested by a given player, keeping bets low when wins are also low allows you to play longer and increase your chances of triggering a win.

3. Play a Minimum of Three Spins per Betting Line

No matter if you are on a high-stakes slot that runs at $5 per spin or a penny slot, make sure that you are betting at least three times per betting line. This means that if you see the game has seven betting lines, you want to select between three and the typical maximum of five bets for each of those seven lines. Don’t just bet one spin per line; this reduces not only your odds of striking a win but also the total amount you will win if you do hit the jackpot. 

Always keep in mind that the number of spins you bet per line increases your total bet by that number. For example, if you are playing slots on a $1 per spin machine that has five betting lines on which you choose to bet three spins per line, that means the total money spent each time you hit the button will be $15. Playing the maximum number of lines with the highest number of spins per line is always the best policy even for securing bigger figures on small wins.

4. Get Defensive After a Hit

Many novice slot players may get excited after their first big jackpot and think that carrying on like they were before the win is the best way to secure another one. However, it’s important to recognize when and where your spins have the greatest chance of giving you something back. 

If you have just hit a major jackpot on a slot machine, the best strategy to impose is to play three to five more spins at that same bet. If the machine is hot, it may pay out again in that short frame of time. However, if you spin five to seven more times at the original betting figure and do not get anything, it’s prudent to lower your total bet by reducing the number of bets you place on each line. 

Let’s say you have been playing a nickel machine with five betting lines and have been spinning the maximum bet of five on each of those lines before hitting it big. That means you spend $1.25 each time you hit the button. After that jackpot, and if nothing else comes immediately after it, it’s smart to back off the maximum number and maybe play two spins per line for a hit or two. This reduces your total bet so that you are losing less money as you ascertain whether the machine has gone cold.

Practice Your Slot Strategy With GamblersPick

Are you new to slots and looking to play in a friendly online atmosphere, or you are an “old hand” who wants to play in progressive systems with other experienced players? Regardless of your slot skill level, GamblersPick is your go-to resource for safe and responsible play with thousands of online casino games.

Our active community of real bettors can also guide you to the best online slot machines. We even feature a GamblersPick JackPot Meter that can assist you in determining which slots are likely to send you home happy today. Give GamblersPick a spin the next time you seek out success at the slot machines.