Every gambler looks for a way to trick casinos and make the most out of their slot machines. The tough part is sifting through the bad advice and good advice available. Online slots may come down to chance, but like all casino games, there are always some tips and tricks you can apply to help you maximize the odds of seeing a payout. Whenever you play slots in a land-based casino, a mobile casino, or an online casino like CoolCat, some things should be factored in before you start playing them for real money. This guide will show you the simplest ways to trick the slots and the system, to give you the best return on your playtime.
The Most Popular Casino Reviews for Online Slots. Best Winning Odds; Play Now Review. Payout Speed 4 - 7 days. 200% up to $1,000. Play Free Slots - Browse 6,192 Online Slot Games for Fun. Casino.org is the go-to place for the best free slot machines and games. Here you'll find hundreds of fantastic free online slots with no. Science Of Winning At Slots Reviews a spin is Science Of Winning At Slots Reviews automatically determined by the RNG at the time you hit the spin button, making it impossible to predict in advance whether you'll win or lose. The Science Of Winning At Slots Reviews same random odds apply equally for each spin. Brilliant new SLOTS game. Play it for two days, awesome! Awesome games, love the graphics; Thank you for giving 10,000 start-up coins, leading me winning to reach level 7! I have to say fantastic slot machines really make it wow to play!
But first, let's get started with the basics.
What is a slot machine?
Slot machines are gambling games with three or more spinning reels. The reels display symbols that spin and land randomly to form potential winning combinations after a player places a bet. Wins are determined when certain symbols line up in a sequence; these are the paylines. An amount is awarded according to the size of the wager, the type of winning combination, and the number of paylines that hit. Slot machines come in a variety of forms, from online slots, classic three or five-reel slots, and the most popular of all, video slots.
How a slot machine works?
Regardless of the type of slot that you choose to play, they all function according to the same principles. You place your bet and initiate a spin, while this takes place an internal computer chip in the machine randomly determines whether you win or lose for each spin.
These computers are random number generators or RNGs. An RNG cycles through thousands of number combinations and stops the moment a player hits the spin button. The results are displayed for the player after the reels stop spinning. RNGs are always tested and certified by third-party agencies to make sure that they are fair and reliable, and that outcomes are not rigged.
Many times in a casino you will hear players say whether certain tables or slots are running hot or cold. However, because slot machines operate on RNGs, no amount of luck or perceived hot or cold streaks will impact the outcome of each spin. Each time a player hits a button to spin the reels or pulls the arm of a machine, the result is a unique event. Slots machines and online slots games are therefore never due to hit regardless of what someone might tell you. Streaks and payouts boil down to a matter of pure chance, even multiple jackpots can occur for a single machine.
Regardless of what you choose to play, and whether or not you've gambled before, these top 15 tips can be applied to any kind of online slot machine, be it a 3-reel, 5-reel, 3D slot, or a classic layout. Implement these into your slots strategy, and you'll already be well on your way to becoming a pro and winning yourself the biggest rewards.
1. Get to know slots and how they work
Slots aren't exactly complicated — you select your betting amount, hit spin, and the machine essentially does the rest. However, since game developers started to include more features in these games, like multiple reels, paylines, and symbols, the layout and mechanics may seem a bit overwhelming to beginners. Give yourself time to get familiar with the rules and inner workings of a game before you start playing for big bucks. That way, you'll get to know what combinations are needed to win, what symbols trigger certain bonus rounds and features, and what you should place as your bet amounts.
FREE SIGN UP: $25 FREE CHIP; Use the code COOLEST25 at the cashier
2. Find a slot that suits your style
As slots come in thousands of different themes these days, it never hurts to have a good look around to find one that matches your mood and motivates your playing style.
Most online casinos have all sorts of different slots that are centered around your favorite celebrities, movies, animals, places, and hobbies — so you'll be completely spoiled for choice and always able to select a new theme that coincides with your style and bankroll.
Winning Slots Amazon Reviews
3. Check the software provider
The best slots and most high-efficiency casino games are developed by companies like Realtime Gaming, NetEnt, Microgaming, and other leading names in the industry. If you can clearly see a slot game is backed up by one of these brands — it's bound to be a reliable one. This quality alone will make a huge difference to the gameplay and how likely you are to see a return on your bets. Shoddy slots will only let you go so far with a game and may only payout during a bonus feature. The best slots give you the chance to hit the jackpot and have loads of fun at the same time.
4. Take advantage of no deposit bonus codes
Here's the dirty little secret with online bonuses: if you know where to look, you can get a lot for free; meaning bonuses with no deposit needed.
These deals are always given to new players when they sign up to a casino, and most continue to dish these out to players on a weekly and monthly basis even after they've signed up. Common bonuses you can utilize on slots include no deposit bonuses, match bonuses, and free spins bonuses. These are all great offers that can provide more to play with during your gaming sessions.
Slots strategy is about giving yourself as many slots advantages as you can. A lot of playing the slots comes down to chance, which is why the best strategies are about seizing whatever opportunities you can to get ahead.
Claiming a $25 Free Chip is all upside, no down. Try out real money slots for free on CoolCat Casino.
FREE SIGN UP: $25 FREE CHIP; Use the code COOLEST25 at the cashier
5. Don't play the slot; play the online casino
Thanks to U.S. gambling policies, Americans are able to claim some of the best value Casino bonuses of any players in the world. If you're in America, taking advantage of this can double, or even triple your bankroll, with surprisingly few strings attached.
One of the best slot machine tricks is to look for bonuses with low wagering requirements and no maximum cash-out limits. Many casinos trick new players by offering a large bonus and hiding that you'll need to bet a huge amount before you can redeem it.
What to look for in a good bonus: first, find wagering requirements of 10x or less. Many Casinos have wagering requirements as high as 50x, which means that on a $100 deposit, you can't get your money until you've made $5,000 in bets! Also, avoid bonuses that come with a maximum cash-out. Find a bonus that doesn't limit how much you can win from it (nothing worse than winning a jackpot and getting $100…)
The CoolCat Casino 330% Welcome Bonus has only a 5x wagering requirement (compare that to any other bonus online), and no maximum on how much you can win while using it. Plus, it comes with 50 Free Spins on our popular game, Popinata. So you have some spins to warm up (and win), and your $50 becomes $165. That bankroll will give you the breathing room you need to jump-start your slots streak. Just make a free account at CoolCat Casino, then claim your bonus at the cashier by entering the code COOLWELCOME.
6. Find the loosest online slots
If it has been a while since you had a winning spin then it really might be time to consider changing the machine you're playing on or switching to another online slots game. Even though this might sound crazy, it's actually true. Slots vary in how easily they pay out, and according to industry insiders and leading experts, major gaming centers avoid placing loose slot machines close to each other. The best option when you're on a losing streak is to move on to an adjacent slot machine or try your hand at a completely new online slot game. Remember, each spin is a completely unique event, so feeding more coins into a losing machine in no way increases your chances of finally winning.
I've done this myself on a number of occasions and found, much to my surprise and delight, that by the time I had moved on to a second or third online game, my luck had returned and bonus spins were racking up. If the machine is cold, walk on into the light. This is one of the slot machine tricks that simply increases your chances of finding a loose machine as well as extending your playtime and jackpot potential.
Newest Slot
Biggest Jackpot
Most Played Slot
7. Know your limits and manage your bankroll
Before you start playing, it's important to set a loss limit. It's easy to let the excitement of the casino floor take hold, but you may end up with more spills than thrills if you don't know when to stop. Everyone loves to win, and if you find yourself way up, it's a good time to stop. Statistically, the longer you play the better the chances are that you will lose your money. If your bankroll is heading towards a slump, be sure to stop once you've reached your loss limit. Never chase losses.
Gambling is a phenomenal form of entertainment and can grow your bankroll exponentially, so have fun, but always play responsibly. Although you are just as likely as the next person to win big on a slot machine, or perhaps a coveted jackpot, be smart and don't overdo it. Slots can take patience because a big hit can occur in ten seconds, ten minutes, or heaven forbid ten hours. As long as you have your loss limit in mind throughout your rounds of play, you'll be in good shape if the going gets tough.
In addition, bonuses do endless favors for your bankroll, but keeping a watchful eye on your funds is the key to success in gambling. We never advise risking more than you can afford to lose, so managing your bankroll should be a top priority. Bankroll maintenance can be as simple as placing reasonable deposit amounts and not opting for bets on games that will deplete your funds too quickly.
Set yourself a loss limit, then stick to it.
8. Know where not to play slots
It is no big news that it is easier to win on loose slot machines — the hard part is finding one. These machines are placed all over the casino quite strategically and in a meticulous way. Physical placement revolves around the fact that the casinos want everyone to see a big win. It encourages others to play, so often loose machines are to be found in highly visible areas.
On the other hand, there can be pitfalls to visibility. Airport slots are highly visible, but people are coming and going at a frantic rate. These slots are known to be some of the worst to play at any gambling destination. It's far better to wait until you're actually in the casino. Scope out a spot with a wide range of machines so you can move on if you hit a cold streak, but one that's highly visible without being a major rush transit area like reception by a restaurant buffet with a lot of motion or an airport mall.
For even better chances to find loose slots, look no further than your computer. Online slot machines generally pay out more than slots on the Las Vegas Strip. Having a constant stream of players makes it possible for real money online casinos to offer slots with the best odds yet.
9. Play slots with random or progressive jackpots
Another notable feature of slot machines is the jackpots. There are two categories: fixed and progressive. Slots machines with a fixed jackpot will have a maximum payout/jackpot amount that does not change. Whereas for progressive machines the jackpot increases the more people play on them. A fraction of their bet falls into the jackpot pool, and the jackpot will continue to increase until won. Progressive machines usually come with an indicator that shows the player that the maximum payout can change based on how many people play that particular machine, therefore making the jackpot progressively higher or lower.
Whether or not one should play on progressive jackpot slot machines is a hotly debated issue among casino gamers. Though some would say that progressives are the only true way to strike it super-rich at the casino; many claims that it's quite the long shot, even as difficult as winning the lottery. Whatever the case, playing on progressive slot machines is a lot of fun. If you manage your bankroll well and pace yourself, you just might find yourself entering the millionaire's club.
One school recommends avoiding progressives. While a life-changing win may be uber tempting, with high potential rewards comes, all too often, low payout rates. I mean, that mega jackpot has to be built up somehow and it's not usually by being liberal in the payout department. If your playing philosophy is to spend a lot of time having a lot of fun and picking up pleasant but not exactly earth-shattering winnings, then you should avoid progressives.
The second school of thought says that progressives are really the only true way to strike it super-rich. With odds similar to those of winning the lottery, it's a long shot but playing progressives is a lot more fun. If you're able to manage your bankroll properly, pace things, and not get too carried away, progressives do offer the chance for you to walk into the casino as a poor nobody and walk out a member of the millionaire's club. And I mean, come on, there is a certain thrill to the prospect.
Beyond that, it's not hard to find a large random jackpot worth tens of thousands of dollars. The real trick is that random jackpots like Achilles and Caesar's Empire are actually won daily, while progressive jackpots can stick around for years.
10. Practice your strategy and play slots for free
Another thing you can find to spin things to your advantage (pun intended) is to find exciting online, free slots with free spins and try out a game, and hopefully, start building your bankroll for free. It's an easy way to learn a game, plus a free chance to win.
Many bonuses come with free spins to use already, but there is often the chance to trigger bet multipliers and free spins during the bonus rounds in slot games. This can be achieved by lining up a certain combination of Scatter or Wild Symbols on the reels. Not all games have free spins, but you'll get even more chances to hit a payout without dipping into your bankroll if you find any games that do.
If you're interested in receiving exclusive deals, sign up to hear about the latest offers that CoolCat Casino has for you! You will get regular bonus offers and updates regarding exciting game and seasonal promotions. We even have daily free spin offers! Why just deposit your $30, when you could be fine-tuning your bankroll with the help of these amazing offers.
11. Betting slot machine tricks
'Bet Max' is what a regular gambler hears all the time when playing on slot machines. There is a common misconception that if you do not bet the maximum bet every time you will always lose to the casino in the long haul. However, that's not quite how it works. This strategy can actually increase the odds for you on some specific machines.
Any seasoned slot enthusiast will tell you to stay away from the penny and nickel slot machines because the payouts are very poor. Fortunately, this isn't really an issue for online slots. All you need to do is to choose whether to bet the minimum of maximum coins. You could spend hours wasting away in front of a nickel or penny slot only to find out that the jackpot you hit is not worth the effort. It isn't half as rewarding as hitting it big on a machine that has higher bet minimums and larger jackpots or prize multipliers. Up the ante and avoid those $0.01-0.05 machines in order to win really big.
The truth is that on the great majority of slots, your chances at winning are absolutely the same whether you bet minimum or maximum. The difference is simple: the more you risk, the more you can win on a lucky spin. This is particularly true when it comes to online slots with special features and bonus rounds.
All slot machines have a set 'volatility.' A high volatility slot machine doesn't pay out as many wins, but when it does, the wins can be huge. In order to take advantage of the exponential size of the multipliers on these high volatility games, it can often be a good idea to bet high.
On the other hand, low and medium volatility slot machines pay out a large amount of smaller wins, and a few big ones. These machines are more about slow and steady winning the race, so you won't feel the need to bet as high as you can to hit that one huge payout.
But what about those gigantic progressive jackpots? I mean, who doesn't love the idea of becoming a millionaire in the blink of an eye? From everything I've been able to glean, there are two schools of thought on this one (yes, it's a double-edged sword) depending on your playing philosophy.
High bets can also be beneficial when you're playing a game like Fucanglong, which has incredibly powerful bonus features. When you trigger a Feature on any slots game, you get a number of Free Games to play at the value of your bet. So if you're swinging big with $15 bets, and you hit a Feature like the Dragon Pearl … watch out baby, watch out.
12. Pay tables matter a lot!
It is very important to always check on the payout rates of every single slot machine you decide to play and most importantly, you must check on this before choosing a slot machine. Each slot machine has its own set-up with different payouts, and the outcome can really make a difference.
The paytables hold key information in slot games, such as the rules and features, plus the RTP (return to player percentage) or hit frequency. The RTP is the percentage you're likely to get from playing a slot game over time, so if, for example, a slot had an RTP of 97%, this means for every $1 you spend, you'll get an average of 0.97 cents back in winnings. Note that the RTP doesn't mean you'll get this amount back after every spin — it's just how the winnings are calculated over the long term when playing a slot.
For online slots, the pay tables can be found under the help and rules menu of each game. Pay tables and the number of paylines can vary widely by game, so taking the time to do a bit of homework and select the games with the best pay tables, advantageous paylines, and most bonus features. This simple step can go a long way to making you a big winner.
13. Practice your strategy and play slots for free
There's nothing like a test drive. One of the biggest perks about playing slot games online is the fact you can try them all out for free before putting any money on the line. Most online casinos offer you the chance to play for free before you switch to real money and CoolCat is no exception. CoolCat Casino has a free, no download, instant play feature that allows you to give your favorite slots (and many table and specialty games) free spins to your heart's content.
This isn't an option in land-based casinos, which is why we always encourage players to use freeplay mode if they aren't too sure about how a slot works and want to get some experience before playing for real money. Give yourself time to build up your slot playing skills and switch to real money mode once you're ready.
Simply put, this is an excellent way to study the pay tables, paylines, and bonus features of the slots that pique your interest before going for the gold with real money on the line. In all honesty, I spend a lot of time using the instant play function, especially when new games come out, sussing out the ones with the best bonus features likely to give me more bang for my buck. Create an account today and play for free.
14. Keep an eye out for even bigger bonuses
The best way to make your bankroll go farther is to take advantage of the huge promo offers that occasionally pop up. Sometimes it's a seasonal thing, sometimes the casino is just ready to push a new offer, but if you keep your eyes peeled, you can sometimes snag some incredible deals.
One of the many incredible benefits of playing slots online or at a traditional brick and mortar casino is signing up for casino bonuses. The various bonuses that casinos offer will reward players with serious benefits, based on how frequently they play and how much they wager and deposit each time. These rewards can be substantial. So, if you're going to spend your money gambling, why not utilize the bonuses when signing up? New players can expect excellent welcome bonuses simply for joining, and weekly promotions or holiday specials can keep players coming back.
The benefits become even greater if you take advantage of loyalty, club member, or VIP programs. They come in a variety of forms, such as bigger than normal match bonuses, free spins, and more. So make sure to look for ones that suit your style of play. Land-based casinos will offer 'slots club' cards for instance, and keep track of the amount you play on slots every time you enter.
Playing online has various opportunities that will be beneficial to you and your pockets. Some casinos will even give you points back as cash, or extend certain offers revolving around birthdays, holidays, or special events. These on top of managing your budget properly will stretch your gambling buck even further. Be sure to be registered as a club card member, valued player or have signed up for bonuses before you take a spin on the slot machine. Even if you don't win, you can still get credit for every time you play.
Promo offers can include bigger than normal match bonuses, free spins, and more. If you're interested in receiving exclusive offers, sign up to hear about our latest bonus offers. Once a member of a casino like CoolCat, you will get regular bonus offers by mail as well as updates regarding special new game promotions, seasonal promotions, and weekly, sometimes daily promo offers. Rather than just playing with your $30 deposit, you'll be able to turn that into an impressive bankroll with the help of some of the other offers that come around (remember, you should now know what to look for when picking your bonus).
15. Be mindful as you play
A sensible approach to playing any game is not to have too high expectations. Having this mindset will do nothing but set you up for disappointment from the very beginning and cause you to make hasty decisions that could leave you worse off than before you started. Smart gambling isn't always about putting huge chunks of cash on the line; it's about taking your time with a game, being strategic and precise with your bets, and utilizing bonuses wherever possible.
Play Online Slots at Cool Cat
Want to try out hundreds of exciting online slots for free or for real money? Register with CoolCat and get yourself a 330% Signup Bonus to use on slots and keno games, plus 24/7 access to a massive collection of other classic table and specialty games here at CoolCat.
In conclusion, these few, simple slot machine tricks can take a bit of the randomness out of random, increase your odds of winning and definitely help you have more fun over a longer period of time with you given bankroll. And heck, you never know, I guess that's why we all love to play slots, you may walk away with a win so big your life will never be the same again! As far as I'm concerned, the thrill of that all too real possibility makes playing slots well worth the time.
You might also like:
Introduction to Choosing Slot Machines
Once a specific casino has been determined to currently be the best of any available, choosing slot machines becomes the next step towards making a profit at slots.
Remember, statistics supplied to state gaming commissions show that the odds of winning are, on average, somewhere around 90%. By assessing all available casinos, then selecting the best possible, you've already improved your odds of winning – perhaps by several percentage points.
Whatever your gambling goals are, we'll talk about those in the next step Identifying Gambling Goals. For now, we need to consider choosing slot machines that will most likely improve our overall odds even more.
So, we've walked into our best casino to choose slot machines with the highest odds of winning we can find. How do we select a good slot machine? Most people don't – they dive right in without much of a plan. Well, we have a plan.
Keep Reading … or Watch Instead!
Or … Listen Instead!
Find my podcast wherever you listen to audio!
Why? Because everybody says it's all about luck. If you pick wrong, 'Well,' they say, 'better luck next time.' Remember, casino employees are trained to say things like that. If you'd won a jackpot instead, you can believe they would have said, 'You're lucky! I'll see you later when you win another jackpot!'
Slot attendants have a job to do, and it most certainly isn't to get you to leave when you should. And, it's difficult to not to influenced by such comments. But, try not to be.
In the following sections, I'll briefly explain the following aspects of choosing slot machines:
- How odds are set within a slot machine
- Choosing denomination and maximum credits based on bankroll
- Basics of reading a slot machine's paytable
- A simple way to use paytables to pick the best machines, and avoid the worst
Two Separate Odds of Winning
The odds of winning for a slot machine is a limited number of settings from the manufacturer. Besides understanding limited settings are available, it may help to understand that slot machines have two odds of winning to determine:
- If a player will or will not win anything
- How much that win will be, i.e., the jackpot amount
Why is understanding these two types of odds significant when choosing slot machines? Because winning slot machines come in all jackpot sizes. You're still winning if you're getting enough small jackpots that your bankroll isn't shrinking. Even if it is slowly depleting, the bankroll can last quite a bit longer, so that's also a winning slot machine.
Winning many jackpots this way is bankroll cycling. It may not seem very satisfactory, but whether it does or not depends entirely on what your gambling goals are. One type of gambling goal, earning maximum complimentary gifts, is most often achieved via bankroll cycling.
FREE SIGN UP: $25 FREE CHIP; Use the code COOLEST25 at the cashier
2. Find a slot that suits your style
As slots come in thousands of different themes these days, it never hurts to have a good look around to find one that matches your mood and motivates your playing style.
Most online casinos have all sorts of different slots that are centered around your favorite celebrities, movies, animals, places, and hobbies — so you'll be completely spoiled for choice and always able to select a new theme that coincides with your style and bankroll.
Winning Slots Amazon Reviews
3. Check the software provider
The best slots and most high-efficiency casino games are developed by companies like Realtime Gaming, NetEnt, Microgaming, and other leading names in the industry. If you can clearly see a slot game is backed up by one of these brands — it's bound to be a reliable one. This quality alone will make a huge difference to the gameplay and how likely you are to see a return on your bets. Shoddy slots will only let you go so far with a game and may only payout during a bonus feature. The best slots give you the chance to hit the jackpot and have loads of fun at the same time.
4. Take advantage of no deposit bonus codes
Here's the dirty little secret with online bonuses: if you know where to look, you can get a lot for free; meaning bonuses with no deposit needed.
These deals are always given to new players when they sign up to a casino, and most continue to dish these out to players on a weekly and monthly basis even after they've signed up. Common bonuses you can utilize on slots include no deposit bonuses, match bonuses, and free spins bonuses. These are all great offers that can provide more to play with during your gaming sessions.
Slots strategy is about giving yourself as many slots advantages as you can. A lot of playing the slots comes down to chance, which is why the best strategies are about seizing whatever opportunities you can to get ahead.
Claiming a $25 Free Chip is all upside, no down. Try out real money slots for free on CoolCat Casino.
FREE SIGN UP: $25 FREE CHIP; Use the code COOLEST25 at the cashier
5. Don't play the slot; play the online casino
Thanks to U.S. gambling policies, Americans are able to claim some of the best value Casino bonuses of any players in the world. If you're in America, taking advantage of this can double, or even triple your bankroll, with surprisingly few strings attached.
One of the best slot machine tricks is to look for bonuses with low wagering requirements and no maximum cash-out limits. Many casinos trick new players by offering a large bonus and hiding that you'll need to bet a huge amount before you can redeem it.
What to look for in a good bonus: first, find wagering requirements of 10x or less. Many Casinos have wagering requirements as high as 50x, which means that on a $100 deposit, you can't get your money until you've made $5,000 in bets! Also, avoid bonuses that come with a maximum cash-out. Find a bonus that doesn't limit how much you can win from it (nothing worse than winning a jackpot and getting $100…)
The CoolCat Casino 330% Welcome Bonus has only a 5x wagering requirement (compare that to any other bonus online), and no maximum on how much you can win while using it. Plus, it comes with 50 Free Spins on our popular game, Popinata. So you have some spins to warm up (and win), and your $50 becomes $165. That bankroll will give you the breathing room you need to jump-start your slots streak. Just make a free account at CoolCat Casino, then claim your bonus at the cashier by entering the code COOLWELCOME.
6. Find the loosest online slots
If it has been a while since you had a winning spin then it really might be time to consider changing the machine you're playing on or switching to another online slots game. Even though this might sound crazy, it's actually true. Slots vary in how easily they pay out, and according to industry insiders and leading experts, major gaming centers avoid placing loose slot machines close to each other. The best option when you're on a losing streak is to move on to an adjacent slot machine or try your hand at a completely new online slot game. Remember, each spin is a completely unique event, so feeding more coins into a losing machine in no way increases your chances of finally winning.
I've done this myself on a number of occasions and found, much to my surprise and delight, that by the time I had moved on to a second or third online game, my luck had returned and bonus spins were racking up. If the machine is cold, walk on into the light. This is one of the slot machine tricks that simply increases your chances of finding a loose machine as well as extending your playtime and jackpot potential.
Newest Slot
Biggest Jackpot
Most Played Slot
7. Know your limits and manage your bankroll
Before you start playing, it's important to set a loss limit. It's easy to let the excitement of the casino floor take hold, but you may end up with more spills than thrills if you don't know when to stop. Everyone loves to win, and if you find yourself way up, it's a good time to stop. Statistically, the longer you play the better the chances are that you will lose your money. If your bankroll is heading towards a slump, be sure to stop once you've reached your loss limit. Never chase losses.
Gambling is a phenomenal form of entertainment and can grow your bankroll exponentially, so have fun, but always play responsibly. Although you are just as likely as the next person to win big on a slot machine, or perhaps a coveted jackpot, be smart and don't overdo it. Slots can take patience because a big hit can occur in ten seconds, ten minutes, or heaven forbid ten hours. As long as you have your loss limit in mind throughout your rounds of play, you'll be in good shape if the going gets tough.
In addition, bonuses do endless favors for your bankroll, but keeping a watchful eye on your funds is the key to success in gambling. We never advise risking more than you can afford to lose, so managing your bankroll should be a top priority. Bankroll maintenance can be as simple as placing reasonable deposit amounts and not opting for bets on games that will deplete your funds too quickly.
Set yourself a loss limit, then stick to it.
8. Know where not to play slots
It is no big news that it is easier to win on loose slot machines — the hard part is finding one. These machines are placed all over the casino quite strategically and in a meticulous way. Physical placement revolves around the fact that the casinos want everyone to see a big win. It encourages others to play, so often loose machines are to be found in highly visible areas.
On the other hand, there can be pitfalls to visibility. Airport slots are highly visible, but people are coming and going at a frantic rate. These slots are known to be some of the worst to play at any gambling destination. It's far better to wait until you're actually in the casino. Scope out a spot with a wide range of machines so you can move on if you hit a cold streak, but one that's highly visible without being a major rush transit area like reception by a restaurant buffet with a lot of motion or an airport mall.
For even better chances to find loose slots, look no further than your computer. Online slot machines generally pay out more than slots on the Las Vegas Strip. Having a constant stream of players makes it possible for real money online casinos to offer slots with the best odds yet.
9. Play slots with random or progressive jackpots
Another notable feature of slot machines is the jackpots. There are two categories: fixed and progressive. Slots machines with a fixed jackpot will have a maximum payout/jackpot amount that does not change. Whereas for progressive machines the jackpot increases the more people play on them. A fraction of their bet falls into the jackpot pool, and the jackpot will continue to increase until won. Progressive machines usually come with an indicator that shows the player that the maximum payout can change based on how many people play that particular machine, therefore making the jackpot progressively higher or lower.
Whether or not one should play on progressive jackpot slot machines is a hotly debated issue among casino gamers. Though some would say that progressives are the only true way to strike it super-rich at the casino; many claims that it's quite the long shot, even as difficult as winning the lottery. Whatever the case, playing on progressive slot machines is a lot of fun. If you manage your bankroll well and pace yourself, you just might find yourself entering the millionaire's club.
One school recommends avoiding progressives. While a life-changing win may be uber tempting, with high potential rewards comes, all too often, low payout rates. I mean, that mega jackpot has to be built up somehow and it's not usually by being liberal in the payout department. If your playing philosophy is to spend a lot of time having a lot of fun and picking up pleasant but not exactly earth-shattering winnings, then you should avoid progressives.
The second school of thought says that progressives are really the only true way to strike it super-rich. With odds similar to those of winning the lottery, it's a long shot but playing progressives is a lot more fun. If you're able to manage your bankroll properly, pace things, and not get too carried away, progressives do offer the chance for you to walk into the casino as a poor nobody and walk out a member of the millionaire's club. And I mean, come on, there is a certain thrill to the prospect.
Beyond that, it's not hard to find a large random jackpot worth tens of thousands of dollars. The real trick is that random jackpots like Achilles and Caesar's Empire are actually won daily, while progressive jackpots can stick around for years.
10. Practice your strategy and play slots for free
Another thing you can find to spin things to your advantage (pun intended) is to find exciting online, free slots with free spins and try out a game, and hopefully, start building your bankroll for free. It's an easy way to learn a game, plus a free chance to win.
Many bonuses come with free spins to use already, but there is often the chance to trigger bet multipliers and free spins during the bonus rounds in slot games. This can be achieved by lining up a certain combination of Scatter or Wild Symbols on the reels. Not all games have free spins, but you'll get even more chances to hit a payout without dipping into your bankroll if you find any games that do.
If you're interested in receiving exclusive deals, sign up to hear about the latest offers that CoolCat Casino has for you! You will get regular bonus offers and updates regarding exciting game and seasonal promotions. We even have daily free spin offers! Why just deposit your $30, when you could be fine-tuning your bankroll with the help of these amazing offers.
11. Betting slot machine tricks
'Bet Max' is what a regular gambler hears all the time when playing on slot machines. There is a common misconception that if you do not bet the maximum bet every time you will always lose to the casino in the long haul. However, that's not quite how it works. This strategy can actually increase the odds for you on some specific machines.
Any seasoned slot enthusiast will tell you to stay away from the penny and nickel slot machines because the payouts are very poor. Fortunately, this isn't really an issue for online slots. All you need to do is to choose whether to bet the minimum of maximum coins. You could spend hours wasting away in front of a nickel or penny slot only to find out that the jackpot you hit is not worth the effort. It isn't half as rewarding as hitting it big on a machine that has higher bet minimums and larger jackpots or prize multipliers. Up the ante and avoid those $0.01-0.05 machines in order to win really big.
The truth is that on the great majority of slots, your chances at winning are absolutely the same whether you bet minimum or maximum. The difference is simple: the more you risk, the more you can win on a lucky spin. This is particularly true when it comes to online slots with special features and bonus rounds.
All slot machines have a set 'volatility.' A high volatility slot machine doesn't pay out as many wins, but when it does, the wins can be huge. In order to take advantage of the exponential size of the multipliers on these high volatility games, it can often be a good idea to bet high.
On the other hand, low and medium volatility slot machines pay out a large amount of smaller wins, and a few big ones. These machines are more about slow and steady winning the race, so you won't feel the need to bet as high as you can to hit that one huge payout.
But what about those gigantic progressive jackpots? I mean, who doesn't love the idea of becoming a millionaire in the blink of an eye? From everything I've been able to glean, there are two schools of thought on this one (yes, it's a double-edged sword) depending on your playing philosophy.
High bets can also be beneficial when you're playing a game like Fucanglong, which has incredibly powerful bonus features. When you trigger a Feature on any slots game, you get a number of Free Games to play at the value of your bet. So if you're swinging big with $15 bets, and you hit a Feature like the Dragon Pearl … watch out baby, watch out.
12. Pay tables matter a lot!
It is very important to always check on the payout rates of every single slot machine you decide to play and most importantly, you must check on this before choosing a slot machine. Each slot machine has its own set-up with different payouts, and the outcome can really make a difference.
The paytables hold key information in slot games, such as the rules and features, plus the RTP (return to player percentage) or hit frequency. The RTP is the percentage you're likely to get from playing a slot game over time, so if, for example, a slot had an RTP of 97%, this means for every $1 you spend, you'll get an average of 0.97 cents back in winnings. Note that the RTP doesn't mean you'll get this amount back after every spin — it's just how the winnings are calculated over the long term when playing a slot.
For online slots, the pay tables can be found under the help and rules menu of each game. Pay tables and the number of paylines can vary widely by game, so taking the time to do a bit of homework and select the games with the best pay tables, advantageous paylines, and most bonus features. This simple step can go a long way to making you a big winner.
13. Practice your strategy and play slots for free
There's nothing like a test drive. One of the biggest perks about playing slot games online is the fact you can try them all out for free before putting any money on the line. Most online casinos offer you the chance to play for free before you switch to real money and CoolCat is no exception. CoolCat Casino has a free, no download, instant play feature that allows you to give your favorite slots (and many table and specialty games) free spins to your heart's content.
This isn't an option in land-based casinos, which is why we always encourage players to use freeplay mode if they aren't too sure about how a slot works and want to get some experience before playing for real money. Give yourself time to build up your slot playing skills and switch to real money mode once you're ready.
Simply put, this is an excellent way to study the pay tables, paylines, and bonus features of the slots that pique your interest before going for the gold with real money on the line. In all honesty, I spend a lot of time using the instant play function, especially when new games come out, sussing out the ones with the best bonus features likely to give me more bang for my buck. Create an account today and play for free.
14. Keep an eye out for even bigger bonuses
The best way to make your bankroll go farther is to take advantage of the huge promo offers that occasionally pop up. Sometimes it's a seasonal thing, sometimes the casino is just ready to push a new offer, but if you keep your eyes peeled, you can sometimes snag some incredible deals.
One of the many incredible benefits of playing slots online or at a traditional brick and mortar casino is signing up for casino bonuses. The various bonuses that casinos offer will reward players with serious benefits, based on how frequently they play and how much they wager and deposit each time. These rewards can be substantial. So, if you're going to spend your money gambling, why not utilize the bonuses when signing up? New players can expect excellent welcome bonuses simply for joining, and weekly promotions or holiday specials can keep players coming back.
The benefits become even greater if you take advantage of loyalty, club member, or VIP programs. They come in a variety of forms, such as bigger than normal match bonuses, free spins, and more. So make sure to look for ones that suit your style of play. Land-based casinos will offer 'slots club' cards for instance, and keep track of the amount you play on slots every time you enter.
Playing online has various opportunities that will be beneficial to you and your pockets. Some casinos will even give you points back as cash, or extend certain offers revolving around birthdays, holidays, or special events. These on top of managing your budget properly will stretch your gambling buck even further. Be sure to be registered as a club card member, valued player or have signed up for bonuses before you take a spin on the slot machine. Even if you don't win, you can still get credit for every time you play.
Promo offers can include bigger than normal match bonuses, free spins, and more. If you're interested in receiving exclusive offers, sign up to hear about our latest bonus offers. Once a member of a casino like CoolCat, you will get regular bonus offers by mail as well as updates regarding special new game promotions, seasonal promotions, and weekly, sometimes daily promo offers. Rather than just playing with your $30 deposit, you'll be able to turn that into an impressive bankroll with the help of some of the other offers that come around (remember, you should now know what to look for when picking your bonus).
15. Be mindful as you play
A sensible approach to playing any game is not to have too high expectations. Having this mindset will do nothing but set you up for disappointment from the very beginning and cause you to make hasty decisions that could leave you worse off than before you started. Smart gambling isn't always about putting huge chunks of cash on the line; it's about taking your time with a game, being strategic and precise with your bets, and utilizing bonuses wherever possible.
Play Online Slots at Cool Cat
Want to try out hundreds of exciting online slots for free or for real money? Register with CoolCat and get yourself a 330% Signup Bonus to use on slots and keno games, plus 24/7 access to a massive collection of other classic table and specialty games here at CoolCat.
In conclusion, these few, simple slot machine tricks can take a bit of the randomness out of random, increase your odds of winning and definitely help you have more fun over a longer period of time with you given bankroll. And heck, you never know, I guess that's why we all love to play slots, you may walk away with a win so big your life will never be the same again! As far as I'm concerned, the thrill of that all too real possibility makes playing slots well worth the time.
You might also like:
Introduction to Choosing Slot Machines
Once a specific casino has been determined to currently be the best of any available, choosing slot machines becomes the next step towards making a profit at slots.
Remember, statistics supplied to state gaming commissions show that the odds of winning are, on average, somewhere around 90%. By assessing all available casinos, then selecting the best possible, you've already improved your odds of winning – perhaps by several percentage points.
Whatever your gambling goals are, we'll talk about those in the next step Identifying Gambling Goals. For now, we need to consider choosing slot machines that will most likely improve our overall odds even more.
So, we've walked into our best casino to choose slot machines with the highest odds of winning we can find. How do we select a good slot machine? Most people don't – they dive right in without much of a plan. Well, we have a plan.
Keep Reading … or Watch Instead!
Or … Listen Instead!
Find my podcast wherever you listen to audio!
Why? Because everybody says it's all about luck. If you pick wrong, 'Well,' they say, 'better luck next time.' Remember, casino employees are trained to say things like that. If you'd won a jackpot instead, you can believe they would have said, 'You're lucky! I'll see you later when you win another jackpot!'
Slot attendants have a job to do, and it most certainly isn't to get you to leave when you should. And, it's difficult to not to influenced by such comments. But, try not to be.
In the following sections, I'll briefly explain the following aspects of choosing slot machines:
- How odds are set within a slot machine
- Choosing denomination and maximum credits based on bankroll
- Basics of reading a slot machine's paytable
- A simple way to use paytables to pick the best machines, and avoid the worst
Two Separate Odds of Winning
The odds of winning for a slot machine is a limited number of settings from the manufacturer. Besides understanding limited settings are available, it may help to understand that slot machines have two odds of winning to determine:
- If a player will or will not win anything
- How much that win will be, i.e., the jackpot amount
Why is understanding these two types of odds significant when choosing slot machines? Because winning slot machines come in all jackpot sizes. You're still winning if you're getting enough small jackpots that your bankroll isn't shrinking. Even if it is slowly depleting, the bankroll can last quite a bit longer, so that's also a winning slot machine.
Winning many jackpots this way is bankroll cycling. It may not seem very satisfactory, but whether it does or not depends entirely on what your gambling goals are. One type of gambling goal, earning maximum complimentary gifts, is most often achieved via bankroll cycling.
Another point about setting slot machine odds is, how often they change? Of course, it depends on the age of the casino, as discussed in the previous step Assessing Casinos, or if it's been renovated lately.
In my experience, older-style casinos change their slot machine odds every 7-10 days. Newer-style casinos can change their slot machine odds whenever the machine has been idle for 15 minutes or more, without a players club card inserted or the machine temporarily locked by a slot attendant.
Matching Bankrolls to Denomination/Credits
Only you can decide how much bankroll you want to risk gambling. I highly recommend bringing only as much money you can safely afford to lose comfortably.
Bankrolls quite literally determine which slot machines you can play. But, there's more to it than understanding a $100 bankroll lets you play a 1-credit, $100-denomination exactly once, with very, very little chance of winning.
Whatever bankroll you have limits which slot machines can be played and how much it can be played. Slot machines have denominations ($0.01, $0.25, $1, $5, $10, etc.) and the maximum credits that can be placed in a single bet.
Slot machines typically must run for a while before wins become more likely. Yes, wins can occur at the first press of a button. They can also happen within the first few bets, where casinos offer a taste. But, usually, they need to run for a while.
About 100-120 bets is the right amount to be prepared to play to determine if you're sitting at a winning (or breakeven) slot machine. Yes, be careful initially, perhaps making as few as 20 bets, to determine if it happens to be a 'bad' machine. Trust your instincts!
If it is a poorly performing machine, a 'tight' slot machine, it won't pay out anything at all. Quick decisions are necessary here, so limited betting gives a clue to its performance, yet still leaves enough to gamble with on another machine if it isn't – assuming you stop playing it as soon as you notice it's not performing well enough.
So, again, you determine how much bankroll you can afford to spend. Now, take that number and divide it by 120 bets. If your bankroll is $60, then that's 50 cents per bet. In such a way, the right choice is a 2-credit, quarter-denomination slot machine. Or, a 50-credit, penny-denomination slot machine.
Winning Slots Review
Always remember to play maximum credits for the highest odds of winning. Meaning, your casino may not have a 2-maximum-credit quarter or 50-maximum-credit penny machines. But, perhaps they have a 1-maximum-credit quarter or less-than-50-maximum-credits penny machines. Such slot machines would provide more than 120 bets of play, which is going in the right direction!
Reading a Slot Machine's Paytable
When choosing a slot machine to play, a crucial aspect of winning is to review its paytable before playing. Frankly, the casino industry gains an advantage over players that don't read slot machine paytables.
Located somewhere on a slot machine is one or more tables showing the number of credits won if specific combinations of reel symbols appear in the pay line after the player makes a bet. Below is a relatively generic example of a paytable.
The figure shows reel combinations along with their jackpot depending on the number of credits bet. Paytables don't typically explain how much credits are worth. In general, the top row is the maximum jackpot of the machine.
Not every reel combination and its associated jackpot are usually shown in a paytable. Other reel combinations not shown in the top rows are also presented in the paytable area. Slot machines with WILD symbols can represent it with a myriad of other possible reel symbols.
A final element of paytable example provided is specific information on winning reel combinations, which can include an indication of how the slot machine operates during play. The bottom row of symbol explains that that slot machine has reel symbols which will move after the reels stop momentarily.
Such additional features may not activate until the maximum credits are bet. It can sometimes be difficult, or impossible, to determine this. Most slot machines with bonus rounds will provide at least some information about it within its paytable.
Developing a habit of reviewing and studying a slot machine's paytable can help improve your ability to judge the financial risks involved with playing that slot machine.
How to Avoid the Worst Slot Machines
The best way to improve the odds of winning via slot machine gambling is to stop making 'sucker bets'. In less colorful language, avoid playing slot machines with terrible odds of winning.
First and foremost, understand when choosing slot machines that there are indeed terrible slot machines at a casino. By merely avoiding them whenever possible, on average, your long-term gambling return will improve. Each time we raise our odds like this, we're pushing closer to achieving our gambling goals. So, let's make sure we do that, shall we?
Calculate this 'Goodness Ratio' as follows:
- When choosing slot machines, as discussed above, find the paytable with the denomination and maximum credits that best matches your available bankroll.
- Take a close look at the paytable. What is the maximum possible jackpot when maximum credits are bet?
- If the top jackpot is displayed in currency, divide it by both the denomination of the machine and the maximum credits
- If the top jackpot is displayed in credits, divide it by only the maximum credits
This 'Goodness Ratio' tells us how worthwhile a specific slot machine is to play relative to others. By using this approach, any slot machine can be compared to any other slot machine.
Example: In the paytable above, the maximum jackpot is 2,400 credits with three maximum credits. Therefore, its Goodness Ratio is 2,400 / 3 = 800.
Repeat this calculation for slot machines of interest. While this Goodness Ratio will be similar for many slot machines, it can be startling to find 'sucker bet' slot machines that might not otherwise be avoided.
Summary for Choosing Slot Machines
After a casino has been chosen, it's time to select candidate slot machines most likely to result in a relatively high-value win. The size of your available bankroll, whatever it is, is an essential factor in this selection process. The bankroll size needs to be matched to the slot machine's denomination and the number of maximum credits.
Here, we've also discussed how slot machines calculated odds twice: once to determine if you've won, and again to determine how much you've won. Another critical aspect discussed to improve a player's performance was the basics of reading a slot machine's paytable.
Finally, we talked about the 'goodness' ratio to help select candidate slot machines and, perhaps critically important when improving our odds of winning, knowing precisely which slot machines must be avoided.
Next Steps
The next step on your journey to improving slots performance is Identifying Gambling Goals. Enjoy!
My research indicates I'm the first to share this information and offer personal coaching for slots enthusiasts.
I sincerely hope you find it both enjoyable and useful. For questions, call my voicemail hotline at 702-90-SLOTS, email me at Jon Friedl, or reach out to me through social media:
Further, I suggest that you sign up for my Free Report on the Best 7 Online Resources for Gamblers. Not only will you immediately receive a great list of online resources, but also other tips, tricks, and slots-related articles as I post them.
For the foreseeable future, this email subscription is my only request of you:
Winning Slots Review
Finally, to provide further assistance if needed, I'm offering an inexpensive, 1-hour-long, one-to-one Consultation with me, your fellow slots enthusiast and friendly slot machine expert. Let's talk! With only a few openings available most weeks, this is a strictly limited opportunity!
Best Winning Slot Machines
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl LLC
