- Inside Slot Machines
- Slot Machines For Sale
- Buying A Slot Machine
- Picture Of A Slot Machine
- Build A Slot Machine Stand
New slot machine players are going to find a lot of advice for beating the slots. Have a healthy skepticism when a slots expert tells you they know how to beat the slot machines. Among the games in a casino, video slots (in general) have a high house edge. Besides finding gaming machines with high jackpots and a low house edge, no skill or strategy is required to play slots. That means you can’t expect to increase your odds of winning in most situations.
- In this episode VP of Slots, Buddy Frank explains the random generator. Get an inside look at how a slot machine and the jackpot process works!
- Inside Design: How Online Slot Machines are Built. Louis Wheeler. February 22, 2016. Online casino gambling has exploded in the last decade, with the volume of worldwide online gambling expected to be reported in the $41.4 billion range for 2015, according to Statista. This is triple the $13.8 billion that was reported in 2005.
Las Vegas slot machines which are considered modern slot machines are designed to look and feel like the old mechanical models, but they work on a completely different principle. The outcome of each pull is actually controlled by a central computer inside the machine, not by the motion of the reels.
Read through the advice below to optimize your chances of winning at slots. None of the advice assures winning sessions. Instead, it helps you stretch your bankroll, so you enjoy playing the slots longer. Also, the longer your bankroll lasts, the more chances you’ll have of hitting the big jackpot every slots player wants.
Use a Slots Card
Upon entering a live casino, sign up for a slots card. This provides comps and cashback, which automatically lowers the house edge by a bit. Never play a spin without using your slots card. In an online casino, accept the highest slots bonus and play according to the terms and conditions until you meet the wagering requirement. Once again, this lowers the house edge on online slots.
Make Max Bets
Look at the payout chart on a slot machine to determine how jackpots are paid. On many slot machines, the 5-coin bet pays out a higher percentage on the top fixed jackpot. For instance, a 1-coin bet might pay $200, a 2-coin bet might pay $400, a 3-coin bet might pay $600, and a 4-coin bet might pay $800. You might expect the 5-coin bet to pay $1000, but many slot machines pay out $1200 or $1500 in that case, trying to convince bettors to make the max bet.
If the jackpot increases a bigger percentage with a maximum coin wager, then it makes sense to make the max bet on a slot machine. If the bet size is too high for your tastes, then lower the coin denomination and make a max bet at that level. Of course, if there is no additional jump between the 4-coin and 5-coin bet, then you can wager a single coin and max out the coin denomination to the bet size you like.
Read the RTP Information
If an online casino or land-based casino publishes its return-to-player information, read through the RTP percentages to find the video slots with the best RTPs. Return-to-player or expected return is the percentage of a theoretical $100 you expect to see returned to you. It is a theoretical percentage based on probability, so an RTP of 95% does not assure you’ll be paid $95 for every $100 you put in the machine. You might lose $50 or you might win $150, or you might win a progressive jackpot and go home rich.
The point of the RTP percentage is to give a player an idea of their expected return. If two slot machines sit next to one another and one has an RTP of 93% and the other an RTP of 95% (and both have similar jackpots), then it pays to play the game with the higher percentage. Over time, this leads to you maintaining a higher percentage of your bankroll.
Money Management Techniques
Read about bankroll management techniques. “Money management” or “bankroll management” is a series of steps you take to lock on winnings when good luck happens and limit your losses when a bad streak occurs. These do not assure that you’ll win, but it optimizes your bankroll.
Players should know three core bankroll management methods: percentage betting, win goals, and loss limits. Learn to calculate your bankroll and divide this into percentages. Then bet between 1% and 5% of your bankroll on any given hand, depending on your capacity for risk. This limits the amount of your stake you lose on any given session, keeping you playing for longer throughout your vacation. It is a given that people go to the ATM machine or credit card when they lose their whole bankroll — which means you spend more than you intended. The point of percentage betting is to assure your bankroll last through your whole trip, so you never have to replenish.
What Is a Bankroll?
“Bankroll” is not defined as your entire bank account. It isn’t defined as your discretionary spending budget or the money you have earmarked for entertainment expenses. Instead, it is a part of your discretionary spending cash and entertainment budget which is set aside specifically for gambling. In this case, a bankroll is less than your entertainment budget.
Once you have your bankroll figured, divide this into easy to understand percentage. If you have a bankroll of $1000, then divide this into percentages. These are simple calculations, but you should have an understanding of 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, and 20% of your bankroll. In the earlier example, 1% would be $10, while 2% would be $20. 5% would be $50, 10% would be $100, and 20% would be $200.
Now that you have these, decide whether to bet 1% to 5% of your bankroll. Most experts suggest betting no more than 1% to 2% in order to maintain your bankroll throughout your casino trip or online slots session.
Setting a Win Goal
Next, set your win goal. This is the amount of winnings you set as your goal for any given slots session. If you have a win goal of 10%, then your win goal would be $100 for any given slot machine sessions. As soon as you hit that goal, you walk away from the slot machine — no matter what. A win goal is a hard-and-fast rule, because it locks in winnings. One of the biggest mistakes players make is losing back their winnings, because they think they’re on a hot streak.
Setting a Loss Limit
Even more dangerous is trying to win back cash you just loss. To protect against this tendency, set a loss limit. Once again, make this your hard-and-fast rule. Typical loss limits can be 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% — though 20% means you could lose the entire bankroll in 5 slots session. 10% to 15% is a good middle ground. Once you’ve lost that amount, walk away from the slot machine under all circumstances. The slots game is not “due” to pay out, so step away from the machine and clear your mind.
Win goals and loss limits guard against gambler’s fallacy. Gambler’s fallacy is the idea that the law of averages assures or weight the odds in your favor. Slots use random number generators and every spin is entirely separate from the previous spin. Losing the last spin does not make it more likely you’ll win the next spin. The odds stay the same, no matter how many wins or losses in a row you’ve had.
Avoid Progressive Betting
For that reason, avoid progressive betting systems like the Martingale system, D’Alembert system, Fibonacci system, and so on. Betting experts have used computer simulations to track the progressive betting methods against flat betting (same bet each spin). Flat betting beats all of the progressive betting schemes over 1 billion spins.
Progressive betting seems like it’s working, because it leads to a lot of small winning sessions. The problem is that it also has a handful of huge losing sessions which wipe out all the wins — and then some. You can’t beat the house edge with the Martingale system, however it might look to the naked eye. The Fibonacci numbers are incredible, but they are not a magical way to beat the casino.
The reason progressive bets are bad is they increase the size of your bets (in some systems exponentially). If you start with $5 or $10 bets, a streak of bad luck has you betting hundreds of dollars on one spin. That’s busts your bankroll and leads to a “risk of ruin” — meaning you’ll lose your whole bankroll if you hit a bad luck streak. No matter what you read online, flat bets are better.
Take Breaks for Rest and Refreshments
Play when you are at your best physically and mentally. Don’t play when you’re tired or sleepy. Don’t play when you’re hungry or thirsty. Take frequent rest and restroom breaks. If you get bored, take a break and walk the casino. Play another game to change up the betting pattern.
When you are rested and engaged, you won’t have distractions that might lead to bad decisions. The idea is to have fun, so if anything is causing you to lose focus on the entertainment aspect of the game, walk away and save your bankroll.
Don’t Go on Tilt
Tilt is a concept in poker where a player makes decisions based on emotional responses instead of solid strategy. It can cost a player a lot of money if they make bets based on anything but rational decisions. While going on tilt is not a concept in slot machine gambling, every game of chance has a personal component.
In short, don’t play when you’re agitated. Take stock of your inner thoughts. If your ego or anger is causing you to make irrational decisions, take a deep breath and calm down. If that doesn’t work, walk away and clear your head. It stinks to lose a series of bets, but what stinks more is to lose a series of bigger bets when you’re trying to make up for lost bankroll.
- How to Win:Français
We all know that slot machines are usually the most profitable part of the casino floor. More space is dedicated to slot machine gaming than any other category of casino game, from Las Vegas to tribal casinos to Monte Carlo. The same can be said for online games. Which is why our slot guide covers both live and online slot machines.
At BestOnlineCasinos.com you will find everything from IGT and Bally slot machines to free online games and 3D slots. Our slots guide includes reviews to some of the most popular Vegas games as well as online games. We even offer 50+ games which you can play on our site for free.
If you prefer mobile, no problem! We have you covered with our mobile slots guide. This section outlines where you can play for free as well real money. The mobile section includes a dedicated page for each device, comparison reviews and more.
Though the world of slot machines is vast, it doesn’t take long to figure out how they work and how to play them. If you have any questions, feel free to send us an email or read our FAQ slot page which answers 120+ questions about slots.
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Did you know, most Vegas slot games are now available for mobile play? Our mobile guide provides information for Android, Blackberry, iPad, iPhone and Windows devices. This includes which casinos offer a mobile app for your device as well as where you can play mobile slot games for real money or free.
Part 1 - Slot Machine Odds, Wins & PayoutsPart 1 of our slot machine FAQ answers questions on slot odds, betting systems, payouts, winning and more.
Inside Slot Machines
Part 2 - Slot Clubs, Payback % & Hit FrequencyPart 2 of our guide covers some of the more technical questions like payback rates, hit frequency, probabilities.
Part 3 -Slot Machines For Sale
Progressives, Jackpots & High LimitPart 3 answers questions for high limit play, progressive jackpot odds, slot methods, tipping and more.
Part 4 - Video Slots, Games & Vegas RevenuePart 4 covers slot revenue in Vegas, playing online slots, video slots, the RNG, weighted slots and more.
Slot Machine Software & Developers
Slot software has more variety than any other casino game online. Some casinos offer Vegas slots while others include 3D animation, spectacular graphics or cater strictly to bonus games. Our site offers software pages for all of the major brands including Bally, IGT, RTG, Betsoft, Microgaming and more. Below are the top five software platforms powering online casinos. Each page includes a list of the top five sites in addition to a complete overview of the various games on offer. You can view the most popular five software developers below or see our complete list here.
Slot machines are usually the most profitable part of the casino floor. More space is dedicated to slot machine gaming than any other category of casino game, from Las Vegas to tribal casinos to Monte Carlo. Though the world of slot machines is vast, it doesn’t take long to figure out how they work and how to play them.
Types of Slot Machines
There are a few different categories of slot machines, though a modern slot player only really needs to understand straight slots, video slots, progressive slots, and Buy a Pay slot machines.
Straight slots – These are traditional slot machine games. They don’t provide bonuses, and they pay out according to a standard pay table. Straight slots are the easiest slot machines to play. They’re excellent for beginners. If you’re just becoming familiar with the basics of slot gambling, stick with the straight slots. If you get bored or you want more action, consider moving on to video slots.
Video slots – “Video slots” are the fancier slot machines on the floor. These machines usually have larger screens to display movie-quality video and animation. These slots tend to be loud, flashy, and are usually placed in a conspicuous part of the casino floor to attract attention. Video slots tend to have licensed themes, like from movies or TV shows, and some of them are just loaded with bonus games and other features.
Progressive slots – “Progressive slots” are linked to other machines in the casino or even other slot machines at casinos around the country. The top jackpot for these machines is linked to other slots. A tiny percentage of every bet is added to a progressive jackpot total. Spin the right combination on your machine and the entire progressive jackpot is yours. Progressive slot machines tend to offer a worse payout percentage than machines that aren’t linked progressively, so it’s a bit of a risk to switch to a progressive machine and chase the jackpot.
Buy a Pay slots – Buy a Pay slots games have more than just one payout table that you can wager on, and you choose how many tables to bet per pull. Betting an extra payout table costs an extra wager for each one. Yes, it ends up costing more money to bet on Buy a Pay slots, but your chances of winning are better, too. Because different combinations pay out different amounts on each activated payout table, the number of potentially lucrative combinations goes up.
How Do Slot Machines Work?
Buying A Slot Machine
Gone are the old electro-mechanical slot machines with static displays and heavy frames. These days, everything inside of a modern slot machine is controlled by a random number generator, a fancy device that spits out numbers all day. For example, when you pull the lever or push the spin button or in any way trigger the reels to start spinning, that random number generator comes up with a random number to assign to your spin, and that is how it is determined if you win or lose.
Picture Of A Slot Machine
If you understand that today’s slot machines have a brain that runs on random numbers, you can avoid falling for inaccurate slot machine strategy advice. Anything you read online or hear from a friend that suggests that slot machines can be beaten is bunk. Each spin of the reels of a slot machine is unique from the one before it and has nothing to do with the one after it.
Build A Slot Machine Stand
Tips for Playing Slot Machines
So now that you know slot machine outcomes are based on a random chance, do you feel like there’s no way to beat them? Don’t feel that way. Lots of people win lots of money playing the slot machines at their nearby casino or online gaming site. The trick is to keep your gaming within responsible limits and have fun.