Slot Machine Betting Strategy
Slot machines are the most popular games in the casino, although they’re not as popular as they used to be. In some casinos, 80% of the profits are generated by the one-armed bandits. The question on everyone’s mind seems to be the same: how do you win on slot machines?
If you're playing real-money slot machines, you might be tempted to play fewer win lines with an increased bet per line. So, you'll net a bigger win than if you had bet $0.01 per line and played. Except in rare cases, slot machines are not games of strategy HOW THE HOUSE GETS ITS EDGE IN SLOTS MACHINES Casino games make money for the house by paying less than the true odds of winning the bet. On table games, that can be relatively simple. That’s right, the low penny slot machines pay out at a poor 80% to 85% range. Many Players are drawn to the low line betting slot machines, believing that they can play longer with the potential of winning more and winning big. This strategy would make sense if the pay out ratios of all the slot machines are the same, but they are not. However, before we reveal more tips and tricks on how to beat a slot machine, we should make it clear that you can win or lose on any slot game regardless of its RTP. Even a game with a 98% RTP doesn’t guarantee that you are going to win, and these percentages are based over a long period of time rather than just one playing session. There are a few Slots Strategy tips that can improve your chances of winning. If you want to know more about the best way to play, visit CasinoTop10.
I wish I had a magical formula I could see you that would ensure you’d walk away from the slots a winner. Unfortunately, I don’t have one. Luckily, neither does anyone else.
Slot machines are entirely random, and they’re programmed to pay out less than the odds of winning, so in the long run, slots are good for nothing more than eating up your gambling bankroll. If you still want to play slots after understanding that, well, good for you. That’s not a problem.
There are some things you can do to improve the odds, though. That’s what I’ll focus on in the rest of this post—actual, practical things you can do to improve your odds of winning on slot machines.
1. Understand the Theoretical Cost of Playing Slot Machines
The savviest gamblers understand the math behind gambling games better than most people. If you grok the way slots work better than other people, you’ll be able to make better informed decisions about what to play and how.
The first concept to understand about slot machines is that each outcome has a probability attached to it. When you multiply those outcomes by the probability of achieving them and add them all up, you get the mathematically expected return for the game.
Slot Machine Strategy Casino
Here’s an absurd example that illustrates the point well:
You’re playing a slot machine that costs $1 per spin. 50% of the time, you’ll get a combination of symbols that will result in $1 in winnings. The other 50% of the time, you’ll get a combination that results in no winnings at all.
But to keep things interesting, slot machine designers have multiple combinations with multiple prize amounts. When you do all the math, such a game has a theoretical payback percentage—the percentage of each bet that the game returns in winnings.
These payback percentages vary wildly from game to game, from casino to casino, and from location to location. In competitive areas like the Strip in Las Vegas, slot machines might have a payback percentage of 96% on average. In non-competitive places like the airport, these games might have a payback percentage closer to 75%.
For the purposes of this post, I’m just going to assume that the average slot machine has a payback percentage of 88%. That’s the equivalent of a 12% house edge.
To calculate how much money you can expect to lose playing such a slot machine, you simply multiply the amount of money you’re betting per spin by the number of spins you’re making per hour. Then you multiply that by the house edge, and that’s your hourly expected loss.
So if you’re playing a dollar slot machine and betting $3 per spin, and you’re making 600 spins per hour, you’re putting $1800 per hour into action.
The casino expects to win, on average—in the long run–$216 per hour.
That doesn’t compare favorably with other casino games, by the way. Contrast that with blackjack. Let’s say you’re playing blackjack with perfect basic strategy, and you’re getting in 100 hands per hour. And let’s also say you’re betting $5 per hand. That’s $500 per hour you’re putting into action.
If you’re using perfect basic strategy, the house edge in blackjack is probably 1%. Your expected hourly loss is $5 per hour.
That’s a big difference.
One might almost assume from this that the best way to win at slot machines is to refuse to play them at all.
2. Understand What’s So Attractive about Slot Machines
Most gamblers understand on some level, even if it’s almost unconsciously, that slot machines are a lousy bet.
But they’re still the most popular game in the casino.
How does that happen?
I can guess at some of the reasons slots are so popular. Some of these reasons are easy to understand, too. Remember how I pointed out that you’d only lose $5/hour playing blackjack if you use perfect basic strategy?
Memorizing and implementing basic strategy in blackjack requires work and effort. Some gamblers don’t want to put in any effort toward that sort of thing. They’d prefer to play a game that’s easy to understand and easy to play. And nothing could be easier than mindlessly pressing the spin button on a slot machine.
Also, when you play slot machines, you usually have the opportunity to win a prize of 1000 units or so on a single spin. (A “unit” is the amount you’re betting. If you’re betting a dollar, then a lot of slot machines will have a jackpot of $1000.) Many gamblers like the idea of winning a big prize.
Slot Strategies That Work
Compare that again to blackjack. You go to all that effort to learn basic strategy, and the biggest prize you can win is 150% of your initial bet. It might be a little higher than that if you get to split your hand or double down. But realistically, most of the time, you’re only going to win a single unit or 2 on a hand of blackjack.
Finally, slot machines are designed for the express purpose of keeping gamblers interested. The companies which design these machines spend countless dollars researching which images, color schemes, and sound effects are going to be most attractive to gamblers. Wheel of Fortune slot machines are no accident. They’re the most popular game for a reason.
If your goal is to play an easy game where you have a shot at a big jackpot, slots might be the right game for you. You just want to decide beforehand if the trade-off is worth it.
3. Improving Your Chances of Winning and Reducing Your Potential Losses Are Both Realistic, Worthy Goals
Let’s talk about how you can make playing slot machines less expensive in the long run.
The first and easiest way to reduce the amount of money you lose playing slots is to slow way down. The biggest factor determining your hourly expected loss is the number of spins you make per hour.
Really fast slots players can make 1200 spins per hour. Average slots players probably get in 600 spins per hour.
But if you go slow, you can probably get down to 300 spins per hour.
In the example I gave earlier, we predicted you’d lose $216 on average per hour. If you were to slow down and only place 300 spins per hour, that number would drop to $108 per hour.
Maybe that doesn’t increase your probability of being a big winner, but if you really want to maximize your probability of winning, you have to switch to a different game entirely—one where you can get an edge. That’s impossible with slots. To get an edge, you need to be able to count cards in blackjack or play expert level poker. There are other ways, too, but they’re an order of magnitude of difference from slot machine play.
You can also reduce your expected losses by playing for less money. There’s a big difference between making 300 spins per hour at $3 per spin and making 300 spins per hour at 75 cents per spin. Your total hourly action drops from $900 per hour to $225 per hour.
4. Use Some Practical Tips for Improving Your Chances
That 12% house edge that I keep mentioning is just for illustrative purposes. The truth is, most slot machines have different payout percentages. Your goal should be to find a slot machine with a higher payback percentage rather than a lower payback percentage.
One easy way to compare slot machines is to look at the size of the jackpot. The bigger the top prize is, the lower the payback percentage is. This is especially true when you start looking at progressive slot machine jackpots.
The probability of winning one of those huge $10 million+ jackpots is comparable to winning the lottery, which is to say that the odds are astronomical. Since a portion of the overall payback percentage for that game is attributable to that jackpot, which you’ll probably never win, your practical payback percentage is much lower.
So if you’re choosing between 2 slot machines, choose the one with the smaller jackpot.
Here’s another trick:
Play the highest denomination machine you can afford. The higher the denomination, the better the payback percentage is. That’s a general rule of thumb, but it’s not bad strategy.
And since a lot of lower denomination slot machines push the multiple lines/multiple coins play so hard, you might be betting the same amount per spin anyway. If you’re playing a penny slot machine and betting on 5 lines with 5 coins per line, you’re betting 25 cents per spin.
You’d probably have better odds playing a quarter machine for one payline and one coin per spin.
And it should go without saying that the location where you’re playing has more to do with the payback percentage than almost any other factor.
But I’m not talking about whether the machine is near the restaurant or on the end of a bank of machines or something like that. I’m talking about the location of the casino itself.
The biggest payback percentages on slots in the United States are at the Las Vegas Strip casinos. That’s because that’s the most competitive marketplace there is.
On the other hand, if you’re at the airport in Las Vegas, well… those are the only games in town, right?
They don’t have any real competition, and they know you’re just killing time and playing on a lark, so they don’t need to provide a competitive payback percentage to get your business.
This is also true of bars and gas stations, etc. They’re not competing with other gambling businesses. They’re just looking to make a quick buck while you’re stranded there doing whatever kind of business you need done.
5. Don’t Pay ANY Attention to Silly Slot Machine Systems Being Sold by So-Called Experts
One of the most cringe-worthy gambling books I’ve ever read was John Patrick’s Slots. It’s a collection of 2 or 3 dozen slot machine systems that are supposed to increase your probability of being a winner at slots.
Most of his advice has to do with switching machines when you’re “running cold.” He has a limit for the number of “naked pulls” you’ll accept. (I think it was 7.)
A naked pull is a spin of the reels where you don’t win anything. If you get 7 naked spins in a row, that’s supposed to be a sign that the machine is cold and you should switch to another game.
He also has some general guidelines for session bankrolls. He suggests that you have a win goal and a loss limit for each session, something like 20% of your bankroll for that session. So if you sit down at a game with $100, and you get down to $80, it’s time to quit and switch machines. Same thing if you get up to $120. Quit and switch machines.
You’ll also find people selling books about slots that are supposedly written by “slot machine technicians” who can help you predict when a machine is getting ready to pay out. One of these clues is supposedly the “zig zag” method. The idea is that you find a slot machine where 2 out of 3 winnings symbols are visible at the same time. Such a machine is supposedly close to paying out.
This is just nonsense, too. Every spin of the reels is an independent event, and what happened on previous spins has no bearing on what’s going to happen on subsequent spins.
6. Join the Players’ Club
I have mixed feelings about the players’ club. On one hand, I’m not crazy about sharing my personal information with the casino. They’re going to use that information to advertise to me. I understand why that makes sense for them, but it makes less sense for me.
But from a purely mathematical perspective, it makes sense to join the slots club and always play with the card inserted into the machine. The casino measures how much time you spend on the machines and rewards you with rebates and comps accordingly.
Don’t buy into the myth that playing slots with the card inserted interferes with your ability to win. That’s just silly. The casinos don’t need to cheat in this way. The games already have a mathematical edge, and the rebates and comps are programmed in such a way that the casino is still hugely profitable.
But even though the comps are much smaller than the amount of money you’re expected to lose, it’s still money that you shouldn’t walk away from. After all, there’s no difference between playing with the card inserted and not inserting the card.
You should milk those comps for everything they’re worth.
Conclusion
How do you win on slot machines?
The short answer is simple enough:
Get lucky.
Slot machine games are entirely random, so there’s no way to get an edge over these games. Anyone who tries to tell you different is hoping you’ll buy something from them. And what they’re selling is worthless.
The best you can do is hope to lower the casino’s edge over you. You can also adjust the way you play so that you minimize the amount of money you lose.
But forget about finding some foolproof way to beat the slot machines. People selling that information are the modern equivalent of snake oil salesmen.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Playing on a slot machine can be tricky business. If you are in the initial stages of the game or a novice then you might need time to get familiar with the machine.
It is sometimes hard to decipher how to win on slot machines every time. This article can help you in finding a winning slot machine.
Every gambler looks for ways to trick casinos so that they can make the most on slot machines.
One of the toughest parts is to listen to the advice and sit through the good and bad. A number of casinos remain open to entertaining people. Many people are now pro at gambling and know tricks to win at slot.
You may have a plethora of options when it comes to choosing a casino. These top 7 qualities should help you in finding the best casino.
Before we go any further, you need to learn about the slot machine.
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What is a Slot Machine?
Having three or more spinning reels, slot machines are gambling games. The reels have symbols that spin and randomly form a combination once a player has placed a bet.
When numbers are lined up in a sequence, it determines wins. These are called pay lines. An amount is then given according to the wager.
Useful Casino Tips to Win Slots
How to win at slots can sometimes be tricky. One of the tips that must be followed is to spend a substantial amount of time in order to get to know the machine and its pattern.
The question, however, remains how much time to spend at slot machines?
Keep reading to find some useful tips to win slots.
1. Highest Payouts Slot Machine
One of the mistakes that beginners make when they go online to win money is choosing the wrong slot machine. This might seem obvious but many tend to overlook it.
If you want to learn how to win on slot machines every time then you must choose the one that pays higher than other machines.
Return to the player that is RTP should be higher.
In order to find RTP, the easiest option would be searching for it online. Many websites are reviewing casino games and you can find one.
2. Volatility of Slots
Volatility is an important factor when you have to pick a winning slot machine. This is also referred to as variance and or risk level.
It determines the level of risk that is involved while playing for real money. This also determines your winning probability.
If volatility is low then it means that you will win frequently. With high volatility, the wins are rare but they will be bigger than the low ones.
Slots that have high volatility are often exposed to risks as you are unable to determine the lucky spin to win money.
If you have not found a way how to tell if a slot machine is ready to pay then do not jump to a hasty decision. Spending all the money on gambling is not a good idea. These 10 tips can help you to avoid spending all your money gambling.
3. Disregard the Obvious Option
Online gambling is becoming a serious phenomenon that has made its strong presence recently. Online gambling is another way how to win at slots. There is a myth that is associated with online gambling which requires one to increase stakes to win the jackpot.
The truth of this myth can be determined here.
No matter how impressive an online casino is, they still are after your money. There are all legal and legit but you need to know how to tell if a slot machine is ready to pay.
You need to dig deeper in order to reach the winning slot. For this, you need to consider the slots that are not promoted. Check the ones that are on the third or fourth page.
4. Go for Smallest Jackpots
In order to have the best chances to win the slots choose the smallest jackpots. The smaller is the jackpot, the higher the chances would be to win the game.
It takes so much time to create huge jackpots and as a result, you lose. This is the reason that you should stick to the smaller returns.
5. Do not go for Video Reels
Slot machines with video reels might look impressive but they pay less than the normal machines.
There is a reason why such slot machines pay less. Videos take long to display and while this is going on, the casino is not making money. This is the reason that such a slot machine is designed in a way that takes the money from players who are playing.
This is the reason that you should stay in the classic slot machine in order to get a big return.
6. Trust the Feedback/Other Players
Slot Machine Betting Strategy Poker
This might not work when you are playing poker but for online gambling, you can trust other players. If the casino tries to trick you, other players can call it out. This is the reason that you should always check the reviews and ratings in order to find the truth about the game.
This would also tell you about the experience of the other players.
These are some of the tips that can help you in increasing the probability of your win. Your guide to gambling in Oz can help you in increasing your winning probability.
Manipulating slot machines in the past have questioned the probability of winning. Many players find it hard to believe if it is possible. However, with practice and familiarity, it is possible to manipulate slots.
Facts About Slot Games
You might be able to find how to win at slot games but at times you need to be aware of its working as well. If you are a frequent visitor to casinos then you must be familiar with the game and its rules.
There are some interesting facts about slot games that you must know.
Some of them are given below:
- The software for casino games is designed in a way that the mobile users experience the same version as they do while using a desktop.
- The user interface is kept simple with clear instructions. With a new slot comes with a new interface and design. This is the reason that they need to make a slot that in understandable and user-friendly.
- It is safe to play slots using mobile phones. They have a very strict security system that keeps your phone secured. The team would inform you as soon as any suspicious activity would take place from your account.
- Each slot is a machine is different. They might look the same on the outside but inside there is something that makes them different. A slot machine can hit the jackpot twice within the same time period.
- You cannot find any special technique or way to hit the spinner. Each move by the gambler would not affect the way in which the slot moves.
- There is also a myth that is associated with a hot coin. It is not true that a hot coin would affect the slot machine’s action.
These are some of the interesting facts that are not widely known. People tend to believe the myths that have been created over the past years.
Each machine is different and you should be familiar with its working.
Being familiar would help you in making the pattern work. You can win on slots. You need to keep in mind the tricks and tips that have been told.
These are enough to help you in making a winning slot. So make sure you do your homework before showing up at a gambling game.
How to Win on Slot Machines Every Time: Pick the Right Slot Machine
Now that you know so much about the slot machine, you should be able to pick the right one. This might be a tricky step but once you are through it you might know how to tell if a slot machine is ready to pay.
This article has made it easy for you to learn how to win on slot machines every time. Learn the tips and tricks so that you can hit the jackpot. With these aforementioned tips, you might be able to win the big hit.
Wouldn’t it be nice to win BIG?
To find the latest articles and features that cover the whole gambling industry in Australia, check out our other blogs posts.