Slots Strategy

Slot machines are not the highest-paying games found on the casino floor, but they are so popular because they are so entertaining. In this article we’ll outline the key points around slots strategy to help you get the most out of the game.

The Best Slots Strategy for Guaranteeing a Profit

If you wish to spend some time at the slot machines while also maximizing your payouts, follow our guide on what you should be looking out for and what tips you need to be following.

Strategy You Need To Consider Before You Start to Play Slots

A successful slots strategy begins way before your first spin. Here are the factors that you should consider before you even look at a slot machine.

What Is Your Main Goal When Playing?

The first aspect that you should be considering is what your goal is when playing in the casino. Are you there to have hours on hours of fun, or is your primary goal to try to win as much money as possible?

The way you prioritize those three aspects (playtime, entertainment value, and payout) will affect everything else about your strategy, so think about what is most important to you before you begin playing.

What Is Your Bankroll Budget?

Before you think of even setting foot in a casino, you will need to decide how much money you are willing to gamble while you are in there. This is one of the fundamental steps in devising a slots strategy.

Start off by deciding how much money you can actually afford to lose at a casino. Of course, nobody likes to lose any money, but this can be considered as the cost of your entertainment.

Once you have decided how much you are willing to lose, just think about how long you aim to play at the casino for and divide your bankroll by the number of hours in your visit. For example, if you are willing to lose up to $100 and you are planning on playing for four hours, you cannot lose more than $25 per hour.

Set an alarm on your phone for every hour and, if you run out of money before the hour, take a quick break until the hour is up. If you are consistently taking breaks, you might decide to use a lower stake machine to extend your sessions.

How Will You Handle Your Winnings?

Many people have won a respectable amount at the slot machines but lost it all again before they left the casino. To avoid having that happen to you, plan for how you will handle your winnings.

Some people choose to bank all the money that they win. Others like to set a win limit, like double their starting bankroll, and stop playing when they reach it. Or you can choose a middle road that will protect your winnings while still increasing your bankroll by banking half of your winning while playing the other half.

Slots Strategy: Which Casino Will You Visit?

If you are not heading to a specific casino but rather to a place with a huge variety of casinos on offer such as Las Vegas, where many casinos are competing for your custom, take a moment to research which of your many options offer the best odds.

Most casinos will publish their slot machine odds either online or at their physical premises, guaranteeing anywhere from a 90% to a 98% return to player (RTP.) You then can choose to play at the casino that offers the best odds.

Remember, those published odds are for all the slot machines that the casino offers. Payout rates for individual slot machines are not specified.

Sign Up for Casino Benefits & Bonuses

Many casinos will compete with one another for your attention by offering welcome benefits and rewards. Ensure that you take advantage of these rewards by signing up at as many casinos as you can.

For example, some casinos attract customers by offering a no-deposit bonus, meaning that you can play for free at a casino with a free bankroll and keep the winnings. Others offer a deposit bonus, where they will match the amount of money you convert into chips.

Some casinos also offer slot cards. They use these slot cards to track how much you play and extend special offers to you. The offers might include cashback, free meals and drinks, and much more. The slot cards cost you nothing, but the rewards can be incredibly valuable.

Make sure to take advantage of any promotions available to you to maximise your profits at the casinos.

Choose Your Slot Machine

You now have the basic strategy ouline, it is time to make some decisions to help you pick the right slot machines to play at.

There are two essential things to bear in mind about slot machines in general: first, you will not know what the odds of winning at any machine are, but you can determine the various payout levels for each machine.

Secondly, you cannot do anything to change the odds of winning once you start playing.

The general understanding is that you always want to play with the maximum bet. Many slots offer their biggest prizes exclusively to players who bet the max and you do not want to miss those prizes.

Slots Strategy: How Do You Decide Which Slot You Want to Play On?

Pick a Denomination

Slots come in different denominations, such as penny slots, 5¢ slot machine, dollar slot machines, etc. Dollar slots have much bigger payouts, but the risk is higher, and you might hit your loss limit faster.

Penny slots will not bankrupt you, but you will not win a huge amount, either. However, you can spend a lot of time playing if that is what you are looking for.

Do not forget that you are going to want to bet the max amount per spin, so consider that when you pick your denomination.

Do I Go for Simpler or More Exciting Slots

Some slots have a lot of exciting bells and colours that are fun to play. The simpler slots pay out more money but are admittedly a lot less fun. So, you will need to think back to the goals you set earlier before making your choice.

Avoid Progressive Slots By All Means

Progressive slots have life-changing prizes but horrible odds. They take a part of the money they would typically pay to players to put toward the progressive jackpot.

Remember, casinos do not dip into their own pockets when they can avoid it. Progressive jackpots are funded by losing spins on the slot. Bigger jackpots mean more players have lost on the machine.

Instead, take some time and read each slot machine’s pay table to see what their payouts are. Try to find machines that offer moderate jackpots and a good selection of mid-value prizes.

Slots Strategy: Summary

You should now have enough knowledge and information to be able to make an informed and logical decision about which slot machines you should play at on your next visit to the casino.

Remember, if your goal is to have fun, you might want to go for intricate video slots with lots of bells and sirens, but lower payouts. If your goal is to spend as long as possible at the casino, you will want to concentrate on lower-stake machines such as penny slots, even if your chances of winning big are lower.

If you are going to make the most money possible, you will want to forgo huge jackpots, fancy slots, and low-cost machines.

About Kris

Kris Hunt is a content editor with over 7 years experience. Kris is an expert on all matters iGaming & sports in the USA. Kris is an Arsenal & Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow Kris on Twitter or on LinkedIn.