Looking for slot machine tips on how to win at slots? If you’ve done even a peripheral search, you’ll see there’s a lot of advice out there. Some of it is really good, some of it is complete BS. The key is separating the wheat from the chaff. For this article, I’ve poured through the seemingly endless slot machine tips and tricks out there, done a bit of experimenting myself, and come up with a list of the simplest, most effective ways how to win at slots.
Slot Machine Tips that Really Work!
Effective slots strategy means giving yourself the advantage. That leads us to tip number 1.
1 – Avail Yourself of No Deposit Bonus Codes
Before you look into ways to trick the slot machine, try tricking the casino. The casinos aren’t going to be happy that I’m writing this, but the fact is, you can get tons of stuff for free if you look in the right places.
Casinos are businesses and casinos need players. It’s a highly competitive industry, so casinos go to great lengths to out-do each other to get you in the door.
No deposit bonuses are basically free money. A $10 free chip gives you the chance to win at slots without the risk of losing a (real) dime. Investing some time in searching for no deposit bonus codes can dramatically increase your chances to play slots for free, while winning for real.
2 – Divide and Conquer – Not the Slots, but the Casinos
As I said, competition among casinos in attracting new players is stiff and can be used to your advantage. Free chips, free spins and bonuses are all ways casinos compete to get you in the door. What many prospective players don’t know is that online gambling laws vary widely by state and country. So what casinos can offer in one country in terms of bonuses and perks may well be forbidden in another.
That’s where US residents actually have an advantage. US gaming laws allow players to claim some of the best bonuses in the world. Taking advantage of this, if you’re US based, can exponentially multiply your bankroll with few to no strings attached.
Wagering Requirements
So what’s the difference between an okay bonus and a fantastic one? From what I’ve seen, the first criteria to look for is the wagering requirement. A wagering requirement is a multiplier that defines the amount you will have to bet before your bonus will be released. For most bonuses, you will not be able to withdraw the bonus itself, and will only be able to withdraw what you won at slots off the bonus after you have completed the wagering requirement. The wagering requirement is often also referred to as “playthrough” in industry speak.
So, look for low wagering requirements/playthrough. 10x or less is always considered a good deal. No playthrough requirement is fantastic.
To elucidate the concept, let’s say you signed up for a $10 bonus with 50x playthrough (wagering requirement). That means that you would have to bet $500 of your bonus winnings before that money would be transferred to your cash balance and available for you to withdraw.
Now, that same $10 bonus with a 10x wagering requirement would mean you only have to bet $100 of your bonus winnings to be able to cash out. A pretty significant difference if you ask me and one that swings the advantage back your way.
Furthermore, it’s essential to look for bonuses that don’t come with a maximum cash out. Many casinos will limit the amount you can withdraw from your bonus winnings in this way. The words “no max cash out” in the bonus terms should be music to your ears. Check out our Online Casino Bonus Guide for detailed information.
3 – Loose Lips May Sink Ships but Loose Slots are a Dream Come True
Okay, we’ve all heard of the proverbial “loose” slot. The term dates back to the early days of mechanical slot machines. A missing tooth on an old sprocket or some other mechanical defect could make a slot machine loose, and hence more likely to pay out more often.
Whether this is an urban myth or not, in the world of today’s online slots real money and the random number generators that run them, there is some truth to the notion of a loose slot machine. One of the secrets of how to win at slots is that they really do pay out at different rates. Obviously, the casino doesn’t want you to know this, let alone which machines are actually loose, which is a well-kept industry secret.
4 – Know Which Slots Not to Play
However, over the years casinos adopted certain tactics in placing loose machines to minimize loses and maximize payout exposure. The general rule was not to put loose machines by the door or at the ends of long aisles near exits. Doing so would effectively minimize the positive exposure the casino would get from a machine that kept paying out. Pop in the door, hit it big, pop out and the casino has lost the inspirational effect seeing a big winner can have on other players. Yes, it really happens, people do hit the jackpot! And the casino wants their joy to be contagious and spread to as many other players as possible. If they make straight for the door and vanish, the effect vanishes.
The same is true for slot machines at the end of long rows. Pop down from your room, take some cash from a loose machine at the end of the row on the way and you’re off to the buffet or show before anyone even know you won at slots. This is seen as a marketing loss the casino takes seriously.
The same is oddly true for online casinos. The “avoid machines at the end of long rows and near exits” may be much harder to apply at an online casino. But it is a solid rule of thumb that if you haven’t seen a win on a machine you’re playing in a long time, it’s probably best to move on to another machine. It’s important to keep in mind that with random number generators, each spin is a unique event. So the more money you put into a single slot machine in no way increases your chances of winning at slots. When on a slots losing streak, it’s time to move on in hopes of hitting a loose machine elsewhere in the casino.
5 – Go Random, Not Progressive
There are two types of slots jackpot, random and progressive. Random jackpots are usually fixed, and, as the name implies, pop up at random. Progressive jackpots pool players money and their ever-increasing amount depends on how many people play a particular slot. Progressives also come in multi-slot forms, with a group of different machines working together to offer one, ever-increasing mega jackpot. Progressives offer the chance to walk into the casino a pauper and walk out a member of the millionaires’ club. Obviously, this makes them very, very tempting. A temptation some say is best avoided.
The Trick is to Play Random
There are, however, differing views on this. Some commentators argue that progressives are better, as each spin is a completely independent event, your chances are the same either way, so why not go for the gold? Who wouldn’t want to become a millionaire at the push of a button?
The logic makes sense until you peer a little further behind the veil. As I mentioned earlier, not all slots are created equal. Slot machines pay out at different rates. By playing random jackpot slots you increase the odds of hitting a jackpot, even though that jackpot is smaller. Think about it, progressive slots have to be set in a way to reach those mega jackpots. Which obviously means they pay out substantially less over time that your average random jackpot. While your winnings may be lower playing random jackpot slots, your overall chances of winning are higher. A step-by-step approach to the millionaires’ club may not be as thrilling as that one-time mega win. But it does slant the odds slightly more in your favor.
6 – Free is Good
As mentioned above, casinos are highly competitive businesses and always in search of new players. To attract new players, or old players back to a particular casino, casinos often offer free spins on select slot machines. Avail yourself of the chance to play for free. Free spins provide a great way to learn a game and to find out how to win at slots. You will get a feel for how best to place your bets and possibly, win big without spending a dime.
7 – Bet Wisely to Win at Slots
Conventional slots wisdom preaches “Bet Max”. The rationale is fairly simple. With slots having multiple pay lines these days, when you bet max you can cash in big on multiple line winnings.
At the same time, it’s important to keep in mind that with random number generators your chances of winning at slot machines are the same no matter whether you bet max of the minimum. Simply put, betting max will not increase your odds of winning. That said, on certain machines with added features and bonuses, like Fucanglong, betting max can exponentially multiply your winnings. Fucanglong has incredibly powerful features, and when you trigger a feature you get a number of free games at the value of your bet. Think of each free game as a bet multiplier, a free chance at a higher bet to reap the maximum rewards.
The fact is, all slot machines have a set degree of “volatility”. Slots with high volatility don’t pay out as often, but pay out more when they do. Machines with low volatility pay out smaller wins more frequently. To capitalize on high volatility machines, it pays to bet high. Factor in multipliers thanks to special features and this could mean massive wins. For low volatility machines, it’s often better to bet lower. Take the slow but steady approach in search of that one huge jackpot.
8 – Check the Pay Tables
When selecting a slot machine, it’s always a good idea to check and compare the pay tables (tip – this can give you an idea of a machine’s volatility). Each slot machine is unique and comes with its own set of pay tables. The variations might surprise you and can make a huge difference to your bankroll over time.
At Planet 7 casino, find the slots pay tables in the help section of each game. This will explain the pay out on special features like wilds, and scatters as well. Putting in the time to do your homework before you play can dramatically increase the odds in your favor and line your pockets far quicker than a haphazard, random approach.
9 – Practice by Playing for Free
The best way to test your strategy and to learn how to win at slots is to practice by playing for free. Planet 7 offers the option of playing for free with fake money on all its slot machines. Thish means you can put the above theories into practice without having to lose anything. This presents a fantastic way to study pay tables, game features and multipliers before you put real money on the table. I always play a game for free before putting down money to get an idea of how the features work. Free spins, bonus rounds and multipliers vary greatly by machine. This makes free play practice a great way to understand the odds of a particular machine or set of machines.
10 – Watch for Special Bonus Offers
A great way to expand your bankroll is to jump on special bonus offers that pop up from time to time. Casinos often offer seasonal bonuses. These are bonuses designed to get you back into the game if you haven’t played at a particular casino for a while. Sometimes these offers seem to come out of nowhere thanks to the internal acquisition and retention strategy of the casino’s marketing department. Keep your eyes peeled, as these are usually time sensitive offers but can be truly phenomenal.
Special promotions can center around a new game launch, the season, or special events. Look for events like the Super Bowl, World Cup or March Madness. They often include free spins, free chips or bonuses. To keep your ear to the ground regarding special offers it’s advisable to sign up with the casino to receive their marketing emails. This will allow you to turn that $30 deposit into an impressive bankroll, extending your play time and chances of hitting it big.
All said, an effective real money slots strategy is essential if you genuinely want to increase your chances of winning at what otherwise appears a random game. Take advantage of bonuses and special offers. And do your homework and study the pay tables to discover how to win at slots. Selecting the right slot machines and betting well can make the difference and increase your chances of a life changing slots win!
