- One of the most important slot machine strategies is bankroll management, which dictates how much money you can afford to lose.
- Hot and cold are two different slot machine theories that try to explain how slots work.
- There’s no slot machine strategy that can help you win except for picking a game with a high RTP and volatility that suits you.
Some people are just born lucky, but for the rest of us mere mortals, we need to rely on skill from time to time.
Any seasoned casino player will tell you that relying entirely on luck can get expensive quickly. That’s why we’re here to talk about slot machine strategies today.
There’s a good chance that you might be skeptical about the effectiveness of these strategies, but please keep an open mind. Just one tip could end up being the reason you’re profitable this year.
Feel free to use our quick naviagation link to go straight to the section that most interests you.
1. Bankroll Management
Managing your bankroll is arguably the most important slot playing strategy that you can employ. This means deciding how much money you can afford to lose in total and then splitting that into sessions or spins.
By doing this, you aren’t playing with money that you can’t afford to lose. If you were under the impression that you could somehow invent some new slot machine strategy that enabled perfect winning, think again.
of the Largest Casinos in the United StatesSlots are inherently unpredictable and anyone telling you otherwise probably has something to sell you.
One of the biggest mistakes that players make is not considering their entire bankroll when they play. Some people set a spin limit, which means they play until they’ve done X amount of spins,regardless of wins or losses.
Another common mistake relates to picking a bet size and sticking to it, regardless of wins and losses. Both of these methods can wipe out a bankroll extremely fast.
Let’s say you have $250 to last you the weekend. In other sports, this would be a solid-sized banking and likely last you multiple nights of fun. However, nothing can blow through cash like online slots.
If you decide to run your bankroll down by spins, you might opt for 1,000 spins at 25 cents per spin. The next person might choose 50 spins at five bucks per spin.
The first option will burn through their bankroll much faster than the second. It isn’t unheard of for elite slots players to have credit meters in the thousands of spins.
If you’re only set up for a few hundred spins, your bankroll won’t last very long.
The alternative method is just as dangerous. Five dollars per spin might burn through your bankroll quicker than you’d expect.
For reference, $250 will allow you approximately 50 spins at five bucks each. If you’re running winning during this period, great. But if you aren’t, you’re going to be in a world of pain.
Only around 60% of players end up in the green after 50 spins. Given those odds, your chances of having to start over, or worse, beginning with a deficit, are pretty high.
Starting at a deficit means you’d need to hit hard to get back in the black. Even if you do manage to dig yourself out of that hole, you’re still facing an uphill battle to finish in profit.
So, what’s the answer? Well, dividing your bankroll based on a combination of both spins and bet size could be the key.
Let’s take a look at roughly how many spins $250 will get you at different bet sizes.
- 25c per spin = Approximately 333 spins
** 50c per spin** = Approximately 167 spins - $1 per spin = Approximately 100 spins
- $2.50 per spin = Approximately 50 Spins
- $5 per spin = Approximately 25 Spins
It goes without saying that the amount of money you have will drastically change how many spins you can make.
This system allows you to get more shots in for less per spin. As we’ll cover later, the more spins you get, the closer you’ll get to the game’s RTP.
You might be thinking, “why wouldn’t I just make 333 attempts at 25 cents; won’t that take longer?” In theory, yes, it will take you longer. But the likelihood of you going broke before you reach 333 at a higher stake is much higher.
A common technique used in this space is leveling. With leveling, you assign a certain number of spins to make at each bet size. For example, you might opt to make 50 spins at 25 cents, 50 at 50 cents, 50 at a dollar, and so forth.
Once you’ve worked your way up and are profiting, you work your way back down. The idea is that you enter a game when you’re comfortable and as profits start to build, you increase your comfort level Higher bets mean higher wins, getting you back to even or in the black faster.
There isn’t a right or wrong answer when it comes to how to split your bankroll. It all comes down to what you’re comfortable with.
As part of your slot strategy, you should also consider taking some of your winnings periodically. Very few will follow this approach as they think they’re throwing away potential big wins and upswings, but very few will also turn a consistent profit without it.
Take some of your wins along the way. A lot of players feel that if they don’t bet it all, they’re giving something up to the casino. Nothing could be further from the truth. – Daniel Neville Reid
Buying a couple of rounds of drinks for friends, or tipping the dealer a twenty feels good. However, continuing to feed a hot game feels far worse than it actually impacts your true bottom line. The guilt factor can significantly outweigh the extra expected loss. – Olivier Jacques
These guys know a thing or two about slots. Implementing this strategy could be the difference between making money from slots and losing money from slots. Believe it or not, the first quote was from over 50 years ago.
florida city casinoNot much has changed. Whether you’re looking for the best strategy for slot machines online or live, protecting your bankroll is priority one.
Now that you have a better sense of how to manage your bankroll let’s move onto some other slot strategies that you can embrace.
2. Pick Games With High RTPs
Possessing the top slot machine strategy isn’t about trying to hack the system to win. Unfortunately, that’s impossible.
What you can do, however, is focus on the games that give you the best chance of winning. It’s common knowledge among serious players that some games are simply superior to others.
As a recap from our guide to , RTP stands for Return to Player. It’s a measure of how much each game pays out compared to how much is put in. To put it another way; an RTP of 96% means that for every $100 bet, the game will pay out $96.
Not all slots are created equal. Much like any product, there are premium options and ones that should be avoided at all costs.
I’m sure you weren’t aware that beer comes in different qualities, were you?
You probably wouldn’t buy a carton of warm, flat beer from a shady looking guy in an alleyway when you could grab a nice, ice-cold premium brew from the fridge at home, right? Ok, maybe you’re the shady-looking dude trying to flog the dodgy grog, in that case, you’d probably prefer the carton from alleyway guy.
Moving back to topic, you shouldn’t waste your time on low RTP games when there are superior alternatives. All casinos have a mix of both, so it’s crucial that you do your research ahead of time. Here’s a list of some high RTP slots that could help boost your profits.
- Mega Joker (RTP up to 99%) at
- Ugga Bugga (RTP 99.07%) at
- Goblin’s Cave (RTP 99.32%) at
- Book of Dead (RTP 96.21%) at
- Blood Suckers (RTP 98%) at
- Nian Nian You Yu (RTP 98% ) at
- Jackpot 6000 (RTP 98%) at
- Starmania (RTP 97.86%) at
- Good Girl Bad Girl (RTP 97.8%) at
- Zombies (RTP 98%) at
If RTP is such a critical component of your approach, does that mean you should only play on the games with the highest RTPs?
Secret Tricks to Winning on Slot Machines - Are Casinos Manipulating You?In short, the answer is no. Whilst having the best possible slots strategy is important, you also need to consider other factors.
Just because a game has a high RTP doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to enjoy playing it. Some of the titles listed above are older games that haven’t been touched in years. They might not have features that you find appealing.
What if I told you that there was a game with an RTP of 95% that offered an amazing experience with unique features that kept you engaged? Chances are, you’d probably pick that one over one with a higher RTP but lackluster attributes.
Ultimately, you want to pick a game that you’re going to stick with. Have an RTP in mind as the lowest you’re willing to go but don’t discount games purely based on a number.
Our bring various bonus offers and loyalty programs that can help supplement your losses to some degree. These should be thought of as virtual arm candy to your RTP.
The better the RTP and the better the bonuses, the happier you’re going to be in the long term. It’s worth pointing out that neither attribute is more critical than the other. If you see a site offering massive bonuses on a floor that has terrible RTPs, you’d be crazy to deposit.
Most casino managers would rather have one bad, high-turnover game than a few low-turnover games. They can manipulate to highlight high RTPs while hiding the poor ones relatively easily.
Thankfully, the internet makes it easy to find accurate RTP details for individual games. Most portfolios range dramatically, allowing smart players to pick and choose where they spend their money.
Make sure you have an in place, and everything else falls into line.
3. Pick the Right Volatility Level
Alongside RTP, you also need to think about volatility. Unlike RTP, which is fairly straight forward, volatility can be a little tricky to grasp at first. At its core, volatility speaks to how often a game pays and what percentage it pays out.
Low volatility games are designed to pay more frequently but in smaller amounts. Conversely, high volatility games can go long stretches without paying anything but when they do, they’re significant.
21+ | Caesars Online Casino PA Review for 2023 - PokerlistingsNot sure which slot to play next? Find out if it's low or high volatility .
How this plays out in the real world is that a low variance machine might pay every 10 spins or so. Each win might be around 10% of your bankroll. So, if you’re betting 25 cents and have a bankroll of $250, you’re getting a payout every other minute for around $25.
The high volatility machine might only pay every 30+ spins, but when it does, it might drop a win of $125. Again, using the same bet and bankroll size, this would be about four wins per hour with wins averaging 50% of your bankroll.
Given the choice, most people would select the low variance machine, and in most aspects of gambling, that would be the correct call. However, it isn’t a matter of finding the most frequent winner; we’re trying to find a machine that clicks with you.
Some players prefer bigger swings as it keeps them engaged. And although their chances of going broke in the short term increase, it doesn’t mean they are doomed. They need to simply adjust their bankroll management accordingly.
If you love the big hits, you no longer need to feel bad about missing out on wins below a certain threshold. You can, however, use supplemental tools like to help absorb some of those smaller misses.
The beauty about playing online is that there are options for everyone. Most casinos have a mix of volatilities available. It’s up to you to try different games and figure out which volatility level you’re more comfortable with.
4. Avoid Systems Designed for Roulette
Dozens of ‘experts’ will tell you that their strategy for beating slots is fool proof. Many of these gurus will claim that their strategies were scientifically proven, and others will cite complex mathematical equations to support their claims.
Sadly, almost all of these theories have holes large enough to drive a truck through. Worse yet, many of these theories have been debunked, yet people continue to espouse them.
is a prime example of misinformation. There are dozens of sites and YouTube channels teaching you how to use the martingale system on slots. Some of these channels have hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of subscribers.
Here’s how the martingale slot strategy works on table games:
- Red bet on roulette
- If you win, bet one unit
- If you win again, bet one unit
- If you win a third time, bet three units
- If you lose, bet one unit
- If you lose again, bet two units
- If you lose a third time, bet three units in red
- Rinse and repeat
The theory is that since you’re betting an odd number of units, you will always win back your initial investment, plus a small profit.
Unfortunately, this theory fails when applied to slots due to the maximum bet restrictions. Most slots require you to bet a set amount per spin, making it impossible to double down after a loss.
Even if you could implement this, the notion that you are going to hit a winner 51% of the time is flawed.
Sure, there is an RTP attached to every machine, but that’s over an infinite number of spins. If you could run millions of dollars worth of spins through a game, you’d likely find that it paid out half the time.
However, affording that many spins is basically impossible, which is why casinos make money.
There are dozens of other systems similar to the martingale strategy. Most involve doubling, tripling, etc. your bets after losses. None of them work.
This segment from shows just how quickly you can lose money while trying to implement one of these theories.
Even if you could implement these theories, would you really want to?
Huge wins are great, but they come with tremendous risk. It’s rare to find someone with a hearty appetite for risk. Most people are risk neutral, meaning they avoid both positive and negative variances equally. Some even lean conservative, or are risk averse, meaning they purchase journey tickets instead of an open return.
Erring on the side of caution is generally a good idea when playing slots. Theories like martingale for slots will eventually eat you alive if you have a moment of distraction or if you become fatigued.
Both of these instances can cause you to exceed your bankroll limits or change your typical bet structure. Having the best strategy for winning at slot machines is useful, but it means nothing if you can’t stick to it.
5. Don’t Always Chase Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpot slots are some of the most popular games in the industry. The novice will gravitate towards these machines hoping to hit a life changing jackpot.
Local progressives typically start at a certain amount and increase based on the amount of play the casino puts into the machine. Due to the limited scope (typically a single property), they tend to top out in the hundreds of thousands or low millions.
Networked or “Wide” area progressives are connected across multiple properties. Since they have a larger pot to feed off of, these jackpots can quickly grow into the millions. It’s not uncommon to see these jackpots pass $10 million or more.
Many of the bigger networks have land-based machines tie into the same progressive. This helps fuel the growth rate, making these jackpots some of the largest in the world.
Mega Moolah is perhaps the most famous wide area progressive in existence. Also known as the , it has made several people multi-millionaires almost overnight.
Image Credit: Winamax Poker
Winning jackpots this large are life changing, but your slot machine winning strategy should include not chasing them. The odds of winning are generally very long, and the laws of probability suggest you’re better off playing other games.
The sales pitch from casinos will be something along the lines of, “it has to hit here soon,” or “look at how much it has gone up.” While it’s true that the jackpot will have to hit eventually once it reaches a cap, that could be hours, days, weeks, months, or even years later.
The longer a progressive goes without hitting its jackpot, the harder you might find it to hit. This is due to the incremental increases based on play. When it’s small, the amount required to hit the cap is not much.
As it grows, the rate at which it increases becomes exponential. This means that as the jackpot climbs, the amount required to hit the cap, and trigger the jackpot, increases at a faster rate. It’s basic math, but not many understand how it applies to progressive jackpots.
Don’t get me wrong, by any means, you should play these machines if it’s within your bankroll limits and you enjoy them. There are countless stories of people winning insane sums of money on slots.
But, just as many people will lose their entire bankroll trying to hit one. You need to accept that the law of large numbers could be working against you. To overcome this, you either need a considerably sized bankroll or a particularly generous progressive.
Local progressives are generally considered easier to hit than wide area versions. But even then, you could go through thousands of dollars waiting for one to drop. Do you think that Prince Triviastickylitz of insanely large jackpot fame sat down and won five minutes in? Of course not. He was likely there for quite some time.
We already know that time is not on your side when playing slots. Embrace a that suits your wallet and attention span.
6. Know That Hot/Cold System Won’t Help
Tied in with the concept of progressives is the “hot/cold” debate. Some players will only play games that have been “running hot.” Others will avoid machines that have been “on a cold streak”.
what is draftkings casinoAgain, these terms stem from a misunderstanding of probability and the . At its core, the belief is that a game can become “tired” and that you have a better chance of winning if you find one that has not paid in a while.
Conversely, a game that has recently paid a large jackpot is more likely to pay another one imminently. This is patently false.
Every spin, whether it pays or not, is independent of the previous one. Think of a spinner with five equal sections, each with a picture of an item.
You spin it, and it lands on apples. You spin it again, and it lands on oranges. Some people may spin it six times and land on a different item each time. The law of large numbers suggests that this is perfectly normal.
Does that mean apples and oranges are more likely to be removed from the board because they showed up twice while bananas, grapes, and pears have yet to appear? No. Each spin is an equal opportunity to display any of the five options.
This video from does an excellent job breaking down how dumb the theory is.
If you believe that certain machines are due, I hope you buy lottery tickets. In fact, buy all the tickets. You’re essentially embracing the omnipotent realm of fortune in which you think you’re owed.
No Deposit Bonus Casino NJ List - Top Free Chips & Promos for 2023At times, it seems as though that’s all gambling boils down to … who’s going to get lucky enough for a jackpot, and when will it happen?
I’ll leave you with this: you can rent Bill Gates’ mansion, but you cannot rent his mansion for the same price he pays. Why is that? Because bill gates lives in that house.
It doesn’t matter how long you try and rent the mansion for, you will never get the same price Bill gets … because you AREN’T BILL GATES!
In the same vein, YOU AREN’T THE CASINO. Accept this, and stop trying to bend the house ways to fit your limited understanding of how they work.
7. Play Max Coins to Trigger Bonuses
Max coins in is the number of credits required to access the full RTP of the machine. Sometimes max coins is only 1 to 2 turns on the jackpot/big win, while other times it might be a specific number of coins per spin.
Readingly any special symbols or mechanisms in order to fully unlock the games RTP. Some games have non-cash prizes too, and max coins may be required to access these.
If you’re solely concerned with winning as much money as humanly possible, maxing out would technically be the best strategy for slot machines. By not playing max coins, you’re limiting your exposure and potential wins, but as we’ve said numerous times, this needs to align with your bankroll.
Some players will advocate for half max coins as a happy medium. This approach gives you exposure without wiping you out, but as we covered earlier, avoiding large swings should be a key part of your slot machine strategy.
If range anxiety affects you, then half max might be a valid strategy for you.
Personally, I find that most bonuses require you to play max coins to activate all wins. Given that I’m focused heavily on maximizing my ROI, that becomes the driving force behind my decision.
Remember, bonuses usually come with additional funds and sometimes even free spins. The more offers you can trigger, the better your returns will be.
That said, you must read the terms and conditions to understand exactly what’s required. Most will require max coins spins to unlock all wins but others might have additional requirements such as depositing a minimum amount.
If you are planning on taking advantage of some of the best online, make sure you have a solid slots strategy in place.
8. Know the Difference Between Loose and Hot Machines
Everyone knows they will go broke if they try to hit a progressive, but what about loose machines? Loose slots vs tight slots. Loose machines give you more bang for your buck, whereas tight machines eat away at your balance. It’s that simple.
For years, casinos have used the concept of loose and tight machines to entice players in the door. This is all part of vicious circle theory, which assumes that as long as customers believe loose machines are easy to win, and other patrons are winning, they too will believe they can profit and continue to feed the games.
Of course, regardless of how many people play, the end result will always be a tiny slice of winners and a vast majority of losers. Casinos have endless supplies of replacements for your money.
No Deposit Casino Bonuses - Best Free Spins Offers in NZYou can ask anybody in the casino, and someone will point you to a “good” machine. The concept of hot and loose machines is deeply ingrained in gamblers’ minds. The problem with this theory is that it has never been properly defined.
Is a loose machine one that pays 98% instead of 96%? What is the difference between loose and hot?
Most people would assume that a hot machine is one that has recently paid out several large sums of money. But is a machine that has paid out several smaller amounts in the last hour considered loose?
Where one person draws the line between loose and tight is unclear.
To further complicate things, casinos change RTPs on a banks of machines. Most modern casinos have rows and rows of identical machines. The casino floor might have 50 Buffala Gold machines spread throughout.
All of these machines have the exact same RTP, which means, in theory, you have the exact same chance of winning on any of them.
But what about the bank of machines next to buffet village? Those are the new Japanese themed machines with motion activated dragons that shoot fire. Are they loose? What about the row of Buffalos by the bathroom? Those ones seem to be paying off more lately.
Casinos will occasionally loosen or tighten banks of identical machines. They will monitor banks, as a whole, and make changes according to the average amount of money coming in versus going out. This is done to maintain the illusion of loose slots vs tight slots.
You might beat your chest on buffalo village’s Row F, only to stroll over to row G and go broke trying to hit the buffalo. Does that mean row F is loose and row G is tight? Maybe, maybe not. All you know for sure is that you went broke on the buffaloes.
You might have better success with the kitty glow machines on row E, but you’ll never know unless you give them a shot. Then again, they could be on bank 3, which hasn’t seen fit to pay anyone in the past eight hours.
Are the machines on row E loose, or is row F the true holy grail? Perhaps both banks have been adjusted recently, and neither bank of Cleopatra’s coin Williams is particularly loose or tight.
The only way to truly know is to speak with the casino manager and ask if they adjusted a particular bank. Short of that, you’re left to chance.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the definition of gambling.
Knowing hot vs loose slots is essential, right? Not really.
Crucial Licenses That Allow Online Casinos to Operate LegallyWhen implementing your casino slot strategy, focus on finding banks that have been adjusted upward in RTP, or simply pick a game and stick with it. Constantly jumping from machine to machine Lure lfe collins will destroy your bankroll in record time.
Bank 5 might have buffalo, cleopatra coin, and kronos vls for play. Instead of hopping from bank to bank, pick your poison and stick with it. You give yourself the best chance to win if you focus on one bank.
There’s a good chance you’ll find a game that “runs hot” for you on that bank. Remember, in the grand scheme of things, the games that have paid out several jackpots in the past week or month are literally decades old.
The buffaloes I played when in college are virtually the same buffaloes on buffalo village, and I’ve noticed they now pay … kidding, kidding. Sorta.
Ultimately, the loose slots vs tight slots argument is moot. Either find a bank that has been adjusted upward, or pick a game and stick with it.
9. Take Advantage of Comp Points and Other Promotions
Comp points and other promotional offers are a huge part of any solid slots strategy. These offers can take many forms including:
- First Deposit Bonuses
- Reload Bonuses
- Cashback
- Free Spins
- Alternative Payment Method Bonuses
- Loyalty Schemes
And more.
Everyone’s situation differs, meaning there’s no one size fits all offer. Before you sign up to any site, you must read the terms and conditions. Things to look out for include:
- Playthrough Requirements - This is the number of times you need to bet your bonus before you’re allowed to withdraw any associated winnings. For example, if you deposit $50 and receive a $50 bonus with a 30x playthrough, you would need to bet $1,500 ($50*30) before you can withdraw any associated winnings.
- Time Validity - Most bonuses come with an expiration date, meaning you have X amount of days / spins to complete the playthrough.
- Game Weightings - Different games contribute differently to completing your playthrough. For example, some slots might contribute 100%, while others contribute 50%. Table games might only contribute 20% or less.
- Bet Limits - Most bonuses come with maximum bet requirements. Breaching this term can see you voided from the bonus altogether or only counting toward completion based on the amount over the limit. For example, if your max bet is $5 and you place a $10 bet, only $5 of that will count towards completing your playthrough.
- Offer Restrictions - Some offers aren’t available in all states or with specific payment types, like Skrill and Neteller.
Reading the T&Cs sounds boring, but it’s imperative that you understand exactly what you’re signing up to. Failure to do so could see you wipe out your bankroll trying to complete an offer.
Understanding these terms opens doors to finding the best slot machine strategy for you.
Let’s say you wanted to sign up to a site and claimed three $50 free spin bonuses. Over the course of 90 spins, you failed to land a winning combination that triggered the games jackpot game. Based on the slot machine winning strategy we’ve implemented, that’s definitely a possibility.
But instead of depositing money you wouldn’t have, used any strategic, you used free spins. Granted, you didn’t win any money, but you haven’t lost anything either. Next on your agenda might be another bonus or a small deposit followed by free spins.
The cycle continues until you trigger the jackpot game and win a substantial prize. Once you’ve done that, you can either keep grinding small profits using your slot machine strategy, or withdraw your winnings and find another site with a decent welcome offer.
Repeating this process is one of the strongest slot machine strategies you can adopt. By constantly topping up track accounts while minimizing losses, you’ll be amazed how often you can trigger those jackpot games.
Enhancing your gameplay in this manner means you’re effectively using the house’s edge against them, which is the opposite of blindly depositing money and hoping for the best. You can learn more about the best practices for claiming casino bonuses with our in-depth guide.
Best Slot Strategy for Winning: Is There Such a Thing?
Can you win at slots every time? Sadly, no. If you believe otherwise, I have a bridge to sell you.
There are plenty of ways to improve your odds of winning at slots, but no surefire slot machine strategy that guarantees wins on every spin. The main reasons for this are:
- Random Number Generators: Every casino game, whether live or online, uses Random Number Generators (RNGs). These algorithms shuffle outcomes on every spin or round, ensuring that each is unique and independent of the previous one.
- House Edge: Game developers add a built-in margin, referred to as the House Edge, to prevent people from winning all the time and going bankrupt. This ensures that over a prolonged period of time and an infinite number of spins, the casino will always make a profit. Check out our guide on the to learn more.
These two concepts form the foundations of any casino game, including slots. Anything purporting to be the best strategy for slot machines that contradicts these principles should be taken with a grain of salt.
For more advice on getting to grips with slots, consult our online slot machine guide.
The key to using a casino slot strategy to win more is to remember that slots are completely random. Embracing this allows you to develop a smart approach to mitigating losses while capitalizing on opportunities to win big.
Implementing these nine slot strategies and techniques can help improve your chances of winning. From choosing games with high RTPs and avoiding progressives to managing your bankroll and taking advantage of comps, there are many ways to improve your odds.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed in gambling, but by following these tips and playing smartly, you’ll give yourself the best chance to come out ahead.
Looking for somewhere to practice your slot strategy for winning? We recommend .
Footnotes:
Slots With High RTP That Could Lead to Huge Wins! - Free Coins- provided insight into hot and cold slot machine theory.
- provided insights into slot machines and player behavior.
- provided insights into player temperature when it comes to slots.
- provided Daniel Negreanu’s views on hot slots vs tight slots.
Kevin Roberts, previously published under the pseudonym Noah Davis, is one of the more diverse writers at GamblingSites.com. Like many of his colleagues, he's a huge fan of both football and basketball. But he also writes about box office records, TV show prop bets, DFS, horse racing, and all kinds of casino topics.
When it comes to the NFL, Kevin's favorite team is the Green Bay Packers. He enjoys cheering them on with his wife and daughter. He's also a hugefan of writing lists, especially top 10 lists.
