Whether you are playing in a land-based casino or an online one, slots will always be a popular choice among players, regardless of what other games they play.
The simplicity of the game is part of its charm, but experienced players know that it’s not just as simple as pressing the button and waiting – in order to get the best results when playing slots, there are a few things to think about:
Work out your playing style
Most slot players want to win, of course, but there are different types of winning when it comes to finding your perfect slot game. If you like to win often to keep your adrenaline pumping, then choose a machine that pays often, known as a low variance slot, which will pay out small sums reasonably often.
Players that prefer to build up to a high jackpot and enjoy the thrill of the chase that comes with waiting for a larger payout should choose high-variance slots. These tend to be those with the highest prizes, so if you’re motivated by that then you will have the most fun when playing slots that pay out less frequently.
If you know your playing style, then you can choose slots that best suit you so that you get to enjoy the game your way. Many casinos offer players a range of free slots so that they can test out different games to find one that works for them and suits their gaming pace.
The bigger the stake, the bigger the prize
It may seem obvious, but the higher that stake, the higher the payout when it comes to slots so it’s important to decide whether you want to have the fun of playing the game or the excitement of being in with a big win.
If you want to maximise your budget, take a look at the Return to Player percentage which indicates the sum that a machine pays out relative to the stake. A little maths will help you work out the best chances of getting a big payout so if you want to play strictly by numbers then research is key.
Understand progressive slots before you play
When you play progressive slots, a portion of each stake is added to the jackpot and players must be enough to be eligible for the top prizes. If you wager anything below the maximum, your prize total will be limited to a lower amount than the big jackpot, so it’s important to understand the game before you begin playing.
In traditional slots, you would have had to bet the full amount of coins to be in with a chance to win the top prize, usually three for a three-reel slot, so those betting two or one coins could only win smaller prizes. With online slots, there are often several tiers players can choose from, named things such as bronze, silver, gold, and diamond or similar which unlock access to the biggest prizes and top payouts.
Some slots require a whole separate bet to be eligible for some of the prizes and progressive slots tend to have lower payouts for the non-jackpot games than other slots. This means that if you aren’t betting enough to access the jackpots, you would be much better off playing a non-progressive slot.
Make the most of special offers
Most sites offering slots will also run regular promotions, with the most common including:
- Welcome bonus
- First deposit bonus
- Loyalty bonus
- Free spins
- Cashback
- Free draws
- Referral bonus
- High roller bonus
- Payment method bonus
Players that want to take advantage of these offers and promotions can access them by signing up for newsletters, following their favourite sites on social media, and looking out for seasonal promotions when they login to their account. Check the terms and conditions thoroughly to ensure that you are eligible to use any discounts offered and to see if you can combine offers to get some really great deals.
Do a little research
With so many games available, it can be overwhelming to try and choose one in the moment when you’re ready to play, so it can be worth seeking out some walkthroughs and demonstrations to see how a game works before trying it. With so much information online, you don’t have to work everything out by yourself – you can get a sneak preview of the best strategy and learn how to maximise your chances of winning by looking a game up before playing.
Knowledge is power when it comes to any game, and slots are no different: they are simple enough that anyone can play without any prior experience. But it can be more fun to do a little research and increase your chances of winning with a strategy that suits your idea of fun perfectly.
