Slot machines have evolved tremendously over the past century. What started out as simple mechanical games with 3 reels and small prizes has become glorified computer games with bonus rounds and life-changing jackpots. One thing that has stayed the same is the simplicity of playing a slot game; anyone can sit down and start playing.
Once you have sat down at a machine that you want to play and insert your cash, on most video slots you are presented with a choice of betting options shown in credits. A credit value, known as the “denomination” will be prominently displayed on the machine. In newer games, you may be asked to select the denomination for the game. The game denomination represents how much a single credit is worth. On a penny game, 1 credit is equal to 1¢; 100 credits is $1. On a quarter game, 1 credit is equal to 25¢; 4 credits is $1. On most newer games, once you press the button that indicates the amount of credits you wish to bet, that amount is deducted from your credit meter and the game immediately begins. On older 3-reel slots, you will have to increment your bet by selecting the “Bet One” button. Once you are satisfied with your bet, press the “Spin” button or pull the handle to start the game. Alternatively, hitting the “Bet Max” button will also automatically start the game.
The reels will spin and come to a stop. The results are compared to the pay table for the slot game and if there is a match, credits will be awarded and info about the win will be displayed on the screen. Bonus rounds may also be triggered if the conditions are met according to the pay table. These bonus rounds may consist of free spins, picking items for prizes, or something else.
From the perspective of the casual player, that’s pretty much all you need to know to start playing slots. However, not all slots are equal and it is very important to understand what type of slot you are playing in order to get the most potential out of it.
STRATEGY
Now let’s answer the big question that many slot players ask. How can I win on slots? Is there a secret to winning? Players have been trying to seek the answer to this for as long as slots have existed and some think they know the answer. Unfortunately for them, the real answer is no. With rare exceptions, there is no secret other than to hope that you get lucky. Slot machines are pure games of chance and just like with other games, the casino has a built-in advantage. It is one of the largest advantages that the casino has over the players, which explains why casinos are filled with slots. Not to mention, they take up less space than table games.
The casino’s advantage for slots is typically quoted as the payback percentage, which is the inverse of the house edge. The payback percentage is the percentage of money bet that is returned in aggregate to the players over the lifespan of a slot machine. We can easily calculate the house edge or payback percentage of other casino games as we have all the info needed to do so. To put it simply, we have to know the probability of each outcome in a game as well as what the payoff is for each of them. With those, you can then calculate the theoretical payback percentage. However with any given slot, we do not know what the probability is of any of the winning combos – whether it is three sevens, three bars, or a cherry on a old-school 3-reeler, or the probability of hitting the Grand jackpot on Dragon Link. Because of this, we cannot as players determine what payback percentage any slot is set to just by looking at it.
The good news is that we have been able to estimate the likely payback percentages by reading the actual return statistics published by state gaming commissions. With what we know, the range of possible payback percentages on slots can be anywhere from a low of 83% to a high of 98%. It is more likely that they will be set somewhere in the middle with a nationwide average of around 90% across all slots. Keep in mind that this is a long term number. Slots as with other games are still based on random chance. On any given trip to the casino, you can still do better or worse than the payback percentage.
With that said, 90% is actually quite poor. Nearly all other casino games have a higher payback percentage. For comparison, video poker – which I discussed in my previous episode, has a range of payback percentages from a low of 94% to a high of just over 100%. Because of this, I cannot recommend slots as the primary game to play for the serious gambler.
Now if you insist on playing anyway, I will go ahead and provide you with some tips to help you become a more informed slot player, as well as dispell some common myths about slots.
- The higher the denomination, the higher the payback percentage: This is a known industry fact. Casinos will set the returns on their machines based on denomination. The penny denomination is therefore the likeliest to be set at the mid to upper 80% range, while the dollar denomination and higher is likely to start at the low 90s. Now as mentioned earlier, these are long term numbers. Even if you knew that a specific slot was set to… say 96%, you can still have a losing session. With that said, if you are a $5 per spin player and you have a choice of wagering 500 credits on pennies or 50 credits on 10¢, choosing the 10¢ denomination will likely be the best choice, assuming everything else is equal.
- Use your player’s card: Since you are going to play anyway, make sure you have your player’s card insterted. Depending on the casino, you will receive some value back to you in exchange for your play. All casinos award points when you use your card but you may also receive various offers including free room, free food, and free play. Slot players receive the most comps compared to players of other casino games so it important that you use your player’s card while playing your favorite slot.
- Read the game rules before you play: If you are trying a slot that you have never played before, it is recommended that you check the game rules before you play. On most games, there is usually a button on the panel or an option on the touchscreen to press and bring up the game rules. One important thing to check when reading the rules is what you need to do to trigger the bonus or to win the progressive jackpot. Some games, such as Top Dollar and Wheel of Fortune, require that you make the max bet in order to be eligible for the bonus round, should you trigger it. Many slots with a progressive jackpot require max bet or close to it to be eligible to win it. Others, such as Dragon Link, allow the progressive to be awarded at any bet amount while giving players who make bigger bets a slightly better probability of winning it.
- Set a budget for each trip, game, and session: It can be easy for new and regular players to get carried away when gambling. Addiction is no laughing matter, especially with slots. Having a budget plan before you go and sticking to it is a great way to limit yourself from spending more than you intend. Set a clear win goal and stop loss for each game. Bring a friend with you so that you can root for each other and keep the other from breaking their budget. Personally, I believe this is the most important tip out of all the ones I discuss in this video, so be sure to have that discipline and stick to your plan!
- If playing a game with a progressive jackpot, choose the slot with the higher progressive: If you are about to play a game with a standalone progressive and you have a choice of multiple machines, it is obvious that you should choose the slot with the higher progressive, even if the likelihood of winning that jackpot is incredibly slim. This is especially true with must-hit-by progressive slots. One the rare instances where a player can obtain an advantage, these games state a dollar amount where the progressive is guaranteed to hit by. Regular players know this and some will form groups who will search for these games where the progressive amount is really close to the must-hit-by number. As a casual player, if this is your favorite type of slot game, it is still a good idea to choose the one that has the highest progressive. Just make sure you do not break your own budget plan when playing. Stick to your limits!
- There is no method or system that can legitimately claim to beat the slots: There are so many so-called “strategies” that players mistakenly believe that they can follow to win at slots. You probably heard of several of them.
Examples of common slot machine myths:
- You win when you don’t use your player’s card and you lose when you do
- Loose slots are near the buffet so the people eating hear others winning, making them want to finish their food quickly and return to the casino floor to play
- Loose slots are placed near the entrance or at the end of the aisles so people walking by can see the players on those games winning and make them stop and play at the machine next to them, which is tighter
- The slots are tight near the table games because table game players do not want to be distracted from bells and whistles of winning slots
- When you see all 3 double diamond or triple diamond symbols land above or below the payline, that means you are about to hit them on the payline within the next few spins
- Spin the slot 5 times; if you lose all 5 spins, walk away; if you win, keep playing; that’s a winning machine! {Shake head} NO man, no!
- Turn the volume up to increase your chances of winning
- This machine (or the bonus) is due to hit! I can just feel it!
The last one especially is what causes many players to quickly end up with an empty wallet. If you have at some point believed in any of these myths, hopefully you realize that none of them give you any better chance of winning than had you not believed them. More importantly, never pay for a book or course that claims to teach you how to win at slots every time using their secret method or formula. If there was a secret to guarantee a win on slots, then the author or teacher would be playing every day and winning millions instead of selling it to you for the cost of a dinner night out.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article on slots! Obviously there is much more that could be said. If you have a question about slots that you would like answered or if there is a topic you think I should cover, please put it in the comment section of the video embedded at the top of this page. Best of luck on your next casino trip!
Go make it happen!