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Our guide will show you how to win at slots and what tips and tricks you can use to maximize your profits from the spinning reels. These iconic casino games are completely random, so you will need more than skill and experience to win.
Fast Facts for Players
- Choose slots with a high RTP (above 96%) and low to medium volatility for better odds.
- Practice in demo mode before betting real money to understand the game.
- Take advantage of casino bonuses, but always check the terms and conditions.
- Set a budget for your sessions to avoid overspending and chasing losses.
- Use betting strategies like levels betting to manage your bets and improve your chances of winning.
Covering the Basics
In this guide, we will focus on the best way to win at online slots, so we will skip over the basics of playing. If you want to learn more, however, we recommend reading the dedicated tutorial for how to play slots as this covers everything from placing the bet to collecting the winnings.
Top Tips for Winning at Online Slots
Now, it’s time to jump into the action and see how we can maximize the profits. The following slots tips can be crucial when learning how to win at slots. These cover the different slot types and also different playing styles.
Pick the Right Online Slot Machines
With thousands of options available at real money slot sites, choosing the right games is essential. Here, we don’t just mean playing a game with an entertaining theme and visual effects. The goal is to win, so we will focus on picking the games that provide the best odds.
- Return to player rate: The RTP rate is a great way to differentiate between slot games. This is the theoretical return that players can expect to receive for every bet. You will want an option that provides a high RTP, preferably over 96%. Some great examples include Blood Suckers II and Guns N’ Roses, available on some of the payout online casinos, like CoinPoker and TG.Casino.
- Volatility level: Also important when picking the right slot machines. This determines how the payouts are awarded, both in terms of frequency and size, based on the bet. A game with a low volatility level will award frequent wins, although the prizes are not much larger than the stake. On the other hand, a high-volatility game has large payouts that take place less frequently.
For most players, we recommend picking high RTP slots with low-medium volatility, like Take Olympus, Weekend in Vegas, or Koi Fortunes. However, this can depend on your own playstyle and available bankroll. Finding the details may require some research since not all online casinos provide this information.
Practice in Demo Mode
When selecting games, it’s smart to practice before betting real money. This allows you to learn the game without risking any cash. You can use demo credits, which provide a great way to monitor your progress during the session. Over time, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the game’s volatility and RTP. However, keep in mind that the payout rate can vary significantly during short sessions.
To practice in demo mode, you first have to find an online casino that supports it. Not all gaming sites in the US have this feature, but some do, and they allow for practice play and also provide a wide range of slots.
TG.Casino comes to mind as a good example that fits the description. You don’t even have to create an account first, as you can simply go to the site, browse the list, and click on the “Play for Fun” option to begin.
Take Advantage of Casino Bonuses
To maximize your profits, you have to take advantage of the bonuses and promotions available online. The casino bonuses can provide extra funds that you can use to spin the reels. Keep in mind that most offers come with set wagering requirements that you have to meet within a period of time in order to clear the bonus.
Additionally, certain high-payout slots may be restricted when using bonuses. Our experts highly recommend reviewing the bonus terms and conditions thoroughly before claiming any offers.
As a general rule for successful slot play, choose reputable casinos that provide clear terms and avoid those with unreasonable requirements. Most top casinos offer low playthrough conditions.
Along with the welcome bonus, be sure to check for ongoing slot promotions and a strong loyalty program. Since you will likely be playing for some time, the loyalty points you accumulate can offer significant benefits.
Bet Responsibly
A key strategy for successful slot play is to practice responsible gambling. Instead of focusing on instant wins, the aim should be to achieve success in the long run. First, it’s important to set a budget specifically for slot play that isn’t connected to other expenses. This should be extra income, separate from essential funds.
Once you’ve established a general budget, you can determine how much you are willing to spend per session and how much to wager on each spin. Keep in mind that the volatility of the game will impact your bet size. High-variance games may require a larger bankroll with more frequent bets. To avoid overspending, it’s helpful to set limits on both deposits and spending during your sessions.
Use a Slots Strategy
Although slots are games of chance, some strategies can help improve the results. In fact, the best slot strategy is a betting system that has been tweaked to match the mechanics of slot machines.
Here, you change the size of the bet based on recent results. You can do this in different ways, and we will go through the top strategies for winning slots below.
Top Strategies to Win at Slots
Once you are familiar with online slot tips, you can enhance your gameplay by implementing a betting strategy. It’s important to note that these strategies work best with low-volatility games, as they require adjusting your bet size during the game.
Levels Betting
One widely used slot strategy involves a step-based approach to decide the bet size:
- Begin by setting your bet unit, typically around 1% of your total bankroll for the session.
- Start with a single-unit bet, and after five consecutive losses, increase the bet by one level. Each new level should be worth five units.
For example:
If you start with a $2 bet per spin and lose five consecutive rounds, you would move up to the next level, betting $10 per spin.
If you lose another five rounds, you increase the bet to $20 per spin for the next level.
Once you win, you return to your original bet size and restart the process.
The goal of this slot strategy is to recover losses. By increasing the bet size, we aim for larger payouts when landing a winning combination. Plus, free spins become more rewarding when triggered at higher bet levels.
However, keep in mind, there’s a risk that a losing streak may lead to increasingly larger bets, which could become difficult to sustain.
Fixed Percentage Betting
With this approach, players have to be more involved with every win, so it’s helpful to have a calculator nearby.
Instead of changing your bet after every spin, this approach sticks to a fixed percentage of your current balance. While some might find 5% practical, we recommend a more cautious strategy by wagering just 2%.
Here’s how it works:
Imagine starting with a balance of 200$. Betting 2% means your first wager is $4. After a spin, you win $20.
Now that your total balance is $220, you recalculate your next bet: 2% of $220 is $4.40, which brings your next bet to $4.40. Since not all slot machines allow exact bet amounts, you’d choose the closest available option. This process continues until you finish your session.
This optimizer strategy is ideal for taking advantage of slots paying out well above average. It lets you increase your bet to maximize the gains during a hot streak. On the other hand, it can also be helpful during losing streaks by lowering the bet size to limit losses. However, this strategy can be tricky and can reduce the overall enjoyment of the session.
Martingale Betting System (With a Limit)
The Martingale betting system is often considered one of the most effective strategies for games that offer even money payouts. While slots don’t typically fall into this category, you can adapt the Martingale approach by setting a maximum limit. This modification makes it easier to understand and apply when trying to win at slots using the Martingale system.
This strategy involves doubling your bet after every loss and returning to the original stake once you win.
However, we recommend limiting your increase to 16 times the initial bet to avoid reaching an unaffordable stake.
Once you win, reset your bet to the starting value.
Progressive Jackpot Strategy
When playing to win a progressive jackpot in online slots, the strategy should be different. If we take the rare prizes out of the equation, most casino jackpot slots have a low RTP. Despite this fact, they can be very appealing, given that some progressive jackpot slots can award more than $1 million.
So, before mastering how to win at online slots with progressive jackpots, you first have to see what the requirements are for being eligible. Some games will require players to bet a certain amount for the chance to win the top prize. In some cases, the jackpot can only be won during the bonus round. You may even have to opt in for the jackpot and pay an extra bet to be eligible. The best way to find out is to check the game info section.
Winning a large progressive jackpot doesn’t happen every day, so you should expect long sessions. Make sure that you have the bankroll needed to keep the reels spinning, even if the regular returns are not always great. We recommend using the smallest eligible bet and going for volume, despite the fact that a larger bet can trigger the jackpot bonus more frequently.
Furthermore, wait for the jackpot to grow. Since the odds of winning the jackpot remain the same, it is better to play when the prize has already reached an impressive level.
Biggest Slots Wins
As online casino sites become available in more states and more players learn how to win at slots, massive prizes are being claimed more frequently. We’ve seen this trend in land-based casinos, with the record of almost $40 million being set in Las Vegas in 2003.
Online casinos in Europe have also seen enormous payouts, with one highlight being a Mega Fortune jackpot win of $17.8 million in 2013. A player set a Guinness World Record for the largest online progressive jackpot at the time, from a bet of just €0.25.
How to Win at Mobile Slots
While mobile slots offer the same payout structures and gameplay mechanics as their desktop versions, the experience can feel quite different. When using casino apps, pay attention to the settings – some might not be optimized to boost your chances of winning. Additionally, adjusting your bet can be trickier on devices like iPhones or Android phones, due to the smaller screen sizes and more compact betting interface.
So, one of the most effective strategies for mobile slots is to aim for a progressive jackpot. In this case, you should simply place the minimum bet required to qualify for the jackpot and then spin the reels at your own pace.
How to Win at Land-Based Slots Casinos
If you are a fan of playing slots in land-based casinos, many of the strategies we cover in our guide for online slots can still apply. However, some may be harder to use as retail casinos often don’t share the RTP or volatility information for their machines. This makes it challenging to find the best-paying slots on the casino floor.
A potential solution is to focus on the online slot machines. However, keep in mind that the payouts may be different, which can impact the RTP. Make sure that the payouts and features are consistent across both versions.
Responsible gambling is especially important in land-based casinos, where the noise, lights, and the presence of other players can encourage you to play longer than you intend. We suggest setting a firm budget and keeping track of time. Don’t spend too much money on slot machines just because you are at the casino. Additionally, be mindful of alcohol consumption, as it can affect your judgment and lead to poor decisions.
While there is no guaranteed method to beat slots in land-based casinos, following our expert tips could enhance your overall experience and results.
The Bottom Line
Winning at slots is all about smart choices, strategic betting, and responsible money management. While luck is a big factor, choose games with a high RTP and low to medium volatility, practice in demo mode before betting real money, and use casino bonuses wisely by checking the terms.
Setting a budget and following a betting strategy will help you stay in control. By following these tips, you can enjoy slots responsibly while increasing your chances of winning.
