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How to Win at Online Slots

It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about online casinos or physical establishments. Slots are by far the most popular casino games. Casino visitors like to play video slot games for a variety of reasons. For starters, they give people an opportunity to cash in on a significant wad of cash.

They also generate a lot of action because they are very easy to play, entertaining, and there is little or no skill involved. Simply place your bet, press the “Spin” button and wait for the stars to align.

Slot game enthusiasts want to know how to win at slot machines. Unless you have some kind of sophisticated cheating device, which we don’t recommend, there are no sure-fire ways to beat slot machines. That said, there are ways to increase your chances of winning.

Just understand that it takes a lot of sheer luck to win at slot games. Of course, there are a few other useful strategies that players can use to give them a better chance of winning the jackpot of their dreams.

How to beat online casino slot machines

This guide tells you all about slot machines and what to look for when you want to play them for real money. Once you’ve read this, you’ll be able to understand how they work and which video slots are best for you.

A short history

Slot machines became an instant hit when they were introduced in the early 1890s. Back then, they were mechanical machines with 5 drums and 50 playing cards. The idea was to get the drums to settle on a strong poker hand. Instead of handing out cash every time a player hit a jackpot, the player would receive non-cash prizes such as free beer or cigars.

In the early 1900s, slots began to look a bit more like modern slot machines, with playing cards replaced by symbols like bells and fruit. In the mid-1960s, slot machines evolved once again. The mechanical model was replaced by one powered by electronics.

In 1976, the first video slot machine was launched. Instead of using physical reels, the games had video displays. If you’ve ever played slots online, you probably know that they are fully automated and controlled by a Random Number Generator, which determines the outcome of each spin.

Types of Slot Games

If you want to know how to win at slots, you first need to acquaint yourself with the different types. As you probably already know, slot machines come in a wide variety of themes.

While the classic fruit and gem games have stood the test of time, popular modern themes include old times, mythology and pop culture. Today’s game developers are also coming up with new features to complement standard ones like Wilds, Scatter and other special symbols.

Slots generally fall into two main categories. First, there are the standalone games. These slot machines pay according to a paytable, and jackpots are capped. These jackpots can range between hundreds and several thousands of dollars. While no one in their right mind would say no to such a jackpot, stand-alone machines simply don’t offer the massive jackpots that some progressive jackpot slots do.

On the surface, progressive jackpot slots just look like standalone games. The main difference is that progressive jackpot games are connected on a network. It can be a small network or a large network with thousands of connected games. Each time you place a bet, part of the stake goes towards an ever-increasing shared jackpot, which is paid out when a lucky player hits the right combination of symbols on the reels.

It’s also worth noting that some standalone slot machines have progressive jackpots. The difference is that these progressive jackpots typically don’t get nearly as much as the jackpots found on networks. So if you want to go for a massive life-changing payout, then you should probably focus on playing progressive jackpot games instead of standalone games.

Returns to player

All slot games you play have a so-called RTP, which is an abbreviation for Return to Player. RTP can tell you a lot about a game. A game with a higher RTP will pay out wins more often, but these wins are often relatively small.

On the other hand, games with lower RTPs tend to pay out less often. However, the payouts are often more substantial. If you prefer to get more wins, then high RTP slots are for you. If you don’t mind enduring longer losing streaks but collecting more money when you win, then low RTP games are better suited to your style.

We should also tell you that slot machines are classified by volatility. In most cases, volatility correlates with RTP. Machines with high RTP are generally considered to have low volatility. They regularly produce payouts, even if these payouts are small. A slot machine with low RTP will usually be considered as highly volatile. It can go from not paying out for several spins to suddenly producing significant payouts.

If you play at one of our top online casinos, you can easily find out what a game’s volatility and RTP are. Some sites have this information clearly displayed on the game icon in the slots menu. If not, you should be able to find it by pressing the “i” icon. If that fails, there’s always your good friend Google.

RTP is always given as a percentage. If you see that a slot machine has an RTP of 97%, it means that the game has a high RTP and low volatility. It also means that, on average, the game pays out $97 for every $100 it cashes in.

In other words, players can expect to lose an average of $3 for every $100 they deposit into the machine. Keep in mind that these are just averages, calculated over thousands upon thousands of spins. You can win the top prize, more or less break even, or lose your entire bankroll.

Features

Today’s slots come with a number of special features that make the games much more exciting. In many cases, these features are the key to unlocking the biggest cash prizes. Let’s review a few of the most common of them.

  • Autoplay: Although autoplay has no impact on the results, it is a handy feature. When you activate the autoplay feature, the game goes into a sort of cruise control and frees players from having to manually press the “Spin” button. You can usually choose the number of autoplay spins that you want to have.
  • Wilds: Almost all video slot games have wild symbols. They primarily act as substitutes for other symbols, increasing the player’s chances of winning. Other times, wild symbols work in conjunction with other symbols and multipliers. With some new slot games, wild symbols can extend onto the reel, be sticky or have an avalanche effect.
  • Scatters: While wilds can have different effects on a game, it is usually scatter symbols that trigger important bonus features such as free spins, respins and bonus games. While standard symbols must be in a certain way on the screen, scatters usually do their job wherever they land on the table.
  • Multipliers: Most people will happily accept any win, no matter how big or small the payout. But they like it even more when a multiplier feature increases the payout exponentially. Sometimes multipliers work alone, and sometimes they combine with other multipliers to really increase the payout.
  • Bonus rounds: Many of the most popular slots have bonus rounds that are triggered in different ways. In most cases, a bonus round consists of a mini-game such as a pick and win round or a free spins round. Bonus rounds are often where the biggest wins are made.
  • Respins: Respins are a lot of fun and can be quite profitable. With respins, one or more reels are held in place while other reels spin again to form winning combinations.
  • Gamble: The gamble feature is quite common in slot machines today. It is basically a coin toss that the machine offers after every win. If you choose to gamble after a winning spin and you win, it doubles your payout. Of course, you lose the payout entirely if you lose on the gamble.

How to win on slots: step-by-step

Before we delve into our topic, we should remind you that there are no magic bullets or guarantees of consistently beating the slot machines. You have no control over the results. Instead, your fate is determined by the game’s Random Number Generator as soon as you press the “Spin” button. However, you can give yourself the best chance of winning by following the steps below.

Find a reputable online casino

The first thing you need to do is sign up at one of our top rated online casinos. We strongly recommend that you only sign up at a site that is licensed by a respected authority such as the UKGC, MGA or the Gibraltar Government. In addition, the site’s RNG should be certified by an accredited testing agency such as eCOGRA, iTech Labs or GLI. This ensures that the games and all results are fair and completely random.

Claim a welcome bonus

Almost all online casinos offer welcome bonuses that you can cash out when you make your first qualifying deposit. For example, you can receive bonus money, free spins or a period of risk-free play. The great thing about many of these bonuses is that the wagering requirements can be met by playing slots.

Pick the right slot game

We have already described the different types of slot games. If you want to enjoy more wins but smaller payouts, you should look for a slot with a high RTP. These slot machines are suitable for players with smaller budgets, as they pay out enough to keep you playing for longer.

If you’re a big game hunter in search of a life-changing jackpot, then low RTP progressive jackpot slot machines are the way to go. You may have to endure long cold spells, but your winning spins are likely to pay off pretty well. Also make sure your are playing slots at the right time.

Play for free in demo mode

Before you start investing real money in a slot game, it’s a good idea to try it out in demo mode first. This will allow you to become familiar with the main symbols, the nuances and the types of payouts that you can expect when playing for real money.

Be sure to check the paytable so you know what you’re trying to achieve. Once you understand how the game works and you’re comfortable playing it, you can start playing for real money.

Have fun and play responsibly

Never forget that playing slot games at online casinos is supposed to be entertaining. Yes, you want a happy ending, but the journey should be fun. Make sure the game’s wagering structure suits your playing style and bankroll. And never, ever spend more than you can afford to lose. Set your spending limit and stick to it.

Summary

Unfortunately, there are no foolproof methods for winning at slots. If there were, everyone would be doing it and online casinos would no longer offer the games because they would quickly go out of business. But by absorbing the information contained in this guide, you can give yourself the best chances of winning.

If you’d like to apply what you’ve learned here, we encourage you to sign up at one of our favourite online casinos. Be sure to take advantage of bonuses, promotions and even loyalty rewards and VIP schemes. These offer wonderful perks like bonus money, free spins, cash back and more. Most importantly, have fun and always stick to responsible gambling practices. Good luck!!

FAQs

The amount you win depends on the machine’s paytable and the amount you bet. You can win a few pennies, or you can win big. The largest jackpots in the history of online casinos have exceeded $20 million.

You can trust that the online slot games at our recommended casinos are fair. To be sure, look for certification from eCOGRA, iTech Labs or GLI. This will prove that the RNG is regularly tested to ensure it is fair and random.

In some of the biggest progressives, the game developer pays the jackpot winners a lump sum. In other cases, the casino is on the hook. Most casinos pay out progressive wins in a single shot, but others pay out in installments due to payout limits. You can find more information by checking your site’s terms and conditions.

There are many entertaining jackpot games on the market. The biggest jackpots have been won on games like Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune, Aztec Millions and Divine Fortune.

The legality of playing slots depends on your local laws. Before you embark on a real-money slots adventure, check the laws that apply in your region.

RTP is an abbreviation for Return to Player. It is the average amount that a machine pays out. If the RTP is 95%, you can reasonably expect to receive $95 for every $100 wagered. In other words, you can expect to lose $5 for every $100 bet. This is just an average. You can win big, break even or lose just as easily.

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