Gaming has become a cornerstone of the 21st century, becoming a billion-dollar business. People use them to relax, to learn, and to have fun. Online casinos have become more gamified, but this isn’t something new. While every online casino should come equipped with a host of card and table games, the slots will always be the most popular section. There are many hundreds of titles to choose from on each platform, and the sheer abundance of games is a key to their success.
While there are several myths around slot games, there are ways in which you can balance the odds and give yourself back an edge. There are no guarantees, but following these tips may offer a better chance of winning slots.
Basic Mechanics
Every slot machine differs, but all will work in similar ways. The game is usually set on a grid with a fixed number of rows and columns. The developers have designed several different images, and the aim is to align matching symbols along one or more of the set pay lines.
There may well be bonus rounds to aim for and special symbols to help along the way, but that is the basic method of online slot play. From there, you can develop your understanding and take on some expert advice.
Practice Before Play
The gameplay of each game will work slightly differently, and it’s essential to understand how each slot works. If you have any intention of beating a slot machine, you must be aware of what it takes to win a cash prize.
Each slot has a system known as a paytable. This basic guide tells you how the game works, what bonus features are in play, and what combinations will trigger a payout. It’s worth reading this, but many players will only get a full understanding when they start spinning.
It’s not ideal to start playing with real money if you are new to a slot game, so the best approach is to take some free spins. Most operators have free trial versions of their slots, or it may be possible to access them at third-party websites. As with all forms of gaming, you need to understand the rules before you commit.
Understanding RTP
Each slot listed at an online casino should show an RTP figure. RTP stands for return to player, and the numbers will be displayed as a percentage. Essentially, this is the amount of money paid back to players.
The average RTP within the slot industry comes in at around the 96% mark, so let’s say you find a game displaying that 96% figure. This means that for every £1 staked, players receive 96p back on average. Those averages are calculated by independent third-party bodies, and they are calculated over many thousands of spins. Each slot is powered by a random number generator to ensure fair results.
There is no guarantee that you will receive 96% back, and naturally, your goal is to make a profit, but it’s still important to study this system. The point here is that a game with a 97% RTP will pay more, on average, than a slot listed at 94%. These are figures that you should be aware of as part of your potential slot-winning strategy.
Maintain Your Account Balance
Your account balance, also known as your bankroll, is the amount of money you have to play with at any one session. Let’s say, for the sake of this example, you have £100 in your casino
account as you log on to play the slots.
Sensible bankroll management is one key to gaining an edge at the online slots, so we do not want to play with all of that £100. The recommended level is 10%, so in this session, we have £10 to play with. Decide on your stake level; it might be 20p, and stick to that £10 limit.
Hopefully, we will walk away from the session in profit, but if we were to burn through that £10, the advice is to walk away. This avoids some of the more negative aspects of gaming and casino play, such as chasing your losses.
Maximise Your Funds
While you have a bankroll to play with, it may be possible to increase your funds. All online casinos like to list offers and promotions to keep customers engaged and to provide a little extra value.
You may, for example, receive 50 free spins on a specified slot game in return for an opening stake of £10. With more spins for your money, the RTP on that slot will increase, and the percentages will increase in your favour. It’s possible, if you have the time, to work out a mathematical formula and see what the percentage increases to.
Other promotions could offer some extra funds as a match on your next deposit. Remember to check the terms and conditions, but these can all help you gain an edge.
While there are no guarantees, it is possible to balance the odds in your favour, and all of these tips may give you a better chance of landing cash prizes at the slots.
