How to Win at Slots Machines
Written by: Filip Gromovic Reviewed by: Nashon Khamala
Read time: 15 minutes
Since the launch of online casino gambling, slot machines have remained the most dominant game category among players. Their flashy graphics, randomized gameplay and colorful payouts make them a great pick for many. You can earn nice wins and enjoy profits spinning online machines.
FreeSlots99 walks you through the steps on how to win at slots online. We also reveal unreliable myths and recommend real, helpful strategies that improve your chances on the reels.
Basic Terminology
Before discussing online machine winning tips and finding the best slot machine strategy, we shall outline some popular terms related to these games. Knowing these terms can help you better understand your title and its rules.
- Reels: These are the vertical columns with symbols in your games. Classic titles have 3 reels, while video types have between 4 and 9+ reels.
- Symbols: Symbols are the icons or images on the reels. You have to match a particular number of matching symbols on the reels to score wins.
- Paytable: The paytable window houses information about your game, including its symbols, bet range, bonus features, RTPs and volatility.
- Paylines: Also called betways or winlines, paylines are marked lines on the reels that matching symbols must land on to trigger winning combinations.
The Random Number Generator Technology
The Random Number Generator model (RNG) is responsible for the randomized outcomes of slots following a spin. This model is very reliable and employed by software providers for their games. A title that depends on the RNG model is trustworthy and safe.
Popular Myths
As with many gambling titles, there are always propagated rumors about how to trick online slots to improve your chances of winning. To be honest, though, many of these secret big mastermind moves are often sentiment-based and not so helpful in reality. We uncover some of the most popular myths that are now mainstream.
Hot and Cold Slots Claims
A good number of players believe that certain titles pay significantly better than others. The supposedly high-paying machines are called the Hot picks, while the ones that don’t pay much are the Cold guys.
Truth – Developers rely on the RNG model to make every spin sequence independent of the other. A machine that pays you a nice jackpot could set off another one on the next spin.
Predicting Big Wins by Tracking Spins
Many players believe that if a title hasn’t paid them for a while, a big win is only a couple of spins away.
Truth – The RNG technology ensures that every spin outcome is randomized and independent of the other. Your game is not capable of abandoning its programmed mechanics just to empathize with you and grant compensatory payouts. It has no conscience, friend.
Activating Autoplay Reduces Your Win Money on Slot Machines Chances
Yeah, the old-timers are the biggest propagators of this myth. Many often claim that manually spinning the reels will set off more successful outcomes than using the Autoplay feature.
Truth – The Autoplay option was designed to make life easier for players who love to go on a spin spree. It is not a secret bad guy that negatively alters your title’s RTP or makes its RNG a tad more vicious.
Why Choose a Licensed Slot Game Site?
We genuinely believe that the best slot machine strategy is to play at a licensed casino. Getting this singular act right already gives you a fair chance at the reels. The most established platforms are all verified, boasting at least one license from a reputed regulatory body.
Verify the Casino License
We have seen many instances where brands boast of having an operational license, only to fall short of their claim when scrutinized properly. Do not just take their word for it.
Typically, you can find the licensing operator of a gambling site in its homepage footer, About Us page or Terms and Conditions Window. Also, ensure that its licensing body is well-known and reputed. Some of the biggest licensing authorities in the industry are the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, Curacao eGaming, Gibraltar Regulatory Authority and Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Confirm Security Features
Apart from considering the license of your chosen casino, it is important to ensure that it has great security systems. A top platform must be SSL encrypted, at the very least. This technology protects players’ personal information and keeps their gambling activities confidential. It would also be great if the site supports other helpful anti-malware and anti-spy security systems.
Casinos Where You Can Win at Slots
Use Welcome Bonuses Effectively to Win Money on Slot Machines
Promotions, especially welcome bonuses, are major casino incentives to maximize slots. Top brands offer their members the chance to claim bonus money and free spins that directly work on quality online machines. New players are often among the major benefactors, with the opportunity to claim freebies after signing up.
Some brands give their new members no deposit bonuses, while most require that they commit monetarily to gaining freebies. Your objective as a player is to settle for a platform that offers great promotions with fair terms and conditions.
Top Bonus Types
If you are wondering about how to beat the slots and gain profit, prioritizing casino bonuses may be very effective. Here are some nice promos to consider:
- Free Spins: Free spins are one of the best bonuses to claim for online machines. Always prioritize FS that spins many rewarding titles.
- Match Money Gifts: Match money gifts require that you fund your account to claim them. Usually, there is a deposit range that you must satisfy to activate them. We like match deposit bonuses because they are great for online machines and other casino games like table titles. Also, they often work on more slots than most FS promos.
- No Deposit Bonuses: These offers could be FS or money gifts. They are popular for not requiring activation deposits. In simple terms, you can claim them without having to fund your account. No deposit offers are not easy to find but you can trust us to always notify you about the latest ones when available.
Choose Bonuses With Low Wagering Requirements
One major criterion you need to consider when choosing bonuses is their Wagering requirements. The wagering condition is a multiplier that determines how much real money you have to bet before you may withdraw your claimed bonus or its associated winnings. If a $100 promo has a 10x playthrough requirement, it means that you must bet $1,000 on games ($100 x 10) before you may withdraw the $100. It is important to choose offers with really low wagering requirements to maximize them.
Check the Promo Terms and Conditions
Other main terms you should consider before choosing a bonus include the number of casino games it plays, its max bet size and win/payout limit. These terms all need to be favorable before you activate the gift. Also, confirm if the promo’s required activation deposit is within your budget or spending capability.
Picking a Slot Machine with Great Odds for Improved Win Chances
If you really want to know how to play slots to win, it is essential to pay attention to the important stats and numbers. The RTPs, volatility and payout patterns are the main metrics that determine your chances of earning profits over time. A game with complementing mechanics could see you win quite handsomely if you are consistent and maximize your bonuses.
Understanding RTP and Its Impact
A sure way to enjoy increased odds on slot machines is to settle for selections with high RTP rates. Now, casino titles are designed to make brands profit. Their systems are designed in such a way that they retain a portion of received bets and return most as winnings to players.
If a selection has a 96% RTP, it means it will return 96% of all wagers it receives as winnings and keep 4% on average. This sequence does not follow a linear pattern as payouts are randomized and come in different sizes. So when playing online titles, you need to go for those with high RTPs to increase odds on slot machines over time.
Confirm the Volatility
Typically, games have one of the following three volatilities or variances:
- Low Volatility – Wins are frequent, but the payout size is small on average.
- Medium Volatility – Both win frequency and payout sizes are standard on average.
- High Volatility – Wins are not so frequent, and payout sizes are quite large.
Settle for a selection whose variance works for you.
Fixed vs. Progressive Jackpot Machines
Another major way to win money on slot machines or at least improve your chances is by focusing on selections with fixed or progressive jackpots. The jackpots are bonus money pots that you may claim. They typically pay better than the standard winning combinations.
Fixed jackpots have a fixed money prize determined by your bet size. Usually, you need to set off a combination or sequence to grab them. Progressive jackpot slots are not fixed. Their pots grow steadily and could reach millions in worth. They also drop randomly without players having to set off any activation sequence.
Practicing with Free Online Slot Games to Win
In recent years, established online casino brands have made it possible for their registered members to access their digital titles for free, including online machines. This harmless feature has proven to be an effective way for players to improve their chances at the reels.
By spinning the reels for free, you can learn more about a specific selection and understand its mechanics and paytables much better without any risk. The knowledge helps you make a well-informed decision on whether a title is good for you.
Pros of Demo Mode
For many, the demo or free mode option is the best slot machine strategy because it lets them know how certain mechanics work without any risk. Here are the benefits of the feature:
- The free feature takes away the risk for players. You are not betting your deposited money, so the outcome on the reels does not come with any consequence.
- Your outing on the reels can actually educate you on how your title’s RTP, volatility and win hit rate work in real time. The result informs you about what to expect when you decide to stake with real cash.
- The demo mode is also a great way to just have fun. At the end, casino selections are just games with interesting mechanics and engaging storylines.
Make the Most of the Free Play Mode
There is no real downside to maximizing your site’s demo mode. You get to play for free, have fun and gain hands-on knowledge of your preferred selection to find the best slot machine strategy.
It is easy to know if your chosen site has a demo feature. Simply head to the game section and place a cursor on one of its selections. If a demo launch option appears, then it means there is an active free mode.
After confirming the demo mode, create an account with your site and launch your title for free. You will receive free credits to spin the reels. It is possible to score winning combinations and also activate many special bonus features.
Smart Winning Strategies
While we have talked about common slot myths and misconceptions to avoid, there are one or two nice tips we can recommend to improve your chances. These recommendations do not exactly teach you how to trick online slots, as that is not exactly possible. However, they can help curtail losses and improve your experience on the reels. We shall discuss these tips in the subsection below.
Manage Your Bankroll
Setting up a proper bankroll management strategy is one of the top ways to cut down losses and win money on slot machines. The idea of bankroll management is to have a fixed amount of money you are willing to deposit for gambling within a particular period. Let’s say that you choose to deposit $1,000 monthly for wagering. The money is your bankroll and the highest amount you are willing to lose for any single month.
Now, since you can only bet $1,000 a month, you have to place small wagers so that you can explore different selections. Any win you earn is added to your balance and considered profit. At the end of the month, you have to withdraw your balance, which may be over $1,000 if you were lucky on the reels. However, if you lose your entire $1,000, you must not fund your balance until the month runs out. Hence, bankroll management takes discipline. Though top sites have a feature that makes the process automatic.
Start With Small Bets
Always start each real money session with small wagers. That is how to beat the slots if you ever wondered. Starting with small stakes protects your bankroll and helps you decide whether to improve your wager eventually. If you choose to increase your stake, bear in mind that the next outcome will not be a guaranteed win. As we mentioned before, the RNG system ensures each outcome is independent.
Increase Bets For High Paying Selections
Certain games have a history of paying frequently because of their high RTP and low volatility. You could consider improving your wager size for these types of designs, as they have an increased chance of turning a profit in the long run. Also, consider occasionally betting big money on progressive jackpots. While such a move does not guarantee a jackpot draw, it does increase odds on slot machines slightly. However, it is important to work with your budget and financial capability for the best return.
Using Responsible Gambling Tools
All licensed casinos have responsible gambling tools that you can maximize to enjoy a healthy gaming experience. Yes, we understand that you want to win money on slot machines. However, knowing how to protect your time and funds is another type of victory. See some top responsible gambling resources and tools you will find helpful.
Setting Wagering and Deposit Limits
The wagering and deposit limits are the two top responsible gambling tools to watch out for to win money on slot machines. With the deposit limit, you can successfully set a max constraint on how much you spend daily, weekly or monthly. Most sites have this option, and you should maximize it. The wagering limit is an alternative constraint option that allows you to set a cap on how much you can spend on bets weekly or monthly.
Maximizing Game-Specific Limits
Certain machines do have their own restrictions to ensure you gamble healthily. Usually, these constraints stop you from betting too much or spending a lot of time on the reels. If you are wondering how to win at slots online, making the most of your game’s limits is a great idea.
Australia
Contact: 1800-858-858
Contact: 13-11-14
Contact: 1800-858-858
Canada
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Contact: 1-800-661-HELP
Contact: 1-855-222-5542
Contact: 1-800-GAMBLER
New Zealand
Contact: 0800 664 262
Contact: 0800 654 655
Contacts: 0800-654-655
United States
Contact: 1-800-662-HELP
Contact: Refer to the website for local numbers.
National Council on Problem Gambling
Contact: 1-800-522-4700
United Kingdom
Contact: National Gambling Helpline 0808-8020-133
Contact: 0808-8020-133
Knowing When to Walk Away
There is no doubt that spinning reels for wins and fun is a great way to unwind and even earn a couple of bucks. However, there are times when you may not exactly have the most favorable sessions. In such a scenario, it doesn’t help to double down. The best move at that point is to stop gambling and take a break. You will feel better soon and can make a more informed decision.
We generally advise our readers to never be too focused on winning but more on the experience. If you develop this mindset, it will be easy to walk away from a session that is not so great.
Maximize the Win/Loss Limit Strategy
The truth is, there is no surefire way of how to win at slots machines. These titles would no longer exist if there were. You can only employ strategies that put you in a good position. And even still, you must understand that each spin outcome may either be a win or a loss. So, you must always be ready to exploit the win/loss limit.
The idea behind this strategy is to protect your bankroll, and it goes two ways:
- Predetermine how much money you can afford to lose if your session is not exactly great.
- Predetermine how much win is enough before you end your session if you are having an excellent time on the reels.
Once you have a set limit in mind, it will be easy to stop playing, irrespective of your luck on the reels.
Do Not Chase Losses
As a rule, it is important to never chase losses. If you want to know how to beat the slots, you must master this tip. Understand that winning on the reels is always the secondary objective. The primary one is to have fun and not overspend. If you become too focused on winning, there is always the chance of overspending because you won’t accept losses in good faith.
Chasing losses never ends well because it is mentally draining and just slightly vindictive. While you are thinking about winning the next spin, your balance keeps dissipating. When losing, the best move to always take is to stop playing.
FAQ
Filip Gromovic is a senior slots reviewer here at FreeSlots99 with over five years of experience evaluating the latest drops in the world of iGaming.
Being a slot fan himself, Filip approaches slot ratings just the way we like it – professionally, but also from a player’s standpoint.
That enables him to give his unbiased take on the slot’s features, gameplay and design, while only recommending top-tier releases to our readers.
More info on Filip Gromovic
Having served FreeSlots99 for more than 5 years as a senior content editor and reviewer, Nashon Khamala has extensive knowledge in game slots and iGaming.
His membership in the Editorial Freelancers Association helps him deliver content that reaches both editorial excellence standards and an engaging information level.
By using his expertise in slots games combined with player-focused analysis, Nashon delivers a professional evaluation of slot features and player experiences in his reviews.
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