Although playing slots online is meant to be entertaining, there’s no real reason why you shouldn’t be looking to play slot machines as efficiently as possible.
In this post, we won’t just be looking at one particular slot machine strategy, but we’ll instead cover a wide range of neat tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your spins. Once you’ve gobbled up these nuggets of wisdom, we’ll reveal the best place to try playing online slots!
As a disclaimer, these slot tips aren’t trying to convey the mistaken idea that there is a way to effectively “win slots” or generally elevate your chances of winning. Most of what we’ve covered serves to stretch your bankroll as much as possible and help you avoid common mistakes.
1) PLAY FREE GAMES
It doesn’t matter whether you’re absolutely new to casino slots or not, all slot players should test out the demo version before moving on to play the real thing.
Most online slot games offer the availability of a demo, which is a copy of the game that can be played free of charge. You’ll be given a virtual balance to spin the reels for free — the amount of which is determined by the game provider — and if it dries up, you could just reload the page and try again.
Seeing as making mistakes when playing slot machines can cost you a pretty penny, demos are the perfect way to understand the game and test it out without making a dent on your bankroll.
Having said that, demos might not be available for every game out there, and you won’t be able to win any real money from them either. For that, you’ll have to play the real thing.
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may be asked to register and complete the verification process to access the demos. In cases where verification is not necessary, you may be able to play as a visitor.
2) PLAY APPROPRIATE DENOMINATIONS
More often than not, chasing a big win is counterintuitive since you’ll be spending more money than you’ll be making in the long run. Although opting for higher denomination slots might seem like an interesting option, do note that their maximum bets are usually very high compared to other slot machines.
Lower denomination bets are the most sensible option if you’re looking to stretch your budget as much as possible. Although small bets won’t net you the big bucks, they will provide longer entertainment than large bets will. It’s important to identify exactly what you’re looking for when playing slots, and choose your bet size once you’ve figured that out.
3) DON’T WAIT FOR WIN STREAKS
If you’ve ever heard of the sunk-cost fallacy, then you’ll know exactly what this advice is all about. Hoping that slot machines pay you back what you’ve lost is unwise, since each spin is completely random and it doesn’t take into account prior results.
All legitimate slot machines work by using a Random Number Generator to randomise each output. What this means is that, in the context of slot machines, Random Number Generators are designed to generate random spins that do not display any pattern whatsoever.
The bottom line is that instead of pursuing a winning streak, it would be a good idea to take a break and save your budget for another day. The Random Number Generator unfortunately doesn’t consider your past gaming session’s profits or losses, so expecting for the game to pay you back what you’ve lost is futile.
4) READ SLOT GAME REVIEWS
Nowadays, not only are slot game reviews common but there are entire websites dedicated to solely writing and publishing meticulously researched reviews. Use this to your advantage and research the game you’re about to play before kickstarting your gaming session.
Most serious game reviews take into account absolutely everything; from the bonus features to how much each and every symbol pays. Experienced slot players know that combing through a few game reviews prior to trying the slot out for themselves will help save them time and money. What’s more, some reviews also suggest similar slot games for players who enjoy the slot theme in question.
5) AVOID SHADY TIPS
The internet is full to the brim with not only illegitimate online casinos, but also illegitimate advice meant to send you down a rabbit hole of shady schemes. You might find ostensibly foolproof advice on how to win at slots, how to start winning money at a loose slot and other false information that will only end up in the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve — that is, lost money.
At legitimate and fully licensed casinos, each and every slot machine is fully tested and verified in order to retain the random element of spins. As such, there is absolutely no real method to win at slots, which is why the false advice we mentioned above should be completely disregarded.
6) DISCOVER YOUR PREFERRED SLOT VOLATILITY
Video slots are divided into many categories, and one of them is volatility, or variance. Slot variance refers to the overall difficulty in landing a winning combination, with low-variance slots paying small payouts frequently as opposed to high-variance slots, which pay less frequently but in higher amounts. Medium-variance slots fall somewhere in between.
Gauging which variance you’re comfortable with is a matter of establishing what you’re after: consistent, albeit low wins or a potentially huge win? Nevertheless, you’ll still need a slice of luck to be able to win money, but if you carefully consider which slot variance you’re after, you’ll be able to use your funds more wisely.
7) PLAY GAMES WITH HIGH RTP
Another aspect to consider when browsing video slots is their Return to Player (RTP), also known as the payout percentage or house edge. This figure refers to the average amount of money the casino slot is expected to pay you back over time.
This isn’t to say that slot machines with relatively high payout percentages will pay you back more money, since that still depends on the game’s variance and the number of spins tried. However, we recommend keeping an eye out for high RTPs of around 96% or higher, since they can extend your budget considerably in the long run.
This is worth noting since not all games have a high RTP. Certain slot machines have an RTP of 93% or lower, which, although not appearing abysmal at first glance, they will have a very considerable effect on your bankroll in the long run.
8) KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR NEW SLOT GAMES
Most online casinos are very particular about the slot machines they add to their portfolio. Seeing as royalty fees are rarely cheap, choosing the right slot machine that players will frequently use becomes imperative for a casino. As a result, some casino sites might offer better payout percentages, slot machine odds or even exclusive bonuses on their new slots. This means that playing at said video slots might be more worth it when compared to older slots.
In order to keep up to date with all the latest games to hit the market, keep an eye on the ‘Promotions’ page of your preferred casino, or alternatively, visit one of the many slot news websites out there.
9) STICK TO A BUDGET
Before looking to wager on a slot machine, establishing a budget beforehand is paramount. The number one rule of Responsible Gaming is to never bet money you cannot afford to lose, and this is true for all forms of gambling.
Instead of constantly looking to make a profit, experienced players aim to stretch their bankroll as much as possible. This includes making a breakdown of how many spins their budget allows and even adjusting the number of paylines to thin out their bets. In fact, most strategies that you might read about online mostly aim to preserve the player’s bankroll for as long as can be. After all, if your gambling budget ends, your entertainment will end with it.
10) CONSIDER PROGRESSIVE SLOTS
Hearing about the historical Mega Moolah jackpot win in 2015 might have piqued your interest in jackpot slots, but did you know that progressive jackpots pack a good punch too? Although a progressive jackpot won’t feature the ground-breaking sums you read about online, it can still provide a note-worthy level of entertainment.
How do progressive slots work? In a progressive jackpot slot machine, there isn’t a fixed amount to be won. Instead, the jackpot prize will increase the more players hit the spin button. This means that the jackpot will keep soaring until a lucky player hits the big win.
If you need some ideas about which progressive jackpots are worth a whirl, head to the EnergyCasino slot game portfolio!
11) BET ON MORE PAYLINES
When deciding which slot games you’d like to play, have a look at the game restrictions to see whether it is possible to adjust the number of paylines to bet on. In most cases, betting on as many paylines as possible is recommended since their very purpose is to help you land winning combinations.
If you’re wondering whether it would be worth reducing the number of paylines, the answer is that it generally is not. Should you be nearing the end of your gambling budget, consider lowering the number of coins you bet per payline on each spin. The payouts will still be proportional to your bet size, and you’d also get to squeeze in a few more spins if you’re running low on funds. Having said that, if you’re counting pennies to that extent, it’s advisable to stop playing games.
12) EXAMINE THE PAY TABLE
The paytable covers everything that you should look out for in slot machines — winning slot machine combinations, potential bonus features as well as whether the slots uses paylines or ways to win. Before kickstarting your game session, it would be a good idea to have a look at the pay table and examine which symbols you should look out for.
The most lucrative symbols in most slot machines are as follows:
- Scatters: special symbols that usually serve to unlock a bonus feature.
- Wilds: symbols that substitute for all the other symbols except for Scatters,
- Multipliers: symbols that multiply the potential win. When combined, multipliers can make for some very significant cash prizes.
Although players have no way to influence which symbols appear on the reels, having a proper look at the pay table will help you understand what to look out for when playing a slot machine.
13) CONSIDER A CASINO BONUS
Online casinos regularly offer bonuses to help you get a better bang for your buck — and we’re not just talking about the Welcome Bonus. Keep an eye out for any Deposit Bonus that might include free spins in the package, since they will award you free attempts to play slot machines.
Having said that, there are many things to keep in mind prior to claiming a bonus, all of which are specified in the Terms and Conditions. This is where you’ll find information about when bonus funds expire, what the wagering requirements are and what the wagering contribution looks like, among other details. Furthermore, you won’t be able to use your free spins on all the slot machines, since online casinos tend to specify which ones the bonus qualifies for.
14) AVOID STRICT WAGERING REQUIREMENTS
Wagering requirements can be a big deal-breaker when it comes to choosing a casino bonus. Seeing as most bonuses compel you to wager a portion of your winnings prior to withdrawing them, it wouldn’t make sense to choose bonuses with very strict requirements. After all, you really wouldn’t want the requirements to eat up your bonus funds before you’d have a chance to withdraw them, would you?
Shady online casinos are notorious for such practices, which is why it’s extremely important to verify the integrity of a casino before playing there.
Here is how wagering requirements come into play when claiming a bonus. You would place a deposit and claim the bonus funds or free spins. After spending them, you’ll be forced to re-wager your bonus funds a specific number of times before being able to withdraw them. Note that you won’t be able to satisfy the wagering requirements through cash funds — that must be done by using your bonus funds or free spins winnings only.
15) DON’T PLAY SLOTS WHEN NOT IN THE MOOD
In online gambling, managing tilt is key to keeping things fun. Nobody likes going down a spiral of frustration and losing a chunk of their bankroll. Whether you’re on a losing streak or just generally tired of playing casino games, go ahead and take a break.
Persisting and obstinately trying to win back the money you’ve lost will only end up in a greater loss of money, and it can create very serious life problems down the line. The antidote to that is strictly sticking to your budget and taking frequent breaks. After all, online games won’t magically disappear forever if you take a much-needed hiatus.
Experienced players sometimes advise thinking about the following hypothetical situation: should you experience a losing streak, how would it affect you today? If you cannot stand the thought of a losing streak, it means that you’re better off not playing slot machines today. It’s only advisable to play online slots only when you’re in the correct headspace.
16) GO FOR VIDEO SLOTS WITH BONUS FEATURES
Nowadays, all the best slot machine providers are implementing some kind of bonus round in their video slots. Apart from upping the entertainment factor, many bonus games also offer some very interesting prizes — including bonus spins and multipliers. Bonus rounds are usually unlocked by landing a number of bonus symbols on the reels, but this requirement may vary from one slot game to another. Read up on the game rules or other players’ reviews to find out how exactly you could unlock the special features of the slot you’re about to play.
If you’re tired of classic slot games and want to spice things up, read up on some of the newer slot machines and test them out in the demo in order to fully grasp how they work. It’s not recommended to play intricate slots that are full of special features without having a solid understanding of how they really work.
17) DON’T PURSUE SLOTS WITH TOO MANY FEATURES
Although a bonus feature here and there can really make for an enjoyable experience, too many features can quickly make your session convoluted — especially if you need to read the game rules multiple times. Not only that, but the slot machine odds could also be lower in comparison with other slots that aren’t as feature-heavy.
Slot machines with numerous features tend to have a wider range of symbols, thus potentially making it all that harder for you to land a winning combination.
You might find that the best slot machine odds lie in classic or relatively basic slots, so it’s up to you to experiment and figure out which slot machines you’d like to play. In fact, there is a certain tradeoff in that choice, where players could either choose highly entertaining games with far from the best odds, or they could go for high winning odds in snoozefest-inducing slot machines. Finding something in between the two extremes would be ideal.
18) RESEARCH THE PROVIDER AND ITS PAST SLOTS
Games are only as good as their developers, so it would hardly be a bad idea to look into the provider of the slot game you’d like to try.
The big names within the iGaming industry — such as Pragmatic Play, NetEnt and Play’n GO — have a proven track record of developing some of the best slot games on the market. Although some undiscovered gems do exist out there, lesser-known game providers are lesser-known for a reason.
This isn’t to say that your chances of winning at less-popular slot machines are null, but this is one of those times where sticking with popular names might pay off.
19) DON’T AUTOMATICALLY BET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT
Some dangerous advice swirling around the internet is to always bet the maximum amount in order to enjoy the best odds of winning. Not only is this false but it can also deplete your bankroll extremely quickly.
As we’ve mentioned previously, winning symbol combinations pay a multiplier on the amount you wager, thus, the amount you win is directly proportional to your wager. For example, if you bet €1 and win 5x your bet, you will receive €5. If you bet €10, you will receive €50.
The only instance where it is advisable to bet the maximum amount is in tournaments where players go after the highest possible win. For example, such tournaments would award 1 point for every €1 wagered and 200 points for €100 wagered.
It’s very important to only bet an amount you’re comfortable with and never go over the top in an attempt to win big cash prizes.
20) DON’T GET ATTACHED TO A PARTICULAR SLOT
Every slot player will have a favourite game that they’ll always return to after trying out other slots. Some players might even stick to one or two slots and ignore the bustling iGaming world out there, especially if they have won a significant payout at one point or another.
Sticking to the same slot is generally not a good idea, and it could lead to burnout if the player keeps persisting with the very same slot. It’s important to change things up every now and then by exploring new slot categories and themes.
If you’re feeling jaded with slots in general, you might want to pick up on interesting card games such as blackjack and poker which, although heavily dependent on luck, also require a certain degree of skill — something which isn’t applicable to slots.
If even the prospect of placing wagers is beginning to tire you, it might be a good idea to take a break from gambling and return once your batteries are recharged.
PLAY SLOTS AND OTHER CASINO GAMES AT ENERGYCASINO
As promised, now is the part where we reveal the best online casino to play online slots: EnergyCasino! Stop your search among all the online casinos out there and come visit ours. Here’s what’s in store for you should you decide to pay us a visit.
Our online Casino boasts a game portfolio of over 3,000 slot machines, dozens of card games and a multitude of live casino games. In our vast selection of slot games you’ll find more than a fair share of Megaways™ slots, jackpot slots and even progressive slots.
We offer slot games of various themes, categories and special features, so you’re bound to find something to enjoy. We are constantly on the lookout for new slots to hit the market, so make sure to visit our portfolio every now and then to pick up a new exciting game to play!
With that said, our ‘Promotions’ page has the potential to really complement your gaming session through the Welcome Bonus or a good Deposit Bonus. Free Spins Bonuses, Cashback Offers and game-specific bonuses aren’t off the cards either, so feel free to see what good bonus you could get your hands on. Bonus availability and the rewards may differ depending on the player’s jurisdiction.
If you’ve found this article helpful, make sure to drop by our EnergyCasino Blog, where we regularly write about several strategies, advice and tips about both slots and card games. After all, the best way to step up your game is to draw your knowledge from the very best casino sites out there, and we firmly believe that we fit the bill.