Tips to play slot machines

Slot machines: Tips

One of the easiest games in casinos, wheter they are land based or online casinos, are slots. Insert your coin/s, pull the handle or press the button, look at al the reels moving hoping them to stop all in the same figure, then collect what you won or, (what is more likely) check into your purse for a couple of coins more.
Why is more likely you end up looking for more coins? Unfortunately, the house has such a big built-in edge that this is what normally happens. But nevertheless we can´t deny this is a fun game to play. So, we present you here some tips to help you overcome this huge house edge. Of course these tips will not guarantee that you will win, remember the house´s edge is vey big, often over 10%, but will help you to have fun, get the best edge available and de nicer to your bankroll. So, here they come:

1-

As we all know there are not true skills to playing slots machine, the only one we can think as a skill for this game is machine identification. For example, there are lot´s of Progressive jackpots machines. You will find some $0,25 slot machine with a current big progressive jackpot and some machines, exactly alike the last one but with a smaller progressive jackpot. So, you should always look for the best opportunities to get the most out of it.

2-

Some land based casinos advertise some machine with awesome payback percentages, even some 98,5%. But there is always a downside, take a deeper look to the advertisement, it will probably say that these awesome percentages are on “selected machines”. Of course they will not tell you wich are the selected ones so it is your job to fnd them. One tip: Ask a slot employee, they migth know it or they can ask some supervisor.

3-

Casinos gives away tons of dollars in comp points each year. You should shop for casinos offering the best deals, this will be easier if you are playing in online casinos but you can do a little research in land based ones too.

4-

Always think of the comp points as a form of profit, but you will never gamble just to receive them. Always try to play in the best return machine, not matter wich one gives you the best comp points deal.

5-

Always play for the maximum amount of coins the machine allows you to. If your bankroll is not big enough, just go to a lower denomination machine. It is always better value to play four $0,25 coins instead of one dollar.

6-

I don´t recommend playing back the credits you have accumulated. Cash out and have a little stock. Otherwhise the built-in edge of the machine will eat those coins away.

7-

When you see a slot machin in a restaurant, bar, supermarket, airport, etc. try to avoid them, they are way too tigth.

8-

Just play slots when you actually are in the mood of playing only slots. If you can´t decide between slots and video poker, go fo the last one. Even if you are horrible playing in video poker, is very likely video poker will have a beeter payback than a reel slot machine.

9-

This will will look dumb, but don´t underestimate it. Always remember to press the cash out button to get your stored credits before leaving a machine. You wouldn´t believe how much money is lost by gamblers just for forgetting their winnings.

10-

If you get lucky and hit a jackpot it is your responsibility, and only yours, to receive full payment. Some times, when the slot is short of coins you will receive only a partial payment in cash, the rest is to be paid by a slot employee. So, DON´T insert another coin in the machine, and NEVER pull the handle again until you are get payed, if you do so, the machine will not show the jackpot reminder and you can kiss goodbye the money.

11-

Read everything posted in the machine. Remember, it is very likely you can´t win big in this machine, but if you do, you don’t want any supraises.

12-

Check all the coins inserted are registered before you pull the handle. You don’t want to hit some big jackpot only to see there is some line the machine didn´t count for because the last coin was not registered proparly. Guess the anwer of the casino in this case: Sorry, apologies, some sympathetic pat, etc… Money? No, not that.

13-

I always try to avoid machines using video symbols. In these kind of slot there is no way to know the payoff percentage.

14-

Let´s say you fnd a machine you reeeeaaalllly love. The sounds, symbols,and looks are great. But there is one problem, it is a cold machine. Well, do yourself a favor and go find another cool machine, the most time you stick to it, the more the mathematical edge will be against you. Don´t forget time is on their side.

15-

As in every other casino game, set a loss limit to your session, discipline yoursefl and stick to it.

16-

If you go on a trip to a casino town, try to find out where locals plays. Ask some employee where they find the best slot value. Even if they don’t play themselves, they can tell you where their friends find the best payback rates.

17-

Do not carry you credit and bank cards with you. Remember, all casinos will do the best of them to keep you spending money even when you are out of cash. And let me go obvious, never, not in slots neither in any other casino game, bet what you can´t afford to lose.


As a final advice: If you are going to Vegas, you propable already know this the slots heaven. You will find the best return in the casinos Downtown or North Las Vegas. There are quarter machines with a 95.5% payback rates, almost a decent wager to place.

Enjoy !

CasinoInfo team