Across the spectrum of casino games, slot machines most resemble modern online gambling as we know it today. There’s a rapid pace of play, menus spanning hundreds of different titles, and of course, those elusive progressive jackpot payouts. The slots look and feel nearly identical whether you’re playing online or in person.
But while slot spinners might be a diverse bunch, they all have one thing in common—that deep desire to overcome the odds and walk away a winner. While I clearly can’t speak to an individual’s inherently random short-term results, over the long run, the seven tips below will minimize downswings and maximize profitable sessions.
1. Only Play Slots Offering a Higher Return to Player (RTP) Rate
In the table game pits, sharp gamblers pride themselves on knowing the house edge inherent to every available game and wager.
As for the slots, the key metric to use when dividing the best games from the rest is known as the return to player (RTP) rate. You’ll also see this labeled as payback percentage here and there, but the phrase shares the same meaning as RTP.
You can think of this as the inverse of house edge, so for every $100 wagered on average, casinos can expect to haul in $4 from online slot spins. Naturally, these numbers will never bear out in a noticeable way while you play, as your sessions will always fall into the “short-term” category. They are more theoretical in nature, describing a slot game’s overall propensity to pay back across massive sample sizes.
As a rule of thumb, avoid any game with an RTP of 95.50% or lower. These slots fall well below the average, making them nonstarters with so many other higher paying titles to choose from.
Conversely, do your best to seek out online betting platforms which spread the vaunted 98% RTP games shown below:
- Ugga Bugga by Playtech (99.07%)
- Mega Joker by NetEnt (99%)
- Ooh Ahh Dracula by Barcrest (99%)
- Monopoly Big Event by Barcrest (99%)
- Jackpot 6000 by NetEnt (98.86%)
- The Catfather by Pragmatic Play (98.10%)
By diligently hunting down top-rated RTP online slots above 98 percent, you’ll ensure that every bet you make is well clear of the industry average.
2. Read the Reviews Online Before Playing to Learn About It
Speaking of RTP rate comparisons, the best place to find this all-important data point is by reading detailed reviews online. Simply run a Google search for the slot game’s title plus the word “review,” and you’ll pull up several thorough, accurate, and objective review resources.
Review pages will let you know how many reels the game has, how the reel screen grid is configured, how many paylines are in play, and which symbols will show up. Even better, you’ll learn about fun features like wild symbols, sticky wilds, stacked wilds, scatter symbols, tumble symbols, multipliers, and free spin bonus rounds.
3. Pay Attention to Volatility Rate to Determine Coin Denomination
One of the crucial metrics tracked by the best online slot review sites is known as “volatility.” Volatility is a measure both of an online slot’s propensity to distribute payouts and the relative value of those payouts.
Thus, when you don’t have a ton of wiggle room bankroll-wise, it’s best to play a low-volatility slot to get the most bang for your limited buck. You aren’t likely to strike it rich on these games, but you can easily take something like $25 at the $0.05 coin denomination and spin for hours on the same starting stake.
4. Check the Hit Frequency to Gauge Stretching Your Bankroll
Quality online slot review sites also make sure to cover a game’s “hit frequency.”
As an example, take two relatively new titles like Rome: The Golden Age from NetEnt and Chilli Heat Megaways by Pragmatic Play.
- When you play Rome: The Golden Age, the hit frequency of 17.60% means you’ll land a winner just shy of once in every five spins.
- But on Chilli Heat Megaways, a much higher hit frequency of 30.21% ensures a much more engaged and enjoyable experience.
You might see the hit frequency entry listed as a ratio, such as 1/3.31 or 1 in 3.31 for Chilli Heat Megaways, but this can easily be converted to the 30.21 percent figure cited above.
5. Preserve Bankroll By Lowering Denominations During Downs
Once you’ve studied a game through and through, and you’re actually spinning the reels, discipline is essential. In order to survive random variance, coupled with the house’s inherent advantage on every spin, it’s imperative that you maintain a strict sense of bankroll management.
This obviously entails playing within your means by opting for a sensible starting stake. Most successful slot players make a point to never start with more than 1% of their total bankroll in play. Choose whatever system works best for you, but be sure to have some system in order to guide the size of your starting stake.
From there, don’t hesitate to dip down when it comes to the coin denomination you’re using if you’re riding a rough run.
By modulating your coin denomination to coincide with your recent results, you can mitigate losing streaks and survive until the winners return.
6. Check New Online Casino Sites for Free Spins and Bonuses
Everybody has their favorite, go-to online casino platform, but it never hurts to explore the competition.
In such a crowded marketplace as the online gambling space, every operator is fighting tooth and nail to court new customers. And given the slots’ widespread popularity, the biggest online casinos today are happy to shower prospective players with free spins, deposit match welcome bonuses, and other goodies.
These incentives are typically advertised on a site’s promotions page, so check there regularly to see what you can find. And don’t forget to follow all the major operators on social media, as you’ll add their latest bonus advertisements directly to your daily feed.
7. Claim Every Reload Deposit Bonus and Free Spins Reward
Finally, while grinding on that favorite online casino of yours, always take full advantage of the platform’s rewards for regular players.
For every dollar you can save via free spins, or earn via deposit bonus matches, you’ll add one another bullet to your jackpot-hunting arsenal.
Conclusion
If you take your online slot game seriously, you’re always looking for ways to carve into the house’s omnipresent edge. Of course, the slots are a pure game of chance, so direct strategy a la online blackjack or video poker isn’t a consideration.
Even so, a savvy slot player can definitely outperform lazier counterparts simply by applying a little work and common sense. Rather than diving in blind and flying by the seat of your pants, beating today’s online slots requires a more patient and pragmatic approach.
Hopefully, armed with the seven tips listed above, you’ll be fully prepared to squeeze out every last cent of equity during your next online slots session.
