Picking The Right Slot Machine
Picking the right online slots game can make the difference between enjoying and regretting your online gambling experience. You need to know how to choose the game that gives you the best chance of winning. But you should also choose the online slots game that fits your gambling needs best.
- Picking The Right Slot Machine
- Picking The Right Slot Machine Game
- Picking The Right Slot Machine Videos
- Picking The Right Slot Machines
- Play The Slot Machines
- Picking The Best Slot Machine
- Picking The Right Slot Machine Games
Choosing this type of slotmachine will improve your opportunity of winning by far. Improving chances of profitable in slot machine games has now become the dream of nearly each and every punter. Slot-machines with all the best likelihood of winning would be such slots with all the highest RTP rate. Picking the right online slots game based on variance means figuring out what you want from gameplay. If you’re looking for a long session on a small bankroll, find a low-variance game. But if you want more shots at jackpot-style payoffs, you should go with a high-variance online slots option. Special Features in. Picking the correct video slot game is no easy feat and this is because some online slots casinos have over a thousand titles to choose from. When you enter an online casino slots lobby, you are hit with the colours and powerful imagery that accompanies slots banners.
Online slots represent one of the most exciting online gambling experiences anyone could hope to have. You can get all the excitement of a casino slots machine experience with none of the hassles. And you can win real money just as if you were in a casino as well.
But the popularity of online slots also means that you will be inundated with choices about which slots game to play. That’s why you should learn how to choose the right online slots game so that you can maximize both your winnings and your enjoyment.
In the following article, we’ll provide you with the tools for picking the right online slots game. We’ll explain the factors that separate one game from the next and we’ll also talk about finding a game that fits just what you’re seeking. And we’ll answer some of the most pressing questions about choosing the right online slots game.
Picking Online Slots by Payback
If you’re most concerned about what kind of bottom line you’ll have after playing a certain online slots option, you should learn about the factors that affect payback. Knowing how these factors work and how they tie into each other should help you choose the right online slots game when playing online for real money.
Online Slots Payback Percentage
Payback percentage, also known as return to player (RTP), is the ultimate determining factor in online slots results. This figure will tell you how much you can expect to return from a given online slots game. The more you play a certain online slots game, the more accurate you can expect the payback percentage to be, because luck will even out after a while.
As an example, imagine an online slots game with a payback percentage of 98.5%. This means that, with a sample bankroll of $1,000, you could expect to return an average of $985, which would mean a $15 loss. The house edge for this game would be 1.5% (100 minus 98.5).
If you do some research, you should be able to find the payback percentage for most of the top online slots variations. That will allow you to compare one to another in terms of what you can expect. And it should help you choose the right online slots game for making the most money.
Online Slots Variance
Variance in online slots ties into payback percentage, specifically when it comes to determining your bankroll. A high-variance online slots game means your bankroll will be prone to big, rapid swings between highs and lows. By contrast, a low-variance game will likely provide steadier play with a bankroll that doesn’t fluctuate as much.
The importance of knowing this is that it can help you determine how big your bankroll needs to be.
Picking the right online slots game based on variance means figuring out what you want from gameplay. If you’re looking for a long session on a small bankroll, find a low-variance game. But if you want more shots at jackpot-style payoffs, you should go with a high-variance online slots option.
Special Features in Online Slots
Some people go into their online slots play placing more of an emphasis on excitement and fun when deciding the right online slots game for them. If you’re one of those people, you should be looking at the special features that each online slots game possesses. Here are some of the ones you should be taking into account.
Multi-line Play Slots
Multi-line play has pretty much become the standard for slot machines in casinos. Thus, it makes sense that it should also be the dominant factor in the online slots world. With multi-line play, you’re dealing with an increased number of possible winning combinations on any given spin of the reels.
With multi-line play in an online slots game, you get to bet on as many different lines while also choosing the size of the bet. The lure is its rapid pace. Multi-line play also raises the variance, which, depending on your preferences, may or may not be a good thing.
In-Game Bonuses
Another way that online slots creators spice up the action is by providing different bonuses within the game. For example, you might be able activate free spins which allow you to earn winnings without incurring any risk. Or you might trigger multipliers, which multiply any winnings you receive.
Picking The Right Slot Machine
As online slots become more sophisticated, more and more of these special bonuses are included. If you’re the type who gets a little tired of the typical rhythm of online slots play, bonuses can really be a breath of fresh air. And they can be extremely lucrative as well.
Sights and Sounds
If the key to choosing the right online slots game is fun, you might be less concerned about the technical factors and more worried about the game’s look and feel. You might be willing to concede a couple of payback percentage points in favor of a game with cool graphics and sound effects. This might be the case if you get bored with simply spinning reels over and over waiting for a jackpot.
For example, you might be able to find an online slots game with a tie-in to pop culture. Or you might want to try a game with a fun story attached to it, one that advances as you play. There are many different styles of online video poker game with such fun twists and turns, so you should be satisfied if that’s your focus.
Choosing Your Online Slot Game Based on Website
To this point, we’ve focused our search for the right online slots game on the games themselves. But in terms of your overall experience, it’s also crucial to make sure that your game of preference is featured on one of the top gambling websites. Here are some of the factors that you should consider.
Variety of Online Slots
It can be a hassle setting up accounts with multiple websites just because you want to try out different online slots games.
Doing so also raises the chances that you end up a site that might be less than reputable. If that happens, your personal information can be compromised and your gambling account could be in jeopardy.
Finding a reliable site with a wide variety of online slots games can solve these problems. With a single gambling account, you can bounce from game to game until you find the right online slots game for you. Sites like these can act as a one-stop shop for your online slots needs.
Online Slots Bonuses
Earlier, we talked about payback percentage in terms of specific online slots games. But you might not realize that the gambling website you choose can affect that as well. That’s because the best sites will offer you aggressive bonuses for doing business with them.
These sites might give you bonuses that you can use for slots play just for signing up or perhaps for being a loyal customer. When you factor these bonuses in, you can improve your payback percentage. Anything that adds more to the bottom line is always a positive in picking the right online slots game.
Other Website Factors
Here are some other important things you should be looking for when choosing a site for online slots play.
- Customer Service: You should be able to get in contact with a representative whenever possible to discuss a problem that you have or find out about offers that could be of interest to you.
- Deposits and Withdrawals: The best sites have clear-cut rules about putting money into your account and then withdrawing it for your own purposes.
- Mobile Betting: With mobile wagering, you can play online slots and other games with a phone, tablet, or other connected device, freeing you from your computer.
- Funding Options: The site that you choose should offer you a wide variety of funding options, ranging from credit cards to cryptocurrency.
FAQ About Picking the Right Slot Game Online
Should I Stick With One Online Slots Game Because I Won the First Time I Played?
When you’re playing any online slots game for the first time, your results will be based primarily on luck. Anything can happen in a few spins. But you can’t expect to see the same results over and over again, because that luck will even out.
Still, if you find a certain online slots game enjoyable and you’re comfortable with it, you might want to stick with it for a while. Just be realistic about your expectations in terms of winning and losing.
Is It a Good Idea to Choose an Online Slots Game Based on How It Looks?
It’s often the case that flashy online slots games offer relatively poor payback percentage. They draw in players with their looks. But the long-term outlook in terms of payback might be poor.
But again, this comes down to what you’re looking for from a game. If it’s important to you that your online slots game provides fresh and exciting visuals, you should by all means consider the look when choosing the right online slots game for you.
What Is the Advantage to Choosing an Online Slots Variation Based on How Well I Understand It?
Even though luck is the driving factor behind winning and losing when playing online slots, it’s never a good idea to play a game where you have no idea what’s happening. If you’re spinning the reels blindly, it also could dampen your enjoyment.
If you find a game that you understand well, it also might help you in determining how much you want to wager and how many lines you want to play. When you play games like that, you also might get a feel for volatility and payback, which are certainly important factors in picking the right online slots game.
Introduction to Choosing Slot Machines
Once a specific casino has been determined to currently be the best of any available, choosing slot machines becomes the next step towards making a profit at slots.
Remember, statistics supplied to state gaming commissions show that the odds of winning are, on average, somewhere around 90%. By assessing all available casinos, then selecting the best possible, you’ve already improved your odds of winning – perhaps by several percentage points.
Whatever your gambling goals are, we’ll talk about those in the next step Identifying Gambling Goals. For now, we need to consider choosing slot machines that will most likely improve our overall odds even more.
Picking The Right Slot Machine Game
So, we’ve walked into our best casino to choose slot machines with the highest odds of winning we can find. How do we select a good slot machine? Most people don’t – they dive right in without much of a plan. Well, we have a plan.
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Why? Because everybody says it’s all about luck. If you pick wrong, “Well,” they say, “better luck next time.” Remember, casino employees are trained to say things like that. If you’d won a jackpot instead, you can believe they would have said, “You’re lucky! I’ll see you later when you win another jackpot!”
Slot attendants have a job to do, and it most certainly isn’t to get you to leave when you should. And, it’s difficult to not to influenced by such comments. But, try not to be.
In the following sections, I’ll briefly explain the following aspects of choosing slot machines:
- How odds are set within a slot machine
- Choosing denomination and maximum credits based on bankroll
- Basics of reading a slot machine’s paytable
- A simple way to use paytables to pick the best machines, and avoid the worst
Two Separate Odds of Winning
The odds of winning for a slot machine is a limited number of settings from the manufacturer. Besides understanding limited settings are available, it may help to understand that slot machines have two odds of winning to determine:
- If a player will or will not win anything
- How much that win will be, i.e., the jackpot amount
Why is understanding these two types of odds significant when choosing slot machines? Because winning slot machines come in all jackpot sizes. You’re still winning if you’re getting enough small jackpots that your bankroll isn’t shrinking. Even if it is slowly depleting, the bankroll can last quite a bit longer, so that’s also a winning slot machine.
Winning many jackpots this way is bankroll cycling. It may not seem very satisfactory, but whether it does or not depends entirely on what your gambling goals are. One type of gambling goal, earning maximum complimentary gifts, is most often achieved via bankroll cycling.
Another point about setting slot machine odds is, how often they change? Of course, it depends on the age of the casino, as discussed in the previous step Assessing Casinos, or if it’s been renovated lately.
In my experience, older-style casinos change their slot machine odds every 7-10 days. Newer-style casinos can change their slot machine odds whenever the machine has been idle for 15 minutes or more, without a players club card inserted or the machine temporarily locked by a slot attendant.
Matching Bankrolls to Denomination/Credits
Only you can decide how much bankroll you want to risk gambling. I highly recommend bringing only as much money you can safely afford to lose comfortably.
Picking The Right Slot Machine Videos
Bankrolls quite literally determine which slot machines you can play. But, there’s more to it than understanding a $100 bankroll lets you play a 1-credit, $100-denomination exactly once, with very, very little chance of winning.
Whatever bankroll you have limits which slot machines can be played and how much it can be played. Slot machines have denominations ($0.01, $0.25, $1, $5, $10, etc.) and the maximum credits that can be placed in a single bet.
Slot machines typically must run for a while before wins become more likely. Yes, wins can occur at the first press of a button. They can also happen within the first few bets, where casinos offer a taste. But, usually, they need to run for a while.
About 100-120 bets is the right amount to be prepared to play to determine if you’re sitting at a winning (or breakeven) slot machine. Yes, be careful initially, perhaps making as few as 20 bets, to determine if it happens to be a “bad” machine. Trust your instincts!
If it is a poorly performing machine, a “tight” slot machine, it won’t pay out anything at all. Quick decisions are necessary here, so limited betting gives a clue to its performance, yet still leaves enough to gamble with on another machine if it isn’t – assuming you stop playing it as soon as you notice it’s not performing well enough.
Picking The Right Slot Machines
So, again, you determine how much bankroll you can afford to spend. Now, take that number and divide it by 120 bets. If your bankroll is $60, then that’s 50 cents per bet. In such a way, the right choice is a 2-credit, quarter-denomination slot machine. Or, a 50-credit, penny-denomination slot machine.
Always remember to play maximum credits for the highest odds of winning. Meaning, your casino may not have a 2-maximum-credit quarter or 50-maximum-credit penny machines. But, perhaps they have a 1-maximum-credit quarter or less-than-50-maximum-credits penny machines. Such slot machines would provide more than 120 bets of play, which is going in the right direction!
Reading a Slot Machine’s Paytable
When choosing a slot machine to play, a crucial aspect of winning is to review its paytable before playing. Frankly, the casino industry gains an advantage over players that don’t read slot machine paytables.
Located somewhere on a slot machine is one or more tables showing the number of credits won if specific combinations of reel symbols appear in the pay line after the player makes a bet. Below is a relatively generic example of a paytable.
The figure shows reel combinations along with their jackpot depending on the number of credits bet. Paytables don’t typically explain how much credits
Not every reel combination and its associated jackpot are usually shown in a paytable. Other reel combinations not shown in the top rows are also presented in the paytable area. Slot machines with WILD symbols can represent it with a myriad of other possible reel symbols.
A final element of paytable example provided is specific information on winning reel combinations, which can include an indication of how the slot machine operates during play. The bottom row of symbol explains that that slot machine has reel symbols which will move after the reels stop momentarily.
Play The Slot Machines
Such additional features may not activate until the maximum credits are bet. It can sometimes be difficult, or impossible, to determine this. Most slot machines with bonus rounds will provide at least some information about it within its paytable.
Developing a habit of reviewing and studying a slot machine’s paytable can help improve your ability to judge the financial risks involved with playing that slot machine.
How to Avoid the Worst Slot Machines
The best way to improve the odds of winning via slot machine gambling is to stop making “sucker bets”. In less colorful language, avoid playing slot machines with terrible odds of winning.
First and foremost, understand when choosing slot machines that there are indeed terrible slot machines at a casino. By merely avoiding them whenever possible, on average, your long-term gambling return will improve. Each time we raise our odds like this, we’re pushing closer to achieving our gambling goals. So, let’s make sure we do that, shall we?
Calculate this “Goodness Ratio” as follows:
- When choosing slot machines, as discussed above, find the paytable with the denomination and maximum credits that best matches your available bankroll.
- Take a close look at the paytable. What is the maximum possible jackpot when maximum credits are bet?
- If the top jackpot is displayed in currency, divide it by both the denomination of the machine and the maximum credits
- If the top jackpot is displayed in credits, divide it by only the maximum credits
This “Goodness Ratio” tells us how worthwhile a specific slot machine is to play relative to others. By using this approach, any slot machine can be compared to any other slot machine.
Example: In the paytable above, the maximum jackpot is 2,400 credits with three maximum credits. Therefore, its Goodness Ratio is 2,400 / 3 = 800.
Repeat this calculation for slot machines of interest. While this Goodness Ratio will be similar for many slot machines, it can be startling to find “sucker bet” slot machines that might not otherwise be avoided.
Summary for Choosing Slot Machines
After a casino has been chosen, it’s time to select candidate slot machines most likely to result in a relatively high-value win. The size of your available bankroll, whatever it is, is an essential factor in this selection process. The bankroll size needs to be matched to the slot machine’s denomination and the number of maximum credits.
Picking The Best Slot Machine
Here, we’ve also discussed how slot machines calculated odds twice: once to determine if you’ve won, and again to determine how much you’ve won. Another critical aspect discussed to improve a player’s performance was the basics of reading a slot machine’s paytable.
Picking The Right Slot Machine Games
Finally, we talked about the “goodness” ratio to help select candidate slot machines and, perhaps critically important when improving our odds of winning, knowing precisely which slot machines must be avoided.
Next Steps
The next step on your journey to improving slots performance is Identifying Gambling Goals. Enjoy!
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By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
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