Many players dive into online slot games, thinking to themselves “oh, this is easy, I am gonna make some quick cash” only to discover it is easier said than done. Truth be told, online slots are a game of chance, and stop being fun when you do not win.
Casino games have what is called a house edge designed to ensure the casino makes profit. This edge varies across games and is usually between 4 to 6% for slot machines. This means for every one dollar you wager, the casino makes between 4 and 6 cents. So how do you win when the odds are against you? Simple, by using a winning online casino slot strategy.
Understanding Online Slot Games and their Terms
The first step to building an online slot machine strategy to win real money is understanding how these games work. And that is why we have dedicated a whole section to it. First, let us run through some of the terms you are likely to come across when playing slot games online.
- Paytable: A paytable is a guide in slot games that shows you the value of each symbol and how many matching symbols you need to win a game. It also shows you the potential payouts on a number of matching outcomes. A paytable may look like this:
| Symbol | 3 Matching | 4 Matching | 5 matching |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Wild | 10x | 25x | 100x |
| 💎 Diamond | 5x | 10x | 50X |
| 🍒 Cherry | 2x | 5x | 15x |
| 🃏 J/Q/K/A | 1x | 3x | 10x |
- Randomised Number Generator (RNG): RNG ensures that outcomes of online games are completely random and not automated. This takes away the predictability of slot machines and helps to ensure the game is fair to all players.
- Paylines: A payline is a set line that determines the manner in which you must match the symbols. These could be diagonal or run from left to right of your screen. Once you match the symbols, a line is drawn across your screen indicating that you have won.
- Payouts: This is why you have signed up to play the game after all. Payouts refer to the amount of money you win when you get your matching symbols correctly.
Popular Slot Gaming Strategies
Some popular online gaming strategies include:
- The Martingale: Punters use the martingale to break even and ensure marginal profit. Using the martingale means you double your stake after each loss. Although this strategy is more suited for even money payout games, you can use them in slot gaming by resetting your stakes each time you win.
- Levels: In Levels betting, you increase your stake after a certain number of losses to make your money back.
- Fixed Percentage: Fixed percentage is a more prudent strategy where you wager a fixed percentage of your available balance at any given round. This means you wager more when winning, and wager less when losing. This can help you to manage your budget effectively.
Tips for Building an Online Slot-Winning Strategy
As mentioned earlier, an effective way of making profits from online slot games is to have a winning strategy. While each player has a preferred gaming method, you can build your online slot-winning strategy by following the tips below.
Pick the Right Platform
There are lots of online gaming platforms offering online slot games. However, it is important that you only wager on trusted platforms that guarantee your safety and payouts when you win. These top slot picks for players offer a list of vetted platforms and games to choose from, ensuring a secure gaming experience.
And thanks to a memorandum of understanding between the American Gaming Association (AGA), the European Casino Association (ECA) and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), playing casino games has become not only fun but also safe. According to AGA President, Bill Miller, “This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe.”
Choose Games with a High RTP
Return to Player (RTP), also known as payout percentage, means the percentage of money that will be returned to players over a period of time. As an example, if an online slot game has a RTP value of 80%, this means it will return $80 for every $100 wagered by casino players. This figure is always based on the average spins by all players within a particular period, so play responsibly.
Understand Volatility
Volatility levels in slot games can be viewed as difficulty levels. The more volatile a game is, the lower your chances of winning. While highly volatile slots offer bigger payouts, they are more difficult to win. A good strategy is to focus on less volatile games that pay out smaller sums on a more frequent basis. This allows you to get steady returns while having fun.
Use Free Slot Games for Practice
Free slot games allow you to play and practice without wagering real money. You can use these games to get a hang of the different online slot games and also to test out your winning strategies.
Budget, Budget, Budget
You have probably heard this so many times it made your ears itch, but budgeting is essential in online gaming. Once you have set a budget, stick to it and do not go overboard. You should also try as much as possible not to chase any loss you make while gaming. It is essential that you have profit and loss limits. Once these thresholds are met, you should walk away.
Online gaming has become very popular across the world, with the American Gaming Association reporting that about 49% of Americans take part in gaming annually. With such a huge number of players, what separates successful punters from the rest of the pack is a winning online slot machine strategy that ensures you have fun and make profits. Using our tips above to build a gaming strategy can help you make a winning change to your online slot experience.
The Chairman of the European Casino Association, Erwin Van Lambaart commenting on illegal and untrusted gaming platforms said: “The ECA fully backs this initiative and supports the ongoing efforts to rigorously combat illegality within our industry, continuously strengthen player protections and security, and ensure the creation of an environment that fosters innovation and growth within the gaming community.”
This shows that whilst building a gaming strategy is essential, you should also ensure you are playing on a safe platform. Our top slot picks for players is a good place to start, shielding you from the growth of illegal gaming platforms.
