Discover the best slot machine strategies for 2022. This guide explains what fans of online slot games can do to increase their odds of winning. Learn more about various online slot strategies that are used by experts.
Hundreds of slot games are now available online. Our experts provide tips to help online slot players maximize their profits.
How Do Slot Machines Work?
Slot machines are simple. You spin the reels and various symbols will appear. Your goal is to create winning combinations. Each symbol is worth a different amount, and some are more desirable than others.
Slot machines run off random number generators, so each result is completely left to chance. Certain games have RNGs higher than others, meaning they tend to payout more often.
Slot machines run off random number generators, so each result is completely left to chance. Even though the results are left to chance, there are many ways you can shift things in your favor.
Do Online Slots Work Differently From Machine Slots?
Online slots are very straightforward, as well. Like land-based machine slot machines, these rely on random number generators to ensure games are left to chance. Online slots can sometimes be more theme-based, offering more unique jackpots than most traditional slot machines.
Some of the most common online slot game types include:
- Classic slots
- Five-reel slots
- Three-reel slots
- Slot bearing multiple paylines
- Progressive slots
These can vary, yet all rely on RNGs to determine game outcomes. Classic, five-reel, and three-reel slots are ones most gamblers are familiar with. Progressive slots are beloved by many gamblers, as they feature jackpots that are continuously increasing and can offer massive payouts to players.
The way in which these games is the same as land-based casino slots. Players make a wager within the requirements of that particular game. After making this wager, players “spin” the wheel to determine if they are a winner or not.
Some players worry that online slots do not utilize honest random number generators. Fortunately, all of the licensed online casinos that we recommend are regularly audited to ensure their RNGs are completely legitimate. Any sites caught utilizing an RNG that favors that house are immediately blacklisted.
Our Top Tips for Winning At Slots Online
Slot games are not as complex as other casino games such as blackjack, craps, or roulette. With that being said, several helpful online slot strategies exist that players can utilize. Here are nine tips that slot players can follow to help maximize their winning potential.
Choose Your Slot
There are many things to take into consideration when choosing the right slot. You will want to look at the return-to-player rate, the volatility level, and the paytable in order to develop your winning slot machine strategy. If you are serious about making some real money playing slots, you should do some initial research to find out what the slot machine can offer you.
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Practice with Free Demo Versions
Using demo versions or free play slots will allow you time to learn the rules of the game or get exposed to new slot titles. The more familiarity you gain with slot machines, the greater your chances are to create a successful slot machine strategy.
Understand Payout Percentages
Another method for increasing the volume of your wins on the slot reels is to study the return-to-player rates or RTP rates. These will vary from game to game. If you focus your time and energy on slot machines that feature a higher rate of return, you can bet that your payouts will be hefty and far more rewarding than a machine with a low return-to-player percentage!
Study the Paytable
Examine the paytable, the key that shows you the value of the various symbols that you will find on the slot reels. You will want to focus your efforts on slots that feature a lot of scatter or wild symbols as these are the symbols where you can earn the most real money. If your goal is to grow and develop your bankroll, you will not want to waste time with slots that have a lot of low-paying symbols.
Learn About Variance
The variance or volatility rate of a slot machine determines how often or how seldom a player will win as well as how big or how small the payout is. Slot machine volatility rates are typically categorized into low, medium, and high. Low volatility slots will not experience much fluctuation, but the payouts might not be the best while high volatility slots will have high highs and low lows when it comes to the size of the payout and the frequency of winning.
Make Use of Bonuses
This one seems obvious, online casino bonuses are a great way to attain additional funds for playing slots. Keep your bankroll lined with plenty of extra green and this can be an awesome resource as you continue to employ your slot machine strategy in 2022!
Aim for Smaller Jackpots
If you are going for a jackpot, it might be a smart move to aim for a smaller jackpot. Statistically, you have a better chance of winning a small jackpot when compared to a larger one. It is better to win a smaller jackpot more often than to go for a large jackpot and potentially risk more of your bankroll than is necessary.
Try New Slot Games
Exposing yourself to new online slot games opens you up to new RTP and volatility rates, different pay tables, and bonus opportunities. If you stick with a handful of slot games and never expand your horizons, your chances of expanding and developing your bankroll are not going to be as good. Open yourself up to new slot titles and your possibilities to grow by finding a new angle will abound.
Manage Your Bankroll
As with any type of gambling, it is important to set aside a certain amount of money for your slot machine session. It allows you to not overspend and helps you to minimize potential losses!
Mistakes When Playing Online Slots
Even experienced gamblers can sometimes make common mistakes playing online slots. These are some of the most common mistakes that slots players make that work against them in their goal to rake in as much real money as possible. Avoid these mistakes and you begin seeing your bankroll grow faster than you originally thought!
| Mistake | Details |
|---|---|
| Not Understanding the Rules Before Playing | Going into a session of slots, you will want to be aware of the rules of the game, the symbols, the winning combinations, and what each symbol pays out. By ignoring the rules, the terms, and conditions of the slot game, you will not develop a good slot machine strategy and you will just be spinning your wheels (or in this case, reels). |
| Ignoring Bonuses | Bonuses are there for your benefit. Using bonuses and promotions can help you attain extra funds for your bankroll. The more money you have at your disposal, the great the likelihood that you will be able to take larger risks in the pursuit of larger rewards. All the great gamblers had to take risks in order to grow and be successful, so we advise using bonuses as a part of your slot machine strategy. |
| Following Other Players | Because slot machines run off random number generators, each persons’ experience with slot machines is going to be completely unique. So it follows that you should avoid basing your slot machine strategy off of other peoples’ experiences and stories. If you want to know how to win at slots, you need to create a strategy that works for you, tactics that are custom designed for your style. |
| Playing Slot Machines That Exclude Jackpots | Progressive jackpots are where you can make some major money. You are doing yourself a disservice if you avoid slot machines that feature these money-making tools. While it is probably best to not always be playing for a jackpot, it is advisable to try them out from time to time. In the many cases, you only need to risk a little bit of money for a life-changing payout! |
| Over-Betting on Spins | In order to employ a slot machine strategy that is successful for you, you need to have a sense or proportions when placing bets on your spins. If your bankroll is more on the meager side, you will want to be more conservative with how much your bet per spins, otherwise you might burn through your bankroll quickly. This is a perfect reason for using bonuses as they are great at building up the total balance of your bankroll! |
| Spinning the Reels Too Frequently | If you do the math, you will lose more money the more reels you spin over the course of an hour (or however long the slots session). If you take your time and decrease the frequency of your spins, you will be far more profitable. |
What is RTP and How to Use it to Your Advantage
Looking at the slot machine’s return-to-player rate is one of the simplest strategies you can employ if you want to know how to bet on slot machines. Below is an example of how much you can make if you bet $20 on a slot with an RTP of 95%:
| Return to Player % | Amount of Money Staked | What You Win |
|---|---|---|
| 95% | $20 | $19 |
As you can see, you will win, on average, $19 for every $20 wagered on the slot machine in the example above. Although this number is not an exact approximation for every single spin of the reels, you will come closer and closer to the 95% figure over the course of time.
Why is RTP Important for Slot Players?
One of the most popular slot machine strategies is to find the slots with the highest RTP percentage. Essentially, these numbers mean how likely it is for players to win.
There is a fairly complicated mathematical equation behind every game’s RTP. Most online slot games come with numerous pay lines and unique jackpots. A game’s RTP needs to take these different payout options into account.
Generally speaking, online slot games have a higher RTP than slot machines found inside land-based casinos. The average RTP of land-based slots ranges from 70% to 92%. Most online slot games coming from reputable software providers have an average RTP of between 94% to 96%.
Keep in mind that a slot game with a high RTP does not necessarily mean it will always pay out more than the games with lower ones. Instead, it is meant to show, on average, how much money it pays out to players.
Slots with the Highest RTP
One of the greatest roads to success is playing machines that have a high return-to-player rate. These are some of the best slot titles that our favorite casinos currently have to offer:
| Slot Title | Software Provider | Return to Player | Jackpot Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triple Diamond | IGT | 95.06% | 1,199x |
| Gonzo’s Quest | NetEnt | 96% | 2,500x |
| Starburst | NetEnt | 96.1% | 250x |
| Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | BetSoft | 96.50% | 1,200x |
| Thunderstruck II | Microgaming | 96.65% | 6,000x |
| Nemo’s Voyage | WMS | 99% | 300x |
| Monopoly Big Event | Barcrest | 99% | 500x |
| Mega Joker Jackpot | NetEnt | 99% | 1,000x |
| Ugga Buuga | Playtech | 99.1% | 1,000x |
| Goblin’s Cave | Playtech | 99.32% | 150x |
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Understanding the Pay Tables in Online Slots
Paytables are where you will find how much each symbol is valued at with the slot machine you are using. Paytables typically include information such as the number of paylines, the betting requirements, the various symbols and what they are worth, and, obviously, the list of payouts and potential prizes.
The most important facet of the paytable is perhaps the symbols that appear on the reels, how they work, and what kinds of winning combinations they can make duirng a slot machine sessions. These are some of the most common symbols you will find on slot machines you find in 2023:
Wilds
Wild symbols are ones that can act in lieu of any other symbol that appears on the reels. Wilds are great because they can help players to create winning combinations on the payline where they are needed.
Scatter Symbols
These symbols are typically some of the most high-paying and they are specific to the theme of the slots machine you are using. Scatters are instrumental in unlocking special features of the slots such as free spins or mini games.
Multipliers
These are symbols that have the potential to multiple the winnings on the payline. If you are wondering how to bet on slot machines successfully, we can say with confidence that multipliers are a surefire method for doing just that!
Sticky Symbols
Sticky symbols are also known as sticky wilds, and they can substitute for any other symbol as well as remain on the reels for much longer than the standard wild symbol! It is in the free spins rounds that many slot machines feature as a bonus where you will find the sticky wilds.
Stacked Symbols
These are symbols that come in sets of two or three and continue to remain stacked. They do not occupy one single reel like standard symbols but come stacked and can add up into more winning combinations faster.
Common Slots Bonuses
Slot bonuses allow players to build up their online bankroll. Most of them add money on top of players’ deposits, sometimes by a massive percentage. Here are some of the most common types of bonuses that are featured specifically for slots games:
Welcome Bonus
These are bonuses that are given for newcomers to the casino and are typically rewarded when the player makes their first deposits. Some casinos offer no-deposit welcome bonuses as well where there is literally nothing the player needs to do in order to get the deal.
Rewards Multiplier
Rewards multipliers offer higher winning and are only available for a limited window of time. They are designed to expose player to new slot titles. In many cases, these bonuses can double or even triple the amount winnings on the reels!
Free Spins
Free spins for slots games are a great way for a player to conserve their bankroll for a time as they engage in a fun session of slot machine play! This might just be the most popular type of bonus when it comes to slots!
Online Slots vs. Land-Based Slots
By and large, slot machines at land-based casinos can be divided into two main categories: progressives and non-progressives. Both have their pros and cons. Progressive slots tend to be more popular amongst players, as they can offer truly massive jackpots.
In some areas of the United States, casinos are only allowed to offer slot games. Technology has improved in the slot industry and some are now extremely modern with cinematic-like themes.
Are Land-Based Slot Machines Rigged?
Assuming these slots are located inside a licensed, monitored casino, slot machines are not rigged. That is to say that regulators set a minimum that slots need to payout to players. Of course, these machines always favor the house.
Casinos do not need to rig these machines in order to win your money. With the odds leaning in favor of the house, these machines already help these gambling venues to bring in a huge amount of money. A casino caught tampering with its machines would face massive consequences both in reputation and by whatever gaming board it is overseen by.
Difference Between Land-Based and Online Slots
Land-based and online slots are very similar. In both versions, players make wagers before spinning the wheel in hopes of winning. There are also a large variety of both land-based and online slots available to players.
Land-based progressive slots in places like Las Vegas offer larger jackpots than what can be found from online slots. There is simply more money flowing into these machines than what goes into online games. The largest-ever slot jackpot win in Las Vegas was made in 2020 for a staggering $15.5 million.
The main benefit of online slots is the convenience they provide. These are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Mobile slot gaming is extremely popular and is possible for anyone with a smartphone.
Slots Tips FAQs
While there are perks and benefits to playing slots online and in land-based casinos, we recommend going with online play. The reason we suggest this for our readers is because online slot machines operate on sites that offer bonuses and promotions to the players. This is something you do not typically find at a brick-and-mortar establishment.
And speaking of establishing, we established earlier that taking advantage of bonuses is one of the key features of developing a winning slot machine strategy!
Yes, each of the slots apps in our review are fully licensed by reputable gambling authorities in legit jurisdictions. Each of these sites is held to a number of industry safety standards such as vetting all new players, running all their games on random number generators, and performing third-party audits throughout the year to ensure compliance with code. You can use these slots apps knowing that you will enjoy and safe and secure online experience.
We highly recommend using the free spins bonuses as much as possible! Free spins allow you to spin the reels without money coming out of your bankroll. This is a great way to win some real money without having to pay for the spins!
This all depends on what you are looking for in the slots experience.
- Low volatility slots will not have as much fluctuation so the money you will be raking in will be more steady, but the prizes and rewards will not be as big as they could be.
- High volatility slots are erratic and can be extremely difficult to predict. Although the outcomes are more uncertain, high volatility slots offer their players the chance to win some big payouts!
Check out or section above discussing a winning slot machine strategy. Lowering the house edge on a slot game is how to win at slots and be successful in growing and developing your online bankroll!
