10 Slot Machine Tricks To Improve Your Chances of Winning

Slot machines are by far one of the most popular games in both live and online casinos. They’re quite simple, fun, and easy to play. But the question remains: how do you win big from slots?

Although there isn’t a definite way you can win 100% of the time at slots, there are certain things you can do to increase your chances of winning.

In this article, we’ll give you 10 slot machine tricks that will help you become a better player and earn big bucks. So, let’s get right to it!

How Do Slot Machines Work?

First and foremost, you must understand how slot machines work.

Every slot machine has a built-in RNG (Random Number Generator) chip, which is, as its name suggests, responsible for generating random numbers that determine the outcome of a spin. This means that the outcome of each spin is determined the moment you press the spin button, and the RNG works its magic.

Once you press the spin button, you can’t do anything to change the outcome of the spin. Whether you stop the reel or do anything else, the result will be determined by the RNG chip.

Thus, this would mean that all theories about hot and cold slots are false because every machine works by the same principle.

What is Payout Percentage and Slot Volatility?

Now, you might be wondering what determines the payout percentage in slots. For this, we have to explain the RTP, or “Return to Player” percentage.

In layman’s terms, RTP is the percentage of money that a slot machine pays back to you. The average RTP of slot machines is 96%, but this doesn’t mean you’ll get this percentage of money back. This percentage refers to the amount of money you can expect to win back from betting at a certain slot machine.

RTP is calculated by dividing the total amount of money that’s returned to players by the amount they gambled.

Slot volatility also plays a big role, as it determines your chances of winning each spin. Playing at a slot machine with low volatility means you’ll win often but not big. On the other hand, a highly volatile slot machine will give you huge rewards, but rarely.

Slot Machine Features and Terminology

Before we give you tricks to improve your chances of winning, you should first become familiar with slot machine features and terminology. Check out the table we’ve prepared for you below:

Term	Definition
3-Reel Slots	A 3-reel slot is a machine that consists of 3 vertical spinning reels.
5-Reel Slots	A 5-reel slot is a machine that is configured with 5 vertical spinning reels.
All-Ways Slots	This is a slot machine with no fixed payline, meaning you have numerous ways to win.
Autospin	Autospin is a feature that lets you set a predetermined number of spins per game.
Bet	This is the amount you wager per spin.
Bet Max	This is the maximum amount you can bet per spin.
Cash Out	Cashing out refers to withdrawing your slot winnings.
Cashback	Cashback is a percentage of your bets that you get refunded whether you win or lose.
Free Spins	A free spin is a bonus given by casinos or slot machines that allows you to spin for free.
Jackpot	A jackpot is the biggest payable prize that a slot machine can pay you.
Minimum Bet	This is the lowest amount of money you can stake.
Maximum Bet	This is the highest amount of money you can wager.
Pay Table	A paytable is a table that displays all winning combinations and winning values of a certain slot machine.

10 Slot Machine Tricks: Find Out How to Beat the Slots

Now that you’re familiar with slot machine terminology, check out our top 10 tricks that’ll help you maximize your chances of winning big bucks!

Slots Trick #1. Play Games You Enjoy

If you only play games with high RTP and forget to play the ones you enjoy, you will soon get bored and likely burn out. That’s why you should play whatever type of slot machine you prefer the most, whether that’s Aztec slots or whatever other type of this ever-so-popular game.

You also shouldn’t get emotionally attached to one game and play it forever, as this can also lead to burnout. On top of that, playing only one specific slot machine won’t increase your chances of winning, but having fun and playing various games you enjoy will make your experience enjoyable.

Slots Trick #2. Don’t Prime the Pump

“Prime the Pump” is a gambling term that refers to starting small in order to win big. Many players think that you can’t win right away when you start betting, so you should start placing small wagers first so you can bet big when the wins come.

In reality, “priming the pump” doesn’t work, especially when it comes to slots, because you’re as likely to win big early as you are to win big later in your session. 

That’s why your best bet (pun intended) would be to have a betting budget, place bets of an equal amount, and hope for the best.

Slots Trick #3. Have a Stop-Loss Strategy 

Besides having a clear budget within which you’re going to bet during a single session, you should have a stop-loss strategy.

The most common stop-loss strategy for slot machines requires you to stop after a certain number of lost spins or amounts of money. For example, if you plan to bet $500 for the night and stop when you lose that money, you won’t go over the limit and make your losses 5x worse.

You can also tell yourself to stop betting after 10 or 20 lost spins in a row, which, although rare, can happen. Now, 10 or 20 missed spins might not bring you to bankruptcy, but it will cause you to tilt, and once you tilt, you can say goodbye to an enjoyable gambling session.

Slots Trick #4. Check Out Online Slots

The first slot machine was invented in 1891. Ever since then, this popular machine has evolved into video slots, which you can often see in casinos, but have you tried online slots?

You can play slots in online casinos, and according to most players, they’re as fun—if not more fun—than the machines in live casinos. The games range from 2D to 3D slots and offer numerous bonuses and a smooth gambling experience.

Nowadays, there are numerous software developers that produce some of the best online slots imaginable, such as NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Play’n Go, and many others. On top of that, slots in online casinos usually have high RTP percentages, so be sure to check them out.

Slots Trick #5. Take Advantage of Bonuses

As we’ve said, online casinos offer quite a few generous bonuses that can earn you big bucks and a lot of free spins. To redeem these bonuses, all you have to do at most casinos is sign up, activate your account, and make a minimum deposit—it’s that easy!

With a welcome bonus, you will get the chance to start betting on the right foot or try out different slots. You can use them to your advantage and spin for free, and who knows, you might get lucky and win big.

Slots Trick #6. Consider the Paytables of the Slots

Knowing how to find the payout percentage on a slot machine is crucial if you want to make money off this game like a professional gambler. Such knowledge will help you understand your chances of winning and the amount of money you could possibly win.

So, before you sit down at a slot machine or open your favorite online slot game, be sure to read the paytable. Check the volatility and RTP percentage and create a budget accordingly. This will help you gamble safely and earn money in the long term.

Slots Trick #7. Never Bet Max

There is a popular myth in the gambling community that betting max will provide you with the highest payback percentage. Although this can be true to some extent for 3-reel slots, it’s completely false for video and online slots.

Modern paytables for 5-reel and other popular slots are proportionate. This means that the payback percentage is the same, regardless of whether you place a one-coin bet or the maximum. So, betting the maximum won’t do you any good—it’ll only cost you big bucks.

Slots Trick #8. Don’t Forget To Use Free Spins

It’s not just that online casinos offer free spins. You can also earn these by playing slots that treat you with this bonus, which you can use to earn more money. That’s why we always advise you to look for slots with in-built free spins.

To earn free spins via slot machines, you usually have to complete a mission or two. For example, you have to match 3 specific symbols a couple of times in a row.

Keep in mind that you should always check missions for free slots in the slot game you’re playing, as that’s an easy way to maximize your winnings.

Slots Trick #9. Bet Enough To Be Eligible for Jackpots

Progressive slot machines take an amount of every bet you make and add it to the overall jackpot prize. This is why they have the biggest jackpots of all slot machine types.

Yet, the trick is that you need to bet more to reach the jackpot because, as the levels in progressive slots increase, so do the minimal required bets for the jackpot.

That’s why you should always be wary of the minimal bet you need to make and try to bet as close as possible to the required bet that makes you eligible for the jackpot.

Slots Trick #10. Keep in Mind that You’re Playing With Real Money

Up until the 1990s, players used to insert coins into slot machines and activate each spin with them. Nowadays, both live and online casinos use bill validators and credit meters. This means that instead of dropping money into the slot machine, you gamble with credits bought with cash.

Although gambling with credit is more convenient, you have to keep in mind that you’re playing with real money. It’s easy to start thinking that credits are only points and to forget you’ve paid for them.

So, whenever you’re playing slots, remind yourself from time to time that you’re playing with real money and that credit represents the cash you’ve spent. This way, you’ll avoid overbetting and major losses.

Different Types of Slots Explained

At the end of the day, your winnings depend mostly on the type of slot machine you choose to play. If you choose progressive slots, you can hope for a huge jackpot, whereas if you sit down at a classic slot machine, you can expect steady but low paying wins.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of slots, such as:

• Classic slots. Classic slots have 1–5 paylines and a quite simple paytable. Their RTP can go up to 97%, they don’t offer huge payouts, and they have low to medium volatility.
• Progressive slots. These slots usually have an average RTP of 94% and are highly volatile. Their advantage is that they offer life-changing jackpots that can earn you huge amounts of money. 
• Megaways slots. Megaways is a slot design with 117,649 ways to win that was popularized by a game called Bonanza. These slots are quite possibly the most loved type of slots in the community, as they are fun and offer huge payouts on top of that.
• Video slots. Video slots are packed with features and can have anywhere between 5 and hundreds of paylines. They offer various bonuses, mini-jackpots, and all sorts of other wins. Their RTP is rarely higher than 96%, and their volatility is very high.

Slot Machine Tricks FAQ

#1. How to find a winning slot machine?

Although you can’t find a winning slot machine, you can find one with a high payout percentage. The best way to do this is to use Google.

#2. How to consistently win at slots?

You can’t consistently win at slots because the outcome of this game is highly dependent on chance. But, to increase your chances of winning, you can play slots with a high RTP, stay within your budget, never bet the maximum, and have a stop-loss strategy.

#3. Which slot type is the best?

There isn’t a definite “best” slot type, as it mostly depends on your preferences. Some people prefer one type or the other, but you should always look for a slot machine with a high RTP.

#4. How long should you play at a slot machine?

You should walk away from a slot machine if you start seeing multiple losses in a row. That’s why you should always have a stop-loss strategy, as it will keep you from losing large amounts of money.

Key Takeaways

Even though a strategy to win at slots all of the time doesn’t exist, you can implement the tips from this article to win big and more often. To sum it up:

• The outcome of each spin in slots is determined the moment you press the spin button, as every machine has a built-in RNG (Random Number Generator) chip, which generates random numbers that decide the outcome of a spin.
• RTP is the percentage of money that a slot machine pays back to you.
• Slot volatility determines your chances of winning each spin.
• To increase your chances of winning at slot machines, you need to play the games you enjoy, have a stop-loss strategy, avoid betting the maximum, and bet enough to be eligible for jackpots.