Playing casino slots can be a fun hobby (and in some cases it can become a habit). These machines can bombard your senses with lights, sounds or vibrations, all designed to entice you to play, whether in a casino or online. Due to their attention-grabbing ability, slot machines are one of the most played casino games. Can't wait to have fun too? Read this article to find out how.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Before You Bet Money
Step 1. Join the "slots clubs" or points programs that your casino offers
These programs reward you based on how much you play and can give you the opportunity to receive additional benefits. Compare the incentives of different casinos or websites, and choose the one you prefer.
- As a registered member, you may receive offers by mail or on the internet. During the low season of casinos, it is common to receive offers that try to entice you to play free games, free food, or a free night. So if you're planning on spending your money anyway, you should sign up for these programs.
- If this is your first time, take a tour and familiarize yourself with the property, especially if you are also a guest of the hotel. Casinos are generally structured so that activities are at the center and services around the perimeter. Note where the toilets and emergency exits are located. Look at the floor to identify the main paths, in case you get lost. Also try to note the various signs that indicate different areas and how to get back to where you were.
Step 2. Know the slot you are playing
While there are different types of machines, each with their own payouts and playing methods, their operation is generally the same. You just need to know a few things:
- You can play with a win ticket, member card or cash. Often, if not always, a winning ticket will have to be inserted into the same slot as the banknotes. Most machines receive $ 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 $ or € bills, and some even $ 1 or € 1 coins. The points to insert the money will be illuminated and you will not be able to miss them.
- Most machines no longer pay in coins. If you are looking for a coin bucket, you may be looking for it for a long time.
- For some variations of the game, the rules are explained on the glass above the screen. You will be able to read what kind of game it is, the chances of winning each spin and the details on the jackpot. If this information is present, read it before you sit down. Some machines offer far better rewards than others.
- Each machine has a light at the top, called a 'candle'. This indicator light contains several colors that indicate its name and also serves to notify the slot attendant if his service is required. The light flashes in different ways depending on the type of assistance needed, based on the interaction with the machine, jackpot and other types of functions.
- Find the "Pay" button. This is the button that will allow you to free yourself from your semi-conscious state and return to the real world. Press it and your winnings will be printed, and you can exchange them at the ATM or casino cashier - assuming you have won.
Step 3. Think about the amount you are willing to lose
When it comes to slots, you risk spending a lot of money in no time. In fact, it is possible to end up with empty pockets faster than with casino table games. There are machines where you will spend 50 cents per ride and others that require € 5. First decide where to put your limit.
- Generally speaking, if more money is needed to hit the jackpots, you should bet them (why play if you can't win?). So if you're not looking to squander your legacy, penny slots are probably for you. Plus, with the same amount of money, you can play and have fun for longer.
- Most casinos divide the machines into sections. You'll see huge illuminated signs that read "5 ¢" or "25 ¢" or "1 ¢." If the casino is a maze (as they are often designed), ask a waiter or attendant to point you in the right direction.
Step 4. Don't trust the layout of the games inside the casino
Casinos certainly employ a good level of strategy in positioning their slots, but each one adopts a different one and it is not something that can be understood with a simple glance. Also, thanks to current technology, they can change the winning percentage of a machine at the push of a button. So before you ask the beautiful hostess where you should play, think twice.
The concept of a hot car also has no rationale. In practical terms, a slot machine is like a dice. You might think that after rolling 4 six in a row it will be unlikely to get a fifth, but with each roll, the probability of a 6 coming up is equal to that of all other numbers. With each roll, the die starts from scratch. Slots work the same way. It is only after a huge number of rolls that a machine's payout statistic is respected. Unless you want to voluntarily risk your money, don't consider this factor when choosing your slot
Step 5. Check the various numbers shown on the machine more than once before starting to play
You may end up betting more than you think and realize it is too late. It's a great idea to keep an eye on the betting counters and make sure you bet consciously. Some machines might look like 1 ¢, but if you're not careful you could end up betting a lot more.
Part 2 of 3: Play
Step 1. Master the multiplier machine
This is the type of slot where if you play a coin, you will receive a certain amount of money. If you play two, you will receive a much larger amount. And if you play three, your winnings would be equal to a bank robbery.
- Betting more does not favor your chances of winning, so it is okay not to bet the maximum in this type of slot. This type of slot is very straightforward: if you bet little you will win little, if you bet big you will win big - but this will not affect the number of times you win.
- Look for slots that don't have much difference between coins if you want to save. If one coin guarantees you a jackpot win of 2000, two coins of 5000, but three coins of 45000, you shouldn't play. Think what would happen if you hit the jackpot without having played the maximum bet. You would go to the buffet with your head down.
Step 2. Bet the maximum on buy-a-pay slots
In these slots, wagering a coin allows you to win only in the center line, two coins also in a diagonal line, and with three coins you can win using all nine combinations. This also applies to symbols. Imagine betting a coin and seeing 7-7-7 line up along a diagonal! If you choose this type of slot, either bet max or don't play.
- In other words, this machine doesn't allow you to win more by betting more. With a larger stake, however, you will have more winning combinations. You are literally buying the chance to win. And if the machine offers a winning combination that you have not paid for, that combination is still counted as a win for the purposes of calculating the machine.
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This type of machine can be recognized by the way the prizes are arranged. Note for example how a Double Diamond slot displays the same symbols for both one coin and two coin games. All symbols are active regardless of the type of play. In a Bally's Flaming 7s slot, on the other hand, you'll see the bars listed for one coin and the active 7s for a two-coin game. You have to bet two coins for the 7s to be active. If you were to line up the 7s with a one-coin bet, you would not win anything.
Some video slots work this way, but they have their own separate section
Step 3. Join a progressive slot
If you see a lot of people in a row of cars with a giant monitor above them blinking with color and lights, that's a progressive game. This type of slot offers a jackpot that grows every time someone plays. All of these machines are linked and the first person to hit a jackpot gets a percentage of everyone else's play, not just their own.
Even with these machines, it is convenient to aim for the maximum. If you don't bet the max, you won't win the jackpot. So if you decide to spend time with these machines - which can offer really generous jackpots - be prepared to empty your pockets
Step 4. Test the video slots
They are also known as "multiline" games and work in a similar way to buy-a-pays. You will have to choose how many lines you want to buy and how many credits you want to spend on each line. At a 1 cent slot, you could bet on the center line and take a spin. You probably won't win anything, but you could. Some machines offer up to 500 lines to bet on and you can usually bet between one cent and one euro on each line.
- Keep in mind that while multi-line machines have higher payout percentages these days, the amount of money you win is often far less than what you spend on wagering.
- Consider your position. If you are playing a video slot with 100 game lines at $ 1 each, your minimum bet is $ 100 per spin. You are basically placing a high limit bet on a $ 1 slot. For higher payout percentages, higher chances of winning as a player and more personalized attention, play on high limit machines.
- It is not necessary to bet the maximum in this slot, but you should bet on all lines. This way, you will never waste any winning combinations. The machine does not record which lines you are betting on and bases its payout calculations only on the coming out of winning combinations.
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Video slots are definitely the most popular in recent times. This is because they offer bonus spins, payouts and special events on a fairly regular basis. In addition to the fun and varied animations, these slots give you the feeling of "playing" and having a chance to win.
Don't confuse these slots with video poker, which is probably even more popular
- In these slots the lines to win are zigzag, diagonal, form M or W, curves and so on and so forth. So you could win without realizing it and vice versa. Be content with looking at the beautiful pictures and don't lose your head. Wait for the bonus spins and take advantage of these free chances to win.
Step 5. Choose your game
Now that you know the different types of slots, the casino is at your disposal. Find one free and sit down for what will hopefully be a long game. Insert your player card (even if you are not using it to bet - you will receive points this way) and then the money or a ticket from a previous win. From now on, get ready for a multitude of sounds and lights!
- Follow the directions on the screen or read the instructions above it. If you are confused or the machine is not working, call an attendant (there is a button on the machine to do this - the slot will light up, notifying your request) who can help you.
- When you want to stop playing, press the "Pay" button. The slot will print a receipt that you can exchange at an ATM or at the cashier. When you have the receipt in your hand, retrieve your player card and walk away. Did you notice what time it is?
Step 6. Behave yourself
Even though casinos are places of addiction, that doesn't mean you don't have to behave with class within them. In general, the rules of conduct of casinos are quite logical:
- If you see a jacket on a chair or a chair is leaning against a car, it means it is busy. Don't use it. You would end up arguing with the person who was using her when she comes back from the bathroom.
- Don't play on more than one or two machines at a time. And if the casino is even slightly crowded, play only one. Don't spoil the fun of others just to satiate your appetite for the game.
- If you see someone hit a jackpot that was supposed to be yours, don't freak out - your claims are unfounded. Each computer analyzes thousands of combinations every minute, and the likelihood that you hit the button in that exact hundredth of a second is incredibly low. They are lower than the odds of getting up with a bulging wallet!
Part 3 of 3: Manage Your Money
Step 1. Know your limits
It is time for some wise advice: you must know your limits and you must stop playing once you have reached them. Before you start playing, determine how much money you can afford to lose and also decide when to stop if you win. These are two very important decisions that can help you know when to quit.
Being dominated by greed or wagering more than you can afford are two of the biggest mistakes you can make when playing slots. You could turn a fun and relaxing experience into something that will make your hair tear. Play in moderation
Step 2. Enter the casino with only the money you are willing to lose
Leave your credit cards and other money with you at home or in the hotel safe so you don't feel tempted to overspend.
If possible, ration the money you have available. Tell yourself that you will only spend a certain amount every half hour. If you are winning at the end of the thirty minutes, you will be able to put aside your profit and continue playing with the starting money. If you run out of money, you will have to wait for the next half hour to start again. This way you will be able to play much longer
Step 3. Choose the lowest possible bet for the slot you have decided to play
This will allow you to play longer. If you decide to keep an eye on your wallet, avoid buy-a-pays and progressive slots. Play multiline or multiplier slots.
Step 4. Choose the slot with the highest payout percentage
This number indicates the frequency of winnings guaranteed by the machine. This value should be clearly shown on the slot and will be in a range between 80% and 98%.
- Keep in mind that the payout percentage can be applied to a series of machines and not to individual units (as in progressive play), and that not all machines in a row will offer the same payouts. You may want to observe other players for some time to figure out which slots offer the best odds.
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To be more clear, a 98% win rate means you will win 98 cents for every euro you wager. You can only expect this percentage to be fully respected if you play the same slot for ten years though.
Machines in Vegas are programmed to pay more. But remember, this is a long-term statistic. The slots have the same number of combinations each time you bet. If you win or fail to win one spin, you will have an equal chance of winning the next
Step 5. Save your winnings
Always avoid playing with the money you have won, as you would break your initial strategy of playing with only the predetermined amount of money. While instant gratification is a great feeling, you'll feel much better coming home with some cash in your pocket instead of just playing for another 20 minutes.
When you get home, put your winnings in a piggy bank. The next time you go to a casino, use some of that money to play. If after some time the piggy bank is empty, reduce your expenses or reduce the number of trips to the casino
Advice
- Most slots show the rules on the outside or offer a help section that you can click on if you are playing online. If you don't see these signs, ask a casino attendant or call the online slots service.
- The gambling environment is full of superstitions and myths. Don't follow the idea of hot or cold machines, because it doesn't have a scientific basis. Each casino machine has a computerized brain that predetermines whether or not a spin will offer a payout based on the instant it is started, and there is nothing you can do to change the outcome.
- Research your winning strategies before visiting a casino. There are many books and guides on the net that can help you get the most out of your gaming experience. Be aware though that some (if not most) of them are scams.
