Slot Machine Rules, Strategies, Tips

Slots Rules

Slots is the easiest casino game to learn and play. It's also one of the online casinos' most popular game today.

First you place your bet. Typically you can bet one, two or more coins (up to five or ten on some slot machines). Depending on the machine, the coins may be $.05, $0.5, $5 or other values. So if you bet five coins on a $1 machine, your bet is five dollars.

Next you click a button to spin the wheels. This is the same as pulling the arm on a real slot machine. Now all you do is wait and see if you win!

Where the wheels stop determines if you win and how much. The goal is to get the symbols (cherries, numbers and so on) to line up on the payline in one of the winning combinations listed on the pay table. Each game will have its own pay table. For example, three bars in a row may pay 20 to 1. Three cherries in a row may pay 3 to 1. Some machines have three or five paylines, or pay on the diagonal. Check the casino rules for details. To get this information, you usually just click a help button or visit preview games page.

Some online casinos offer so-called progressive jackpots. That means that a jackpot builds as more and more players play the casino's progressive machines. The first person to hit the winning combination (e.g. 777 or others) wins the total jackpot. To be eligible for the jackpot you usually have to play the maximum number of coins. Then the jackpot resets to a lower value and starts to increase again as more people play.

The result of each spin of the wheels is determined by a computer program that generates random results. This is true for both online slots games and slot machines found in terrestrial casinos. The machines can easily be set by the casino to generate whatever payout they choose. For example, they may set it to 96%. That means for every 100 dollars bet, the machine will, on average, pay out 96 dollars. The other four dollars goes to the casino and that's how they make their profit. Of course, that’s just on average. It’s possible, if Lady Luck is on your side, to make hundreds or even thousands of dollars with just one spin. On some large progressive jackpots you can win even millions.

Slots Strategies

It’s a common myth that slot machines are the worst gamble in a casino. The truth is that making bad bets at the craps table or blackjack table can give far worse odds than any slot machine. The odds you get when playing slots are similar to those for roulette.

Another commonly held belief is that a slot machine that just gave a big payout won’t pay out again for a while. Actually, statistically speaking, the odds are the same for every spin and every spin is completely random and independent of all past spins. So there’s no way to predict the next spin and a jackpot is just as likely to be hit right after the last one was hit as it is after a thousand dry spins.

Most slot machines reward you for playing the maximum number of coins. For example the jackpot may pay 2000 coins with 2 coins played, but 4000 coins when 3 coins are played. If you don't feel comfortable playing the maximum coins you might consider moving down to a machine that accepts lower-value coins so you can play the maximum. For example instead of playing one coin at a dollar machine, play the maximum number of coins at a quarter machine. Some online casinos let you play for nickels.

Play at casinos that advertise the best payout percentages. These casinos are eager for your business are willing to reward you with better payouts. The build-in payouts for slots games are different in each casino for each slot game. Some of the casinos pays out well over 99% for some slots (e.g. Zodiac Casino) while others rip up to 10% on each spin! Check out our payouts page to find casinos with the highest payout percentages for Slots.

If you’re playing a progressive machine, remember that you'll probably have to bet the maximum number of coins to be eligible to win the big jackpot.

Slot Machine Tips

The slot machine has three spinning wheels marked with symbols. Each time the game is played, the three wheels come to rest with a random selection of symbols showing in the window. Certain combinations of symbols cause a payoff. The object is to earn money by getting paying combinations, which are shown in the window at the top of the slot machine. Some machines allow you to wager more coins to receive greater paybacks for winning combinations. There are also machines that allow you to wager more money to have more than row where winning combinations can match up. In such a game, you might have more than one winning combination on one turn.

Slot Machine Tip #1:
Always read the pay-off information on each machine, particularly on Pay for Play machines. These are usually three coin slot machines with the first coin paying only on limited symbols, perhaps cherries and bars. The second coin pays on the next set of symbols and the third coin pays on any win. The big win is with the third coin. Many a player has turned up three sevens and stood in wonderment as to why they didn't get paid. They only put one coin in the slot machine and one coin won't feed the bulldog on a pay for play. Know what you are playing.

Slot Machine Tip #2:
When playing progressive slots or three liners or five liners make sure you have inserted the proper number of coins in the machine. It can be very frustrating to see a line of three sevens and not get anything because you didn't insert the required number of coins.

Slot Machine Strategy
Maximum Coin Play: On most slot machines, especially progressive jackpot slots, it's best to play the maximum number of coins in order to take full advantage of the entire payout amount.

Specialize: Find slot machines that you understand and play them. Don't play just any slot machine that you see. Learn what slots appeal to you and stick with them ... we all have favorites - that's part of the fun.

Take a Chance: If you are up you can afford to take a chance on high end machines - even the $5.00 or higher slots. If you do hit ... take the money and run.

Slot Machine Money Management Strategy: Money management, when playing online casino slots, is a very good idea and each of us has our own idea of what that means. There are a number of approaches to money management, but the most effective is the daily budget. Very simply, the player budgets themselves to a daily bankroll ... $100, $500, $1000 or whatever. If that bankroll is lost, the day's play is over.


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