Slots Strategy

There is no skill involved in playing a slot machine. The outcome is purely the result of the random number generator working away on a chip inside the device. Sometimes, to make the experience more interesting for the player, the illusion of skill is created by having some additional form of interaction before coming up with the result of the “spin.”

Even if the user’s response may cause the machine to modify the display in some way, the result of the play will be random just the same.

Do not put credence in myths about machines. They do not get “hot” or “cold” as some players allege. Just as a machine is never “overdue,” it is never any more likely or less likely to generate a win at a particular time. There is no valid strategy for figuring out which machine is likely to be “hot.” Putting a “hot coin” in a machine has no effect on the outcome. The electronics are indifferent to everything other than the number generated randomly.

When choosing how many coins or credits to play, be aware of the specific machine’s rules concerning the jackpot, however.

Traditional machines will only pay the big prize if the maximum bet is made.

On the Wheel of Fortune reel slot for example, the “bonus round” only will come up if a player has bet three coins. Video slot machines usually pay the jackpot in proportion to the number of coins or credits played. On the video slot version of Wheel of Fortune, for example, the “bonus round” can be triggered (giving access to a jackpot) regardless of the number of coins or credits played.

Casinos “recommend” that players bet on as many paylines as they can in a given game, as it “multiplies” the chance of winning. However, if each result is purely random, then it should make no difference to the player whether there is only one bet per “spin” or several. The casino makes money faster if the player bets more rapidly.

An exception is the progressive jackpot, which may only pay if a player has bet all of the paylines. It makes more sense to bet all the paylines on such a machine in order to qualify for the progressive jackpot. This can quickly run into real money, so it will be important to choose machines with a fixed bet size that works for the bankroll.

That said, different slot machines are programed to have different payouts. So, the trick is finding the machine with the biggest payout. Oftentimes, slots managers put the loosest slots near the most highly trafficked passageways to give passers by the impression of lots of action. However, don't confuse loose with payout. A loose machine can slip a lot of coins, but otherwise and a poor overall payout percentage.

As far as which machine offers the highest payout? Your guess is as good as our. Maybe the slot manager will tell you - then again, maybe not.