Let’s make one thing clear: Slots are not a good game for making money in the long term. Both simulations and records of real games say the same thing. Therefore, if you come across a site that offers you a 100%-secure strategy for winning on slot machines, you can be sure it’s just a fraud there to take your money.
Of course, that’s not to say that it’s impossible to win money on slots – after all, this is a “How to win online slots” article, and we wouldn’t be writing it if it was useless. Experienced players know the machines well enough to skew the odds their way and make money. Some people even became millionaires – for example, the biggest payout on Mega Moolah, the most popular progressive online slot, was €18,915,872.81. Nevertheless, slots are made to turn a profit for the casino they’re in, regardless of how fun they are.
This article will give you valuable tips to help you create your own winning slot strategies, but we must reiterate that there is no such thing as a surefire way to win on slots.
How Do Slots Work and How To Win Them?
To win on one, you first need to have at least a basic knowledge of how these machines work. Slots are the most popular type of casino game in both land-based and online casinos: As a rule, the slots collection is the largest game collection in any gambling venue. Naturally, there are tricks to every game, and many websites offer tips to win slots online.
What makes slots so specific is that they’re almost 100% a game of chance. The outcome (mostly) doesn’t depend on the player but a random number generator; the RNG isn’t even in the casino but on the developer’s server. This means that practically every player has an equal chance of winning money because all it takes is spinning the reels and hoping that the symbols will match.
Of course, there are several types of slot machines, with special rules for each, and if you need more information to formulate a winning strategy in online slots, you should read our detailed guide to slot games for beginners.
Tips and Tricks to Beat Slot Machines
There are two options for increasing your chances of making money on slot machines: One is to choose profitable game strategies, and the other is to use certain tricks to increase your odds of winning. In the world of online casinos, knowledge is power, and the more information you have, the higher your chances of making a profit.
Simply put, you can’t influence your luck, but knowing secrets to winning on slot machines can be crucial when playing slots in legitimate online casinos. While many people try to do so every day, winning on slots is not easy. And even if you do score, it won’t be a long-term financing solution unless you hit an enormous jackpot.
Considering that gambling, in general, depends on a mix of fortune and skill, the outcome of a casino visit hinges on who is visiting. Those who take the time to read articles like this one have a better chance to beat online slots and win money online more often.
Select the Slot Carefully
To bring profit your way, you first have to choose the right game. To that end, you need to understand that no two slot games are identical. Not only do individual titles come with varying esthetics, sound effects, additional features, and symbols, they also have different Return to Player (RTP) rates and volatility.
The RTP of every game should be displayed in their descriptions; unfortunately, not all casinos do this, so make sure to only play at those that do. This helps potential players pick a winning slot machine or at least one that won’t make them go broke.
The Return to Player represents the expected percentage of money waged that a game will return to the player in the long run. RTP is calculated using either a theoretical or simulated approach, depending on game type. Other casino games besides slots also have an RTP.
For example, suppose a slot machine has an RTP of 96% – the industry standard below which one should not go, in our opinion. In that case, a player can expect to win back €960 for every €1,000 invested. Having said this, if you want to learn how to win online slots in the UK or anywhere else, you can start by playing slots with an RTP above 96%. Every percent counts when you play against casinos. The best games, like Blood Suckers by NetEnt, have a superb RTP of 98% or higher.
Volatility is the second factor affecting your winning chances. The volatility of slots – also known as variance – shows how often players can expect to win when playing a specific game. The higher the volatility, the bigger – and much, much rarer – the payouts. With low volatility, you’ll probably have good odds of winning on slots, but the payouts will be significantly lower, too.
The type of slots that will suit you depends on two things, as well: How much you can afford to spend and the strategy you’re using. Not every slot strategy is suitable for every type of game. For example, playing highly volatile slots requires patience, deep pockets, and consistent money management. On the other hand, if you have limited resources and little experience playing casino games, low-volatility slots, such as The Book of Ra, might be a better choice.
The catch here is that, even if you pick the best slots to play RTP-wise, you can only find out their volatility by playing.
Keep Track of Your Bankroll
No winning streak lasts forever, which is why you need to know how much you can afford to spend and, more importantly, how much you can afford to lose. Knowing your budget is an essential element of proper bankroll management. Your goal should be to extend your gaming sessions as long as possible. Your bankroll should be one of your key concerns when trying to achieve a winning series and the best chances of winning money.
If you spend your gambling money too soon, you destroy your odds of creating a positive series when playing – this golden gambling rule applies to all online casinos. Savvy players know when to leave the table regardless of whether they’re on a winning or a losing streak. Knowing when to quit according to your bankroll will help protect your money, which is why you should always set both an upper and a lower limit for playing. While they may not win you millions, these slot machine tips will undoubtedly help you keep your head well above water.
Practice Makes Perfect
In view of what we just said, make sure to try out every game you can in demo mode first. This will give you an idea of its volatility and whether the playing style is something you can get the hang of quickly. Demo versions are great if you play slots for fun since you won’t need to pay attention to your money. Of course, demoing games also allows you to test out various slot game strategies to see if they actually work.
We make a point to include bonus rounds in our online slots tips. Every opportunity to play without risking any money should be used. So, if you have bonus rounds or spins won on a welcome bonus, make sure to put them to work. Every risk-free function will help you get a better understanding of a specific slot machine. Don’t start playing for real money right away if at all possible. Getting to know a game will increase your chances of winning at least a little bit.
Study the Pay Tables and Additional Functions
To learn how to beat slot machines, you need to know that each slot machine comes with a unique paytable displaying each symbol’s worth and cost-effectiveness. Pay tables also show whether a particular slot game has wild or scatter symbols. It’s the paytable that should drive your decision to play on a particular machine.
Experts recommend forgetting the top jackpot and concentrating on the numbers in the middle of the board, with minor to moderate jackpots. You can always assume that your chances of hitting the big slot wins during the relatively short time you spend playing are slim to none. Of course, you might be extremely lucky and get the main prize, but it shouldn’t be the basis of your strategy. We recommend sticking to solid mid-range paybacks.
You should also pay attention to how many paylines each slot machine has. The number of paylines determines the number of winning combinations of each slot. Many veteran players advise those less experienced to play slots with more paylines to help them beat online slots. There are also slot machines that allow players to choose how many paylines they want to play with, but the advice is to always play all paylines. If you get something on an inactive payline, you will not get any of that spin.
The best strategy for boosting your wins is to play non-progressive machines with small top jackpots (800 – 3,000 coins) for multiple payout possibilities. Games like that offer more frequent small to medium payouts, as the money doesn’t all go to a jackpot, so there’s a fair chance to actually make money on slots.
Take Advantage of Bonuses and Online Casino Promotions
Every online casino on the market offers some sort of bonus or promotion to gain an advantage in the market. These extras come in the form of free spins, matched and reload bonuses, or cashback bonuses to boost your account funds without much hassle.
Online casinos usually have a welcome offer, a weekly rotation of bonuses, and ongoing promotions, all in the service of enticing players to keep coming back. Luckily, you can incorporate these into your online slots strategies. Make sure to read the terms and conditions for these offers to save yourself the trouble of trying to cash in on a bonus with insane wagering requirements. And if you stick around long enough, loyalty points from online casinos could lower the house advantage.
Slot Winning Frequencies
Newbies often overlook the winning frequency. It indicates how often you can expect to win, on average. On slot machines with an average winning frequency of 10% to 20%, you can expect a win on every 10th to 20th spin. Tricks to winning on slot machines show that higher winning frequencies mean smaller payouts but allow for prolonged playing and thus getting a bonus. On the other hand, lower frequencies usually offer no online slots bonus, but the individual payouts are higher.
Should You Make a Maximum Bet?
Placing a maximum bet (Bet Max/Max Bet) refers to the maximum amount you can wager on a spin. Many slot games have a Bet Max button for automatic placement of the maximum possible amount with a click. This option is an important element of online slots strategies because, in certain games, the jackpot or the progressive jackpot features are only available through Bet Max.
However, even if the maximum bet amount is smaller than your total bankroll, you have to consider the number of paylines. If the maximum bet is, say, €5, and you have a total budget of €50, ten paylines mean that you’re actually betting those €5 ten times, thus expending your total budget. Unless you hit the jackpot, the maximum bet option will just wipe out your money much faster.
Online slots tips suggest that Bet Max is a sound option if you aim at hitting a progressive jackpot. Ordinary slots have a lower fixed Max Bet than high denomination slots which also have the highest payouts. Besides, some slot machines pay better when you choose Bet Max.
Whether you play online or in land-based casinos, playing the maximum bet is always a good choice, especially as most progressive jackpots can only be won this way. Instead of betting on fewer lines with fewer coins, our tips on how to win at slot machines show that you should search out games with lower max bets with more paylines if you have a smaller bankroll.
Best Online Slots in the UK
Finally, we prepared a list of the best slot sites to start you off on finding the one that’s right for you. Online slots are widespread across the UK, with many quick entertainment options, attractive gameplay and the potential to win amazing prizes.
The offer includes everything from classic 3- and 5-reel slots, 3D slots, and progressive jackpot games. If you want to learn how to make money gambling online, there are hundreds of generous bonuses to take advantage of:
- Dream Vegas – Welcome bonus up to £4,900 + 120 Bonus Spins
- Casimba – Welcome bonus up to £2,000 + 125 Bonus Spins
- Playzee – 100% Welcome Bonus up to £300 + 100 Spins + 500 Points
- Grosvenor Casinos – 100% Welcome Bonus up to £30 on Classic Slots
- PlayOJO – 50 free spins
- Casino.com – 100% Welcome Bonus up to £100 + 200 free spins
- 777casino – 100% Welcome Bonus up to £200
- 888casino – 200% Welcome Bonus up to £100
- Rainbow Riches Casino – 30 free spins
- BuzzBingo – £30 free bingo
Among the best slots to play, players are offered an exciting range of different games, classified as:
- Progressive jackpot slots are games offering the chance to win big prizes (in the seven-figure and even eight-figure range) with relatively small stakes. The top progressive slots of 2022 include Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune, and Age of the Gods.
- Video slots are the original online slot games that still dominate the industry, with the classic 3-reel and the more complex 5-reel variants. The best ones are Wheel of Fortune, Mega Joker, Kingdoms Rise: Captain’s Treasure, and Starburst.
- 3D slots are the same as video slots but with advanced graphics and a stronger narrative. Online slots tips suggest that the top 3D slots of 2022 are Turning Totems, Gonzo’s Quest, Jungle Jim – El Dorado, and The Rift.
- Fruit machines mimic the machines found in bars and arcades featuring three reels and a payline in the middle. Top fruit machine games for 2022 include Fruit Shop, Fruit Fiesta, and Booming 7.
Branded slots are video slots featuring narratives from famous movies, TV shows, or bands, like Game of Thrones, Rocky, Britain’s Got Talent, and Guns N’ Roses.