For most players the slot machine is nothing more than mindless entertainment on that annual trip to Vegas. It’s a game of chance with no real strategy used to win the game. This is true for the most part, but for players who want tips to play a slot machine this article provides a few areas which will help you avoid some of the more costly mistakes.
Most players don’t even pay attention to the payback schedule a machine provides. This is one of the biggest mistakes you could make. Often players will find themselves wasting money at a slot machine which offers the same payback whether they bet one coin or three coins. These are the games you will want to avoid. As an example, if a slot machine only offers a 200 payback on a single coin wager and a 600 coin payout on three credits, why would you choose to play the max bet when your return is no different if you only played a single credit? If you are going to play max bet you will want to look for either a slot machine which provides a bigger payout or of course play the progressives instead.
Bankroll management is key to prolonging your play on a slot machine. Although some machines do provide higher limits players should stick to games which they can afford to play and one which won’t tap them out within a short period of time. One of the easiest ways to do this is by setting yourself some limits, either based on an allotted period of time or a fixed amount. If you plan on going to the casino and will be playing for the day, choose your slots based on the amount of bets you can make to keep you playing while you’re there. If you only have $200 you will obviously want to stay away from the $1 machines as your bankroll will deteriorate quickly, however playing quarter machines can extend this timeframe for you. You can also do this based on your wins or loses by deciding to quit when you up x amount of dollars or when your losses have totalled a certain amount.
Slots clubs are incentive based programs rewarding players for their regular play. These comp programs can provide a few different advantages. In a land based casino you will often see player’s inserting cards into the slot machine while they play. Each time a wager is made, that player will be rewarded with points on both wins and losses. These points are tracked by their slots cards and will accumulate over time. The points can then be redeemed for concerts, dinners, free accommodations as well as free casino money. Online casinos also provide the same rewards scheme and will track each wager you place at their casino. The majority of these rewards programs will provide you with different promotional offers based on your current VIP status or allow you to claim your points for free money. While you may not be able to win on a slot machine every time you play you can use these programs to offset your overall loses or increase your bankroll.