- Winning At Casino Slot Machines
- How To Pick A Winning Slot Machine
- Winning At Slots Strategy Poker
- Winning At Slots Strategy Casino Games
- Winning At Slots Vegas
Playing online slots that feature higher RTPs will assist you enjoy depending on free slots for fun and improve your odds of winning. Always concentrate to the minimum and maximum bets, as well. Understanding your betting strategy will help guide your coin machine decisions. Are you a high roller? Choose a game with a better maximum bet. By following basic strategy a player will have a better time and may enjoy more wins, as well as larger wins along the way. Choose the Right Casino. One of the first things an online slots player should do is find the right casino to play the slots at. Winning Slot Machine Strategies The basic strategy that can be effective when playing slots is wise bankroll management. Slot game is based totally on a Random Number Generator, therefore there can be no powerful strategy in beating slot machines. There are still some things you can do to increase your possible odds of winning and to reduce losses.
How to Win at Slots
Most online slots are played using coins, the value and number of which can be altered depending on how much you wish to bet.
As an example, if you want to bet €1 per spin, you can choose to have the value of the coin as €1 and play using 1 coin, the value of the coin as €0.50 and play using 2 coins or the value of the coin as €0.20 and play using 5 coins.
We would suggest that wherever possible you play with the maximum number of coins so, in the above example, it is better to play with 5 coins with a value of €0.20 than 1 coin of €1. This is because some machines pay better amounts when the maximum number of coins is used.
Other slots have a bet amount per line. In all circumstances we would recommend playing maximum lines at all times and drop down a coin value if necessary, there is nothing more frustrating than seeing a big win come in on a line that you aren’t playing!
Below you can see a screenshot of a standard online slot where you can see the number of coins, value and total bet.
In this instance, we are playing with a €0.01 coin, 25 lines with 10 coins per line making a total bet of €2.50 – 0.01 * 25 * 10.
Every slot has differing win lines, some have just 5, others 30 to 40 and some slots have ‘win all ways’ which means if the same symbol appears anywhere on the 1st 3 columns you will win – the majority of these have 5 columns and 3 rows which means there are 243 possible ways to win.
Although it may sound like a lot, it is worth mentioning that this doesn’t mean you have a better chance to win as each slot has a set payout % which is the average amount it pays out over the long term. Online slots are often around the 95% to 98% mark which isn’t too bad although not as good as some other casino games.
You will often find ‘Scatters’ on online slots, these are symbols that win if they appear anywhere on the reels as opposed to on the first 3 columns of a win line. On many slots, 3 or more Scatters will get you Free Spins or another Feature.
The Features of a slot machine are what make the game more exciting and can often lead to nice wins, so keep an eye out for these when you are choosing which slot to play.
You will also find some that have a jackpot, such as the one above, which keep rising until someone wins it. The one above is currently $3,421 but on some machines, these can get to €1m or more before they pay out – a real life-changing amount!
There are literally thousands of online slots to choose from and almost every online casino these days have at least a few hundred available, we suggest that you try a few out on a free play first and decide which ones you enjoy the most before playing for real money.
Therefore, when playing slots:
1. Choose the value of your coin
2. Choose the number of coins you wish to bet
3. Choose the number of lines you wish to play, if applicable. As mentioned, we strongly suggest you leave this at the maximum
2. Choose the number of coins you wish to bet
3. Choose the number of lines you wish to play, if applicable. As mentioned, we strongly suggest you leave this at the maximum
Slot Machine Variations
There are many different variations of slot machines and many online casinos have several hundred to choose from.
The very basic ones have just a few win lines and no real options for the player, it is simply a case of pushing the start button and hoping.
The very basic ones have just a few win lines and no real options for the player, it is simply a case of pushing the start button and hoping.
Most have between 30 and 50 win lines and at least one or two features which can either be triggered by getting 3 or more of a certain symbol or at random.
Below is an example of one of the most basic, a 1-win line slot with no features.
This used to be popular back in the day when slots first came out, but the majority of players now prefer games with more win lines and features as they feel they get better value and entertainment for their money.
A more recent feature of slot games is the win all ways slots. These don’t have win lines, but any combination of symbols on the 1st 3 or more reels will win. A standard 3 by 5 slot paying out like this has 243 ways to win. These are proving popular with players especially some like Thunderstruck 2, shown below, which has a feature which remembers you the next time you log in.
![Winning At Slots Strategy Winning At Slots Strategy](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/35nk5qdBTrU/hqdefault.jpg)
The advantage to this is that the first 5 times you win a feature you get the lowest one. After 5 times, you are offered a choice of 2 features, after qualifying 10 times you get a choice of 3 and after qualifying 15 times, you have a choice of 4 features, each with a varying number of free spins and added extras.
Remember that as long as you play on the same site, if you reach a certain level on the feature, the next time you log in and play, it will remember you and offer you the respective features when you qualify.
Whilst most machines pay only left to right, there are some that add to the excitement and win lines by paying right to left as well.
Whilst most machines pay only left to right, there are some that add to the excitement and win lines by paying right to left as well.
This gives you an opportunity to win on each spin even if the first 3 reels bring you nothing. Please bear in mind that it doesn’t increase your chances of winning in the long term as the payout percentage will still be the same, but it does at least offer a few extra chances of prolonging your gameplay.
Another type of slot to watch out for is the Progressive Jackpot Slots. These tend to have lower payout percentages than other slots as a very small % of each spin is put towards a large jackpot which can often have life-changing amounts of money.
Say what you will about slots and having one of the lowest returns of casino games, but the largest progressive jackpot payout was around $24,000,000 by a player from Finland back in 2013 on the Mega Fortune slot.
If you think you need to bet big in order to win this amount, think again. His total stake was $0.25 – 25 cents for a $24million win.
There are no other casino games that can offer these odds, however unlikely it is to come in…
Tips For Playing Slot Machines
I’ve mentioned before that there is no real winning strategy for slots but I’ve prepared this article to help you increase your odds. The most important thing to remember when playing slots is to have fun. Most people that win jackpots have fun playing slots. You need to create a winning mood for yourself and having fun is the best way to do this. I will cover the following topics about slots tips:
- Tips that will help you increase your odds
- Some myths you need to be aware of
Here are some tips that will help you understand the different types of slots and will increase your odds drastically. Understanding slot rules and slots FAQ will help you as well. It is essential that you understand the different types of slots available to you.
Multiplier:
This machine has a payout for a certain symbol and the number of coins played multiplies it. This machine does not penalize you for not playing maximum coins. If you plan to play only one coin at a time, this is the type of machine you should look for.
Bonus Multiplier:
This one operates the same as the multiplier except that it offers a bonus when you play maximum coins and hit the jackpot. Three 7’s may pay 1,000 for one coin, 2,000 for two coins and 10,000 for maximum coins. You need to decide if the bonus is worth playing the extra coin.
Multiple Payline:
These slots have more than one line of play. Each coin activates a particular line. If you hit a winner on a line that is not activated, you will not receive anything.
Buy-a-Pay:
These are the most misunderstood slots in the online casinos. Each coin activates a different payout. You need the maximum coins to receive the largest jackpot. If you hit the jackpot with one coin in you will not win anything. Do not play this machine under any circumstances unless you are playing the maximum coins.
Progressive Slots:
The progressive slots take a certain percentage of the money played and add it to a pool for the top jackpot. But the percentage of the payback on the lesser wins is lowered to allow for the big prize. Never play progressive slots unless you are playing with maximum coins.
All the information you need about slot is posted somewhere inside the game. Locate it and always take time to read the information before you play. This helps players assess if a particular type of slots that are best suited for them.
Now that you understand the different types of slots we will look into some tips and myths that will increase your odds drastically.
- Playing slots until you are out of money is the least advisable way to win at slots. In fact, all you end up doing is playing more money than you planned to spend in the first place.
- It has been said that the key to winning in online slots is rhythm. Always try to maintain your rhythm, especially if it is working for you. If after some time, the rhythm is not yielding any profit, try another one and maintain it for a while to see what happens.
- Always choose the slots denomination where you can comfortably afford to play the maximum coin.
- It’s a common myth that slots 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. In fact, 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.
- Generally speaking, $1 slot machines have a higher payout than 50 cents or 25 cents machines. Along the same lines, the $5 machines have been proven statistically to payout as much as 98%. It is a good idea to play the machines with the highest payout rate because even though you are putting more money into the slot machines you could also potentially be getting much more back.
- Don’t be greedy. Learn to walk away with small winnings or when you have reached your budget limit.
- Determine whether you like to win smaller amounts more frequently or put more money into the slots and potentially win big. If you see a large number of winning combinations then this will result in more frequent, smaller wins.
- Slots have a reputation or reeling players in and not letting them out. So if you do win a jackpot, set aside most of your winnings and continue playing with only a small percentage of your earnings. This will keep you from giving all your winnings right back to the casino.
- Play at casinos that advertise the best payback percentages and offer the best bonuses. These casinos that are eager for your business are willing to reward you with better payouts.
Slot Strategy
A good slot strategy will help you increase your odds of winning but there are some myths about slot strategy that do not work. Do not waste your time with the following myths:
Counting spins: Slots do not have a memory, the only memory they have is your balance. Counting spins are completely useless because every spin is completely random and independently from the previous spins.
Slots pay more during a certain time of day: There is absolutely no way of knowing how slots machines are programmed. When believing that you will have better odds when you play at 3:00 pm or 5:00 am you are only fooling yourself. Slots payoff completely random and you can hit a jackpot at any time of the day.
Now that you know what slot strategies are useless I will show you what you can do to increase your odds.
- Make your money last as long as possible. Slot machines are supposed to be fun and the more time you can spend with them, the more fun it will be to you. So, start by putting in the smallest denomination of coins possible, and then if you are winning, increase that amount. Remember if you risk less you can play longer. The longer you can play without risking any additional money of your own, the better your chance that you will line up that winning combination for a big payout.
- Decide what your goals are for playing the slots. If you hope to win a huge jackpot, then you should look for a slot machine with a progressive jackpot that can reach well over $100,000. If you are simply looking to play for a while and would rather win smaller to medium size winnings more frequently then choose a slot machine that does not have a progressive jackpot, but one with bonus rounds that allow for more frequent wins.
- If your goal is to go for the jackpot then in order to win the jackpot, you must play the maximum coin bet. Again, choose a slot machine with a denomination that you can afford.
- Most slots 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. 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.
- Only play the best paying slots. Look for slots that payout between 95 and 99 percent and only play those. Players should note that machines that require $1 and higher machines usually payout 95-99%. Statistical research data indicate that $5 or higher machines have the highest percentage payout range. The range starts at 93.7% and goes up to 98.5%. Remember – these are ranges and averages, not absolute values. The next highest payouts come from $1 machines followed by 50-cent machines, 25-cent machines, and 5-cent machines. You will often see signs that say “Up to 98% payback” indicating that they have loose machines. This means that over the long term the slot will pay out 98 cents of every dollar that is played. The “up to” is the key point here. It means that a casino could have only one machine set to pay back at 98% to comply with the sign. If you find an area of slots with a sign without the “up to” you may want to give it a try.
- Know the odds. 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 hotel casinos. The machines can easily be set by the casino to generate whatever payout they choose. For example, they may set it to 95%. That means for every 100 dollars bet, the machine will, on average, pay out 95 dollars. The other five 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.
Within casinos, the general rule is that the easier a game is to understand, the worse the odds are.
This is never truer than with slots, the simplest of games to play, you simply need to press a button to see if you have won. If you don’t want to do this even, you can use the autoplay feature which will spin the machine a set number of times for you.
This is never truer than with slots, the simplest of games to play, you simply need to press a button to see if you have won. If you don’t want to do this even, you can use the autoplay feature which will spin the machine a set number of times for you.
However, as slots tend to have the highest house edge, and therefore the lowest payout for players, you will not find any quicker way to lose your money unless you get lucky.
Conclusion
There can be very few casino games that offer more entertainment for your money than slots, with all the flashing lights, loud and dramatic music and features.
However, there are very few casino games, if any, with a lower payout percentage.
If your aim at playing online or offline at a casino is to have fun and have a very small chance of winning life-changing amounts, give slots a go by all means.
If your aim at playing online or offline at a casino is to have fun and have a very small chance of winning life-changing amounts, give slots a go by all means.
However, if your main aim is to try and maximize your chances of winning a bit and walking out ahead of the casino, slots probably aren’t for you as there are plenty of games with a better chance of winning.
Finally, remember the main aim of playing slots is to enjoy yourself so play smaller stakes if you want a longer session, you can still win a nice amount quicker than on other casino games even if the odds aren’t as good.
Many gamblers believe that slots are a game completely based on luck. This is not completely true as you will see with our slot strategy. However, there is no winning slot strategy, you can only increase your odds. The odds you get when playing slots are similar to those for Roulette but the rewards are better. With our slot strategy you will learn the following topics:
- The strategies that do not work
- The slot strategy that WILL increase your odds
- The online casinos that give you the best odds and why
- How to play slots
Slot Machine FAQ’s
- Q: Tell me about slots and what should I expect?A: Happy slots players have three characteristics: They’re optimists, always with a positive, winning attitude; they’re realists, accepting they won’t win every time; and they are disciplined enough to stick to their win and loss limits.
- Q: What are Payout and Hold percentages?A: Slot machines are programmed to pay out a certain percentage of all the money they take in. Hold percentage is the opposite of Payout percentage. If a slot pays back 95% then the hold is 5 percent.
- Q: What is the payback percentage of the average slot machine?A: Slots return anywhere from about 80 percent to 99 percent of the total money put into them. But those are long-term payouts. During the relatively short time you are at a machine, results can fluctuate wildly.
- Q: How does one find machines with a high payout percentage?A: Every casino has a few machines with greater than average paybacks. One way to try and find them is to get to know the locals. People who play in a casino regularly usually now which machines are worth playing. When playing online, check the game payout ratios each month.
- Q: Do slot machines have “hot” and “cold” cycles?A: There are periods when an abnormal number of winning or losing combinations appear, but it is not possible to predict when those hot and clod cycles start or stop. Astute players try to recognize the mode and play accordingly.
- Q: What is a Random Number Generator (RNG)?A: It is the computer program that determines which symbols line up on the reels. Each random number generated corresponds to a reel combination. Whatever random number was generated the split second you hit the “spin” button (or pulled the handle) will result in the corresponding reel combinations that appear on your screen. The RNG doesn’t care how much you bet, whether you bet one coin or maximum coins, whether you pulled the handle with your left hand or hit the spin button with your fist, whether it’s your first play or last, whether you’ve been winning or losing, or whether you are playing with or without your slot-club card, and wearing your lucky charm won’t affect it either. After all, the Random Number Generator is a computer robot that just continually generates random numbers. If you happen to be the lucky person that plays the very split second the RNG generated a number that corresponds to the combination for the jackpot, you’ll be the big winner.
- Q: Do Slot Machines have the worst paybacks in the casino?A: Definitely not! Many slot machines pay back more than roulette, more than certain bets at the craps table, and much more than what you can expect in the keno lounge, at that big wheel of fortune, or when making parlay bets at the sports book.
- Q: Is a machine that hasn’t paid for a long time due to hit?A: No machine is ever “due” to hit. The Random Number Generator controls when and how much is paid out and the RNG has no memory, it doesn’t care what happened before or what will happen next.
- Q: Should I play one coin at a time or maximum coins?A: How many coins you play should depend on the pay table and on your goal. If a machine pays a jackpot of say, 800 coins for a single coin wager, 1,600 coins for a two-coin bet and 2,400 if you insert three coins, there is no real advantage to playing maximum coins (unless you wouldn’t be happy winning less than 2,400 coins). But if there is a bonus for playing maximum coins (i.e. supposing the jackpot paid 800 coins for one-coin play, 1,600 coins for two-coin play and 4.000 coins for three coin play), then it’s prudent to insert wagered and $100,000 won = the same 91% return percentage. You might want to risk $100 for one chance in 11 to win $1,000, but do you want to risk $100 for one chance in 110,000?
- Q: Are specialty slots, such as Wheel of Fortune, Piggy Bank, etc. worth playing?A: Referring to these types of slot games, one casino executive boasted: “The concept is how to make losing fun”.
- Q: What size bankroll is recommended?A: To estimate your bankroll requirements, use this rule of thumb: (For this calculation winnings are not taken into consideration.) Six spins a minute means 360 spins per hour. If you do not replay your winnings, for each hour of play you would need 720 coins for two-coin play. So, per hour, your bankroll requirement is $18 for nickel machines or $90 for quarter machines, if you play one coin per spin.
- Q: Are slot tournaments a good deal?A: Tournament play is not like normal slot play. The machines are modified to play without coins. The participant who accumulates the most credits within a set time limit is the winner. If the entry fee is low and includes accommodation, a welcome cocktail party and dinner on awards night, slot tournaments can be great fun, even if you don’t win any money.
- Q: Are all machines of the same name programmed for the same payout percentages?A: Not all slot machines of the same name are programmed to pay equally well. There might be 25 identical Double Diamond machines scattered around a casino floor, each one programmed for a different payback, ranging from 85% to 98%. Only the slot manager knows which is which, and he won’t tell.
- Q: What is important when analyzing a pay table?A: It depends on whether you want to stretch your bankroll so you can play longer, or you hope to “hit and run”. If you hope to make a small bankroll last a long time, select a pay table with a modest jackpot but with a good range of small to medium payouts. If you hope to “strike it rich” the trade-off will be a large jackpot but less frequent and smaller secondary payouts.
- Q: Can casinos lower the payout percentages on busy weekends?A: It’s not as simple as flicking a switch to change payout percentages. In order to do this the RNG chip would need to be changed. That requires an involved procedure, which is done only if a particular machine proves to be not performing according to original specifications. There is no instant way for casino management to manipulate payouts.
- Q: Is there a slot system that works?A: There are methods of play that will improve your chances of winning, but no system can guarantee certain success.
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Introduction to Win, Walk Away, Return Later
The winning slots strategy of Win, Walk Away, Return Later has been my mainstay. I’ve depended on it when earning the most taxable jackpots. As with other winning strategies, it isn’t about how lucky you are. Instead, why it works is based on how a specific casino has set up their operating system to run their slot machines.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, I cannot give you more luck. Luck is completely random. Luck isn’t something either you or me have control over. I can’t make you luckier by wishing it were so. However, what I can provide is an edge by explaining the actions casinos get to choose from when setting up their system of slot machines.
As previously discussed, casinos have a selection of possible setups thanks to their new casino operating systems. These rather expensive new systems, which includes a central computer to which every slot machine is connected and controlled, provide casinos with three financial advantages:
- Being able to handle larger and larger casino crowds.
- Having the opportunity to tune their financial performance metrics daily or multiple times per day.
- Reducing their slot mechanic workforce who’d previously changed slot machine odds of winning by opening and physically adjusting each machine, one-by-one.
With Win, Walk Away, Return Later, I will discuss the winning pattern I recognized and used extensively at one casino set up to allow observant slots players to win more often than otherwise.
This article has the following sections:
- Introduction to Win, Walk Away, Return Later
- My Most Successful Strategy
- What Might You Accomplish with this Winning Strategy?
- How to Implement Win, Walk Away, Return Later
- Why Does This Strategy Work at All?
- Finding a Slot Machine with Improved Odds of Winning
- Known Disadvantages of Win, Walk Away, Return Later
- Does this Strategy Work at Your Casino?
- Summary of Win, Walk Away, Return Later
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My Most Successful Strategy
My Win, Walk Away, Return Later winning strategy has been, with regards to my slots gambling, my most successful strategy. It’s what I’ve employed to gain the most number of jackpots if not the most amount of profit.
With it, I cycled bankrolls, again and again, to earn more players club points to advance in tier levels to top-tier. Twice.
Winning At Casino Slot Machines
Because this was my most used personal winning strategy, I need to tell you what my own gambling goals were at the time. Now, of course, my gambling goal is centered around being of service to you. Now, I gamble to learn and, then, explain.
But, back when I was using Win, Walk Away, Return Later, my gambling goal was three-fold. Yes, from almost the beginning, I wanted to learn. If I could learn enough to be useful, I’d still have to figure out how to explain it to someone else. Maybe a lot of someone else’s.
My other gambling goals at the time also started with wanting to make money, a profit. Not much later, I added wanting to maximize complimentary gifts. So, my gambling goals of the day were:
- Learning
- Making money
- Earning comps
To accomplish these three equal goals, all I did was play high limit slot machines. These were typically 2-credit, $10-denomination and 3- or 5-credit, $5-denomination slot machines. I usually played only a few specific slot machines, as its easier to apply this winning strategy to a limited number of slot machines – as I’ll explain momentarily.
The slot machine game theme I played the most was a row of Wheel of Fortune slot machines from IGT. I wish I could be more specific about which WOF slot machines I was playing. Free slots bonus no deposit.
It would be months before I uncovered just how many different WOF games existed. For example, IGT has a webpage showing 53 different versions of their WOF game theme. Of those machines I played, I only remember credits, denominations, and how many reels they had. It also has a big wheel on top. Again, that’s not very specific.
Win, Walk Away, Return Later was my most successful winning strategy where winning meant I was learning while earning both a profit and players club reward points for all the best comps.
What Might You Accomplish with this Winning Strategy?
Why is this important? Specifically, why are my gambling goals vital to you? Because, now, you have a better idea of what I was trying to accomplish. To make take-home money, I decided I needed taxable jackpots from high limit slot machines.
![Winning At Slots Strategy Winning At Slots Strategy](https://www.casino.org/assets/media/images/pages/en/slots/how-to-win/winning-slots.jpg)
To earn players rewards credits, and thereby earn an assortment of food, travel, event, and hand-carry gifts, I needed to be able to cycle bankrolls.
It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned this, but there’s more than one kind of winning slot machine. Sometimes, it’s more evident than others. It’s typically apparent when someone wins a taxable jackpot, but it’s not obvious if the player is making a profit.
For clarity, I’ll state this observation another way. When playing one slot machine for a long period, it is noticeable if that slot machine has relatively high odds of winning within the time he or she is playing.
What is less obvious is whether someone spending a long time playing a single slot machine is cycling bankrolls. Not while interspersed with also winning taxable jackpots.
But, a series of jackpots under the $1,200 taxable limit can also go relatively unnoticed by most observers if the player immediately cancels the distinct sequence of lights and sounds from a jackpot roll-up.
To not draw undue attention, I always canceled the roll-up. Do you? I know it’s fun to let the lights and sounds play. It’s very gratifying, in its way. But, for me, it wasted time. I’d have preferred to be gambling while the playing was excellent.
With this winning strategy, winning for me meant a combination of taxable jackpots as well as cycling bankrolls. It also meant both if I could have both at once. Having both at once, which did happen, was an especially winning slot machine. But, having either one alone was, too.
For you to use this winning strategy, you’ll need to know your own gambling goals. If you want taxable jackpots, then you want a slot machine that provides them. If you wish comps, then you only need a slot machine that cycles bankrolls.
High-limit slot machines are not necessary when implementing this winning strategy. Not at all. Don’t feel like you need to place bets on high-limit slots because I did. I’ve only mentioned them here as this is primarily where my experience lies when implementing it for myself.
How to Implement Win, Walk Away, Return Later
When implementing Win, Walk Away, Return Later, I had three gambling goals. I’ve already mentioned making money and earning comps. But what about my learning goal?
This goal is to learn what works, how it works, and then explain it to others in the most transparent and concise manner I can manage. And, that learning goal all started with Win, Walk Away, Return Later.
While I’ve mentioned this winning strategy is the last in this series, I learned it first. As such, I decided from the very beginning that, of all the winning strategies I might learn, this is the one I would give away for free. And, so I have – from the beginning.
When anyone asked how I was a top tier status player, how I’d gotten that free comp, why I was on that cruise, or how I was winning so many jackpots during a single session, I would tell them exactly what I was doing as my best slot machine gambling advice.
Here it is.
After winning a decent-sized jackpot, go home. Go home, then come back one week later to play the exact same machine starting about five to ten minutes before the time when the prior jackpot was initially won the week before.
Be aware that this advice doesn’t necessarily apply on days of special events, such as holidays or other special casino events. Examples when this strategy might not perform well include:
- Banking holidays
- Major sporting events
- Significant promotional casino events
On those less-than-usual days at a casino, I’d instead recommend you consider implementing either Winning Strategy 4: Special Events Winning Advantages or Winning Strategy 5: Reliable Holiday Patterns.
However, this gambling “rule” does apply for events exactly one week apart. For example, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, from the point-of-view of implementing Win, Walk Away, Return Later, are very similar. Relatively similar casino conditions, an overall level of activity, tends to exist on both days.
For that specific winning slot machine and for whatever reason in fact exists for it to be a winner, that time of day on that day of the week had a higher than usual odds of winning a jackpot – so play it again at that time on that day of the week, to see if the reason it was happening in the first instance is still in effect.
Why Does This Strategy Work at All?
A good question to ask is why this strategy works at all. Here’s my reasoning for why.
As we know now occurs at newer casinos, their owners have installed an operating system which includes a central computer to control the odds of winning on each slot machines.
The intent of this central computer is to adjust the odds as needed to meet the casino’s financial performance metrics, some legally required within their gaming jurisdiction.
And, that’s it. That’s my reasoning. Casino operators are adjusting the odds on their slots depending on how their day is going, financially.
As interesting as it may be from an academic point-of-view, we don’t need to know what exactly they are adjusting for or even how they are doing financially for the day.
Knowing that the slot machines are indeed adjusted so often means our task is, instead, to go out and find those specific slot machines adjusted to have the best odds of winning at specific times of day on specific days of the week.
This winning strategy is, using a higher-level explanation, all about rhythm. It takes advantage of the casino’s rhythm. As most gamblers know, every day of the week has a different feel at casinos.
Monday’s at a casino are a little bit different from Tuesdays. And Tuesdays are a little bit different from Wednesdays. But, Fridays are different from all other weekdays. And Saturdays are not like Sundays, yet both are different from any weekday.
What you are feeling each day is real. Casinos have an operating rhythm, based on many events we don’t have to understand. This winning strategy works to sync your slots gambling sessions into that rhythm. It attempts to exploit it, to anticipate seeing it recur the next week at the same time on the same slot machine.
Finding a Slot Machine with Improved Odds of Winning
So, how do we go about doing that? Here are a few ways to find the specific day(s) and time(s) when a specific slot machine has improved odds of winning.
Since many of the gamblers I speak with often have decades more gambling experience than I currently have, I get straight to the heart of what I have to offer during get-to-know-you conversations with accomplished gamblers.
I explain that, yes, I have one thing to say that I share during conversations like this, which is this winning strategy 7. I also say that I should probably find something else to share that isn’t quite so powerful a gambling strategy.
These are gamblers who already understand the process for winning jackpots resulting in a W-2G tax form. So, I tell them to look at their jackpot receipts for the slot machine serial number along with the date and time of the jackpot they received.
What I am telling them is that the day of the week and the time of that jackpot for that slot machine is a good time to play that machine with improved odds of winning.
Most of the time, to repeat for emphasis, the cause of that specific time being a good time period doesn’t really matter – it just is – and your gambling records show it is an excellent time and place.
So, I say, use your information!
Another way to determine which specific slot machine has a specific day and time where it has improved odds of winning is to win a jackpot. You may already be doing this right now.
Since you’re playing it, you already like that machine. And, you’re available to be at the casino at that time and day of the week. So, why wouldn’t you make an effort to play it again one week after winning a jackpot, perhaps starting 5-10 minutes earlier?
When winning a jackpot, whether it is taxable or not, make a note of the date, time, and serial number to know when to return to play that same machine a week later.
The intent here is to play through the same time of day, on the same day of the week and same slot machine, as when you’re previously won – but perhaps starting a few minutes earlier.
Play luxor free. However, if you don’t have a history of playing at a particular casino, how might you go about implementing it? How do you find those slot machines paying out jackpots?
Remember, you’re looking for slot machines having either relatively large winnings or a bankroll cycling. Slot machines with many small non-taxable jackpots let their players maintain a near-constant balance for long periods of time.
How do you find a slot machine with improved odds of winning? Well, take a seat and watch. Frankly, the precise times and specific slot machines that are showing a winning jackpot don’t have to be yours.
I’ve always wondered if, after one of my many recorded jackpots, I would return to find someone familiar sitting at that slot machine and playing it through the “good” time period I’d uncovered – and, perhaps foolishly, previously told them about.
This was of especial concern to me since this was the one strategy I’d shared in many conversations with my fellow gamblers. However, I never saw it happen, perhaps because of my habit of gambling at odd times of the day.
Known Disadvantages of Win, Walk Away, Return Later
First off, I don’t want you to get into trouble. I don’t want you to get in trouble financially or, well, legally. As always, don’t ever take any money to a casino which you are not able to easily afford to lose. That’s still my number one gambling rule.
Second, this winning strategy can be problematic. It cannot work if you’re not at that casino a week later. Maybe you were vacationing. Perhaps you were traveling for business.
Whatever the case may be, sometimes you won’t be around a week later. As I found out for myself, so much for trying this winning strategy during your annual, four-day, Seven Stars complimentary trip to Las Vegas.
A subtle potential issue to be very, very careful about is this. A requirement of Win, Walk Away, Return Later is to record possibly many specific times, days, and slot machines into some calendar.
If you are going to be doing this at a casino, you’ll need to use a pen or pencil along with a piece of paper for this. DON’T USE YOUR SMARTPHONE TO TAKE NOTES WHILE IN A CASINO!
Using an electronic device as a gambling tool, which is what you’d be being doing if you use your smartphone to record these times, days, and slot machine on one while you’re at a casino. In most states, using an electronic device as a gambling tool is a felony.
Please take this concern very seriously. Casinos don’t mess around with what they and their state gaming regulations consider cheating. For example, in the news lately, Charles Oakley formerly a Knick’s team member, was arrested for cheating.
Never give a casino a reason, whether it seems reasonable or not, to think you are a cheater. I really should make this my gambling rule number 2.
Another less serious disadvantage of this strategy is that it also applies to smaller jackpots, but these are more difficult to record efficiently. Most of the time, these lower limit slot machines don’t pay out taxable jackpots.
Instead, any winnings tend to be smaller. It’s more likely a low-limit winning slot machine will be cycling bankrolls when the bankroll used never get depleted – sometimes for hours on end.
If a player’s gambling goal is to increase players club points, then picking times, days and specific slot machines when bankroll cycling has occurred a week or two before is useful.
Players can accumulate those points for complimentary gifts. Or, to eventually advance to the next player tier with that tier’s own set of complimentary gifts now available to the player for having advanced.
You know when your bankroll is cycling. But, initially finding a winning slot machine is not exactly what this winning strategy is about. It’s mostly about what to do when you have found a winning slot machine.
To start, let’s discuss finding a winning slot machine when you don’t know of any. You can visit the high limit slots area, and wait for a slot attendant to service a taxable jackpot. But, finding a winning slot machine which is also low-limit can be a little more complicated.
For low limit slot machines, you’ll need to be more observant than really needed in a high limit area. First, find the area of the casino with slot machine denominations for which you are comfortable having a bankroll for.
Next, watch for any player not immediately canceling their roll-up. A roll-up is the sequence of lights and sounds which automatically occur after any jackpot. A player can quickly cancel the roll-up if they press another button on the machine’s console.
That’s potentially a low limit slot machine with improved odds of winning. I’d recommend watching it for a while to see if that one roll-up was a singular event, or if it’s one of many. If it was one of many, you can decide for yourself if coming back to it a week later would be worthwhile.
If you know to watch for it, but only if you know to watch for it, someone who always immediately cancels their roll-up is rather obvious. At least, I always thought it was apparent whenever I did it. You’ll have to watch the reels, of course, or you may miss seeing the jackpot.
Plus, it can be hard to stop the roll-up instantaneously. By mistake, sometimes, the first little Bing sound or light flash can be heard or seen. Listen and watch for that, too.
How To Pick A Winning Slot Machine
Does this Strategy Work at Your Casino?
To touch again on the reason for “good” or “bad” periods to play a specific slot machine, in this instance in a somewhat deeper manner, there are several possibilities.
Some likely reasons have been discussed in detail, such as during and the morning after special events, including:
- Various holidays
- Giveaways
- Local sporting events
Other reasons for these “good” and “bad” times are based on the casino operators being in near full control of their financial returns, with the possible exception of having immediate, to the second, real-time knowledge.
Such reasons can sometimes be discerned by a savvy gambler that spends hours of time several days of the week at a casino. Other reasons, however, are not a matter of public knowledge, i.e., company proprietary to the corporate officers of the casino operator.
Is attendance less than usual? If so, that’s cause for the casino operator to set up more “bad” time periods. Similarly, the reverse is true regarding higher than typical attendance.
Other questions are:
- How is the overall economy going?
- Has there been a sudden downturn in the stock price of the casino operator? Or, a sharp upswing in its stock price?
- Has there been a scandal?
- The beginning of bankruptcy proceedings?
- Is the casino operator about to undergo a change in ownership or an important change in the ratio of its ownership percentages?
- Is it April, when the gambling “season” typically starts?
- Is the casino new or been recently heavily renovated, and trying to establish a good reputation with potential patrons within its first year?
Is the end of the financial month, quarter or year approaching and the planned fiscal revenues appear to be falling short? Or, perhaps exceeding expectations?
If you have extensive business skills, then you quite likely can distinguish between good and bad time periods due to your professional business acumen. To them, I offer my sincere appreciation of their skills.
For the rest of us, let’s take a step back for a moment and look at the big picture. It doesn’t matter why a casino does this, just whether they do it. A good analogy here is a slot machine’s random number generator.
Somewhere in the casino but more likely at slot machine manufacturers, who also supply new casino operating systems, someone knows what the odds of winning are. They know the timing, the details, the everything about what makes that slot machine win.
But, like knowing the inner workings of a casino business, we don’t have access to the circuit board designs for modern slot machines. It’s simply not available to us. And, even if we had either, it’d probably be illegal to share.
Let’s not go that insider route because, well, we can’t. Instead, let’s look for patterns. Humans are good at pattern recognition. That’s what we’re good at when all else is said and done. So, as experts in pattern recognition, let’s take that approach.
Whether this strategy works at your local casino or a casino you might visit, is up to you to find out. Further, I heartily recommend not doing any more slots gambling than you are already doing.
What I am recommending is a way to pick a slot machine to play when you do gamble. It may take some small amount of effort to observe over a few visits to a casino. It may also take some careful recordkeeping, some notes with pen and paper, to make this work.
Summary of Win, Walk Away, Return Later
This approach to playing slot machines is the last winning strategy planned in this series of seven winning methods. With it, savvy slots enthusiasts such as yourself can take advantage of casinos that have set up their slot machines to perform this way.
Naturally, a casino wouldn’t knowingly set up their slot machines to be winners, but my best understanding is that this winning strategy is invisible to them.
Why? Because it’s a less-than-obvious consequence of their using new casino operating systems to automate slot machines odds of winning to, in part, meet their daily performance metrics.
Will casinos ever notice this winning strategy, and take steps to eliminate it? Maybe. Perhaps not. Casinos get substantial financial advantages from using these operating systems that, from a business perspective, it would be a tough financial advantage to give up. It might well be impossible for them to do so.
But, it doesn’t have to be deliberate stoppage of our winning with this strategy. What I’ve found is, at my local casino where I once extensively used this strategy, it disappeared overnight when that casino underwent a significant ownership change.
So, as usual with all my winning strategies, observe first. Look for what works. Don’t spend any more than you were going to spend anyway. And, if you find something that works, tell me. I’m kidding! But we’d all like to know about it. Tell me and I’ll share it with all of us!
Seriously, if you find something that works, keep a close eye on it. Ride it while it lasts, but expect change to happen eventually. Too many of my friends, fellow high limit slots players, weren’t able to adjust their play when overall circumstances changed.
Winning At Slots Strategy Poker
Winning at slots is not entirely about luck anymore. Yes, it’s still a part of the experience. But, now, so is casino-wide, automated operating systems. Learn to make the most of them, if or when a legal advantage is (for a while) possible.
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Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC