How to Play Slots and Win - Beginner's Guide

Ever since their invention, slot machines are the top choice at any land-based or online casino where they are present. These games are so popular because they come in a stunning range of shapes and sizes ranging from the most basic 3-reeled old-school one-armed bandit to the latest, state-of-the-art, arcade-like video slot.

Slots are easy to play and being games of chance they require absolutely no skill which makes them suited for both beginners and veterans alike. 

As with any other casino game, players have always tried to find ways to improve their odds of winning, and while it is impossible to completely control the outcome of a spin, there are plenty of ways to improve your chances by making the right choices.

Understanding how a Slot works

Before you can learn how to beat online slots, you need to first understand how they work. At the first glance, things seem quite simple - you pull a handle or press a button, the reels spin and maybe you get a prize. 

Things are far more complex than that because “under the hood” there is a multitude of mathematical algorithms working together to offer the result.

The result of a spin is the result of a random number generator (RNG) which is a mathematical algorithm that determines which combination of symbols will appear on the reels after a spin. 

Each millisecond, the algorithm is capable of generating values between 0 and approximately 4 billion which are later associated with a set of numbers, each corresponding to the slots’ symbols. 

This RNG takes into consideration at least two other important elements which come as predefined before generating the result. These two elements are RTP and Volatility.

RTP or return to player represents the theoretical amount of cash returning to the player in the long run and the amount of cash going into the casino as the “house edge”. Let’s take an example of a slot machine with a theoretical RTP of 96%.

Volatility is the second predefined element taken into consideration by the RNG and represents a measure of risk. High volatility represents a high risk but also a high reward and low volatility represents a low risk but also a low reward.

On the market, online slot machines are classified into three main categories according to their volatility, each coming with its characteristic:

• High Volatility Slots - Huge potential prizes that occur very rarely, leaving lots of dry periods in between.

• Medium Volatility Slots - Average potential prizes that occur more often compared to a high volatility slot. These titles are considered to be the most balanced.

• Low Volatility Slots - Very low potential prizes that occur very often, leaving very few or short dry periods in between.

To draw a line, the RTP calculates the return percentage over long periods while volatility represents the win potential over a short time. Keep in mind that even if most software providers are forced by various laws to disclose their slots’ RTP, that’s not the same for volatility.

How to Win at slots

Now that you know how a slot works and what the algorithm takes into consideration it’s time to see how you can use the algorithm to your advantage.

Sure, the RTP does not seem fair but let’s be serious, casinos exist on the market to make a profit. They run a business not a charity and you can see the RTP as the necessary evil that keeps the wheels going.

Also, the RTP is a sort of guarantee. Because the casino always makes a small profit in the long run, it doesn’t need to rig the games or scam its customers, meaning that you will get a safe and unbiased gambling experience. 

However, below you will find a couple of tricks that will make you a better slot player and will give you a slight edge.

Choose the right online casino

Choosing just the right casino can make or break your gambling experience. You should always play at reputable gambling websites that are properly licensed and regulated in your jurisdiction or at least by one independent auditing body.

The best online casino should have plenty of slot machines from reputable software providers, a wide range of payment methods available, and should be available in your preferred language.

Customer support is also a must, preferably available 24/7. While you won’t often need to contact the staff, it’s better to have this option and not use it than need it and be unable to contact somebody to resolve an issue.

Don’t forget to check other players’ ratings and reviews of the particular casino that interests you. You might find out if the gambling website had any bad incidents in the past.

Pick the right slot

This is a complex subject because not all players have the same tastes and needs. Usually, when we are talking about top paying slots, we take into consideration two elements, the RTP and volatility.

Generally, casino software development companies will make public the RTP of their slots. An RTP of 95% or 96% can be considered a market standard while a slot with an RTP over 97% can be considered a high-paying slot machine. This is your goal, to try and find the titles with the biggest guaranteed RTP possible because you will have a lower house edge.

Volatility is tricky because even if software providers have to display the RTP, they are not forced to do so with volatility. Some casino operators will display a volatility rank between 1 and 5 for the slots, but that’s a rough analysis.

The only way to find out how a game acts and what its average volatility is is to play it, which takes us to the next piece of advice.

When it comes to a slots’ RTP, this is simple and pretty obvious. You are always going to pick the one with the highest RTP because that will give you a lower house edge and in the end more money in your pocket.

With volatility, however, things are not that simple because high volatility slots come with much bigger top payouts compared to a low volatility title. This means that there is no straight answer and it all comes down to each spinner’s particular needs and cash balance. 

Low rollers will be better with a low volatility slot because they can score more prizes, even if they are smaller. Low volatility titles drain the budget much slower having less dry periods and on a lucky day, multiple smaller wins can quickly pile up.

High rollers on the other hand, because they can afford to wait through the long dry periods, will probably opt for a high volatility slot. As expected, the level of excitement is much higher in high volatility titles because after those dry periods, potentially scoring a huge prize will surely bring a smile to every spinner’s face.

Medium volatility slots fall in the middle, being accessible to both beginners and high rollers, and actually, most slot machines fall in that category.

When it comes to aesthetics and design, it’s purely a matter of taste. Because nowadays slots come in so many shapes and sizes, you are guaranteed to find just something that will suit your tastes and needs.

There are plenty of fruit-inspired slot machines that are capable to take veterans on a walk down Nostalgia Lane. Some of them have simple gameplay with little to no features, offering a true hardcore experience just like back in the days, while others come with a nice mix of lucrative bonus features, retaining just the old-school design.

Modern slots on the other hand are simply packed with features and intricate mechanics to offer a thrilling spinning experience and they can range from the most popular Egyptian, Mayan, Viking, and animal themes to branded slots inspired by movies and video games.

Practice for Free

Nowadays, almost all slots come with a demo version and you can give them a go at free online casinos without having to invest a penny. Once you have found a title that interests you, it’s better to play it for a while for free.

This is the only way to see how the slot acts, what it has to offer, and slightly determine its volatility. 

Check out our free games collection and start practicing!

Manage your budget

Because slots are games of chance, you can’t use any gameplay strategy to improve your odds. You can however follow some responsible gambling practices that will help you control the balance and in the end win more or minimize your losses.

First of all, never gamble more than you can afford to lose. A big loss will take you out of a game for a while and it’s common sense that if you can’t play, you can’t win either.

Split your budget into multiple, lower wagers. It’s better to play it safe, especially if you are a beginner or a low roller, and gather multiple smaller prizes than to risk everything in one go and potentially lose it.

Claim a bonus

In the iGaming world, there are thousands of new online slots casinos and each of them is trying to attract players and keep the existing ones happy by offering casino bonuses and attractive promotions.

This can be considered a win-win situation for both the casino operator that gets customers and for the new players who have the opportunity to have more fun without risking their own money.

When you will start searching for a slot bonus, you will notice that the best online slot sites offer a multitude of bonuses and offers. Here are the most common ones:

Welcome Bonus

A welcome bonus can be either a no deposit bonus or any sort of match-up/first deposit offer. It is only be claimed one time by new players who are opening an account with the casino. 

The bonus will be offered either right away upon registration if it is a no deposit bonus or after the minimum deposit amount requirement has been met if it’s a match-up welcome bonus. 

No deposit bonus

Hands down, the rarest and the absolute best casino bonus you can get. Just as the name suggests, this sort of offer requires absolutely no sort of initial deposit. 

You will just have to register an account and confirm your identity (in some cases). Discover your favorite promotion in our complete list of no deposit bonuses.

Remember that wagering requirements and the bonuses terms & conditions still apply, unless the casino states otherwise.

Low wagering bonuses

We mentioned above wagering conditions which represent the number of times you will have to gamble a bonus before you can claim it along with the potential wins. 

Wagering requirements are necessary, however, for most beginners, many of these playthrough requirements are almost impossible to complete. Luckily, there are on-the-market casinos that offer bonuses with up to 10x or 15x playthrough requirements which are fairly low compared to the markets’ standard.

Free Spins  

Free Spins should not be confused with the slots features. They are offered as a bonus as a stand-alone promotion or in conjunction with another match-up welcome bonus or no deposit offer. 

A casino offers you some Free Spins you can play at a certain slot or multiple titles. Just like the no deposit bonus, free spins are great because you can potentially score some prizes without risking your own money. 

Just be careful to see at what game they are available because no other slot will count towards the wagering requirements completion.

Read the fine print

When it comes to claiming a bonus, it’s always good to take some time and read the terms and conditions and check the playthrough requirements. 

Each particular casino has different wagering requirements, with some very rare exceptions like no wagering casinos, but since there are very few casinos on the market, this option is not reliable to try and search for one.

Wagering requirements may be a necessary evil, keeping the whole market going and preventing players from abusing the promotions and moving from one casino to another, however, it’s very important to read them and make sure you can complete them.

The bonus and the potential prizes go into a separate balance and will only become available to you once you have fully completed the playthrough requirements.

Conclusion

This marks the end of our guide on how to play slots for beginners. We hope that you’ve learned some new things and now you’re more prepared to choose a slot machine that you will genuinely enjoy.

As always, remember to play responsibly and have fun while at it!