Slot machines are the simplest casino games because they
do not require the player to understand long lists of rules
or adopt any specific strategy. All the player has to do is
insert their money and pull a handle or press a button to
set the reels in motion. The reels come to a stop from left
to right and the configuration of symbols on a pay line determines
whether or not a player wins. If a win does occur then the
slot machine pays out automatically.
Slots have evolved a great deal over the last fifty years
or so. For years almost all mechanical slot machines looked
alike, with three reels and a single pay line. Only the décor
of the cabinet and the symbols appearing on the reels varied
from machine to machine. Then electronic slot machines were
introduced, and from there slots began to be developed in
a number of different directions. The ability to nudge and
hold reels, play bonus games, play more than three reels,
play more than a single pay line and play video slot machines
were all new ways of entertaining the player. Jackpots grew
larger, progressive jackpots were introduced and, as the rapidly
advancing telecommunications industry matured, machines were
remotely linked, making it possible for progressive jackpots
to reach previously unimaginable heights.
Today, online gaming has helped slot machines to make another
evolutionary leap forward. We can now play slots that have
five reels and as many as fifty pay lines. We can choose the
size of our own stake and enjoy audio, animation and video
that creates a more immersive entertainment experience. And
we can do all of this from the comfort of our own home!
Progressive Jackpots
As far as profit potential is concerned, progressive jackpot
machines are the ones to focus on. These start with a baseline
jackpot level (see individual machine rules for details of
this) and the jackpot grows every time the machine is played
until it is eventually won. It is worth noting that many progressive
jackpot slot machines will only pay out the progressive jackpot
if you are playing with a maximum stake size, so do look at
what is required to win the jackpot before you play –
you don’t want to line up the jackpot symbols and discover
you aren’t the multi-millionaire you suddenly thought
you were!
Strategies For Slots
Slot machines are games of chance, so there is no real skill-based
strategy that you can adopt in order to influence the game
to any extent. Having said that, there are a few tips we can
give you that should prove useful:
- Check the edge. The payout percentage on slot machines
can be as high as 98% at some casinos, and as low as 80% at
others, so it makes sense to look around for the machines
offering the highest payout rate (and therefore the lowest
house edge). However, don’t think that these percentages
are constant over the short term because payout percentages
are generally calculated over hundreds of thousands of spins.
So, whilst it is reasonable to assume that if you put £1,000,000
into a 98% machine you will get around £980,000 back,
it is not reasonable to assume a return of £9.80 from
a total investment of £10.
- Set yourself a budget. You should give yourself a
certain amount of money to spend during a single gaming session
and stop playing when your losses reach that limit. This will
allow you to remain in control of your slot machine spending
and avoid being seduced into spending more than you can afford
by the gaming experience itself.
- Know the rules. Many online slot machines these days
have bonus rounds, and knowing how to play these will help
you enormously even if it doesn’t actually increase
your chances of winning a prize. Taking a few minutes to read
the rules of the game and obtain this “how to play”
information will put you in a better frame of mind to tackle
any bonus round when you get to it.
