Video Slots Strategy Top 10 Tips

As with any game of pure chance, there is no real effective strategic system for winning at slots. You will probably, of course, encounter someone who claims to have developed the 'fool-proof' slots strategy system but please, ignore such advice.

The game is random and arbitrary. The machines have no memory, so there is no effective way of outsmarting them. Instead here is a compiled list of "tips" that will hopefully maximize the odds for you at least to walk away happy as well as enable you to do everything you can to increase your chances of winning.

1. You should always be looking for the machines that have the highest payout. You want to find anything above 95%.

2. Similar to other casino games, it is crucial to know the odds and probabilities of the machine you're playing. Make sure you know the payout schedule before you start pumping in your virtual coins.

3. Determine your losing limit for the day. Once that limit is reached, go do something else. You will not be a winner every time you play.

4. The machine will not feel bad if you spend a lot of money and don't get anything back. Try not to spend all of your time on a machine that isn't paying out.

5. When things are going your way and you're on a lucky streak, take advantage of it and bet more. When you're slumping, bet less.

6. Keep in mind that the total amount of the credit bet has actually nothing to do with the chances of winning on that machine.

7. Try not to overdo it. Find a machine that suits your bank-roll. If you have $43, don't play the $20 machines. Look for a dollar machine, and have some fun.

8. Don't forget to cash out the credits you've accumulated. Sounds obvious, but a lot of people forget!

9. Always play what you know. Don't sit down at a machine that you're unsure of the way to win. Do a bit of homework and always be prepared.

10. Slots should be fun. If you're frustrated and panicky, walk away. Get an ice cream, feed the dog, anything. A calm cool head will prevail.

Basic Slots

There's a HUGE variety of slot machines in online casinos. So, you should really look around to see which ones you like best. In general, though, you are aiming for winning combinations when you play slots— individual games will have individual characteristics. Here's a general rundown of how to play slot machines:

1) Single payline..stay away from multiple paylines, too expensive. Better to play multiple paylines on Bonus Slots when a second screen bonus round offers additional winnings: see Bonus Slots.

2) Two coin maximum basic slot. A 3 coin machine may show a payout of 120 coins for the same combination as 80 for 2 coins, but remember, you had to gamble an extra coin, each spin, therefore, the payouts are generally equal. Players should invest more of their playtime and money in the preferred 2 coin machines, equaling more pulls and more chances to win a jackpot.

3) Seek out those slots that pay double

Progressive Slots

Progressive slots should only be played with winnings from other games because a larger bank roll is required for these versions.

Most slots players are not aware that there are two levels of progressive jackpots ­primary and secondary. Nearly all are at least three coin machines where there are many graduated jackpots and pay symbol possibilites. A "primary" jackpot is the top prize offered when a player hits that specific combination which will pay the top jackpot.

In the case of Megabucks, linked to participating casinos, these are the four Megabucks symbols all correctly lined up together on the pay line. This top jackpot, increasing with each coin played is the one showing the most money, and is usually displayed with the biggest sign and numbers above the carousel or bank of machines. Secondary jackpots are displayed on smaller screens mounted below the big screen of the primary jackpot, and also increase apportionately to the number of coins played. These jackpots are hit more frequently and therefore do not always have a large sum of money on the progressive meter.

If both jackpots are high, the indication is that these machines have had a lot of play without hitting either jackpot and therefore the chances of that jackpot hitting soon are greater. Before playing any single group of progressives, check out the primary and secondary jackpots, then compare other surrounding progressives on the casino floor to see how high those jackpots are relative to their starting amounts. After a progressive jackpot is hit, the meter automatically resets to the base jackpot amount. The Megabucks slots begins at 3 million and secondary jackpot starts at $2,000.

If you see a Megabucks close to these two numbers, you know they have been hit recently. Save your money and dont play them until the jackpot grows. Megabucks jackpot update--1-888-448-2win.

Slots Probabilities

This is the section in which we explain the different probabilities of beating the video slots. As you already know, there is no logical strategy to use when playing slots. Much of your success depends on finding the machine with the greatest payback percentages and of course just being lucky!

Attempting to pinpoint the odds for slot machines is a difficult and complicated task. With such a variety of machines and games available, the odds can vary considerably. Generally, slots odds are expressed in the form of a payback percentage, as mentioned above. The closer they are to 100%, the better. Some machines even pay back at percentages greater than 100%, giving those fortunate enough to find them some very
positive results.

These so-called "loose slots" are often strategically placed within a sea of machines on a casino gaming floor. Their purpose is to give off the impression that people are winning. For quite some time, casino operators placed the highest paying machines in high-traffic areas like entrances, bars, and near lines for buffets or shows. The logic behind the specified placement of higher paying machines was that since they produced more winners, they would also create more excitement from passers-by, making other players more likely to play at surrounding low- to average-paying machines. Of course these kinds of tactics used by the casinos are irrelevant for the online player, but it’s good to know how slots are operated.

All of this, however, doesn’t really give you a better understanding of the probabilities of the slot machines. The first slot machines were mechanical, and the odds could be calculated by multiplying the number of symbols by the number of reels. For example, the first slot machine produced had ten symbols each on three reels. Therefore, the probability of matching all three was 10 X 10 X 10, or 1000 to 1.

In this day and age, the land-based machines are operated by computers. It is impossible to determine the odds exactly, so instead we focus on the payout percentages. The average house edge is calculated at roughly 9%. In the long run, any particular machine will give you 91 cents for every dollar played. Naturally, people would not play slots if every time they put a dollar in they got 91 cents back. Instead, a slot machine is programmed to return deposits explosively, and it is this volatility is what makes slot playing so attractive.

It didn't take long for avid slots players to figure out this simple strategy, so managers shuffled things up a bit. Reverse strategies were employed, putting low-paying machines in high traffic areas, and vice versa. These days, there really is no standard procedure except that the machines, themselves, still offer a mix of payout percentages with some high and most being low to average. However, a few rules of thumb will hold true regardless of where you play.