Strategies for slot machines
Read our five slot strategies to find out how you can use volatility to minimize the casino’s edge and increase your chances of winning. The strategies are supported by simulations.
Best Slots Strategies: Tips and Tricks for Slot Games
Have you ever come across a scam website with a secret slot strategy that promises gold and green forests? Expect nothing of the sort in this article. You can’t beat slot machines over time.
That said, there are ways to play slots that you can use to ensure that the casino’s long-term advantage over you is as small as possible. Keep reading to learn more about and explore effective slot strategies based on high volatility games.
Tips and tricks for slot machines
All casino games, including slot games, are disadvantageous to players. Their RTP is lower than 100% and they favor the casino. This means that it takes luck to win, which is exactly why higher variance games are generally better for you.
Let me explain… In low variance games, over time the results tend to stay closer to the expected payback, i.e. lower than 100%. In games with higher variance, on the other hand, you still lose money over time, but at the same time you have the chance to win a large amount of money, precisely thanks to the high variance.
From another perspective, you can win the same amount of money even at lower stakes. If you place lower bets in higher variance games, you will lose less over time, but still have a chance to win big.
That’s why most of my tricks and game strategies are based on increasing the variance, while taking into account the game’s RTP.
Trick 1: Avoid bet types that significantly reduce the game’s RTP
Most online slots have the same RTP regardless of bet type. However, some slot machines that are developed after models at physical casinos provide significant disadvantages for certain bets. In these cases, you should always choose the bet type that does not disadvantage you in any way. I will illustrate this with two examples.
Trick 2: Use the even or double function to adjust the variance
The flush or double feature (red/black or gamble) gives you a 50% chance of doubling your winnings. In some games (like slots from Novomatic) you can do this multiple times in a row (13 I think).
This feature dramatically increases the variance of the game. From a long-term perspective, you trade lots of smaller wins for proportionally fewer higher value wins.
If your goal is to win big, the even or double feature is just what you need. It is predictable and easy to simulate. I use it in some of my recommended slot strategies.
Trick 3: Reduce the number of paylines to increase the variance of the game
Did you know that you are very likely to get 5 to 10 times higher game variance if you play with 1 payline instead of 10?
When you bet SEK 20 on one line, your average win will be much higher (and less frequent) than if you bet SEK 2 on 10 lines. When you bet on 10 lines at the same time, the winnings in the pay table will be 10 times smaller. In most slots, you usually land winning combinations on a few of the 10 lines, so your average wins will also be lower.
Note, however, that this trick is usually not usable by highrollers, as the maximum bet per line is usually limited. But there are also slot games that are exceptions – for example Cleopatra from IGT.
If you’re a player who doesn’t bet more than SEK 20 on a single round, however, this trick is indispensable.