Online slot machines are simple to play and are a lot of fun. However, players can’t use skill to outsmart them because they are games of chance. But by following several slot machine tips and strategies, players can improve their chances of winning and their enjoyment of the game.
In this guide, we introduce you to several top tips and strategies that you can employ when playing slots online.
How Do Online Slots Work?
Before we can dive into how to win at slot machines, it is important to understand how they work. Online slots are computerized versions of the big slot machines we find on a casino floor. While these work in the same way with the player spinning the reels to line up icons or images along a payline, online versions come with added elements like wild and scatter symbols and bonus rounds.
Like the slot machines found at brick-and-mortar casinos, online slots come in a vast array of varieties and themes. The aim of these games is for players to spin the reels, each of which comes with several images or icons and has several matching icons that match up along what we call a payline. Slots often have several paylines, and players can choose how many paylines to include in their spins when placing their bets. The more paylines included, the greater their chance of winning, but the more they will pay for their bet.
Online slots see the player click “Spin” to get the game going. The slots are then operated by RNG (Random Number Generating) software, ensuring a random and fair outcome with each spin.
Top Slot Machine Tips – How to Win At Slots
Now that we know how online slot games work, let’s go over some of the best slot tips that will help improve your game and the overall game experience and put you closer to winning at slots.
Tip One: Practice Using Free Games
One of the best tips on playing slot machines we can give you is to practice, especially if you are new to the game. Practicing slots makes it easier to understand the workings of the game, get a feel for it, and learn about the different features, like multipliers, wilds, bonus rounds, and scatters, and how they add to the game.
Players will find that many of the best online casinos in Pennsylvania offer slot games in demo mode, where players can try out the games for free and practice playing them. Alternatively, players can also visit online sweepstakes casinos where gameplay is free to practice their slot games.
Tip Two: Choose The Slot You Play Carefully
No two slot machines are identical. They all come with their own unique themes, storylines, symbols, music, additional features, and RTP rates. Since the return-to-player rate varies from game to game, we recommend seeing what this is before you start playing. Remember, the higher the RTP, the better.
Tip Three: Read Through the Game’s Pay Table
All online slots come with a paytable of their own. Players can find the game’s paytable by launching the game and clicking the small “i” located at the top or the bottom of the game, depending on the way it is laid out.
The paytable highlights for players the value of each symbol, making it easy to see which ones are the most lucrative. Here, players can also find out whether the game comes with wilds, scatters, and bonus rounds.
Tip Four: Make Use of Casino Bonuses
Players will find that most online casinos provide exciting promotions for new and existing players. These rewards come in a range of forms, some offering free spins while others provide bonus funds. The best PA casino bonuses make it easier for players to explore and play more of the casino games like slots without risking their own funds. This allows players to try more slots and implement a slots strategy or two.
Tip Five: Play at a Low Denomination
Beginning a slot game by playing the lowest possible denomination (minimum bet) will help you work out the game’s volatility. Once you have established what this is, you can decide whether you want to raise your bet or keep it as it is.
Tip Six: Visit a Reputable Online Casino
While players can find a myriad of online casinos out there, the best ones to visit are those regulated by the state. In addition to providing a high standard of online gaming, they provide a diverse selection of games, consistent payouts, and increased player security. The best new online casinos in PA and those that are well-established all ensure players have access to a top selection of slots that vary in style, theme, and entertainment value.
Tip Seven: Set A Budget and Stick to It
Online slots can be a lot of fun. But it can be easy to lose money on them, too, and overstep your budget, especially when you get into the “just one more spin” mentality. To make sure players enjoy responsible gambling and keep within their means, we suggest outlining a budget before playing and sticking to it to ensure you only lose what you can afford and nothing more.
Tip Eight: Play for Fun
Since online slots are a game of chance and not a game of skill, you have as good a chance of walking away with a loss as a win. For this reason, we recommend playing slots for fun rather than using it as a means of accruing a profit. Those looking to turn a profit playing casino games may want to try PA online poker, where skill forms a large part of the game, and players have more chance of swinging the outcome in their favor.
Bonus Tip
Set yourself a budget before you begin playing. Not only will this help you stick to your goals, but it will also prevent you from over-spending, something that is very easy to do when there are so many exciting slot games to enjoy.
The Best Strategy for Slot Machines – 15 Top Guidelines
While there aren’t specific slot machine strategies like the Martingale System or other methods used for table games, there are several strategic moves a player can make when playing online slots that will help you out when it comes to how to win online slots. Below, we look at the best strategies for playing slots online.
1. Look for and Use High RTP Slots
The best slot machine strategy revolves around the RTP of the games. We recommend finding the online slot games with the highest RTP or Return to Player and playing those. While an RTP of 95% is average, looking for games with an RTP of 98% and above are better.
The return to player is the percentage a slot machine will pay a player back over time, dependent on the amount they deposit into the game to start with. For example, if the player deposits $100 and the slot has an RTP of 98%, the player will earn back $98, and $2 will go to the casino. As a result, the higher the RTP, the more a casino will pay out for the game.
The RTP is the House Edge of slots. Players can often find the RTP for a game by clicking the “Information” icon on the game once they have launched it, or it can be found by searching for a particular game RTP online.
2. Play Online Slots With a High Volatility
Besides checking a game’s RTP, another slots strategy is to check the volatility of a slot game. Slots with high volatility or risk level deliver the best chances of winning big.
- High Volatility Slots – The odds of winning here are less, but the payouts are bigger. As a result, these games offer greater wins. However, a player will need to play for longer and spend a little more to get a return.
- Low Volatility Slots – Here, you stand a greater chance of winning these slots, but they come with far smaller winnings.
While players need patience to play high volatility slots and they must be willing to take somewhat of a risk, the high payouts, in the end, make it all worth it.
How Do You Find the Volatility of Slots
While an RTP is relatively straightforward to find for an online slot game at the casino itself, these sites don’t want to help you improve your odds, which is why they only sometimes display the volatility or variance of a game. However, a quick Google search will provide you with the answers you’re looking for. All you need to do is search for the name of the game and variance, for instance, “King of Atlantis variance” and the internet will do its thing.
You can also play your chosen game for a while to determine the variance. A game that pays out often but in small amounts is typically a low-volatility game, whereas those that pay out large sums infrequently are usually an indication of a high-volatility game. We suggest using bonus funds to test this out so as not to waste your deposited funds.
3. Pick Slots With Bonus Symbols
The best online slots in PA are those with a range of bonus symbols. Some of the symbols may include sticky wilds, expanding wilds, multiplier symbols, or symbols that offer re-spins. These symbols can earn you some big wins. However, it is essential to note that it is typically high-volatility slots that come with these unique symbols.
While these symbols provide higher-value bets and a lot more fun, they also offer big payouts. But since these are often high variable slots, it is always recommended that once you strike it big on one of these symbols, you cash out.
4. Steer Clear of Online Slots with Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpot slots work a little differently than regular online slots. Here, there is more than one player contributing to the prize or jackpot, and because of this, the jackpot relies on the progress of all the players participating. As such, there is no guarantee you will win the jackpot, irrespective of how much you play, because someone else may swoop in and take the prize.
With this thought in mind, playing progressive jackpots is not a good idea when it comes to planning a slots strategy. Besides having a lower RTP than most other slots, these games make it even more difficult to strike it lucky.
Many players considering how to win at slots may argue that if you do with the jackpot, the payout will be massive, which it would be. However, the chances of this actually happening are slim, especially if you have a smaller budget.
How to Win Progressive Jackpots
However, if you have your heart set on winning that jackpot and you have a substantial bankroll that will allow you to play the long game, there are two slot tips to consider that will help you out:
1. Play with the Max Bet
Players who use the max bet function contribute more to the jackpot, which ups your chances of winning it. This is one key secret that software producers and game providers will admit to if you look closely at the game-play information.
2. Start Playing When the Jackpot is Sizeable
Typically, a jackpot slot will have an average value that it reaches before it drops. The key here is to begin playing the game just as the jackpot is reaching this point. Doing this improves your odds of winning, and you won’t have to play for an extended period.
But keep in mind that this average limit varies from game to game. While some will have a limit of $5,000, others may need to reach around $500,000 before they drop. To determine the average for a game, keep tabs on the game and watch when the jackpot builds and when it drops. You’ll then know when to begin playing to up your chances of winning.
5. Ensure the Games Utilize a Certified Random Number Generator
There is no point playing online slots and employing slot machine tips and strategies if the game you’re using doesn’t provide fair play. The only way to ensure you are getting a fair shot is by using a slot game that operates using a Random Number Generator or RNG. This is a unique software that ensures all players enjoying the game have an equal chance of winning and that the payouts provided are in line with the RTP percentage.
Online slots using certified RNG technology will ensure your chances of winning are fair. There is no way a player or a casino can change or influence the RNG, which means each spin is random and fair. Because of this RNG certified machines cannot be rigged, making them safe to play.
Handy Tip
The top online casinos will display a badge, typcially at the bottom of their home pages, indicating the use of certified RNG software. This is an excellent way to check that the games provided deliver fair play.
6. Play The Slots Offering Free Spins
Another top slots strategy is to use online slot machines that offer free spins. While these games usually have a higher volatility, they deliver more chances for you to win that you won’t need to pay for. Typically, a combination of specific symbols activates free spins on a slot game.
In addition to playing games with built-in free slots, players can also claim various casino promotions that offer free spins as part of the reward. However, keep in mind that these often require players to use the free spins on particular slot games, which don’t always have the best odds. So, check out the game before signing up for the promo.
7. Visit the Casinos That Offer No Deposit Bonuses
A commonly overlooked strategy is to take advantage of the best PA online casino no deposit bonuses. These rewards allow players to explore and test out the games the online casino provides without having to deposit funds of their own. This makes it easier to figure out the best slot games to play and how do slots work before wagering real money bets.
Handy Tip
Making use of match-deposit welcome bonuses and reload bonuses will also make it simpler to test out several top strategies and tips without risking your own deposited funds.
8. Make Use of the Max Bet Function
Most brick-and-mortar and online casinos offering slot games require players to use the “Max Bet” function to be eligible for the jackpot. However, many new players or those not familiar with slots are often not aware of this caveat and will typically place the lowest possible bet. As a result, if you want to win big, play the maximum bet. Besides making you eligible for all the paylines on the game, which improves your chances of winning, it also gives you a chance to win the jackpot.
Since you could only know this by understanding the game’s rules, we highly recommend getting to know these.
9. Play Online Slots That Offer Bonus Features
Another top way to go about winning slot games or improving your chances of winning is to make use of games that offer a selection of bonus features. Included in these are multipliers, free spin rounds, pick and click, and scatters. While these features don’t come up often or easily, when they do, you stand a chance of winning big.
Many bonus features offer bettors a 100x multiplier on their bet. So if you land a winning combination with a bonus feature triggered, you could end up winning a large sum.
10. Know When to Walk Away
When it comes to learning how to win on slot machines at the casino or online, one of the most essential strategies a player can employ is knowing when to stop. The old adage that time is the friend of the casino and not the player couldn’t be more true. Since these games are created to make money for the casino, while players believe they are the ones that win big, ultimately, it is the casino that has its pockets filled.
In most cases, players using slot machines win but often don’t cash out in the hopes of winning more and then usually end up running at a loss.
Handy Tip
One of the best strategies to use here is to cash out when you win and move on to another game or leave the online casino while you’re up.
11. Keep Firm Tabs on Your Bankroll
Players looking to increase their chances of winning at slot games need to carefully manage their bankrolls, irrespective of how big or small it is in value. There are several ways players can keep their playing funds in check, and below, we discuss the top three best options:
Set Limits for Loss & Cashing Out
While it is important for players to establish a budget, say $100, it is also essential to consider your goal for this bankroll. For example, you may want to work to double your money and leave the online casino with $100 in profit.
The simplest way to do this is by cashing out as you go. If your budget is $100, we suggest withdrawing or cashing out $100 after you’ve made several wins. For instance, if you hit a win and your balance increases to $200, cash out $100 of that money. Now, you will have recouped your initial deposit, and anything you win from here is profit.
Some online slots also allow players to set limits for themselves, including a loss limit on auto-spins. Here, if you lose up to the limit you have set, the auto-spin feature will stop working.
Adjust Your Bet Value
When playing online slots, you may find that your bankroll balance fluctuates, which is normal. However, it is best to adjust your bet value to sit in line with where your bankroll is at. For example, if you begin playing with funds of $100 and you wager the maximum bet of $1, that is fine. But if you sit on a losing streak that brings your balance down to $50, you may want to adjust your bet value to $0.50.
Then, if you win again and your bankroll goes up, you can then increase your bet value once more. Doing this allows you to play for longer and improves your chances of winning big, particularly on a high-volatility game.
Base the Slot Volatility on Your Bankroll
While playing a high-volatility game will improve your chances of winning, players must have a fairly large bankroll that allows them to play the long game. However, those with a smaller budget may find starting on a low-volatility game better in the long run. Since a low-volatility game offers smaller payouts but more often, a player can build up their bankroll on these games and then move over to higher volatility games to then try to win big.
12. Avoid Superstition
Following superstition is a quick and easy way to lose money, which is why our last slots strategy is to avoid these superstitions at all costs. One of the most popular superstitions or ideologies out there is that the next spin is bound to bring a win.
Whether you have just won, it has been a while since you won, or you feel like your next spin will be your luckiest one yet, there is no basis for this belief. Because slots use RNG software, each spin is completely random. This means throwing more money at the game because your next spin “might be the one” will get you nowhere and may do nothing but have you run at a loss.
Another common superstition is that pressing the “Spin” button gives you a better chance at winning than using the auto-spin feature. Again, there is nothing to this thought, and doing either gives you the same chance of winning.
Online VS Land-Based Slot Machine Strategies
While players visiting land-based casinos can enjoy the atmosphere and instant cash payouts, playing online has plenty of benefits, too, like being able to implement your slot machine strategies from the comfort of home.
Generally, slot machines in brick-and-mortar establishments have a lower RTP of 95% on average, which can dip as low as 75% to make up for the establishment’s overhead costs. In contrast, the RTP of online slots varies between 93% and 98%, which gives you greater chances of winning.
Handy Tip
Another thing to keep in mind is to steer clear of slot machines offered at sites like airports, as these typically come with a very low RTP and provide low-quality games. These are greater for entertainment but are not ideal for winning big.
The Best Online Casinos for Testing Online Slot Tips
Pennsylvania is one of the few states that provides regulated real-money online casino gaming. Here, players can access several online casinos, all regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, to play slot games and test out their slot strategies. Below, we provide a list of the best online casinos for slot gaming for you to visit and enjoy. For more options you can also look for casinos not on gamstop available online.
- All
BetMGM Casino |
100% match deposit bonus of up to $1,000 |
100% match deposit bonus of up to $1,000
|
BetMGM Casino
|
Claim Bonus
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
FanDuel |
$1,000 No-Sweat First Bet |
$1,000 No-Sweat First Bet
|
FanDuel
|
Claim Bonus
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
Bet Rivers Casino |
Get a 100% match up to $250 |
Get a 100% match up to $250
|
Bet Rivers Casino
|
Claim Bonus
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
Unibet Casino |
Get a 100% match up to $500 |
Get a 100% match up to $500
|
Unibet Casino
|
Claim Bonus
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
Betway Casino |
Get a 100% match up to $1,000 |
Get a 100% match up to $1,000
|
Betway Casino
|
Claim Bonus
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
Borgata Casino |
Get a 100% match up to $1,000 |
Get a 100% match up to $1,000
|
Borgata Casino
|
Claim Bonus
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
Caesars Casino |
Get a 100% match up to $250 |
Get a 100% match up to $250
|
Caesars Casino
|
Claim Bonus
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
