What are the best tips for casino slot machines?

Slots. Those magical and enticing machines that lure us in with their bright lights, exciting sounds, and amazing visuals. They are the backbone of every casino, real or virtual, and are some of the simplest games to play in terms of rules and getting to know the basics.

All you need to do is put in a coin and spin the reels.

Or is that all there really is to playing slots? Online South Africa Casinos, pro players that we are, believe that there is more to a successful (when it comes to having fun not when it comes to making money) slots session that just mindlessly feeding in coins and watching the reels spin. Slots are popular because they offer a lot more than most players realise. There is the obvious thrill that comes from expectation as you wait for the reels to stop. There is the disappointment if you don’t hit a win and the elation if you do. There are the increasingly more complex and immersive graphics and effects, especially in the online slots world.

And then there is the satisfaction of knowing exactly what you are doing when you play, and the confidence that comes from it.

These are some tips that we, as passionate and frequent slots players, have drawn from the world of both online slots and physical slot machines.

Land-based casinos – slots placement

Everything in your land-based casino is designed and laid out in a specific way for a specific purpose. We all know that casinos tend to have no natural light and that there are no clocks anywhere to lull players into forgetting how much time they are spending at the machines and tables. But the way those tables and machines are set up is no coincidence.

The first thing any player will see when he enters a casino is the row on row of slot machines. Players need to make their way through all the lights and sounds of the slots before getting to the tables. Why? Because it is easy to stop and put some cash into a slot or two before you sit down to play poker or roulette or blackjack and casinos know this. It’s an easy way of getting some extra cash out of the player.

Even the placement of the different slots is thought out ahead of time. The first slots a player sees are usually low denomination for fun play. Remember, every cent counts towards the casinos profits so even a few minutes of spinning a low denomination reel will mean dollars for the house.

And those slots that feature the biggest jackpots? They’re usually the most visible from anywhere on the casino floor, and often placed close to the most popular areas of the casino and near the tables. This ensures those big jackpot numbers are highly visible to attract attention and also on the way out from the tables so players will take one more chance at hitting it big before they leave.

A pro tip for slots players: don’t be distracted by the very clever casino layout. Know what you want to play and go play it. Avoid the prominent slots at the entrance as these are often the ones that make the most profit for the casino (and hence the most loss for the players).

Land-based casinos – classic vs hi-tech

The old-school reels are nowhere near as popular as the glitzy hi-yech new slot machines with all the added bonuses and extra games. And they often pay out far more.

Casinos want players playing on all their machines, even the older ones. So they may tweak the algorithms to ensure more wins on less popular machines and therefore more players playing for longer on them.

Take a walk around and see what RTPs and volatility is posted on the older slots, you may find one or two that can mean a tidy bankroll booster.

Land-based casinos – slots clubs

Be wary of the slots clubs or rewards clubs from land-based casinos. These do offer enticing bonuses that can be used at other areas like the restaurants but are more often just marketing ploys to get your info to send you more offers to try to get you to play there more frequently.

Bonuses from online casinos are a bit different (and we’ll address them later) but in general, online players have easier access to the casino games than land-based players. This means that the slots clubs from land-based casinos rely on making you go out of your way to visit more often and, as such, don’t really have the value of the online version.

But, in saying that, no matter what the rewards or bonuses from online or land-based casinos, always remember that they are not there to make you rich, they are there to make you play more and make more money for the casino.

Online slots – bonuses

Bonuses are a staple in the online casino world. Every online and mobile casino offers amazing bonuses for new players and for regular players, but you must be aware that, just like the slots clubs at land-based casinos, they are not there to make you rich. There are a lot of rules and requirements that need to be known and understood before you take up any bonus offer.

One of our biggest tips to any slots player is to use the bonuses as a way of testing an online or mobile casino and of trying out new games without putting your bankroll on the line. Never use the bonuses as a way of bulking up your bankroll on your chase for a big win because you will only be disappointed when the casino uses a wagering requirement to deny you when you try to withdraw your winnings.

ALWAYS read and make sure you understand the wagering requirements and the terms and conditions of the bonuses.

Land-based casinos – all the bells and whistles

Land-based casinos are famous for the noise and lights – for a very good reason. All this sensory stimulation releases feel-good chemicals in our body making us want to play.

Try and set aside your feelings for all the bells and whistles and go into your slots playing with a clear goal and a clear head.

Land-based and online casinos – max bet

Hitting that max bet button is out go-to when it comes to playing slots. Yes, it will mean you bet far bigger amounts than choosing a lower bet, but it also activates all the pay lines so you have a better chance of hitting a winning combo. Some slots games, progressive slots are a good example, only activate the big jackpots or the lucrative bonus games if the player is playing max coins and max lines.

Land-based and online casinos – don’t be fooled that you have a strategy

Slot machines and online slot games ARE COMPLETELY RANDOM! There is not strategy on earth that can predict the outcome of slots playing – it’s kinda the point behind the game.

Most modern slots – land-based and online/mobile – use Random Number Generator software to tell the game where to stop the reals. The clue is in the name: RANDOM. The software punches out literally millions of number sequences in a random order that tells the game where to stop. It is literally impossible to predict.

So, go into your next slots game with a have-fun attitude not a plan-to-make-it-rich one.

Land-based casinos – forget about the big lever

Many new slots players are disappointed when they don’t see the big lever on the side of the machine and instead get to choose from a bunch of buttons.

Once again, it is all a part of clever planning by the casino.

They want you playing fast and playing often. That big lever slows down slots play and slows down how often you spin those reels. And slows down the money stream you are pouring into the game.

Land-based and online casinos – watch that progressive jackpot slot

It’s the big kahuna, the mega-money maker, the pot of gold at the end of every player’s rainbow – hitting that progressive jackpot.

But, just as with every gambling game, slots are designed for fun not for making you rich. And this is especially true of the progressive jackpot slots.

There is a very good reason why the progressive jackpots are so huge: there are thousands of players all trying to hit it. You have more chance of hitting a few good winning streaks on a standalone slot than on a progressive slot. The odds of hitting the progressive jackpot are astronomical and you don’t have nearly the same frequency of smaller wins that you do on the ‘normal’ slots.

Progressive jackpots are games that are linked across casinos, cities, and countries. Every player who puts in a coin or credit adds a bit to that pot. Casinos want you to think that it’s only you playing for that prize when in actuality you are competing against hundreds, thousands, of other players at the same time. Meaning your odds are really, really, really low.

But there is still a chance, right? Yes, astronomically low, but there is a chance.

Just make sure that you enjoy the slots playing knowing that you are very unlikely to win.

Land-based and online casinos – play responsibly

It’s the most obvious – and the most important – tip we can offer any slots player, novice or seasoned pro: play responsibly.

Set a budget. Set a time limit. Walk away and try again another day. Slots, like all gambling games, is a risk and the house always wins. Play for fun and you will have fun. Play to get rich and you’ll be disappointed.