How to Play Slots

Slots are popular among all casino players because they are entertaining and easy to play. Every slot machine offers a unique experience.

Some slot machines recreate the classic experience of the first pull machines and other slots have joined the 21st century in offering advanced graphics and detailed storylines.

Find a reputable casino

To get started with slots, the first thing you need to do is find a reputable casino. This in itself can be a daunting task simply because there are so many casinos out there. Your best bet is to stick with a large casino that is known by many players. From there, you’ll be able to find the best casinos for slots players.

Choose a slot machine

Now that you have a casino picked out, it’s time for the fun stuff. Walk through the casino, check out your options and let the good times begin. There are many slot machines to choose from so feel free to be picky. If you see a change bucket or piece of clothing hanging off the handle of any slot machine, that is a signal someone is using that machine but had to step away for a second.

Making Bets and Getting Paid

Each slot machine works a little differently but they all come with basic rules to get you started. What you do is choose how many coins you wish to bet at a time. You can change both the coin denomination and the number of paylines you pay. For example, if you choose $0.50 bets and 10 paylines, each spin of the reels will cost $5.00. You can spend as little or as much as you want on each spin of the reels. In the beginning it’s best to start small and then increase your bets as you get comfortable with the machine.

Every time you have a winning spin, the credits will be automatically placed in your account. You don’t have to do anything special to get your money. The days of lugging around big buckets of coins are mostly over. Everything these days is processed on your player’s card or through the use of tickets.

What is a payline?

Paylines are how you get paid. For example, the simplest three reel slot machine has a single payline: the three symbols in front of you. Some slot machines have more reels and larger screens so they can fit more paylines (up to 100 per machine). Any time the right symbols land on an active payline, you win. You get to choose how many paylines you want to bet on per spin.

How many paylines should I bet on?

Mathematically, it doesn’t matter how many paylines you bet on. If you bet on many paylines, you are more likely to win but you also spend more money per bet. If you bet on fewer paylines, it’s cheaper but you’re less likely to win.

If you’re looking for the most fun, you should bet on as many paylines as possible. Even if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can lower the coin denomination per payline. For example, if you want to limit each spin to costing a total of $1, you could bet $0.05 each on 20 different paylines.

Progressive Jackpot Slot Machines

Non-progressive slot machines have fixed payouts that are listed on the pay table. These machines operate on their own and are not connected to any other slot machines.

Progressive slot machines have prize pools that grow larger every day. Out of every dollar wagered at a progressive slot machine, a small percentage is taken and added to the ever-growing prize pool. Oftentimes, these slot machines are linked together across different casinos so they can combine their prize pools. When one lucky player hits the right combination, that person wins the entire jackpot.

Before you play at a progressive jackpot slot machine, check out the payouts chart on the machine. Some slot machines require a minimum bet amount (usually $1.00) for you to qualify for the progressive jackpot prize. At online casinos, you can view the payout chart by clicking on a button on the machine.

How Online Slot Machines Work

Online slot machines work in the same manner that modern live slot machines work. Both are controlled by computers, or more specifically, random number generators. In both cases, these random number generators are regularly audited to verify truly random results.

Even though you see the reels spinning and slowing down, the actual results are produced as soon as you push the button or pull the reel. At that exact moment, the computer picks a completely random number that is then used to determine how the reels will land. The spinning reels are just used for show.

Slots Tips

Only play with money you can afford to lose. Although there is always a chance that you’ll hit a big jackpot, there is also the chance that you will lose your money. Don’t ever gamble with money that you have earmarked for other purposes.

Don’t listen to silly myths about slot machines. You can’t affect the results by picking certain machines, betting certain amounts or by pouring milk all over your computer. Instead, learn how to take advantage of casino bonuses and high paying slot machines.

Set a loss limit and stick to it. If, in the worst case scenario, you have a terrible night at the slots, the lost money should not affect your sleep, work or personal relationships.

Remember that slot machines are a casino’s biggest moneymaker for a reason. Yes, slot machines can make you rich in an instant but they can also get expensive quickly. Set a loss limit for every gambling session and stick to it. It’s not fun to consider the prospect of losing, but that is a part of intelligent gambling. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best!