Uncovering the Secrets of Online Slot Machines

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Many online slots players hope to find secrets that will help them win serious money. I'll tell you right away that there are no true "secrets" to online slot machines, such as closely guarded advice that guarantees winnings. However, certain slots tips will boost your winnings over time. These strategies range from the basic (looking for high RTP) to the overlooked (RTP vs bonus rollover).

1. Seek Slots Bonuses with Low Wagering Requirements

Online slots are luck-based games that don't give you much wiggle room regarding strategy. You're either hot on the reels or having a bad day with little control over the results. However, bonuses are a great equalizer when you're trying to win through slots. They pad your bankroll once you meet terms and conditions and officially earn a bonus. Wagering requirements (a.k.a. rollover) are an important part of collecting bonus funds. You want the lowest wagering requirements possible to earn the money easier. For example, 30x (bonus + deposit) is better than 50x (b + d) rollover. You'll of course want to read and understand any other terms behind bonuses too, like the max bet, game restrictions, and game contributions (discussed later).

2. Play Online Slots with High RTP

Return to player (RTP) determines how much a game will pay out in the long run. The average online slots RTP ranges between 95% and 96%. You're doing well if you find entertaining online slot machines with over 96% payback. Some online slots even offer up to 98% RTP or more, which is better than most table games. You can normally find a slot game's payout percentage in the info screen. Some developers don't provide this information but the majority do.

3. Know the Relationship between High RTP Slots and Bonuses

The only downside to high-paying online slots is that they may not fully contribute to bonus wagering requirements. Slot games with over 98% RTP almost never contribute 100% towards rollover. They typically offer around 20%, which increases wagering requirements by 5x the stated value (eg, 40x becomes 200x). The challenge is to find high-paying games in the 96% to 98% range that still contribute 100%. By combining a high RTP slot with reasonable wagering requirements, you'll boost the odds of unlocking bonus funds.

4. Take Advantage of No Deposit Bonuses

Continuing on the bonus theme, slots no deposit bonuses are worth scooping when available. They literally represent free chances at winning money off the casino. The problem with no deposit deals is that they often have higher wagering requirements than regular bonuses. For example, you might have to meet 60x rollover on a slots no deposit bonus versus a regular offer. On the bright side, you can continue finding more casinos with no deposit bonuses until you eventually win with one.

5. Play Progressive Jackpots that are Well Past Their Seeding

All progressive jackpots begin with a seed value, where the developer funds the initial starting jackpot. For example, RealTime Gaming funds the Aztec's Millions progressive jackpot with $1 million. Progressive prizes then grow from there based on player contributions. Ideally, you will wait until these jackpots grow before playing and get more theoretical value from your bets. The cost to play is the same no matter if a jackpot is worth $100,000 or $200,000. You might as well wait for bigger payouts so that if you ever do win big, you'll get more value from the prize.

6. Develop a Bankroll Management Plan

Slots bankroll management doesn't necessarily improve your odds of winning, but it does help you avoid going over budget. You can start with deciding how much you can reasonably put towards online slot machines each month. Next, you can break that amount down into what you'll need for multiple sessions. Your budget for a session should be the stop-loss limit, where you quit playing after reaching a specific loss amount. Here's a sample bankroll management plan:

  • You have a $500 bankroll for each month..
  • You want to play slots three times a week.
  • 4 weeks x 3 sessions = 12 monthly sessions
  • 500 x 12 = $41.67
  • Your stop-loss limit should be approximately $42 per session.

7. Take a Realistic Approach

Specific instances offer a small theoretical edge with online slots, such as favorable bonus opportunities or when progressive jackpots have grown massively. But largely speaking, you'll be at a disadvantage when playing mobile slot machines. The best approach to these games is a realistic one where you consider the long-term prospects. You need some luck and plenty of bonuses to have a shot at winning. However, you also need to consider that you'll be like most players and lose money over time.

What to Expect with the Secrets of Online Slot Machines

We highly recommend following all of these online slots tips to boost your odds. Finding high RTP, going for low-rollover bonuses, no deposit deals, and bankroll management will help out. But the only real secrets behind online slot machines are practical steps to improve your chances. The main thing you can do is execute these steps and let luck determine the rest. Hopefully, you'll be one of the lucky slots players who wins big one day.