Online slots have quickly become the most thrilling and accessible way to bet online. You don’t need to study the form of horses or sports teams or even understand the complicated rules that apply to table casino games.
With online slot machines, you can enjoy vibrant visuals, engaging themes, immersive sound design and the chance to land massive wins. But if you’re anything like us, you’ve probably wondered, is there any way to consistently win at slots?
Of course, this is a tricky question. These games a primarily based on luck, so this is something that your slots strategy will need to take into account. Here we’ll walk you through five easy tips that we use to get the most out of playing online slots.
Understanding How Online Casino Slots Work
Before we dive into the specifics, you must understand how online slots work. This understanding will give you a better appreciation of the strategy behind our tips.
These games use Random Number Generators (RNG), to ensure every single spin is completely random. Think of each spin as an independent game. This means that past spins have no bearing on future ones.
Yes, Spina Zonke titles are games of chance. But understanding how they work allows you to cut through the noise and make smarter choices. Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into the tips that we use to help improve your chances of winning.
Tip 1: Pick Games with a High RTP (Return to Player)
One of the first things that we do before choosing a title is to check the RTP (Return to Player) percentage. The RTP tells you how much money a slot machine should pay back over the long term, and is usually expressed as a percentage.
For example, if you’re playing a slot with a 98% RTP, it means that for every R100 wagered, the game is expected to pay back R98 over time. Of course, this doesn’t mean you will get R98 back every time you play, but it gives you a good idea of how favourable the game is.
How to Find High RTP Slots
Most online casinos won’t reveal the RTP of a game in their lobby. Instead, the onus is on you to find the percentage value yourself. You shouldn’t have any trouble here if you know what you’re looking for.
Once you launch a game, look for a settings or info button usually located in the bottom corner of the screen. Click on this and read through the info listed. This is where you’ll find the game’s RTP. Beware, however, of pulling RTP percentages off review sites.
Casinos often tweak the RTP slightly in the game’s settings. This means that the RTP value of a game can differ from operator to operator. In general, you want to aim for games with an RTP percentage of 96% or higher. Here are some of our favourites at Hollywoodbets:
- Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play) – 96.6% RTP
- Hot Hot Fruit (Habanero) – 96.84% RTP
- Mystic Fortune Deluxe (Habanero) 96.60% RTP
By sticking to high-RTP slots, you’re giving yourself better long-term odds of winning. Take a look at the slideshow below to learn how to find a game’s RTP and volatility.
Tip Two: Make the Most of Free Spins and Bonuses
You should never pass up free spins and bonuses! They’re a great way to play without risking your own money. There are plenty of casinos out there that offer all sorts of bonuses to attract players, and we always make sure to take full advantage.
These are the two types of bonuses we look for the most:
- No Deposit Bonuses: We love these because you can start playing without depositing your own money. Many online casinos offer free spins and bonus cash just for signing up.
- Deposit Match Bonuses: Casinos often run deposit match bonuses. When you make a deposit, some operators will match it up to a certain amount. For example, a 100% match bonus up to R1 000 means that you will get an extra R1 000 to play with if you deposit R1 000.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Bonuses
Always – and we mean always – check the terms and conditions of these bonuses. You need to look out for the wagering requirements. These will tell you how much you need to bet before you can withdraw your winnings.
For example, you might have to wager any winnings you make on free spins five times before you can withdraw them. This simply means that if you win R100 while playing your free spins, you must turn that R100 five times before you can withdraw.
This is why it’s important to refer back to tip one and use your free spins on the highest-possible RTP games available. Doing so will give you a better chance of claiming a big win.
Tip Three: Play Slots with Low to Medium Volatility
Want to increase your chances of winning more consistently? The best way to do this is to opt for games with low to medium volatility. Slot volatility – or variance – governs how often a game pays out and how big those payouts are.
Understanding the volatility of a game will help you choose a slot that best suits your playing style and bankroll. Let’s explore low, medium and high volatility in more detail below:
- Low Volatility: A low-volatility game will pay out more frequently, but the wins will be smaller. These are the perfect titles to play when you want to employ careful bankroll management strategies and make your float go further. They’re perfect for longer sessions and help you avoid long dry spells.
- Medium Volatility: You’ll find a nice balance between frequency and size of payouts with medium volatility games. The payouts are usually higher than low-volatility games, but you still win often enough to keep your spirits up.
- High Volatility: High volatility slots offer the highest potential winnings, but the wins are far less frequent. With these games, you will go through long barren runs before hitting a significant win. They’re the riskiest games and will be better suited if you have a bigger float.
Why We Choose Low to Medium Volatility Slots
Yes, high volatility slots can be tempting because of the huge payout potential. We find low and medium-volatility games offer a more balanced experience. With these games you can enjoy consistent wins, keeping you engaged and helping maintain your float. You can quickly blow through your entire bankroll on high-volatility games if you're not lucky.
Tip Four: Set a Budget and Stick to It
The single most important thing that any slot player worth their salt will tell you is to set a budget and stick to it. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of online slots or to feel tempted to chase losses. Setting strict limits will keep the experience fun and stress-free.
How We Set Our Budget:
Everyone differs when setting budgets. Here are a couple of rules that most – if not all – experienced slots players will set before jumping into a session.
- Decide on the Total Amount: Settle on a total budget before you even start playing. This will be the total amount of money that you’re willing to lose. Remember, there aren’t any guarantees in slots, so this amount must be something you’re comfortable not getting back.
- Break Your Budget into Sessions: Instead of going through your whole budget at once, we suggest breaking it into smaller parts. So if your total budget is R400, you could break it into four sessions of R100 each. Doing so will keep you firmly in control and allows you to enjoy more playtime.
- Set Win/Loss Limits: You should set yourself limits for both winning and losing. For example, you could set a limit that dictates that stop playing if you win R300 or lose R100 in a single session. This helps set healthy barriers, letting you walk away with your winnings or avoid spending more than you plan to.
Stick to the Plan
Once you’ve set your budget and limits, stick to them. Avoiding the temptation of playing more after a significant win or trying to recover losses is key. This is something that all experienced online slot players will tell you. Discipline is the key to having an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Tip Five: Choose Slots with Bonus Features
One of the best online slot tips we can give you is to play games packed full of features and special symbols, like Mystic Fortune Deluxe. These offer new and exciting ways to win. Features like free spins, expanding wilds and multipliers significantly boost your potential earnings.
Here are some of the bonus features that we love the most:
- Wild Symbols: Wild symbols are found in most modern games. They can substitute for other symbols to complete winning combinations. Some titles also have expanding wilds that cover a whole reel.
- Free Spins: This is probably our favourite bonus feature. Free spins are normally awarded when a certain number of scatter symbols land on the reels. These allow you to play for free for a set amount of spins.
- Multipliers: Multipliers increase the payout amounts for winning combinations. For example, if you win with a 10x multiplier, you will multiply your payout by 10. Game developers often bundle multipliers and free spins together as part of a feature.
Why do Bonus Features Matter?
Not only do bonus features augment a game’s experience, they significantly increase your chances of landing sizable wins. Free spins, in particular, give you more chances to win without spending any additional money. Before you start playing a new slot, always check the info section and paytable to see what bonus features are available and how they work.
Conclusion: How to Win Online Slot Games
Winning consistently while playing online slots isn’t about finding some magical formula. It’s about making smart choices and maximising the opportunities available to you irrespective of your budget.
By following the top tips listed above, you should improve your overall chances of winning while also keeping the experience fun and stress-free. Bear in mind that slots are meant to be a fun experience. By following these five tips you can enjoy the thrill of the game while giving yourself the best shot at winning.
Remember the key is to have fun, stick to your plan and always play responsibly.
