When you play a slot machine, you don’t have to think too much about strategy or stress yourself out with mental math. It’s a laid back game which is purely based on luck, you just wager money and keep hitting the spin button and if luck is on your side, you may walk away with a lot more money than you came in with.
In addition to being endless fun and decently paying, slot machines also come in a variety of themes that range from ancient civilizations to Las Vegas to popular movies and TV shows. This is another reason why players love slots.
However, players lose money on slots far too often. This is why casinos love slot machines just as much as the players. Online casinos will push players towards slot games as much as possible using bonus terms and conditions such as game weighting contribution. By reading this guide to some of most common reasons why players lose money on slot machines, you can certainly up your slot gaming style and maybe even start raking in some profits with some of the latest released titles.
Avoid Slot Games with a Lower-than-Average RTP
In general, a slot machine with an RTP of less than 95% can be considered a lower-than-average RTP game. When you choose slot games with a higher RTP you’re giving yourself better chances of winning.
To understand why high RTP slots are the way to go, you first need to comprehend the concept of RTP. What is RTP? RTP stands for return to player percentage.
Let’s assume a certain slot machine has an RTP of 94%. What this essentially entails is that 94% of all wagers made on the slot is paid back to players over the long run and 6% is the house edge. Therefore, if you were to bet $2,000 on this game in total over a period of time, then you would mathematically be inclined get back $1,880. You would have lost $120.
Obviously, it does not mean you cannot win when playing with a low RTP, it just means that over time, a lesser amount is paid back to the player than when compared to high RTP slots. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, you might want to stick to slots that offer a RTP of more than 96%.
Learn How to Manage your Budget
Drafting a money management plan for your gaming sessions is known as bankroll management (BRM). BRM is particularly useful with slots machines.
The high tempo of rounds and high volatility of slot machines should be taken into account when developing your BRM play. As a result, you can create an effective budget and prevent spending more money on betting than you intended.
The unfortunate fact is that a disproportionately large number of slot players disregard the idea of bankroll management. They don't care about how to manage their money; they just want to spin the reels as rapidly as they can. If you’ve got deep pockets and you just want to splurge on the games, this approach may be fine for you, but for the average Joe, it’s not a wise move.
Play in Demo Mode
Perhaps one of the most desirable qualities online slots have to offer to its players - both new and veteran - is the undeniable fact that there’s no need to strategize, as is the case with other games like poker or blackjack. However, the good thing is that even if you still consider yourself not quite ready to dive into the online gambling scene just yet, you needn’t risk your own money! Why? Because there are thousands of free slots you could try without having to worry about losing your funds.
When you play in demo mode, you don’t have to wager any real money and you’re not going win or lose any real money either. So, if you’re just playing for fun, it would be best to play in demo mode. However, there’s also another huge benefit of playing in demo mode, you can learn the slot inside out. You’ll understand how the various bonus rounds work, what the special symbols mean and so forth. When you’re comfortable and feel like you’ve got a good grip over the game, you can always switch to real money gaming and play more confidently.
Slow Down your Playing Tempo
In terms of game tempo, slots are by far the fastest. It’s not uncommon for a player to go through more than 500 spins in a slot game in under 60 minutes. For comparison, you would maybe play somewhere around 60 hands in one hour when playing Blackjack.
Additionally, slots also have a higher house edge than games like Blackjack. So, by playing hundreds of rounds in quick succession, you could lose a significant amount of money quickly. This can happen insidiously especially when playing at a high tempo and with low minimum stakes, where you feel like you’re only wagering small amounts of money.
It’s important to slow down, understand what you started with, how much you’re left with and pace yourself.
