To understand why it’s so hard to master slots, you must first understand how they work. Both live and online slots are designed to be totally random. In online slots this end is achieved through the use of randomization software. In order for players to devise a successful game strategy, there has to be a constant, but slots by design are all variables.

Some players believe that they can predict when certain jackpots or bonuses will hit. Their method for jackpots is pretty obvious – they simply calculate the average hit point for a progressive slots game. Then, when the jackpot gets bigger than that predetermined point, they start playing. There used to be live slots called vision machines that had cumulative bonuses; the strategy for those games was simple too – to play when the bonus was nearly full.

What slot players need to remember when considering such strategies is that the odds can swing wildly either way. That means that the same slots game is as likely to award two jackpots in one day as it is to go extra long in awarding one. Since no strategy can outsmart Lady Luck, players can lose a lot of money chasing these flawed theories.

The best way to win more at the slots is to choose a machine with a generous payback percentage. Even then, it’s important to remember that each spin of the slot reels is independent of the next – that means that no machine is ever really “ready to hit.” You’re as likely to win with your first spin as your one-thousandth. With that in mind, if your selected slot isn’t showing you any love, don’t feel bad about moving on.

Basically what these players do is compile information on each slot game and every big slots win. They record the amount at which each progressive jackpot hits, and this allows them to come up with an average. Once the slots games online get a set amount beyond that average “hit point” the pros start playing. Some pros even have teams of players to further pump the jackpot total and to improve their odds of hitting it.

Jackpot hunting isn’t for everyone. It can take thousands of dollars of consistent slots play before you win, and when you play slots online you have to face the fact that a virtually unlimited number of other players could be pursuing the same jackpot. It also takes a significant amount of research to come up with an accurate average, but the task is significantly easy with online casino slot machines since most casinos regularly post their jackpot hits.

If you are already a regular slots player then you’ve got nothing to lose by pursuing this form of slots gambling. Even if you never get the big slots win, you’re guaranteed to rack up some significant loyalty points and maybe even to hit some big secondary jackpots.

Because big wins and bonuses are used to calculate a game’s average payout percentage, it’s important that you play the minimum number of credits necessary to be eligible for the bonus or jackpot.

So long as you are playing the bonus minimum, there is no advantage over playing more lines vs wagering more per line since each line offers the same independent odds. Playing maximum lines may increase the odds that you will hit something, but your improved odds are proportionate to your increased wager, meaning that your losses will on average still be larger than your wins.

In other words – returning to the secondary goal of getting more time for your money – playing the minimum bonus qualifying bet offers all the same advantages of the maximum bet with the added advantage of making your bankroll last significantly longer.

Obviously if you can predict when a bonus will hit, then you can gauge the value of pursuing that bonus. With most slots this is impossible – such bonuses are non-existent online – but a handful of slots games in the live casinos still have a guaranteed bonus. The higher these bonuses get, and/or the closer they are to hitting, the better a play such a game becomes.

Many slot players’ first impulse is to find the game with the highest jackpot, but it’s important to remember that the higher a jackpot is the harder it is to hit. You can increase your winnings in the meantime and stretch your bankroll hours longer by finding a machine that offers a good payout percentage.

Payout Percentages

What is a payout percentage? It’s the amount of your initial wager that you can expect to get back from the machine. Payout percentage doesn’t apply to every spin but rather is a long-term average. It’s important to note that the less time you spend on a machine, the more your results will deviate from its posted payout percentage. Still, choosing an online slot game with a high payout percentage is the best (and perhaps only) advantage you can give yourself. It’s not hard to find online slots with a payout percentage of 97% or more – playing a game that offers anything less is basically throwing your money away.

Hit Frequency

Hit frequency is a red herring. What this number basically refers to is how often a machine hits any winning combination. While an online slot with a higher hit frequency may be more exciting, this number has no correlation to payout percentage. In fact, the slot machines with the highest hit frequencies tend to have the lowest payout percentages; they keep players betting with small wins but ultimately offer far fewer large payouts.

Any dedicated slots player knows that a new title at your local casino means a long wait, but when you play slots online you get instant access to every game. Of course once you’ve decided to play slots online, the real question becomes, “How do I win them?”

Since slots games online and off are totally random, there’s no way to predict when and what you’ll win, but there are ways to minimize what you lose.

Payout Percentage

This number is the single most important figure to look for when choosing slots online. The closer your game’s payout percentage is to 100, the less quickly you’ll lose your money.

Minimum Bet/Maximum Payout

Many players just assume that they have to bet max to qualify for a jackpot slots win. In some cases this is true, but more often than not you simply have to bet a set amount, and that amount can be distributed any way you like.

Read your slot game’s payout table to find out the minimum bet that will qualify you for jackpots and bonuses.

Use Your Loyalty Points

Many players enjoying slots online neglect to check their loyalty points balance. It only takes a couple clicks to access your point total and a couple more to cash it in, so make checking your balance a monthly (if not weekly) routine.

Take Advantage of Bonuses and Promotions

Smart online slots players know how to work the system. One of the biggest advantages of playing slots online is the incredible bonuses.

The average sign-up bonus may double or even triple your initial investment, and checking for reload bonuses or extra points promotions could earn you hundreds more in complimentary playing cash.

Online slots work in exactly the same way as their live counterparts and through the use of randomization software even offer the same odds. Thanks to rapidly improving online casino software, the look and feel of online slots is on par with – or even better than – what you can expect to find at your favorite local casino. Here are a few other reasons you might consider making the switch from live to online slots.

Bigger Jackpots

Because millions of slots players could be pumping one progressive jackpot at the same time the size of online slots jackpots is much bigger in general than the same live progressives. And once a jackpot is hit the constant action means that the size of the prize is soon replenished.

Better Bonuses

Virtually every online casino offers a loyalty points program that’s basically the online equivalent of a live casino slot club. What online casinos offer that live casinos can’t (or won’t) is free cash incentives via sign-on and deposit bonuses. You could earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars in free casino cash just by playing your favorite games, and that’s in addition to your comps.

Convenience

Speaking of comps, when you play slots online you’ll never have to remember your member card to get your points because all comps are tallied automatically as you play. Along the same vein you’ll never forget your money in a machine either because online casinos return any unused credits to your account as soon as you log off. Of course the biggest convenience is that you can play your favorite online slots games any time and anywhere – no plane ticket, I.D., or even pants required.

Today there are thousands of different unique slots titles. Online slots games range from the simple three-reel machine to some very elaborate multi-line video slots. If you’re feeling a little lost in your online casino’s slots section, then here’s a quick breakdown on slots game types.

Classic Slots

Classic online slots borrow on the simple three-reel format that characterized the first slots games. Generally these games have only one payline down the center, and players must line up three matching symbols in the game window in order to win.

Five-Reel Slots

Five-reel slots were the first variation made on the classic three-reel slots games. The end result is more symbols, more possible combinations and more paylines. To get the big prize, five-reel slot players must line up all five symbols on a paying line, though often combinations of as few as three or even two consecutive symbols still pay.

Video Slots

Video slots were the first slots games to replace the actual reals with a computerized screen. Though most video slots still emulate the look and feel of a classic slot, some spin side to side or drop blocks instead of spinning reels. Video slots allow players to bet on 20 or more different paylines and also paved the way for in-game bonuses.

Bonus Slots

A bonus slot is any game that offers a side prize for achieving a specific combination. Sometimes the bonus game is just a series of free spins, other times it’s an animated scene that ends in a randomly generated prize, and still other times it’s its own interactive mini game. Online slots games offering bonuses generally have a special bonus reel that must appear in a predesignated area or order to initiate the bonus game.

Progressive Slots

Progressive slots are any slots game that is attached to a cumulative jackpot – they can be any of the above types. Generally progressives are attached to a group of same or similar slots games that are arranged in banks.

The progressive jackpot grows with every wager, but to win it a player must be betting max credits. While most progressive jackpots are worth a few thousand dollars, some online progressives frequently get up to a million or more.