If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a way to win big playing slot machine games then read on. This article explores the possibilities and provides top jackpot tips when playing slots.
Evolution of slot machine games
At the time of writing, slot games have been in existence for at least 130 years. Since the invention of one of the first slot machines in 1894, the game has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Whether in bars, pubs, cafes, or amusement arcades, slot machines – also known as fruit machines in the UK – are highly popular gambling games.
Advanced slot machines are found in land-based casinos. New video type games are loaded into the digital software, and the evolution of this technology has been continuing since the 1990s.
Most sophisticated physical slot machines are found in land-based casinos. But in the 21st Century, there’s no doubt that online casinos offer a wider selection of slot games with more ways to win.
Has slot game technology made it harder to win?
Slot machine game technology has improved the way games are offered to players and the way payouts managed. The rules of slots have changed, but is it harder to win?
In a way yes, because jackpots are much bigger, and so, more people chase the thrill of winning big slot jackpots. The profits casinos make from slot machines form a major part of the income their business generates.
Can slots be beaten using strategies to help you win?
I’m not really a slots man but do play from time to time. I’ve witnessed people winning big jackpots and this got be wondering whether a slot strategy could be employed to increase a player’s chances of winning.
I’ve been researching whether slots can be beaten using strategies for several years. Whilst I’m no slot-game-ologist, the short answer is in two parts as follows:
- A player presses the button, and the machine does the rest. If you win a slot jackpot it’s all down to random luck.
- In deciding whether any strategy could be formed, that might work to increase the chances of winning slot jackpots, I considered the following:
- The type/name, age and popularity of slots game being played.
- Max slot jackpot amounts offered: unlinked slot machines.
- Progressive slot jackpots: linked slot machines.
- Bet size and changes to bet size during slot machine play.
- Manual button pressing vs. Auto spin.
- Days and times slot jackpots could be more likely to pay out.
Slot machine gameplay: online slots vs. land-based slots
In trying to work out if there’s a way to win slot jackpots more often, it’s important to consider the differences between online and land-based slots.
In the US, the stake per spin can be many thousands of dollars. High rollers in some well-known land-based casinos do sometimes bet extremely high stakes when playing slots.
But it’s more common for pro slot jackpot chasers to bet one to a few hundred dollars per spin. Yet most slot players bet 50 cents to $5 or $10 per spin.
In the UK, new gambling regulation (planned to start in September 2024) will limit the online stake per spin to £5 for players aged 25 and over. And £2 per spin for those aged 18 to 24. The average max jackpots on progressive slot machines in land-based casinos is currently £20,000.
While mega jackpots in the US can run into millions of dollars. The higher the jackpot, the lower the probability of winning.
Stake per spin or bet size is one factor that could see you winning a slot jackpot sooner or losing more of your bankroll. It’s a tricky one to assess.
Since big slot jackpots are often won with low stakes, typically 50 pence/cents, players should consider the disadvantage of staking more (or max bets) on slot games. Moreover, if there’s a strong possibility (as there appears to be) of being unsuccessful in landing big slot jackpot wins.
Evidence of low stakes over max bets to land big slot jackpots can be seen when, "must be won" progressive jackpots are close to paying out and end up being won by players opting for minimum stakes per spin.
Random number generators in slot machines
Both land-based and online casinos use random number generators (RNG) to determine when a jackpot is paid.
It thus makes sense that 50 pence/cents slot game spins could increase your chances of winning a jackpot purely because the RNG is making more decisions.
Of course, people do win jackpots, but since there are many more players than actual jackpots paid out, it’s possible you can play slots for many years and never win one.
This is why it’s important to look for top jackpot tips for slot machine games that could help land you a big win. Thus far my top slot tips are to:
- target progressive jackpots that are close to the max.
- betting minimum stakes per spin.
Wide choices of slot games online
The slot game options are limitless when playing in an online casino. While slot jackpots can just drop or show up on screen without the need of symbols, online jackpots tend to pay following the outcome of bonus wins.
Higher stakes are rewarded with higher payouts in online games. This is also true on some land-based slot games where bonuses are the key to winning.
Many online slot games offer promotions such as free slots and loyalty programs. These can come in handy if you’re a long-term slots player hunting for big jackpots.
Payout percentages for online slots vs. slots in land-based casinos
When it comes to the Return to Player (RTP), online slots are slightly better – giving back a ballpark estimate of 95% to 98% compared to a lower 85% to 95% in land-based slots.
Slot games with a higher RTP is favorable to player’s bankrolls. This metric reveals what percentage of all staked funds are statistically returned to players over the long-run.
Online casinos don’t have physical machines. So operational costs are lower.
Best slot games by high RTP
Below is an example of some high paying RTP slot games: All the following slot games pay between just over 95% to just over 96% RTP:
- Labyrinth of Egypt
- Top Spin Snooker
- City life
- Freaky Fruit
- Euro Reels
- Adventures in orbits
- Ultimate universe
- Cash Pigs
- Knights and Maiden
House edge for slot games
The average house edge for slot games is an astounding 5-15%. Seasoned gamblers avoid slots for this very reason. Though slot players still hope for big jackpot wins.
The advantage slot players have over players of casino table games is it’s easier to set a daily/weekly spending budget. At least then if you don’t ever win big you know what you stand to lose.
In his book, “Beat the Slots’’, Martin Jensen says that while the house advantage stands, in attempting to land big jackpot wins, players can try different techniques.
Popular and older slot games vs. newer slot games
Can some slot games guarantee more wins than others? Some of the most popular slot games are:
- Starburst
- Bonanza
- 88 Fortunes
- Cleopatra and more
While these games are highly popular, they’re not necessarily the best-performing. Popularity doesn’t have a bearing on the rate of winning. The RNG algorithm has the final say. Some of the top new slots for 2024 include:
- Power Stacks poker
- Super Bowl jackpots
- Mystery of the Lamp
With advancing technology, these new slot games have interesting features, but jackpot payouts are still random. Older and unpopular slot games maintain an appeal to some players. Some of these games include:
- Double Diamonds
- Enchanted Unicorn
- Triple Diamond
They say old is gold and that rings true with older slot games too. Your chances of winning a jackpot on older slot games is random like popular and newer games. Older slot games can still payout big jackpots.
Slot game tips: what to look out for in your hunt for jackpots
- Look for slot games with higher payouts – Games with payout rates of 95% to 98% not only give you a better chance of winning, but also minimize the house edge!
- Bet maximum stakes – If you're looking to win big, you must play big. Betting the maximum stakes may give you a better chance of winning the jackpot. But not on every slot machine as previously mentioned.
- Participate in promotions – Free slots (also known as sweepstakes casinos) are quite popular today, and taking part in giveaways can be a huge advantage that could lead to winning big.
5 powerful secret slot game tips revealed
1 – Playing slots just at the right time
Because a slot jackpot payout is determined by the RNG – unbelievably, the time factor does come into it. Is there a right or wrong time to play slots?
Slot jackpots can trigger when there’re lots of players and when there’re hardly any. Yes it’s random, but let’s look at the evidence.
Playing slots between the hours of 6 pm to 10 pm on weekends, especially on Fridays, is considered the luckiest window to target slot jackpots. The theory is that casinos are busy, and increased deposits trigger more payouts. Players have won slot jackpots from 5 pm to 6:30 pm before the crowds turn up to play.
2 – Increasing stakes to try and trigger a slot jackpot
You could try starting with the minimum stake and gradually increase stakes. But betting larger amounts doesn’t guarantee you a better shot at winning a big slot jackpot. And you might consider changing games and starting over with minimum stakes if the slot machine doesn’t pay.
3 – Slot machine payouts
Not all slot games are created equal, some tend to payout more often than others. Yes, the slot games you play matter. Legacy developers like NetEnt and Microgaming are the go-to options if you're looking for a fair game. But be sure to verify each game's published figures before playing.
4 – Slot machine volatility
The frequency of a slot game to gain wins based on its programming is slot machine volatility. The input is fixed and cannot be reverted. Slot volatility can be classified as high, medium, or low volatility.
Opting to play older slot machines could form part of a good slot jackpot hunting strategy, due to their high volatility. John Robinson, author of, “The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots,” recommends finding games with high hit frequencies.
5 – Give the slot machine a rest
There are two parts to this. First, you need to consider whether you’re going to press the spin button to start each game or select the auto spin option. I’ve read studies that say allowing several seconds between spins could trigger a jackpot win.
When you wait before starting the next spin you’re allowing the RNG to rest.
Some experts say that using auto spin isn’t wise because the RNG goes into a kind of ride over mode; or (override); meaning it overlooks paying out a jackpot. You might think this theory sounds crazy, but some slot players believe it works. And it doesn’t seem as crazy as those women wearing heavy makeup who rub screens during a spin.
The second aspect to allowing time to pass between games, is to change the game on the same machine. Of course, if you’re playing online slots, then, you could view it as if all games are within one big machine. Whereas in land-based casinos, you’ll find individual slot machines—though many of these machines are linked anyway.
Sometimes, starting a new slots game can trigger a jackpot win because of the way the software interacts with the games RNG.
Top jackpot tips for slot machine games conclusion
Casino slot games are fun, but it’s hard to win a jackpot. You can’t use skill or read patterns as some players do in blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
The best you can do is continue to research and implement jackpot tips into your bespoke slots strategy to try and win slot machine games.
It’s still possible, that in tweaking a slots strategy (that you put together) you could win a decent amount and more than once. And if you're lucky, you might just win a huge slot jackpot!
Q&A: Top jackpot tips for slot machine games
Is there a sure way to win a big slot jackpot? No, some strategies might increase your chances of winning, but all wins (including jackpots) are determined by randomness.
How can you win consistently on slot games? On certain slot games, by increasing your stake after losing several spins could trigger bigger payouts.
What are the best slot games to play? The best slot games are those with a high Return-to-player (RTP). Games like, City Life, Mega Joker, and Double Diamonds have over 95% RTP.
Is it better to play online slots or land-based slots? Online casinos have a higher RTP than land-based casinos, but it’s harder to win jackpots online. Online slots have more frequent smaller wins and the advantage of not having to travel to a casino.
Can you tell when a slot machines is going to pay a jackpot? Slot machines use Random Number Generator (RNG) to determine the outcome of each spin. There’s no sure way of knowing when or what slot machine or game will payout a jackpot. But linked progressive slots with jackpots that "must be won" and are close to or on the jackpot max is a giveaway sign someone will win soon.
