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Slot strategy
The optimal strategy for playing slots is *not* to play them. Slots offer
payback percentages that are much lower than offered by games like video
poker or blackjack. Nowadays slots account for 60 to 70 percent of the gross
revenue of a typical casino, so a lot of people aren't practicing this optimal
strategy. Of course the reason for this is the infinitely small chance of
hitting that one big jackpot that will change your life.
Tip: Except for Boss Media all casino software providers represented
on our site offer many high quality slots. Microgaming
has the largest selection of regular and progressive slots. Playtech
and Cryptologic offer less games,
but what they offer is pretty good too.
Slot strategy tips
If you do choose to play slots, despite our advice not to, we have compiled
a few tips that can help you to minimize your losses:
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More competition leads to lower prices. This implicates
you will find the highest slot payback percentages in places with the
fiercest competition. For example, the average paybacks in Las Vegas
are 95% compared to 91% in Atlantic City. Another example is the relatively
low payback percentage of airport slot machines. An airport isn't interested
in repeat business, and this will result in lower payback percentages.
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Play certified or advertised slot machines if you can
find them. If it is near to impossible to figure out the payback percentage
of a particular slot, you must expect the worse, i.e. a very low payback
percentage. Shop around for the machines with the highest payback percentages.
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Generally speaking, slot machines that accept higher denominations
will offer higher payback percentages. Keep in mind though that you
will lose more money per hour in absolute terms on these machines.
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Most slot machines have a non proportional payout table,
meaning that the payback percentage increases when you increase the
number of coins you bet. If your bankroll can take it you are advised
to always bet max coins. If not play max coins on a machine that accept
lower denominations.
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Limit your bankroll to a predetermined amount and keep
those credit cards at home. When you reach your limit cash out the remainder
of your balance and walk away from the machine.
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Frequently jackpots are paid out by attendants. If you
hit such a jackpot stop playing and only continue after the attendant
paid you the jackpot.
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Join the slot club and never play without your slot club
card. Take advantage of all the comps and promotions you can get. |
Payback percentage and hit frequency
Don't compare slot machines solely on the basis of payback percentages. Two
slot machines that offer the same payback percentage can behave very differently,
depending on the hit frequency that is programmed into the software. Generally
speaking, a slot machine with a high hit frequency pays out small prizes more
often and offers a relatively low jackpot, than a slot machine with a low
hit frequency, which pays out small prizes less frequently but offers a relatively
high jackpot. Progressive slot machines often have a low hit frequency, compared
to flat top slot machines. It might be a good idea to choose a slot machine
to play based on your risk tolerance, your bankroll and the amount of time
you want to play. If you can tolerate high risks and have a large bankroll,
you should consider playing low hit frequency progressive slot machines. If
you don't tolerate high risks and want to play longer, you should consider
playing high hit frequency flat top slot machines. The (guesstimated) relationship
between the prizes you can win and the hit frequency is summarized in the
diagram below.
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