Guide to Top 10 Strategies for Slots

Enjoy Every Game and Embrace Lady Luck 

Let’s start by clarifying that there’s absolutely no way you can influence what lands on the reels. Slots are entirely random and you’re at the mercy of good luck, no matter your strategy. 

You might read articles claiming to show you the secret of how to win, but that’s not possible. No one can guarantee a win on slots, but you can learn how to identify the games that give you the best chance (more about that below). 

Games at licensed casinos use a Random Number Generator (RNG), meaning every spin of the reels is genuinely random. Each spin has an equal chance of winning, regardless of previous results. 

Therefore, when deciding how to play, it’s important to understand that being on a losing streak doesn’t increase your chances of landing a win on the next spin. Every spin has the same statistical chance of winning and is unrelated to previous results. 

For this reason, it’s best to find slots you enjoy playing. Consider the stake to be the price for entertainment, similar in principle to the cost of a cinema ticket. If you win, that’s great, but if not, you’ve simply paid for having a good time. 

Play Any Available Demo Games 

With such a huge selection of slots, it can be tempting to dive right in when you find a title that looks like good fun. However, with so many different features, we recommend you make sure you know how each one plays before you spend any money. 

Many slots now offer a demo mode which is exactly the same as the live game, apart from the fact you can’t win any actual money. By betting with a simulated stake, you’ll be protected from any losses, but you’ll get to experience the game and learn how it plays before you commit any cash.

Seek out a High RTP...

Every game has an expected payout rate known as Return to Player or RTP. The RTP is the average return based on the game being played over a very long session - far longer than would be practically possible. As you’ll be playing for a much shorter period, the results may be very different from the advertised RTP, but this doesn’t mean the RTP isn’t useful. 

Knowing the RTP can help you to identify games that have a higher average payout rate. The higher the RTP, the more money you are likely to win from a slot. 

 As a very rough guide, any slot with an RTP of more than 96% can be considered competitive, but you may find some as high as 98-99%. 

 A high RTP is always desirable, but it’s not the only factor to consider. The following two tips examine other elements affecting how a slot might pay out. 

Check out the RTPs for some popular games as well as top picks for UK online gambling sites here.

…But Factor in Volatility 

When you look at the RTP of a slot, you should always consider the volatility, too. The RTP reflects the total average amount that the game will pay out over a longer session, but the volatility describes how this will be paid. 

A high volatility slot will pay out less frequently, but there’s a higher chance of larger wins. A low-volatility game will have more frequent wins, but the values are typically lower. A medium volatility rate will sit somewhere between these two extremes. 

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to volatility as it depends on your attitude to risk, your budget, and your playing style. 

 If you are motivated by more frequent wins and get bored waiting for a win to land, a low-volatility game may be preferable. Conversely, if you prefer larger payouts and have a higher budget to keep playing for longer, you might want to look for a high-volatility game. 

It’s possible to find slots with a high RTP with low and high volatility, so you don’t have to sacrifice a better payout rate to get the playing style you prefer. 

Consider the Impact of Jackpot Prizes 

Progressive jackpots can deliver life-changing wins, with huge sums paid to the lucky winner. However, when you consider the jackpot prize money is part of the RTP calculation, it’s not difficult to work out that it means the rest of the payouts may be lower. 

Unless you’re specifically trying to win the progressive jackpot (which is extremely hard to do), then it’s often more profitable to play on alternative slots. 

Remember that with a progressive jackpot, it’s not just you versus the game; you’re playing as part of a large network of players, and you’re all contributing to the prize fund. Anyone within the network could theoretically win the jackpot when it’s time to pay out. This is one of the reasons why it’s so hard to win; when the jackpot pays out, there’s only a tiny probability that you will be the lucky winner. 

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play jackpot slots, but understanding the different frequencies of wins is an essential part of the overall strategy.