It’s more than 120 years since a gentleman called Charles Fey introduced his Liberty Bell machine to an excited American public. The device had three reels with six different symbols and when all three matched it paid out a cash prize.
Today’s video slot games are as different from the Liberty Bell as a modern Tesla is from a Ford Model T. Yet in both cases, the evolutionary path is not so difficult to trace. One fundamental characteristic of slot games that holds true across the years is that you can’t do anything to make them more likely to pay out a jackpot. However, don’t mistake that for meaning you can’t play slot games strategically to improve your chances of success. Here are our top tips for more rewarding play.
Choose the right platform
Before we even think about what to play, devote some attention on where to play it. The most effective way to improve your results with all else remaining equal, is to play at a casino that is offering extra free spins or perhaps a matched bonus deposit. Use an independent reviewer such as the Gamble Online real money casinos review site to help choose one where the bonuses are worth claiming and will not tie you in to impossible terms and conditions.
Choose the right game
Choosing which game to play is a matter of personal taste – mostly. Of course it makes sense to choose a theme that appeals to you. After all, this is first and foremost a game, so if you are not enjoying yourself, you might as well do something else. However, keep in mind factors like RTP and volatility. If they are highly unfavorable, perhaps you should look elsewhere even if the gameplay is fun.
RTP and Volatility
RTP stands for Return to Player, and the bigger the number the better. Most slot games have an RTP around 96 percent, but some are higher. RTP is a good guide, but it is not the be all and end all. If it was, the first 99 percent RTP slot that came along would have rendered all others obsolete – and that didn’t happen. Also look at volatility. Low volatility games pay out regular small amounts, while high volatility can seem to eat your money for ages before finally something happens – but when it does, it usually happens quite seriously.
Progressive jackpots
Jackpot slots provide access to a progressive jackpot that is shared across multiple machines. Every time someone plays, it gets a little higher, and some jackpots run up into the tens of millions before paying out. These games look tempting, but remember the odds are on a level with a big Lotto win. Also, note that in most games, you’ll need to play a maximum stake to even access the possibility of the progressive jackpot. By all means try a couple of spins at the end of the night if you’ve had a successful run at other games and have some spare money – but don’t spend all evening playing the jackpot slots or it can get expensive!
Cybil