Slot machine strategy has existed in one form or another for as long as the game itself. Even in the early days when primitive slots were played in barber shops and cigar stores instead of casinos, patrons would do their best to figure out an advantage over the house.

So most of the sections on this slots strategy guide are directly related to extending your playing sessions. Basic Slots Tips. Button Layout on the Machines. When playing in a live environment most machines will usually have two lines of buttons. The top line of buttons will indicate how many units of the relevant denomination of the machine. The worst thing about slot machines, from the perspective of a player interested in strategy. You can never know the house edge for a particular slot machine. In fact, it’s the only casino game we can think of for which you can’t come up with anything like a house edge.

While the slots industry has experienced massive change over the decades, they’ve managed to stay one step ahead of players looking for an edge. Slot machines remain the biggest revenue producer for online and land-based casinos, so even the most advanced slot systems have failed to make a difference.

What Is a Slot Machine Strategy?

A slot machine strategy is any method that attempts to eliminate the house edge and give the advantage to the player. This can take the form of a method of observation, or it might involve complex mathematical calculations and computer simulations of endless spins. In years past, it could have been as simple as tying a string to a quarter and playing an unguarded slot with limitless credits. The methods seem endless and indicate just how far some gamblers will go to come out on the winning side.

Slot Machine Systems

The most popular slot machine strategy involves the use of various systems. While each system differs in execution, all have the same goal: allowing the player to take more money from the slot than they put in.

The simplest slot machine system is known as the “zig zag,” and it doesn’t require the player to be a math whiz or make any kind of calculations. Instead, the player walks the floor of the casino looking for slots with non-winning matching symbols that form various patterns. The idea is to find a slot that’s about to get “hot,” and this is achieved by finding reels that are slowly becoming aligned in a winning pattern.

The Martingale, another popular gambling system, requires the player to double their bet following each loss. The idea is that the player will eventually win, and the payout from the increasingly larger wagers will make up for all the credits that have been previously lost.

Other systems also exist, but all of these methods are ultimately flawed. While they do succeed in providing hope to unlucky gamblers, they are ultimately undone by a tiny miracle of modern technology. Which leads us to…

Can Slot Machines Be Beat?

The simplest answer to this question is “No, slot machines can’t be beat.” Despite the superstitions held my multitudes of players around the globe, modern slot machines cannot be beat by gimmicky systems and strategies.

Strategy Of Slot Machines Free Play

There’s one reason why slots can’t be outwitted, and this is referred to as the “random number generator.” Installed in all modern slots, this algorithm generates anywhere from hundreds to thousands of numbers per second. The result is that each spin of a slot machine is entirely independent of any other, and the computing power involved assures that even the most advanced human brain won’t be able to predict the outcome.

If you don’t believe the previous statement, I submit the profit margin of casinos as additional evidence. Slot machines make up the bulk of any casino’s profits, and the reason is that the house always wins in the end. Sure, they give up huge paydays on occasion, but the amount of money put into the slots always outweighs the payouts. If a slot machine strategy could erase this advantage, casinos all across the country would be forced to close their doors because of players on a continual hot streak.

Slots Advice

It is not my intention to discourage anyone from playing slots. In fact, I visit my local casino at least once a month, and I always have a great time. No, my goal is to make players realize that playing slots is an exercise in probability, and there’s nothing a human being can do to overcome the random number generator. Therefore, the best strategy to employ involves chilling out and having fun.

If you’re looking for more substantial slots advice, I also recommend paying close attention to your bankroll. This is a key strategy for any casino patron, as it will allow you to play longer and avoid the undue stress of losing more money than you can handle. Just calculate how much you can afford to lose, and then make sure to keep your total wagers under this limit. Also, never carry an ATM card with you into a casino, as the temptation to go over budget is often too much for some players.

Slot Machine Experts

I’m appalled by the large number of individuals who offer “winning slot machine advice” for a fee. These folks have no problem lying and cheating to line their pockets with money, and they often prey on the desperate and the gullible. While they promise to teach you all kinds of insider strategy, in reality they have nothing to offer that can’t be found for free on the Internet. And once you factor in the randomness of slot machines, their claims sound especially ludicrous.

Now that you have a basic idea of how slot machine strategy works, you can make an informed decision as to whether or not it’s worth your time. Video slots can provide hours of entertainment, and they’ve become especially adept at mesmerizing patrons with advanced gameplay and authentic clips from movies and classic television shows.

For some players, however, being entertained isn’t enough. If you fall into this category, you may want to try out some of the slot machine systems to see if they increase your winnings. Just remember: the house always has the edge.

Even with slots, a little strategy goes a long way

By Frank Scoblete

Even though the house has an edge on just about every slot machine and video poker game (with some few, hard-to-find exceptions), players can still play a tough game against the casino if such players use intelligent strategies in deciding which games to play and how to play them.

Pessimists might say that all slot and video poker players are doomed to forfeit their money to the house edge, and they are right, except that how you forfeit the game against the house is where the gambling pleasure comes into the picture. In short, don’t just give the casino your money by playing the worst games with the worst strategies. Instead, play games where the contest is close to even or at the very least as even as you can get. Give the casino a real run for your money.

So let’s take a look at slot machines to outline some general rules to follow if you want to play the strongest possible game against the casino.

Analyze the slot return percentages in this magazine and you can see clearly that not all denominations return the same percentages. Right o the bat, this tells you something important; not all slot machines are the same. Some are better for your bankroll; some are worse. The smart player picks the better machines to play. Do most slot players know to do this? No.

Slot returns by denomination are not the only story. Within denominations the returns of different types of machines vary. Let us say that you have a traditional one-dollar machine and you decide to play one that has a progressive jackpot or a progressive jackpot that is linked with other casinos, you should know that the return percentage is often far less because those big progressive jackpots must be paid for sooner or later by the casino. Because of that the machine will hold a greater percentage of the money you put in.

Take Megabucks as a specific example. The odds of hitting the “big one” are just about 50 million to one. The return percentage of the machine is usually around 86 percent. You are facing a big house edge on such a machine.

Money Bags Slot Machine Strategy

Now take a look at a stand-alone non-progressive machine and you will see the difference in returns. If you follow the percentages of one-dollar returns, you know that they are averaging in the 90-92 percent range across the country. So the 86 percent return of a linked progressive such as Megabucks is made up for by the larger return of non-progressive machines. So which machines give you the greater chance of being ahead on any given day? Obviously the non-progressives; they could be coming in with returns in the 95 or higher percentages.