Whether you are playing the slot machines at your local casino or spinning some reels at an online casino, winning at slots is a combination of strategy and a bit of luck. It isn’t all about pulling a lever and hoping that lady luck likes you – there can be some skill involved in hitting your hot streak.

Some Basics

Slots are one of the most popular casino games in the world as a result of how simple the game is to play. There is no pressure from a dealer or other players to overcome and you only have to play as much as you want to – after all it is much less intimidating to simply push a button than to interact with dealers and other players. For those who are new to playing, be that online or at land-based casinos, let’s go over the basics of how to play online slots.

Playing the slots is quite simple on the surface – you put in a coin, pull the lever and watch as lady luck lays your fate out before you. There are two main kinds of games that are played, which are reel-spinning and video. Both work in very similar ways, with only a few minor differences.

For the reel-spinning version, a typical game begins with you getting credits by inserting money into the machine or if you are playing online, making your payment for the number of credits you want. The value of the credits that you have to play with is then represented on a metre or the screen. For reel-spinning slots, you push the “bet” button to increase the amount of credits you wish to play with, or you can press the “play max credits” button to play the maximum amount available on that machine. In order to win, you will need to match certain combinations of the symbols on the reels across the paylines you have bet on. 

For video slots, you simply select the number of paylines you want to play from the available selection using the buttons on the screen, and a second button to indicate the number of credits you want to wager per payline. You can select a new betting combination each round or simply press the “spin again” button to keep playing the same betting combination. The way to win on the video ones is much the same as with the reel-spinning game – you have to match certain combinations of symbols on the paylines that you have bet on.

Manage Your Bankroll

When asking around about how to win at slots, you will typically run into two types of answers – either they will say that it is all about knowing the machines, strategic betting and machine hopping, and others will tell you that it is all luck and nothing else. Well, the truth is that it is a bit of both. While the machines are largely based on RNG and there is no way to directly control the game or the machine’s behaviour, there are ways in which you can give yourself a bit of an advantage by managing your bankroll and choosing your bets wisely.

One of the most important tips that any decent, or pro, gambler will give you is to set and manage your bankroll well. Having good bankroll management is key to a winning strategy in both land-based and online casinos. This isn’t just about deciding how much you are willing to play at the machines, but also matching your bankroll to the actual cost of a spin of the reels.

For example, you have set yourself a budget of £100 pounds that you are going to play with for about two hours. As you browse the online games catalogue or walk around the machines deciding which to sit down at, one particularly attractive game catches your eye. You sit down for two spins just to see how it works, but each of those spins has cost you £5. Assuming you haven’t won anything off those two spins, you have actually just spent 10% of your budget on only two games – which means your budget might only last you minutes instead of the couple hours you decided to play for.

A good tip is to always check the full betting range of the machines you want to play so you can find one that fits into the budget you have set for yourself for the session. If you find yourself at a machine that you can’t afford on your budget, then move on and find one with a betting range that does.

Tips for Land-Based Casino Slots

Slots in land-based casinos have some features and quirks that online ones don’t have. Here are a few tips and tricks for playing in real-life.

Look Out for Special Offers – Before you have even sat down at the machines, you should already be looking to give yourself a bit of an advantage. Casinos are businesses that rely on players being in their establishments and it is a highly competitive industry. Look out for places that are offering special bonuses and free spins for players. Free spins are good because if you are given a £10 chip for free by the casino, that gives you a chance at winning without actually dipping into your bankroll.

Go Random, Not Progressive – There are two types of slots in casinos – random and progressive. Progressive slots pool the money that is used to play them to pay out a large jackpot created by the ever-increasing amount of money being put into the machine. Random jackpots usually have fixed jackpots and pay out, as the name implies, randomly. Because of the way that progressive slots build up their jackpots, the random version seems to pay out more frequently, although they might not reach the same huge jackpots that you can win from progressive ones.

Tips for Playing Online

Not all slots were created equal, and playing online is very different to playing in a land-based casino. Here are some tips to help you get on that hot streak when playing online.

Don’t Forget Your Bonuses – Before you make your first deposit at your online casino of choice you typically have a welcome bonus and a few free spins to claim for signing up with them. This means you get to dive right into the fun of spinning the reels, but it is also a chance to play for real money without risking any of your own. This is a great way to get to know a game and figure out some of its quirks before making your first deposit and putting your own money on the line.

Know Your Game – Understanding the paytables of the game that you are playing can be key to improving your chances of winning. A few of the ways that you can get to know your game is to see what each symbol on the reels is worth, find out if the game includes wild symbols or multipliers, check constantly for bonus rounds and free spins and try to discover any scatter symbols that are lurking in the game. Knowing as much about your game as possible allows you to play more confidently and manage your bets well.

Have Fun – Most importantly you must remember that you are playing to experience the thrill and excitement of gambling and to have a little fun. Over time, and with some experience, you will figure out what you like to play and what games you feel more confident at. Having a healthy attitude towards your losses can also improve your play as well as your overall experience of playing online. If you can maintain a good attitude and always try to improve, then you will find that your losses will be bearable, and your wins will come more often and be so much more thrilling.

If this has inspired you to take your new knowledge to the machines, and you want to spin some reels, then why not try your hand at our online slots games? From Imperial Dragon, Fluffy Favourites and Starburst Slot to Glass Slipper and Rainbow Riches, there is something for everyone at Mecca Bingo. 

We’re here to help you keep it fun – remember to set your deposit limit. Click here for more details on the safer gambling tools available including reality checks and the ability to take a break from your gaming.