Step-by-Step Instructions for Playing Slot Machines for the First Time

Today, slot machines are the most popular casino game. Gambling machines generate approximately 85% of a casino's revenue.

Unfortunately, no matter how clever you are or how much strategy you employ, slots are unbeatable. The best you can do is hope for a lucky break every now and then. However, you can use some common sense and strategies when choosing games to lose money more slowly and increase your chances of winning.

This article is written with the novice slot machine player in mind. This explanation of slots games and how they work is not advanced. It's just a basic step-by-step guide for your first time playing slot machines.

1. Prepare to play by making a game plan

It may seem silly, but getting ready is one of the first things you should do. Going into a casino without a strategy is a sure way to lose a lot of money quickly. The first step is to make a plan.

The first thing you should think about is your bankroll. A bankroll is a sum of money set aside for gambling purposes. It is distinct from your other funds. It is critical that you do not gamble with money that you require for other purposes (like rent).

I like to have a large bankroll for my trip, but I divide it into smaller bankrolls for each day and gambling session. If I'm going to Las Vegas for a three-day weekend, I might bring $1500 to gamble with. I intend to gamble with $500 per day, and I intend to play in two sessions per day, each with a $250 bankroll.

I have to stop playing if I lose my bankroll for a session. There will be no trips to the ATM, no dipping into my bankroll for my next session, and no dipping into my budget for dining or show tickets.

I also decide ahead of time that I will not drink while playing. You may or may not make the same choice. But my experience has taught me that if I drink alcohol, I'll make bad decisions and forget about any plans I have.

I also try to pick my companions carefully. I don't want to be stuck with someone who won't let me go when my money runs out. But I'm also willing to leave if THEIR money runs out.

2. Discover a Little More About Slot Machines

This step is available to you right now. The following is how slot machines work:

Slot machines are simply gambling games with spinning reels and symbols on them. You put money into the machine to pay for each spin. Winnings are awarded when certain symbol combinations are obtained.

Early slot machines used gears, springs, and levers to operate. A tiny computer program known as a random number generator powers modern slots. The results of the spinning reels are determined by this RNG.

The games are designed to pay out at odds that are less than the true odds of winning. (In fact, this is true of all casino games.) For example, if you have a one-in-a-thousand chance of getting three cherries in a row, the payoff for that bet may be only 500 to 1.

This gives the game a house edge, just like any other casino game, but everyone talks about payback percentage when it comes to slot machines. (It's also known as the payout percentage or the return to player.)

This is simply a term that describes how much of each bet the casino returns to the player over time. The best slot machines in the world usually have a payback percentage of 96% or 97%, but you're more likely to find one with a payback percentage of 95% or less.

This is not a literal outcome that you will see in a single gambling session or even over several gambling sessions. It's a long-term prediction based on thousands of spins. Anything can happen in the short term. That is why some people come out on top.

In fact, this is on purpose. You'd never play if a slot machine gave you a 95 cent win every time you bet a dollar. It would soon become clear that the game favored the house. But because you're going to win or lose at random, you start to believe you can beat the odds.

And you can sometimes beat the odds.

Modern slot machines have things like bonus games, progressive jackpots, and wild symbols that give you extra chances to win. Almost all of these parts of the game happen automatically, without the player having to make any decisions or use any strategy.

3. Have Some Etiquette

Playing slots isn't exactly a social activity, but you're doing it in public. Other people are present and will be influenced by your actions. And there are some etiquette guidelines to follow.

If you're playing a game and need to use the restroom, you can leave a personal item (such as your jacket) on the seat in front of the game to save it for when you return. However, I would not leave anything of great value because it could be stolen. Simultaneously, if someone has left something to reserve their spot, do not be impolite and move it so that you can take over their machine.

Maintain your player card. This is the card that you insert into the machine to allow the casino to track your play and award you rebates and comps. If you leave with the card still inserted, you must contact customer service to obtain a new card. Alternatively, you may have to bother someone who has taken over the machine to get your card back. If you find someone else's card in the machine, take it out and place it on top of it.

It used to be customary to tip the person who handled your payouts if you won a large jackpot. In modern casinos, however, everything is done electronically through a "ticket in/ticket out" system, so this doesn't happen. Even if she's only bringing you a Coke, you should still tip your cocktail waitress.

Don't complain about someone smoking at their machine if you're not a smoker. Instead, go to a non-smoking casino. There are plenty of places where you can gamble without being exposed to tobacco smoke, but if you insist on playing in a smoking casino, respect the smokers and leave them alone.

Some slot players enjoy playing multiple machines at once. That's fine, but if the casino is crowded, you should stick to one machine to allow others to play.

By the way, none of these etiquette tips will help you win more money. However, attempting to blend into normal society is good practice.

4. Select Your Slot Machine Wisely

You can't control Lady Luck, but you can try to choose slot machines with better odds. Pay no attention to the advice you see about how the loose machines should be placed on the rows' edges. That advice is obsolete and ineffective.

Here are some up-to-date, accurate recommendations for which slot machines have the highest payouts:

Slot machines in major casinos pay out more than slots in other locations. Machines that pay out better in a casino on the Las Vegas Strip than in an airport, for example. Slot machine games with low payback percentages are also common in bars.

The lower the payback percentage, the more complicated the game. All of the extra features, like bonus games, fancy animation, and multiple paylines, cost money to make. You'll pay for it with a lower payback percentage and a higher house edge. You'll have the best chance of winning if you find a 3-reel, single-line slot machine.

Progressive slot machines have a jackpot that keeps getting bigger, but the payback percentage is lower to make up for it. Every bet you place contributes to the jackpot. They take a small percentage of each bet and direct it to the jackpot. Your chances of winning the jackpot are nearly nil, so the money generated by the jackpot is simply gone forever. It should not even be considered when calculating the theoretical payout percentage.

Finally, consider playing video poker. These aren't true slot machines, but they provide a higher return to the player even if you don't know how to play. They also provide you with the opportunity to think and make decisions while playing. A video poker game may provide you with mental stimulation.

5. Invest Your Money

There are still machines that accept coins, but in today's casino market, you'll most likely be inserting cash. They have a reader that looks like a change machine. When you put money into it, the machine gives you credits so you can start playing.

Because most casino gambling machines use a ticket in/ticket out system, they also accept tickets in the reader. Previously, you'd have to deal with a lot of coins and cups to transport those coins, but the tickets make things much easier for both the player and the casino.

Before you put your money in, check the front of the machine to see what denomination you're playing for. Inserting a $100 bill into a dollar machine yields 100 credits. If you put that same bill into a $5 machine, you'll only get 20 credits.

You should also keep track of how many coins you're betting per spin and per line. Most modern slots have multiple pay lines that must be activated individually. Even if you're playing a low-denomination machine, this can quickly add up. For example, if you're playing a penny slot machine that allows you to bet 5 units per line on 25 lines, the maximum bet is $1.25 per spin.

6. Always use your Players Club card when playing

Almost every modern casino has a players' club that you can join. You should join the players' club and use the card inserted into the machine to play. The casino keeps track of how much money you wager over time and gives you comps and rebates based on how much you wager.

Even if you win, you will receive these comps and rebates.

This is because the casino wishes to reward you for your participation. The more you play, the more you will lose over time. The casino is unconcerned about what happens in the short term because they are dealing with thousands of players on thousands of machines who play for thousands of hours per year. The long run occurs much faster for a casino than it does for a player.

However, you may have valid reasons for not using the players' club card. You might not want to join if you dislike receiving advertisements in the mail. If you don't like the idea of the casino keeping track of how you play, that could also be a good reason.

However, if you want to reduce the house edge, use your player's club card. It's worth between 0.1% and 0.3% in rebates, which could be real money. It also adds up over time.

Conclusion

Slot machines come in a dizzying array of sizes, shapes, and sounds. Most of them, however, are simple enough—you put your money in, spin the reels, and hope for the best. If you're not sure what's going on, you can always ask a friendly nearby gambler who appears to know what she's doing. The casino staff is usually eager to assist as well.

There is no such thing as a professional slot machine player, but with a little common sense, you can have a lot of fun while playing. Just play the games I suggested in this post, and your chances of winning will go up.