Introduction
Slot games can be easy, fun and satisfying as they do not need any complex know-how to win, just pure luck. What’s more, many websites have free spins for UK customers so you can maximize your earnings. It is indeed not possible to improve your luck to increase your winnings. However, there are still some things you should keep in mind to make the best of your money and have fun, but still financially responsible, experience.
Type of slot player
To decide on what kind of slot game best suits you, you first need to get to know yourself and how you play. Players can be sorted into their budget and patience.
Low rollers are players with lower budgets. They are casual players who prefer to spend only a small amount of cash per game. On the other end of the spectrum are the high rollers, who spend more money and are likely to win more money than low rollers. High rollers comprise experienced slot players and those with more disposable income to gamble.
Patient slot players are the ideal kind of player. They do their background research on different slot machines, casinos, and the game itself before putting down their money. They also determine a budget and are careful to stick to it. While playing in such a manner will increase your payout and decrease the amount of money you lose to the house, over-committing to it can take all the fun out of the slots. Impatient slot players, in contrast, want high payouts as soon as possible. They are willing to bet more and purchase bonus features to increase their chances of winning. Being impatient is not necessarily bad, as long as you know when to call it a day.
The right balance of caution and daring will ensure you have a fun, yet affordable experience!
Budgeting
Regardless of your risk appetite, or whether you are a low or high roller, you must decide on your budget before playing. With the accessibility of e-banking, the risk of severely overspending on online slots is very real. No matter the size of your budget, you must be careful not to exceed it.
While more seasoned players often do complex calculations and planning to determine their budget in relation to their payout, beginners can follow this rule of thumb: your budget is determined by the maximum amount of money you can afford to lose without impacting a single aspect of your life.
Know when to stop
Like budgeting, you also need to set winning and losing limits. For example, if your winning limit is £50, you should stop playing when your winnings hit £50. Likewise, if your losing limit is £50, you should quit when your losses reach that amount. That also means you need to keep careful track of how much money you have won and lost throughout the game. Take the time to write them down somewhere secure. Use that break from playing to reorient yourself to make sure you do not get swept up by the game.
The last thing you should do is to chase losses and keep playing blindly in the hope of recouping your losses. A winning streak sounds infinitely better than a losing streak, but getting too caught up in the joy and confidence can cause you to lose all your winnings as you continue to play.
Luck is fickle, as are our emotions. While there is nothing wrong with revelling in a decent win or getting frustrated over continual losses, don’t let your feelings control your finances. Above all, remember that restraint is key.
Slot volatility
Slot volatility, also known as variance refers to the frequency of winning while playing. High volatility slots have lucrative prizes, but in exchange have very low chances of winning. In contrast, low volatility slots allow you to win more often, but you will not get much per win. Volatility is a range, so most slot games have low, low-medium, medium, medium-high and high volatility. There are plenty of options for you to choose from based on your budget and risk appetite.
Low volatility slots are better suited for low rollers as it is safer. High volatility slots are favoured by risk-takers and high rollers, who have more financial freedom to take the losses.
RTP rates
Return to Player (RTP) refers to your payout, or how much of your betting amount you get back after playing. Most slot games online have an RTP of 96%. In other words, for every £100, £96 is distributed as prizes, while £4 will be taken by the casino and slot providers, who are known as the house. The higher the RTP, the greater the chance of getting a decent payout.
Bonus features
You should choose slot games with bonus features as it increases your chances of a big payout. Other than being lucrative, bonus features also make the game more entertaining and rewarding.
Bonus features include bonus rounds, free spins and payout multipliers, which multiply your betting amount by the given number and give it back to you as a payout. Multipliers are usually between two and ten times the betting amount, but it can go up to the thousands and more lucrative games, usually in tournaments.
Bonus features can be triggered by the RNG, or bought with real money. Impatient players are likely to purchase bonuses to quickly increase their chances of winning, but they are also putting more money on the line.
Practice on free slots
Many online slots offer an option to play for free. While you are not risking real money, you will also not win anything. However, that makes free slots an excellent option to familiarise yourself with the game and practice as much as you want without worrying about your finances. You can test out bonus features on free slots to decide if they are worth the money before investing in them with real cash.
Conclusion
Ultimately, how you play slots is entirely dependent on what kind of player you are and your budget. There are also external factors such as RTP and volatility that you can decide on to make the most out of your money.
