iGaming Journalist
Have you ever wondered how to find the best odds slots while attempting to beat the reels at their own game?
Whether you’re spinning the reels on the casino floor or playing slots in one of the many online casinos, we’ve created the ultimate guide to slot odds explained. From the benefits of knowing the Return to Player (RTP) rates to breaking down the odds of winning slots on the top game titles, we’ve got you covered in our slot machine odds guide.
What are Slot Machine Odds?
Slot machine odds are quite simply deemed as the likelihood of you winning a prize on any given spin. These odds are determined by the game’s mechanics, whether you are playing a physical slot machine or via an iGaming casino slot online or on your phone.
Nowadays, every slot spin is entirely independent, dictated by the use of random number generators (RNGs), which prevent the occurrence of repeated patterns. Therefore, hitting the jackpot or landing on a prize-winning combination cannot be deduced by studying previous spin results.
The formula for each spin depends on the number of symbols, reels, and paylines available for each RNG gaming terminal, which is fundamental for understanding slot odds. However, as winning the slot jackpot on every machine remains a game of chance, knowing these underlying probabilities makes it easier to make smarter wagering decisions.
Despite the difficulty, trying to beat the slot machine odds remains a highly debated topic worldwide. This is likely because slots have always been the most popular form of casino gambling worldwide, with recent estimates predicting that the slot machine market is expected to exceed $4.31 billion by 2029.
Factors Determining Slot Machine Odds
Amazingly, several elements can influence your odds of winning a slot jackpot, and we’ve included a shortlist of these below:
Number of Slot Paylines
Different types of slots have varying amounts of paylines, which are the lines across the slot reel display where matching symbols can trigger a prize win. Slot machines with a greater number of paylines often mean you have more chances to win, but they can also increase your initial staking amounts, too.
Historically, the earliest versions of slot machine terminals consisted of a central payline with just three symbols. In contrast, modern-day video slots now offer hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of paylines per game.
Slots games often allow you to select the number of paylines you wish to wager on, while others have a fixed number for every spin. Critically, playing slot machines with numerous paylines is a better option. Still, it won’t always translate into higher winning odds, so you must adjust your slot strategy accordingly.
Number of Slot Symbols
Notably, each reel on a slot machine game will have a certain number of symbols; however, the more symbols there are, the lower your chances of landing a winning combination will be. For instance, a key factor in understanding slot odds here is that if a reel has 10 symbols where you are required to match three of a kind, the odds will be 1 in 1,000 (10 x 10 x 10).
That being said, some slot game designs feature reels where symbols can appear more than once. Here, wilds, scatters, and high-paying symbols can dramatically increase your odds of winning depending on how frequently they emerge.
Understanding how these symbols are distributed on a slot wheel provides valuable insight into the likelihood of a game offering players repeat wins and the potential for winning the jackpot itself.
Slot Machine Design
Interestingly, the vast majority of today’s games use clever RNG algorithms that reflect the slot machine probability for every possible symbol combination outcome. Whether you are playing on the casino floor or using online slots, the winnings from these RNGs replicate the odds for each winning combination.
Classic slots, on the other hand, were often more straightforward and utilized fewer variables than the elaborate feature variations on today’s video slot terminals. As a result, a new generation of slot players has grown accustomed to bonus rounds, feature animations, and progressive jackpots, which have become a staple of modern slot machine game designs.
Furthermore, slot developers now also include audio and visual cues, which, while they don’t change the actual odds, can influence a player’s decision before the next spin.
Slot Volatility
Also known as variance, slot volatility indicates to players how risky a slot machine is to play.
Crucially, high-volatility slots tend to payout less frequently, but they do offer a greater chance for a larger jackpot win. In contrast, low-volatility slots will likely see you win more often, but the payouts and jackpots are more likely to be lower.
Matching your style of play with a slot game’s volatility can help you judge the stake level you are happy to use about the size of a potential win. Here, more risk-averse gamers may choose to opt for a low-volatility slot game to help manage and stretch their bankroll further.
Of course, volatility won’t directly affect the RTP rate, but it can certainly influence your gaming experience, as well as help you assess your perceived chances of winning.
How Do Slot Machines Work?
First, let’s dive into the heart of a slot terminal or online game dependence on the RNG format, which directly correlates with a slot machine’s payout probability.
In principle, RNG slots can generate thousands of number sequences per second and are created by attributing a number to each wheel, as well as to every symbol on the individual wheels. If you’re still getting familiar with the basics of reels, paylines, and bonus features, it’s worth having a look at how to play slots to get a feel for how everything fits together before diving into the odds.
When you press the ‘spin’ button, the slot machine instantly displays the corresponding symbol combination based on the randomly generated number.
This RNG principle is applied to every slot machine, no matter how many wheels it has or how many symbols are on each wheel. The only thing that changes is the complexity of the RNG algorithms, depending on the number of variations that need to be calculated.
Then, in addition to the primary spins, bonus features such as free spins or mini-games are also triggered randomly, purely based on the coded odds.
Progressive jackpot slots also add a layer of intricacy, as the jackpot continues to grow over time and is paid out only when certain combinations are hit.
Which Slot Machines Pay the Best?
To find the best odds slots, research is key. However, we’d save you some time and have put together a list of the best odds slots with the highest RTP percentage in relation to their balanced volatility.
| Slots Game Title | RTP | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Joker | 99% | High |
| Blood Suckers | 98% | Low |
| Starmania | 97.86% | Low to Medium |
| White Rabbit Megaways | 97.72% | High |
| Big Bad Wolf | 97.3% | High |
| Apollo God of the Sun | 97.17% | High |
| Gorilla Go Wilder | 97.04% | High |
| Reel Rush | 97% | Medium |
| Quick Hit Ultra Pays Eagle’s Peak | 96.89% | High |
| Dead or Alive 2 | 96.82% | Low |
One of the best ways to sustain playing slot games is to choose titles with a very high RTP, but that also equates to the volatility level that suits your risk tolerance. You’ll find many of these high-RTP games available at trusted real money slot sites, so it’s worth browsing a few options to see where you can get the best deals and features.
What is RTP?
It doesn’t matter if you’re new to playing slots or actively seeking ways to improve your odds of winning – always consider the game’s return-to-player (RTP) percentage before you play.
This percentage figure indicates the payout amount to players over time in relation to the total money wagered. For example, Mega Joker’s RTP of 99% suggests that, on average, for every $100 wagered, the slot game pays out $99 back to its players.
Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that the RTP is calculated over millions of slot spins so that short-term gameplay results can vary greatly. Therefore, while a high RTP doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll win 99% of the time, it provides a better platform for understanding slot odds.
How to Win at Slots – Our Top Tips
While there is no guaranteed way to win every time you visit a slot machine, there are still ways that can optimize your enjoyment while incrementally increasing your odds of winning slots. These include:
- Play high RTP games: Start using games with higher RTPs that offer returns of more than 96% over time, as this can provide a longer-term edge during your slot-playing adventures.
- Understanding slot odds volatility: Playing low-volatility games will provide you with more frequent wins, whereas high-volatility games are riskier but allow you also to win bigger prizes.
- Set a budget and stick to it: Always decide before you play any slot machine how much you are prepared to lose, as this prevents you from attempting to chase your losses.
- Use casino bonuses wisely: While free spins and deposit amount matches can help extend your slot play session, always be sure to read the terms of these offers properly before you accept them.
- Practice play with demo slots: Ideal for slot machine newbies or whenever playing a new slot machine. Be sure to play the demo mode or free-to-play versions first. This way, you can become familiar with the different game mechanics and slot odds before you start risking your money.
Slot Machine Strategies
Like with every format of gambling, the best way to stay on top of your spending, as well as maximize your potential to win in the long term, is to incorporate a strategy into your slot gameplay.
For that reason, we thought we’d also include the top three strategies players use to help beat the slot machine odds, which include:
Fixed Stakes Slots Bet Strategy
Possibly the most productive strategy, the fixed staking method is brilliant for first-time slot players, as well as those looking to try out a new slot game. Here, all you have to do is wager the same amount on every spin, which makes it ideal for budgeting but also acts as a superb low-risk strategy when learning about a new slot machine’s odds.
Progressive Staking Slots Betting Strategy
For this one, the progressive staking strategy allows you to increase your bet size after every winning spin and vice versa, reducing your stake amount after a losing spin. By doing this, you can supercharge your enjoyment of playing slot machines, but it comes with added risk to your bankroll.
Bankroll Slots Splitting Strategy
For the bankroll slots splitting strategy, simply divide your bankroll into smaller amounts that you can use either on different slot games or additional gaming sessions at a later date. This budgeting format helps you maintain a steady bankroll by managing your gameplay activity effectively.
Conclusion
Each bettor will have their preference as to how they approach playing slot games, and there isn’t ever a ‘correct’ way to play. However, we hope that the information provided on this page has given you some insight into slot machine odds and probability.
Following some of the slot strategies that we’ve covered might prove helpful, but there are no guarantees of making a profit from these.
Make sure to check out all the available free responsible gambling tools that are available to you before you gamble. These initiatives are designed to protect you and include tools such as setting deposit and loss limits, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion measures to prevent slot play from becoming excessive.
