Slots Strategy

Slots are the most popular game at any casino, whether we’re talking about an online casino or one on the Vegas strip. They are also probably the most misunderstood game. The problem stems from the fact that so many people try to beat the slots. They try to come up with a strategy that will guarantee success or at the very least reduce the amount of money they lose.

The truth is that there really is no slots strategy that works. There are tons of books written on the subject and an equal amount of websites, but none can deliver. The reason you can’t beat slots is the same reason they are so appealing: Slots are a game of chance.

The good news is that every time you spin a slot, you have an equal chance of winning. The bad news is that every time you spin a slot, you have an equal chance of winning. Get it? Your odds don’t change if you incorporate a betting strategy, if you time out your spins, if you keep track of its payouts or anything like that.

The biggest myth about slots regards hot slots and cold slots. The thinking is this: A slot that is paying out a lot at the moment will continue doing so because it is hot. Therefore, it’s a good slot to play. Conversely, a slot that hasn’t paid out in a while is cold and is therefore “due.” For that reason, it is a good slot to play.

The fact that a hot and cold slot are both said to be the slot to play should tell you something about the accuracy of that strategy. It doesn’t work. Slots are all controlled by a random number generator. That program generates a series of numbers hundreds of times every second and every number coincides with a certain outcome. That assures that each spin is independent of the next. If a slot has paid out 30 times in a row, it has exactly the same odds as if that same slot hadn’t paid out at all in the last 30 spins.

There is one thing you can do to increase your chances, though. Although your odds won’t ever change on the same machine, different slots have different odds. Some slots (called loose slots) pay out more often than others while others (called tight slots) pay out less often. Needless to say, you would rather play a loose slot.

Land-based casinos will often have a combination of loose slots, tight slots, and slots that are somewhere in between. The common theory is that casinos put loose slots on the aisles so people can see them pay out a lot. There is truth to this, but not all slots on the aisles are loose. They also put some tight slots there. That’s because the casinos know about that theory and they know people will play the slots on the aisle assuming they are all loose. To find a loose slot, you should observe their behavior, ask locals and other regulars, and do some other research. For online casinos, you can often find payout percentages online. You can sometimes find them for land-based casinos as well.