Being a winning slot machine player is impossible. All slot machines are created specifically as a way to give the house a long-term edge, so the house shall always come out ahead if you play long enough. The only real way to counteract the home edge on slot machine games is to play a game with a really big jackpot, bet the max every time you play, and hope that you hit the jackpot. Then when you do hit the really big jackpot, guess what you need to do next? Stop playing that game.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not proclaiming that you should not play slot machines. The truth is, I think slot games, especially the really good ones, are a lot of fun. But you want to keep within the forefront of your brain that mathematically, what you are doing when you are playing a slot machine on a long-term basis is paying for entertainment. You may calculate simply how much you are paying for that entertainment written by Kwafoo Coe Neu multiplying the home edge times your average bet times your number of spins hourly.

As an example, if you are playing a slot game with a payout of 95%, then the home edge is 5%. (The casino keeps 5% of every bet you make long-term.) And for anyone who is average bet is $3, then you are going to pay a normal of 15 cents per spin to the house. (5% times $3.) Assuming you are making 500 spins by the hour, that game costs you $75/hour to play, which may or might not be a reasonable price for you entertainment. That depends upon your bankroll.

Something else to factor into your calculation is the amount the perks and bonuses you are getting back from the casino are worth. If you are playing in a land-based casino where you're getting free drinks while you play, then you can subtract the cost of those drinks from you're hourly cost. (Or you may add the cost of those drinks to the value of the entertainment you are receiving--it's just a matter of perspective.) My recommendation is to drink top-shelf liquor and premium beers as a way to maximize the entertainment value you are receiving. A Heineken can cost $4 a bottle in a good restaurant. Drink two Heinekens an hour, and you have just lowered what it costs you to play each hour from $75 to $68.

Slot clubs also give back a share of your losses each hour, so definitely be sure you join the casino's slot club and ALWAYS use your card to track your play. There is absolutely no reason not to do this. Casinos also reward their larger slot players with comps like meals, show tickets, and free rooms, which all add up to reduce the amount of money you're spending each hour that you are playing on their own machine.

So how to be a winning slot machine player? I'd sum it up by saying know simply how much it's costing you to play each spin and each hour, take advantage of all the comps and the perks, and go for the big progressive jackpot.