Being a winning slot machine player is impossible. All slot machines are specifically designed so that you can provide the house a long-term edge, so the house will 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 do next? Stop playing that game.
Don't get me wrong. I am not proclaiming that you shouldn't play slot machines. Actually, I think slot games, especially the great ones, are a lot of fun. But you want to keep in the forefront of your thoughts that mathematically, what you are doing when you are playing a slot machine on a long-term basis is paying for entertainment. You can calculate just how much you are paying for that entertainment by multiplying the home edge times your average bet times your number of spins each hour.
As an example, when you are playing a slot game with a payout of 95%, then the house edge is 5%. (The casino keeps 5% of every bet you make long term.) And in case you are average bet is $3, then you're going to pay the average of 15 cents per spin to the home. (5% times $3.) Assuming you're making 500 spins each hour, that game costs you $75/hour to play, which may or may not be a reasonable price for you entertainment. That is determined by your bankroll.
Another thing to factor into your calculation is just how much the perks and bonuses you are getting back from the casino are worth. If you're playing in a land-based casino where you are getting free drinks while you play, in which case you can subtract the cost of those drinks from you are hourly cost. (Or you may add the expense of those drinks to the value of the entertainment you're receiving--it's just a matter of perspective.) My recommendation is to drink top-shelf liquor Longisland explains and premium beers in order to maximize the entertainment value you are receiving. A Heineken can cost $4 a bottle in a nice 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 portion 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's 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 cash you're spending each hour that you are playing on their machine.
So, just how to be a winning slot machine player? I'd sum it up by saying know how much it's costing you to play each spin and each hour, make use of all the comps as well as the perks, and go for the big progressive jackpot.
Don't get me wrong. I am not proclaiming that you shouldn't play slot machines. Actually, I think slot games, especially the great ones, are a lot of fun. But you want to keep in the forefront of your thoughts that mathematically, what you are doing when you are playing a slot machine on a long-term basis is paying for entertainment. You can calculate just how much you are paying for that entertainment by multiplying the home edge times your average bet times your number of spins each hour.
As an example, when you are playing a slot game with a payout of 95%, then the house edge is 5%. (The casino keeps 5% of every bet you make long term.) And in case you are average bet is $3, then you're going to pay the average of 15 cents per spin to the home. (5% times $3.) Assuming you're making 500 spins each hour, that game costs you $75/hour to play, which may or may not be a reasonable price for you entertainment. That is determined by your bankroll.
Another thing to factor into your calculation is just how much the perks and bonuses you are getting back from the casino are worth. If you're playing in a land-based casino where you are getting free drinks while you play, in which case you can subtract the cost of those drinks from you are hourly cost. (Or you may add the expense of those drinks to the value of the entertainment you're receiving--it's just a matter of perspective.) My recommendation is to drink top-shelf liquor Longisland explains and premium beers in order to maximize the entertainment value you are receiving. A Heineken can cost $4 a bottle in a nice 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 portion 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's 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 cash you're spending each hour that you are playing on their machine.
So, just how to be a winning slot machine player? I'd sum it up by saying know how much it's costing you to play each spin and each hour, make use of all the comps as well as the perks, and go for the big progressive jackpot.