Best tips to win more on casino slot machines

On your next trip to the casino, be prepared to increase your chances of winning.  It’s not just about winning casino slot machine jackpots, the important thing is to win more often with regular play.  I cover some key elements in this article that will help give you the best chance at winning.  When you understand how the machines work, you can at least have a better chance at winning.  Starting with understanding how these modern slot machines work should help.  

Most of the casino slot machines are actually video games.  They are computers with programming that includes a random number generator.  Results are completely arbitrary. That is the point of the computer code that randomly generates a result.  The house edge is generally about 5%-12% (average).  What this means is that the penny slots you are playing require you to play an amount such as $1.00 or 100 pennies.

 Of course, you can no longer put in any coins but the computers are programmed to pay a multiple of your bet if you win.  Sometimes you will bet $1.00 and receive $0.15 in return or perhaps several hundred dollars.  Completely random payouts.

The house pays back about 94% of bets in Mississippi

When you win a bet on the machine, this is part of the average 94% the house pays back.  The term in the industry is RTP or “return-to-player” average.  The RTP in Biloxi, Mississippi is 94.18% higher than the national average of 92.5%.  The casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast usually maintain an average RTP which is similar to the others in the area.  

Everything about playing slot machines is about the
random number generator

Suggestions and recommendations are just that. be aware that you are gambling and you should do so as entertainment

With 12 casinos people have choices and if a casino seems not to pay, they will move on.  If you play at a casino set up in the desert or some rural area all by itself, there is no competition and it is likely that their RTP will be lower meaning that you will earn less every time you push the button.  

Now that I have introduced this RTP standard, you should know that while casinos usually maintain a minimum RTP required by the state gaming commission, each machine has its own RTP.  This means that while a casino may pay out more than another casino, some machines in a specific casino may pay out more than others.  The trick is how can you tell which will pay out more.  

Payouts on progressive machines are lower

Starting with machines that pay out progressive jackpots, you should know that payouts will be lower, not counting a big bonus.  In the long run, casino slot machines that pay large progressive jackpots must recover that larger-than-normal win.  They do this by shaving from the smaller wins.  The house advantage is the same in the end because these large payouts will eventually be recovered.  If you do not care about the mega, mega win, try playing a machine without a progressive jackpot(s).

There is another way you can help yourself.  These modern casino slots are often set up to capture specific players.  For example, you may be paying $0.88 each time or even less.  Because you are not paying $2 or $4 or more, there is no need to play machines with very high bet limits right?  Wrong.  Often machines that have maximum bets of for example $1.50-$2.50 will not pay as well as machines that allow maximum bets of greater amounts.  These machines are made for players who are betting smaller amounts.

If you want to increase the average payout, consider playing casino slot machines that offer the opportunity for larger bets even when you are not making them.  In the long term, you are more likely to be paid more for these machines.  Why? I do not have a clue but my research indicates that the results are better for players with smaller amounts.  Casinos never do anything without a good reason based on lots of research.

Progressive jackpots

How about those progressive jackpots?  Slot players are enticed to machines with large progressive payouts sometimes for more than one million dollars.  These progressive slot machines can and do pay large amounts.  There are variations on the theme.  Many progressive slot machines will pay the maximum bonus to a player betting the minimum bet for example $0.88.  I witnessed a player who was playing eighty-eight cents win over $10,000 on a progressive slot machine game.  

Then there are those progressive machines that entice you to bet higher because they will not award a maximum payout unless you bet at a minimum threshold.  You can play these machines at for example one dollar and do as well as anyone in terms of the ratio paid to the amount bet.  Without betting the higher amount, you will not be able to reach the highest bonus amounts.  

Often there are levels of payouts and you would qualify for some but not all.  The percent chance of winning the maximum payout will not change by betting more except you will be eligible.  Remember that random number generator?

How to make the most of the bets I make?

The big question is how can I make the most of the bets that I make?  Time to focus on the “pay table”.  The pay table is a very important element in the casino slot machine.  You can find it by looking for a place to tap on the screen called “menu”, “Game rules” or something similar.  There will be multiple screens that explain exactly what is paid out for combinations of symbols.  

The game designer has usually created a symbol that ties to the name of the game.  Such as the “King’s wealth”.  The symbol of the king may be the symbol that pays the most.  Usually, there are five columns across for payouts so the most income you can make is to have the entire screen filled in with king symbols.  

​Next to the symbol you will see the ratio of the payout to the bet.  For example a payout for a Buffalo game that I know is 500 x the bet.  This is when you get the maximum of buffalos.  A good payout is 1,000 or more and a great payout is 10,000 or more.  This is where you will do better by paying attention to the pay tables.   Your percent chance of winning from one machine to another is going to be very similar as they may be set at an RTP of about the same percent.

Why play a machine with a lower payout?

This means that if you see a game with a maximum payout of 500 for a symbol, walk around and find another just like it with a payout of a higher amount.  I was recently in a casino and found the 500 Buffalo payout and knew this was low.  I found one that paid 1,000.  The same machine.  Ask yourself, why would you play the lower of two identical computer-controlled machines?  Most people do not know about the pay tables, they are just having fun.  

​Some casinos are jammed full of people taking most machines.  You want to play so you sit down at a free machine squeezing in between other casino slot players.  Trying to find a machine with a better payout may be difficult.  Some people have their favorite machines, I have had a favorite machine but not for the reasons you may think.  Want another tip about gameplay?  

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Styles of Play

• The pound: This is when you use your fist on the big repeat button to stop the reels and win a bonus. Do not repeat this but some pounders say the harder you pound the better it is.
• The screen rub: Use your hand to point to the reel you want to stop or wave it around the screen to inform the machine that you are going to win this one.
• The stare: When you are playing a game, you have won a bonus round and you can’t determine what to do next. That large notice to “press here” on the screen eludes you.
• Pull out your player’s card and reinsert: Trick the machine into thinking you are a new player entitled to a break and a bonus.
• Take your money out and then reinsert it: Does the same as pulling out your card but you can do both. This may inform the machine logic that you should be rewarded as a new player
• Change your bet: Bet $0.50 then the next time go to $2.00 then back until you win or decide to move on. This way you might win with the higher bet.
• Win a bonus and leave: Don’t make another bet, leave that large payout on the screen to warn the next person to avoid it because you took all of the money.

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The paytable is a key

​Machines may offer a bonus of X$ which looks nice and you think that would be great but did you know that some of these machines will pay many times your bet?  Looking at the paytable is a first start but you will not know what amounts the machine has paid in the past unless you frequent the casino often.  This is one of my many stories about casinos and winnings.

I was playing a machine called the “Walking Dead” at the Golden Nugget casino in Biloxi.  I liked the machine because it offered opportunities to make selections that could result in winning upwards of $50,000 immediately when you win a bonus.  Regardless of what you win immediately, you will be offered the opportunity to select the number of free games.  Hold this thought, I will come back to it.

Have you won an opportunity to select from a screen of coins?  Usually, you pick three like items and you win that prize.  Now don’t get upset at what you are about to learn.  Your choices are irrelevant.  The amount you will win was already set by the computer before the screen appeared.  Regardless of how you take your time to make a selection, it has already been made.  What I have just stated applies only to those machines that do not show you the ones that you did not select.  Let me explain.

Your bonus is already determined no matter what icon you touch

You can rush through the selection process because the machine has determined you will get for example the mini bonus.  This will happen regardless of what you hit.  When you win the mini, the machine does not expose the ones that you did not select.  If it did, you would see nothing.  Why, because you earned the bonus the machine had decided to award.  Your actions had no effect on the outcome.  Sorry.

Back to the Walking Dead machine.  This is a different type of slot machine where the symbols you do not select are exposed.  This means that you actually had a chance at winning other prizes.  The machine did not predetermine your choices.  

This is a big difference for players who really want to know how they went wrong or how close they came.  If they had made their first choice etc.  The game did not increase the percent chance of winning because it understands the odds at play but you got more from the game knowing you had some control.

The same is true of the second part where you pick the number of spins you get.  The ones you did not pick are shown for you to see.  Now to the amounts that you can win on some machines.

The Walking Dead game gives you real bonus choices

The Walking Dead casino slot machine is one of my favorites due to what was just described is only part of it.  One time I won $7,500 which was an amount greater than all of the bonus amounts above except for the top one.  You could not know that the machine would pay out that much just by playing it.  Undersanding the paytable you could have learned that big bonuses were possible but it would take a calculator and some time to work out the iterations.

Another time, I won about $4,500, and several other times I won multiple thousand-dollar jackpots all on the same Walking Dead game.  In fact, the time when I won the $7,500 bonus, I moved over to the next machine to wait for a payout.  Within two hits, I won about $1,400 on that machine.  It was a good night.

Remember, all slot machines are games of chance.  Chances are with the house more than you.  For every big payout, someone is walking out of the casino with an empty wallet.  The slot machine tips I have mentioned above should not negatively affect your own play.  Most players go to the casinos to have fun not deal with slot machine algorithms.  

Do you stop the reels?

They probably will not look up pay tables and may gravitate to that progressive with the big payout.  Others have their own style.  For example, some like to stop the reels trying to get bigger jackpots.  I am wrestling with whether or not to deal with this trick but here goes.  

Stopping the reels does not increase your chance of winning.  Wow, I hope that this does not upset you.  I see people pounding on the keys to stop the reels and I have seen some good results.  My wife for example will often resort to violence when playing a casino slot machine looking for the top prize.   There is a game with rhinos.   If you get three or more rhinos you get free games.  If you get many rhinos, the number of free games increases.  On two separate occasions, my wife stopped the reels and the screen was full of rhinos.  

​Each time she won more than 400 free games.   The number of free games is not based on the bet, it is based on the symbols on the screen.  Clearly, she stopped the reels and won but based on the science and random number generator, she would have at some point received the same results letting the machine go.  The point is that you will never know.  Here is the trick.  

You could win a bonus

Lots of games will not always result in a big payout.  Every free game is a new opportunity for the 94% payback to occur.  Yes, you will win a bonus but it could be a few dollars or thousands of dollars.  

​That particular game is a different type which offers the opportunity for up to eight screens to come up and every screen is a different game offering eight opportunities to win at one time.  These are fun and can keep your eyes busy going from one to another.  What a big difference from the early slot machines with cherries, bars, and bells.  

The best strategy for playing slots is to take funds with you that you can afford to lose.  Consider playing to be recreation.  Have some free drinks and a meal.  If you play often, you can join the casino players club and earn free food and free play.  All of this is intended to entice you to return.  That’s all good as long as you budget yourself.

Back to the best slot machines.  Those are the ones that pay big.  Which ones are they?  It’s possible to increase your odds by looking around not only at the pay tables but also at new machines that were just installed.  These machines get lots of play meaning that they are collecting funds with which to pay more and higher bonuses.  

Bonuses within bonus, drop-down instant rewards

I have deduced this in part by talking with casino floor people who tell me about nice modest bonuses that are paid out in the first couple of weeks after new machines are installed.  Often these new machines have special features that older machines lack such as bonuses within bonuses, drop-down instant rewards, and more.

Also, some casino slot machines tell you that they will pay at a specific point.  For example when the maxi bonus reaches $1,000 which is currently at $950.  In this case, you have a better chance of winning than if it was reset to the starting point at $500.  Some accumulate coins as you play and then spill over.  Players will walk away before the pot spills even when it is ready to do so.  My wife hits these often and they pay soon after she sits down.

Another example of a favorite machine.  One with buffalos across the top.  Each time the screen shows a gold coin, it goes to the top and helps add more buffalos.  When the row of buffalos is full, they stampede and you are offered the chance to pick coins.  The coins pay one of several bonuses listed at the top.  

One game pays a bonus and resets at between $925 and $1,025

After playing that game for years and walking by it more often, I have determined that when it resets at $800 (second to highest bonus), it will not pay until it goes above $900.  I have won twice when the 2nd highest bonus was at about $950.  When it’s below $900 I do not play it.  I know this because I have been there often.

We were recently at the same casino and my wife was going to sit down at the machine, I noticed the bonus level at $810. I told her to leave. At the same time, she told me while she was sitting down the person to right won a bonus that was at about $1,005. This is the fourth time that I have been able to confirm the payout timing in dollars.

If you are wondering about a machine and can go to the casino every week or two, just keep an eye on it over time and watch those bonuses change.  When they are paid out they drop and then build up again.  Many of these machines award bonuses consisting of free spins and some games can give extra spins during the bonus spin like buffalo games.  I like these better, my chances of winning are greater although I understand that the machine is only going to pay out 94%.  

For entertainment, I like games with many features

I also like machines that are more like games with bonus features and things that happen all of a sudden.  Sometimes I wonder how I just won X dollars.  It’s fun.  When I have played them for a while and have won all of the various payouts, I move on to a new one.  I never lose sight of the pay table, however.  

It’s a good idea when you go to the casino to take cash.  The fees charged at the ATMs are often doubled.  A charge at the casino atm and then at your own bank.  If you do use an ATM, the price is the same regardless of what you remove.  If you think you will be back at the ATM on the same trip, increase what you have requested to avoid multiple charges.

Most popular slot machines

As of the date this is written, the following are the most popular slot machines across the country:

• Wheel of Fortune: Bonus features, potentially large payouts
• Buffalo: A high-volatility slot known for its big payouts and exciting bonus rounds.
• Cleopatra: An Egyptian-themed slot with free spins and multipliers.
• Double Diamond: A classic three-reel slot with high payouts and simple gameplay.
• Lightning Link: A progressive slot series known for its interconnected bonus features and jackpots.

The Wheel of Fortune is one of the highest jackpot payers having paid $1.6 million at the Las Vegas Tropicana in March 2023. The Lightening Link paid $1.2 million for the “Happy & Prosperous” version.

Taxes on winnings

Another thing that people wonder about is what happens if you win big.  Every state has a threshold for jackpots before they take taxes.  In Mississippi, it’s just above $1,201.  Winnings above $5,000 require a deduction of federal taxes at the rate of 24% of the win. You will receive a W-2G form for your winnings.

Gambling revenue supports the public

In july 2023, Mississippi earned $25,846,130 in gambling taxes and revenue, a large portion goes back to local government

Should you win a jackpot and receive a w-2g form, do not forget to factor it into your tax return. One year I did not and the IRS notified me. I had to file an amended return using losses to offset the gain which kept me from paying income taxes on the win.

If you win for example $20,000, the casino can issue a check or send an ACH to your bank.  You need not take all of that cash with you.  I was told by a casino employee that he had paid as much as $40,000 in cash to a winner.  Why they would want to take that much cash?  There must be entertainment value in walking around with a big package of $100 bills.

You can not write off losses on income unless

​You should know that you can not write off losses gambling.  Except to the extent of winnings.  If you win $1,000, you can deduct $1,000 in losses breaking even.  If you have a casino player’s card you can see yourwin-losss statement online.  Thank you for reading this article, I hope it sheds some light on slot machines and will help you create a good strategy.

Finally, if you decide to change it up a bit and play table games, blackjack has the best odds of the table games.  Actually, Craps bets on the Come line have the best odds.  The worst odds will be roulette.  Rather than bet on roulette, I just stand here and make an air bet.  I bet black or red, it’s simple.  1-1 payout.  

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Historic Slot Machine Payouts

The top 10 largest casino slot wins in history:

1. $39.7 Million – Excalibur Casino, Las Vegas (2003)

In 2003, a young software engineer who chose to remain anonymous won the largest slot machine jackpot in history at the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas. The lucky winner was playing the Megabucks slot machine when they hit the jackpot for a staggering $39.7 million.

2. $35 Million – Desert Inn, Las Vegas (2005)

In 2005, a 74-year-old woman named Andrea Scinta won $35 million playing the Megabucks slot machine at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. Scinta, a retired schoolteacher, was playing with a $1 bill when she hit the jackpot.

3. $27.6 Million – Palace Station Casino, Las Vegas (2016)

In 2016, a 43-year-old man won $27.6 million playing the Wheel of Fortune slot machine at the Palace Station Casino in Las Vegas. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, was playing with a $1.50 bet when he hit the jackpot.

4. $22.6 Million – Bally’s, Las Vegas (2012)

In 2012, a 25-year-old man won $22.6 million playing the Megabucks slot machine at Bally’s in Las Vegas. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, was playing with a $2 bet when he hit the jackpot.

5. $21.3 Million – Caesars Palace, Las Vegas (1999)

In 1999, a 49-year-old business consultant won $21.3 million playing the Megabucks slot machine at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, was playing with a $10 bet when he hit the jackpot.

6. $21.1 Million – Cannery Casino & Hotel, Las Vegas (2005)

In 2005, a 70-year-old retired firefighter named Elmer Sherwin won $21.1 million playing the Megabucks slot machine at the Cannery Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas. Sherwin had previously won $4.6 million playing the same machine in 1999.

7. $20.2 Million – Orleans Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas (1994)

In 1994, a 70-year-old retired schoolteacher named Shirley Pheiffer won $20.2 million playing the Megabucks slot machine at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Pheiffer was playing with a $1 bet when she hit the jackpot.

8. $17.3 Million – Desert Inn, Las Vegas (1998)

In 1998, a 47-year-old flight attendant from Las Vegas won $17.3 million playing the Megabucks slot machine at the Desert Inn. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, was playing with a $1 bet when she hit the jackpot.

9. $13.47 Million – Fort McDowell Casino, Arizona (2011)

In 2011, a Norwegian man won $13.47 million playing the Mega Moolah slot machine at the Fort McDowell Casino in Arizona. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, was playing with a €0.25 bet when he hit the jackpot.

10. €17.8 Million – PAF.com, Online (2013)

In 2013, a Finnish man won €17.8 million playing the Mega Fortune slot machine at PAF.com. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, was playing with a €0.25 bet when he hit the jackpot.

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Multiple winners of huge jackpots

Yes, there have been several documented cases of individuals winning multiple million-dollar slot machine jackpots. While the odds of winning a single jackpot are incredibly slim, the possibility of winning multiple jackpots, though rare, does exist. Here are a few notable examples:

1. Elmer Sherwin: In 1999, Elmer Sherwin won a $21.8 million jackpot at Bally’s Las Vegas. Just four years later, in 2003, he struck gold again, winning a $4.6 million jackpot at Horseshoe Casino & Resort.
2. Anonymous: In 2004, an anonymous player hit a $27.5 million jackpot at Harrah’s Las Vegas. Three years later, in 2007, the same individual won another $39.7 million jackpot at Wynn Las Vegas.
3. Andrew Carachilo: In 2000, Andrew Carachilo won a $1 million jackpot at Cannery Casino & Resort. Five years later, in 2005, he took home a staggering $21.1 million jackpot from a Las Vegas slot machine.
4. Jeannette Lee: In 1999, Jeannette Lee won a $16.3 million jackpot at Caesars Palace. A year later, in 2000, she won another $35.1 million jackpot at MGM Grand.
5. John Quinn: In 2002, John Quinn won a $22.6 million jackpot at The Mirage. He had previously won a $34.9 million jackpot in the same year.

Without a doubt, there are people who have won very large jackpots on multiple occasions.

Can a slot machine payout two large bonuses on the same day?

Slot machines are programmed to pay out at random intervals, so it is entirely possible that a slot machine could pay out a large jackpot and then another large jackpot within an hour. However, it is important to remember that slot machines are designed to favor the casino in the long run, so the odds of winning two large jackpots in a short period of time are very slim.

In fact, most slot machines have a payback percentage of around 95%, which means that the casino expects to keep about 5% of every dollar that is wagered on the machine. This means that over time, the casino will always make money on its slot machines, even if there are occasional large jackpots.

So, while it is possible for a slot machine to pay out two large jackpots in a short period of time, it is very unlikely. It is more likely that a slot machine will pay out a small jackpot or no jackpot at all.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind about slot machines:

• The odds of winning a jackpot are always the same, regardless of how much money has been wagered on the machine.
• There is no way to predict when a slot machine will pay out a jackpot.
• The best way to increase your chances of winning is to bet the maximum number of coins and play for a long period of time.

This means to me that should you win a large jackpot on a machine it would be best to move on to another. I was at a casino a few days ago observing a person who won about $1,300 largely on a bonus. He continued to play and reduced his winnings to about $900 then left. It may have been better to pull his money out and go somewhere else.

You must have a budget

Don’t go to a casino without a budget. Actually, I recommend that people who have difficulty controlling their spending in a casino leave their ATM cards at home and only take a credit card that will not allow a cash withdrawal.

Stop by an ATM the day before you intend to enter the casino and take out what you can afford to lose. Yes, lose. Pace yourself, and pay lower amounts. Playing slots should be entertainment and not a way to get rich. You can follow all of the suggestions we have laid out here and still walk out of a casino with empty pockets. As I have said, it’s about the random number generator and the casino’s built-in advantage.

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