If you’ve ever played at a slot machine in a casino, you’re probably aware that winning is almost entirely down to luck. Luckily, slots aren’t completely random, and there are several strategies that can help you win more often at them. Having an understanding of how slot games work will make you more confident in your ability to win at them, and will improve your overall gaming experience.

Bonuses

Bonuses are a great way to increase your chances of winning at slots and can come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on the slot, you can find features such as multipliers, free spins, and even lucky wheels! These bonuses are typically triggered by landing special symbols on the reels and can have a huge impact on your win potential.

Payouts

While most slot games only pay left to right, there are a few that offer ways to boost your odds of winning by paying on the middle three reels as well. These features are called pay both ways and adjacent pays, and can significantly raise your max win potential.

Payout Percentage

While the payout percentage of a slot game can vary from casino to casino, most online casinos will list it on their rules page or information page. Some even post video results to show how much money you can win by playing certain slots.

Slot Machine Slang

Many slot players use slang to describe different aspects of slot games. Some of these slang terms are common and others are more obscure. Here are some of the most popular:

Multiplier- A multiplier is a feature on some slot machines that can multiply your payouts up to ten times when you land a bonus symbol. This feature can be extremely beneficial for players who are trying to increase their bankrolls by winning a large amount on a single spin.

Near Miss- A near miss is when a winning combination on a slot machine almost lands, but it doesn’t. This is usually a sign that you should try your hand at another slot machine instead.

Nudge Slot- A nudge slot is a slot game feature that moves the winning combination up or down that little bit to ensure that it lands on the pay line. This is especially useful when you have a higher maximum bet and want to maximize your winnings.

Hit and Run- A hit and run is a slang term for when a player plays a single payline slot at max credit bets for only a few spins, then moves on to another slot machine if it doesn’t payout any credits. This is a popular strategy for high rollers, as it allows them to play for longer periods of time without spending too much money.

Jackpot- A jackpot is the highest payout that a slot can award and is the goal of most players. This is typically a large sum of money, and can be won by landing five or more special symbols on the reels.