Playing online casino games and slots is a really fun pastime. However, slots in particular are based on luck. Choosing the right game is therefore very important. Luckily, there are some factors to consider.
Take a look at the RTP
One of the first elements to check is return to player rate or RTP. This represents the likelihood of gaining back money lost when playing a game. The higher the RTP, the less money you’ll lose over an extended period of play. Essentially, these slots have the best odds of winning.
For example, a slot with an RTP of 97% means that over an extended period of play, you can expect to win back $97 for every $100 you spend on playing. Of course, this is still not a guarantee. RTP is calculated over tens of thousands of spins. One session could come up far worse, another much better. That being said, always look for slots with higher RTPs. We recommend only playing games with 96% and up.
You can find slot RTPs and additional information on sites like FruitySlots.com where all the game information is available to aid in this type of decision.
Volatility or variance
When choosing slot games, looking at the variance or volatility level is key. Now, this often depends on your budget, but mixing and matching various volatility levels is a great way to try and score a win or two.
Low volatility games pay out regularly. However, they tend to pay out in small amounts, typically a few cents on each spin. But, this does enable you to keep your bankroll ticking over so that you can keep on playing.
Conversely, high volatility games don’t pay out often, but when they do, the wins are huge. Of course, you can end up losing your entire bankroll if you only pay a high volatility game. And this is why starting out with small bets on a low variance game is often the best way to go about it.
Once you’ve boosted your bankroll, you can play a few rounds on one of the high volatility games to see if you can claim a big win.
Regular payouts
Another point to consider is to look at the providers. Some game providers are notorious for offering high RTP games. Playtech and NetEnt, for instance, commonly offer slots with high RTPs. This means that you don’t have to search around to find games with regular payouts if you opt for games from these providers.
On the flip side, it’s always important to check the opposite side to this. Avoid games that hardly every payout. Some of these low winning games should be avoided such as some of the games from Blueprint Gaming or Cryptologic.
Get help from players
In addition to checking out comparison or review sites for slot games, it’s worth actually checking in with other players. Players know better than most which games are worth spinning and which should be avoided. It’s always worthwhile checking out message boards and game comments to see which slots have awarded high payouts or regular wins. Join the discussion yourself to get more ideas thrown your way.
Final thoughts
It’s always tempting to choose a slot based on the visuals or the theme. But, you’ve got far better chances if you look at the statistics of the game instead. In addition to looking at the RTP and volatility, you can also check out the in-game features. Games with the megaways reel mechanic, cascading reels, wilds, scatters and free spins, give you more winning opportunities.
