Open up an online or mobile casino these days, and the chances are you'll be inundated with slot games – each looking more enticing than the last.
Over the past few years, the world of online gaming has really grown and with it, there are now thousands of new slot games to play and enjoy whenever you feel like.
However, with so much choice at your fingertips, how on earth do you know where to start?
There are plenty of guides around which promise to point you in the direction of great slot games, and plenty of different sites will recommend new slots (GoWin included). That being said, none of it really helps if you don't know what you're looking for in the first place.
Luckily for you, we're here to help! On this page, you can find out everything you need to know about picking the best slot machine for you. We'll be discussing:
- How to choose slots with great winning payouts
- How to find slots to suit your budget
- How to find slots which are appealing to you
? Picking Slots With The Highest Payouts
If you're playing slots for fun, then there's really no rules to follow. You can simply pick a game you find attractive, and play to your heart's content. However, if you're playing slots to win real money, things get slightly trickier.
To pick the best slots for winning real money, you have to find the games which pay out more than others. You can do this by first finding the slots with the highest return to player rate (RTP).
What is RTP?
The RTP of a slot is the percentage of all the wagered money which a slot pays back to its players. So for example, a certain slot may have an RTP rate of 96%.
However, the RTP is theoretical. This means that if a slot has an RTP of 96%, you shouldn't expect 96p back for every £1 wagered – where would be the fun in that? The percentage is taken from everyone who plays the slots' wagers, and so you can win a lot more than the given rate.
A good slot should have an RTP rate of 94% or higher. Some slots do fall under this, so be careful!
Where to Find A Slot's RTP
Finding a slot's RTP is relatively easy. The quickest way to do so is to simply google it (‘slot name' + RTP). You can also find out a slot's RTP by reading slot reviews.
Alternatively, the RTP of a certain game may be listed within the game or casino. Sometimes, the RTP is stated within the slot's paytable or in the ‘help' section.
?? Picking Slots to Suit Your Budget
Of course, the phrase ‘good slot' is entirely subjective – someone's trash is another person's treasure. This means that you must always assess your own wants and needs when trying to find the perfect slot for you.
One of the biggest things a slots player should consider when picking a slot is how it suits their budget. This means you need to weigh up the minimum and maximum bet sizes, and the slot's volatility.
What is Slot Volatility?
Slot volatility, or variance as it's sometimes also called, refers to how risky the slot is. A slot with low volatility will give you small but frequent rewards (low risk), whilst a high volatility slot has rarer, bigger wins (high risk).
It is important, therefore, to consider slot volatility if you're playing with a budget. For example, playing a high volatility slot may mean you have to spin for quite some time without winning anything. This isn't ideal for those who don't have a large bankroll.
On the other hand, low volatility slots are great for those who want to play for an extended period of time. The frequent wins top up your bankroll regularly, meaning you can spin longer.
How to Find Out the Volatility of a Slot?
You can figure out the volatility of a slot by simply playing it. Track your wins over roughly 100 spins, and see how frequent they are and how large they are.
Like RTP rates, you can also simply search for a slot's volatility on Google. Many slot reviewers will have worked out the slot volatility for you, by playing it themselves.
? Picking Trusted Slots
One of the best things about the ever-growing nature of the online casino industry is that there's also an ever-growing community of online casino players. This means that if a slot is bad, the players will be vocal about it.
This means that if you're attempting to pick a ‘good slot', you should always check out player reviews and ratings first. You can read comments on forum sites and even in Facebook groups.
What's more, if a slot is good, it will have a following. Cult slots like Starburst, Gonzo's Quest and Mega Moolah are popular for a reason, so put your faith in your fellow players.
? Picking Slots Which are Appealing to You
Budgets and winnings aside, one of the most valuable pieces of advice we can offer is to simply play slots which you find exciting and fun.
Whilst playing slots can be very lucrative, to play the slot often enough to win big, you're going to have to enjoy it too. Luckily, thanks to the fact there's now such a huge array of games available, there's something for everyone.
Slot Themes
With hundreds of games to pick from, you can easily find a game which you like the look of. There's plenty of different slot themes around, from Irish to space alien. In addition, there's now also games which take you on a journey, have their own narratives and even their own lovable characters.
Bonus Features
Bonus features are a great way of upping your potential winnings. What's more, they can be very fun to play. Spinning slots can sometimes feel monotonous, and therefore a great bonus feature acts as a much-needed break.
These days, most modern video slots include at least one bonus feature of some kind. This means you can find plenty of slots which boast your favourite bonus features. Popular bonus features include:
- Special Wild Symbols
- Mini Games
- Free Spins
- Level Up Features
Mobile Compatibility
Last, but by no means least, a good slot must be able to be played on the device which you want to play it on – duh. Fortunately, almost all modern slots are now available to be played across all devices, including mobiles, tablets and desktops.
Moreover, most modern slots are designed using HTML5. This means that they both look great and perform perfectly on both Android and iOS smartphone.
Essentially, picking a ‘good slot' is a subjective decision. However, if you follow all of the tips mentioned above, you should be able to find the perfect game for you.