Jackpot Joy!
Kick-start your gambling.com slots in four easy
No matter how you slice it, slots are a game of chance. Anyone claiming to have a bullet-proof formula or winning system is trying to sell you something that’s both a waste of time and money. But while there are no sure things when it comes to online slots and video slots, common sense combined with a positive attitude can improve your odds of claiming a large jackpot, maximize your smaller wins, and minimize those inevitable losses. In short, being a smarter gambler.
gambling.com provides an exciting suite of slots playable on your computer for real money and tournament cash prizes. This month, while giving your game a kick-start, we profile two slot cousins, Treasure Bay and Posh Slots–each an exciting example of what computer-slots can be with very different rules, game-play and ways to win.
Lesson 01 Do What You Love
Not only is this great advice for choosing a career, it’s often forgotten when it comes to spending your spare time. Unless you’re lucky enough to avoid the 9-to-5 grind, it’s likely you work hard for your spare time and money. Your leisure hours should be filled with gaming that suits your tastes and rule preferences–meaning not all games are intended for all audiences.
Dabble in a variety of gambling.com games before selecting one for a longer session or tournament competition. Set a limited budget for sampling each game. Research the rules beforehand to make sure you understand how it pays out and what strategy decisions you will be required to make (more on this later). Choose the right time of the day or evening to play–if you’re tired, stressed or rushed, save your slots session for another day. Lesson 1 means enjoying your time at the machines and how you spend both your leisure time and dollars.
Top Tips 01
Know your mood. Treasure Bay is a video slot featuring a dizzying challenge of 21 lines, a collection of pirate-themed animated symbols and a complex pay table–it is not for the faint of heart. The game features hundreds of winning combinations and requires your concentration. Posh Slots feels like a classic Vegas experience with three simple lines and 6 possible winning combinations–just start up your computer and enjoy.
Lesson 02 Set Yourself Up To Win
Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, right? Nowhere is a little planning more important than before you sit down to gamble on a slot. Also known as money management, it requires that you be prepared before sitting down with a bankroll. Rules of thumb include:
Don’t limit your wins. Don’t nickel and dime machines just for the sake of trying to stretch out your cash for hours. Play machines you can afford and wager max coins to ensure, if and when Lady Luck does hit, you’ve maximized your jackpot. Posh Slots pays $50 on a 1 coin $1 wager, $100 on a 2 coin $2 wager, but $250 for a 3 coin $3 bet. Betting the maximum awards a shot at a “bonus” $50.
Set betting limits. Knowing how much you are prepared to spend during an evening will determine how you bet. Betting the same each time (also known as “flat betting”) ensures you will consistently spend your bankroll and avoids swing betting based on hunches.
Of course knowing the rules is not nearly as difficult as sticking to them. Minimizing losses, maximizing gains and staying on budget are all examples of the types of discipline that make gamblers true winners.
Top Tips 02
Before playing Treasure Bay know how much you have to spend. Wager from $0.25 to $2 per line. While you may not be able to afford the maximum on each line, you should be able to wager the maximum number of coins. On a $0.25 bet, this means at least $5.25 per spin. There are limited wagering options on Posh–bet 1 to 3 dollars.
Lesson 03 Define Success
Think of Lesson 3 as the soft side of money management. Simply hitting a jackpot does not make you a winner. Ask yourself: “what will it take to make me enjoy playing slots?” If the answer is “winning every time you sit in front of a machine”, perhaps gambling is not for you.
Understand what motivates you–is it the chance to relax in front of your computer? Do you like the thrill of a big win? Or are you a serious gamer who doesn’t mind risking more of their cash? Knowing what kind of player you are will determine what kind of games you play. And of course–never take losing personally. Slots are games of chance. Do your best to control factors you can influence and leave the rest to Lady Luck.
Treasure Bay and Posh Slots also don’t feature non-progressive jackpots, meaning they don’t subtract a portion of your wager to pay a rare large jackpot. To be able to award these jackpots, games sacrifice winning odds and award smaller prizes. The games pay out more, and can be played with a much lower bankroll.
Top Tips 03
Both Treasure Bay and Posh Slots boast a generous 96% payout rate–close to what you will get with blackjack around the world and better than many casino table games. Because Treasure Bay features 12 prize combinations over 21 lines, it is likely you will often win, albeit only small amounts. If you need to feel the thrill of winning as much as possible to enjoy yourself regardless of the amount, try a video slot.
If you are hunting for a larger jackpot and don't feel the need to win as often, try sampling Posh Slots. The Posh Slots paytable is far simpler than its video cousin. Winning simply means being on the lookout for three symbols in a row or the wildcard "ANY" symbol. While there are less ways to win, it is far easier to keep track of your winnings.
Lesson 04 Be Your Own Coach
Coaches help set goals and establish the right steps to achieve them. They give positive reinforcement to help you realize your goals, challenge you to grow and provide focus. If you’re looking to add a few jackpots or tournament wins to your gambling CV, consider what it takes to be your own coach.
Figure out the tendencies that get you in trouble when playing slots. Are you prone to wild betting patterns that don’t make sense? Do you get caught playing outside your means when you “feel” a jackpot is close? Help yourself by remembering that every game is equipped with a Random Number Generator (RNG) that ensures each spin is independent and fair. Of course this means if you win a jackpot it is just as likely that you are due for another win.
Top Tips 04
Instead of playing against the machine only, tournaments require mastery of both game rules and the ability to fight to gain an edge on your competition. General rules of thumb for maximizing your tournament results include:
Play to win There is no point in trying to break even on tournaments that only award prizes for first or second. Ensure an aggressive betting style and use every last chip in the time allotted.
Manage your time Minimize distractions such as phone calls and checking your email. Tournaments are a race against the clock. Don’t leave cash on the table–every coin is a potential winner.
Choose tournaments strategically If a tournament is due to expire and the leaderboard is showing a leader with a low score, it is likely you will have to win less to claim first prize. Find out what you will need to do to win cash before you begin play (and of course bet accordingly).
Experiment with Treasure Bay and Posh Slots using gambling.com ludos (free coins) and freeroll no-entry charge tournaments. To play for real money, press the “Play 4 Real” link in the game. Deposit and withdraw using several methods (VISA, NETeller) and a team of friendly staff can help you get started if you are new to gaming online.
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Posted by jamesmcb – 12 Dec 2007, 5:09 PM
I do love my slots!!! Great article.