11 Slots Tips & Strategies That Actually Work – 2023 Edition

You can find a lot of myths online about playing slots. For example, some “experts” say that the biggest progressive jackpots are “due to win.” In reality, the biggest progressives are the hardest to win. But some slots strategies actually do work, and we compiled them all to give you everything you need to play slots like a pro in 2023.

1. Learn Basic Slots Strategy

The result of a slots spin is based entirely on luck. However, you can set yourself up for that spin to give you more (and bigger) wins. Here’s how:

• Set Your Line/Coin Value: Slots with paylines pay out multipliers that apply to a single payline (except for scatter wins, which usually pay out on total wager). That means the higher the line value, the higher the wins. For coin slots, the value of the coins applies to both your bets and wins, so the bigger the coin value, the bigger the payouts.
• Play Max Lines/Coins: If you’re playing a slot with paylines, each one can win independently. That means the more lines you play, the more chances you have of winning. So you’re better off playing 20 lines at $0.05 each than one line at $1.00. If you’re playing with coins, more coins usually unlock the biggest payouts.
• Read the Rules of the Specific Slot: Every slot has its own set of rules and features. Check the “info” section before you dive in to see exactly how it works. This will also reveal how much you have to bet to qualify for the progressive jackpot and other features.

2. Play Slots That Show a Recent Win

This applies specifically to playing at a brick-and-mortar casino rather than online. But one effective slots strategy is looking for games that show a recent win. When a player cashes out, the amount of the cashout is presented next to the number of credits in the machine. All too often, you’ll see both of those numbers at zero. But if you see the credits at zero and the cashout in the hundreds or more, stop and play that slot. There’s a decent chance that the last person left after a big win (which is smart strategy), meaning it’s a slot that’s paying out. What better indication to give a slot a try?

3. Explore the Different Types of Slots

Whether you’re at a retail casino or an online casino, you have a bigger variety of slots at your disposal than any other type of game. But the options go beyond fantasy theme or pop culture theme, and new slots are added all the time. Even a slot that you might know like Wheel of Fortune has several variations, and some Wheel of Fortune slots better than others.

For example, some slots have unusual reel arrays while others have the classic three-reel setup. Some have all sorts of special symbols and bonus features while others are no-frills fun.

The list goes on, and slots innovations are always ongoing across the many game studios around the world. Check out all the different options, and don’t be afraid to try something new.

4. Know Volatility & RTP

One of the many things that Golden Nugget gets right is the ability to quickly check the slot volatility as well as the return to player (RTP) percentage of each game. However, you can usually Google search the name of the slot to find that information if you’re betting elsewhere.

Volatility represents the frequency of winning spins. Low volatility is a slot that pays out more often while high volatility slots pay out less frequently. Typically, the high volatility slots have bigger win potential, but that’s not always the case. Slots can also have medium volatility as well as medium-low and medium-high volatility.

RTP, also known as payback percentage, is the amount of the wagers the game keeps on average. For example, a game with an RTP of 95% pays back $95 for every $100 wagered on its machine.

The bigger your variety of slots play, the better you’ll get to know your preferences in terms of volatility. But, generally speaking, you want the highest possible RTP.

5. Play in Demo Practice Mode First

Many online casinos allow members to play the games in demo practice mode. Golden Nugget even allows visitors to try out the games before creating an account. This can be a highly effective strategy for familiarizing yourself with a game before risking any real money. If it’s not for you, you can simply choose another game. If it is for you, you can switch to real-money mode whenever you’re ready.

This is one of the biggest advantages to playing slots online versus in-person. Brick-and-mortar casinos don’t let you play slots in demo practice mode, which means players have to find out if they like a slot by risking their own money.

6. Play with No-Deposit Bonus Codes

This one is specifically for online casino players. The best type of promotion for slots players is no deposit bonus codes. The moment you sign up at a no deposit online casino, you have free bonus money in your account that you can use to play real-money slots. Here are the best deals for June 2023:

Usually, the bonus doesn’t have the same playthrough requirements as a deposit-match bonus, mostly because you only get $10 to $50 with a no deposit bonus versus $1,000 or more with a deposit-match bonus. But the opportunity to win money without ever risking a dollar of your own makes these bonuses second to none.

At Bonus, you can find no deposit bonus codes specific to your state:

• New Jersey no deposit bonus codes
• Pennsylvania no deposit bonus codes
• Michigan no deposit bonus codes
• West Virginia no deposit bonus codes

Not in a state with real-money online casinos? Win cash prizes playing slots at sweepstakes casinos, no purchase necessary.

7. Get All The Online Casino Deposit-Match Bonuses

All online casino welcome bonuses are tied to terms and conditions. And one of the most common stipulations is that the bonus funds only apply to slots betting. That makes them unappealing to those who play table games, but they’re must-haves for slot players. 

You’ll still need to satisfy the playthrough requirements. But if you’re planning on playing a lot of slots, there’s nothing better than bonus cash.

For example, the BetMGM Casino Michigan welcome bonus is a 100% deposit match up to $1,000. The bonus funds are tied to a 15x playthrough – if you play the slots. But if you play table games, the bets only contribute 20% toward the playthrough, which essentially makes it a 75x playthrough requirement.

A 15x playthrough requirement isn’t bad while a 75x playthrough is horrendous.

8. Get Free Spins from Top Online Casinos

Free spins are often added to bonus offers as an extra incentive to sign up or make a deposit. Online casinos will also give free spins to their existing members, like the Christmas in July promo Golden Nugget recently offered:

Deck the palms with jingle shells and have a holly, jolly weekend with an Instant Bonus + Spins. It's Christmas in July! Play now: https://t.co/WnqcPr9Nb0#onlinecasino #weekendpromo 🎰🤑🎰 pic.twitter.com/ngbwKoM47B

— Golden Nugget Online Casino (@GNOnlineCasino) July 8, 2022

But new signups can use the Golden Nugget bonus code: BONUSSPINS for $10 free on signup, a 100% deposit-match bonus up to $1,000, and 200 Free Spins on the 88 Fortunes with a deposit of $30 or more. And seeing as 88 Fortunes is arguably the most popular online slot in the US, this is one of the best deals around. Sign up at Golden Nugget Online to claim.

9. Do the Prize Pool Slots Tournaments

If you like playing online slots, keep your eye out for prize pool tournaments. Those often involve playing slots, and you can earn points toward a leaderboard for a potential cash prize. If you’re playing a similar game anyway, it just makes sense to opt in for one of these contests in case you land an extra payout.

A good example is all the online slots tournaments in PA going on right now.

Basically, you can win money just for playing a game you were already planning on playing. That’s about as good as it gets. 

10. Embrace the Game Of The Week

Online casinos will often feature a “Game of the Week” that involves extra loyalty points, insurance offers, free bets, and more.

Here are some examples of Game of the Week offers going on right now:

• Golden Nugget Casino: Earn 2x the Golden Points for playing the Game of the Week.
• BetMGM Casino: Bet & Get at BetMGM has players receiving freeplay for trying the featured slot.
• FanDuel Casino: Bet $50 or more on the Game of the Week, get $5 in betting credits.
• DraftKings Casino: Bet $10 or more on the Game of the Week, get $10 in betting credits.

Some may sound better than the other, but you probably don’t want to play a Game of the Week that doesn’t interest you. Browse the different options to see what appeals to you. If one does, you can play it for extra benefits, it’s as simple as that.

11. Don’t Ignore Responsible Gaming Advice

The only advice that guarantees success at the slots is to follow Responsible Gaming best practices. Some of the most important methods include:

• Set strict time limits
• Never bet over budget
• Don’t “chase losses,” just quit when you’ve reached your limit
• Play in the right state of mind

At the end of the day, you play slots to have fun. The casino has a better chance of winning than the player every single spin, so protecting yourself from losing more than you can afford is the key to long-term slots enjoyment.

Good luck and have fun!