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 2025.
New to slots? Check out how to play slots to get started on the world’s most popular casino game.
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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.
- Practice in Demo Mode: Before you hop into real money play, put all of the advice above into practice in demo mode. This way, you can hone your strategy and understanding for various slots before you even make a deposit of your own money. We’ve included demos of some popular slots at the bottom of this page, so you can get started with practice as soon as you’ve finished reading our tips. More about this in Step 5.
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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?
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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 at sweepstakes casinos. 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.
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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.
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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 at an online casino 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.
We’ve included some slot demos at the bottom of this page to get you started as soon as you’re finished reading.
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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.
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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 this Christmas in July promo from Golden Nugget:
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Do the Prize Pool Slots Tournaments
If you like playing online slots, keep your eye out for prize pool tournaments. We keep track of all online slots tournaments available to US players going on every day. These tournaments 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.
Basically, you can win money just for playing a game you were already planning on playing. That’s about as good as it gets.
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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:
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- 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.
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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!
Practice Slot Tips & Strategies
Now that you’ve read through all of our tips and strategies for playing real money slots, why not put them into practice in demo mode first? As mentioned in the first step, we’ve included some game demos of popular slots below for you to try. The more you play in demo mode, the easier you’ll find it to understand any slot you come across.
Fortune Coin
Practice on this popular Asian-themed slot that features four jackpots and a free spins bonus, two common elements you’ll find in many slots you come across.
Bonanza MEGAWAYS
The MEGAWAYS mechanic is an important one to understand as it offers players 117,649 ways to win. Try practicing on this popular slot, Bonanza MEGAWAYS.
Play More Slots for Free or Real Money
One of the new rages of the “slot machine” world comes in the form of skill games, which have a completely separate strategy.
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