8 Online Slots Tips: RTP, Volatility and Safer Play

Online slots are games of chance, and none of the slot machine tips on this page can change the odds of any individual spin.

There are many people who claim to know how to win at slots, but their tips for playing slots will never help you make money, and I’ll explain why in a moment. There is no such thing as a winning slots strategy, but what I can give you is my dos and don’ts for playing online slots, with a focus on understanding the games, managing your budget and keeping play enjoyable. In a game that’s pure luck and extremely unpredictable, that is all anyone can ask for.

Can you win at online slots?

Yes, but only in the short term, and the only way to do that is to simply spin the reels and take your chances. There is no long term slot strategy that will improve your chances of winning. The result of every single spin comes purely down to luck.

Common slot terms defined

Before we dive into the online slot machine tips themselves, let's juggle the jargon so we know what we're talking about:

What actually affects your slot session versus what doesn't

If you're short on time, here's the bite-sized version of what does and doesn't affect your chances of winning when it comes to slots.

Tip #1: Start in free-play mode

Free-play mode is exactly what it sounds like: a version of the slot that you can play for free. Since it's free, you don't need real money to play it, but that also means you can't win real money either. So what's that got to do with learning how to win at slots?

Starting off in free-play mode means you can explore the game's rules, study the paytable, figure out the bonus features, and test drive the volatility before you part with a single penny of your own money. It's basically a way to flatten the learning curve with zero risk.

Disclaimer: Online slots are games of chance, and none of the slot machine tips on this page can change the odds of any individual spin.

How to access free-play mode

In the UK, online casinos are not allowed to let anyone play slots for free until they have a fully verified account, so you'll need to sign up first. Once you're up and running at PlayOJO, here's how to find the free to play option:

1. Log in to your account

2. Browse slots or search for your favourite game

3. Click the i icon in the top right corner of the game image

4. Click the Try For Free link under the Play Now button

The slot will open, then you can spin the reels and play using the displayed play chips balance.

Which slots can you play in free-play mode?

Many of our slots have a free-play mode, but not all of them. Here's a selection of slots you can play for free at PlayOJO:

• Bigger Bass Bonanza

• Buffalo Blitz III

• Big Bass Bonanza 1000

• Game of Thrones

• Buffalo King Megaways

• Bigger Bass Splash

• Pirots 5

• Thor: The Trials of Asgard

• Fishin' Frenzy

• Leprechaun's Luck Cash Collect

• Gonzo's Quest II

• Reactoonz Blitzways

Tip #2: Play slots with the highest RTPs

Ever wondered how to pick a slot machine so you improve your chances of winning? Some say RTP is the answer.

A slot’s return to player is the percentage of all money staked that is paid back out to players over a very large amount of spins. In the UK, every slot has to display this percentage in the game rules. Although a slot with a 96% payout percentage does not guarantee you will get 96% of your stake back, nor does it give you any idea whatsoever about when a slot is about to pay out, it is one of the few game details that can help you compare slots before you play.

Do slot odds matter?

Let’s see how our choice of slot RTP could affect the amount you might win or lose. Say you play 1,000 spins at 50p per spin, for a total stake of £500.

A slot with 94% RTP would have an average theoretical return of £470, while a slot with 98% RTP would have an average theoretical return of £490. Over a very large number of spins, that difference can matter, but it does not predict what will happen in a single session.

Tip #3: Play low volatility games

Why might wins appear more often on some slots than others? The answer to that is volatility – and it’s a feature of every slot that decides the frequency and size of payouts. High volatility slots with big multipliers might offer bigger prizes, but it could be a long wait.

If you prefer games where smaller wins tend to appear more often, low-volatility slots may be worth considering. These games have higher ‘hit rates’, which means they award winning spins more often. There’s a catch, of course. Low variance slots, as they are sometimes called, tend to have smaller prizes. But who said winning at slots would be easy?

Although low-volatility slots usually have smaller top prizes than high-volatility games, they have become popular with players who prefer the chance for more frequent smaller wins. Low-volatility slots generally aim to produce smaller wins more frequently than high-volatility games, though every spin is still random and a session can still end in a loss. Just remember, we’re talking about hitting a win and getting a return from a single spin, not making a profit over the course of your session.

Using volatility to choose the best slots for you

Since volatility can affect the size and frequency of wins, you can use it as an indicator of the type of gaming experience you can expect. Here's how to find the right volatility level for your style of play.

Tip #4: Understand the trade-off with jackpot slots

Most of us would love to hit a huge progressive jackpot, but there’s not much you can do to improve your chances of winning one. A percentage of your bet goes towards the jackpot, and returns figures for jackpot slots are often lower than non-jackpot versions. If you’re wondering how to win bigger prizes on slots, jackpot slots usually offer the largest headline prizes, but they can come with lower base-game returns and very long odds. However, if winning more often or value for money are more important to you, progressive jackpot slots may not be for you.

What about the most common advice on how to win jackpots on slot machines? Is there anything in these slots tips and tricks?

Jackpot slot tips or myths?

Some players believe if a jackpot usually hits once a month and pays out £200,000 on average, you can use the timing and jackpot size to figure out when it is ‘hot’ and ready to drop. There may be some logic to this tip for playing slots, but as jackpots get bigger, more players are trying to win, so your chances probably won’t improve.

Must-drop jackpots are a similar case – if a daily jackpot hasn’t paid out by 11pm, you may have more chances to win, but everyone else knows this too, so the competition will be fierce. It may be something some players consider, but it's not a reliable way to win and it doesn't remove the risk.

One final word on the best way to win at slots with a progressive jackpot. Your odds of winning a jackpot can vary depending on your stake. With some slots, high rollers have more chances of winning than low rollers. Even in this case, though, the higher your stake, the greater the risk. Don't raise your stake beyond your budget just to chase a jackpot. It makes no sense to bet £5 per spin rather than £1 per spin, just to improve your chance of hitting a jackpot from 1.5 million to 1 to 1 million to 1!

Tip #5: Choose your bet size wisely

Once you’ve chosen your slot game, the only decisions left are how many lines and coins to play, how much to bet in total and how long to play. None of these decisions will change your odds of winning, but they can affect how quickly you use your budget, and help with safer play.

There are many betting systems in casino gaming, but none are capable of turning a consistent profit. It’s far wiser to pick an amount you can afford to lose and stick to the same bet size per spin. Some players claim that betting the maximum makes a game more likely to pay out, but this is a misconception. The only truth behind this strategy for slot machines is that by risking more, you are in a position to win more.

There is a caveat to this mostly flawed strategy, however. Some games have variable RTPs depending on your stake. Check the game rules to see if it applies, and how much you need to bet. The payout for Rainbow Riches Pick ‘n’ Mix is 94% to 98%, depending on your bet size. Don’t bet more just to get the better percentage though. If the higher stake doesn't fit your budget, it may be smarter to accept the lower amount or find another game. There are plenty to choose from!

Tip #6: Balance paylines and stake size

In literal terms, the number of paylines you play does affect how to win on slot machines. Playing more paylines can increase the chance of landing a win on an active line, but it doesn't improve the game’s RTP or remove the house edge. It can also increase your total stake unless you reduce your line bet.

Here are 2 slot games, a 20-line and a 1-line. We bet 20p per spin on both slots, but we have 20 lines or 'ways to win' in Slot 1, and only 1 way to win with Slot 2. Sure, our line bet is 20 times bigger on Slot 2 so if we do hit a win, our real terms return is bigger. This is mathematical variance and bankroll management at work!

If your aim is to cover more paylines without increasing your total stake, you may prefer to reduce your line bet and activate more lines. This can create more active ways to land a winning combination, but it does not guarantee a profit. Penny slots with lower minimum bets can be useful for comparing how line settings affect the total cost per spin. This advice is one of my favourite slot machine tips, and although it doesn’t change the overall odds of winning at slots, some players may find this format more entertaining.

Tip #7: Know when to stop

As winning at slots is not possible long term, playing safely is the priority. And that means deciding when to start, when to stop and what limits to set before you play. In theory, if a slot has just paid out, it makes no difference to the chances of a win on future spins. But there is something to be said for calling it a day after a win, particularly if it’s a big one or you’ve been waiting a while.

Knowing how to play slots is the easy part. Having a plan for both wins and losses can help you stay within your limits.

Tip #8: Make sure you get good rewards

Of all the practical slot machine tips on this page, choosing clear and fair rewards is one of the easiest to check before you play. Choosing slots with higher payouts may be the biggest factor in your long-term theoretical return from online slots, but choosing a casino with the most generous offers and fairest terms is the next best move.

Here are some of the added-value features to consider:

Welcome Bonus: Join a casino with a generous match bonus, but not too generous. Always read the small print, and be aware of wagering requirements, as they can make withdrawing bonuses harder. At PlayOJO, we only offer bonuses with no wagering requirements, and we don’t cap what you can win.

Kickers, Rewards & Free Spins: Short of giving you cold hard cash, Free Spins are the currency of loyalty rewards. However often you play online slots, you should be rewarded with perks like Free Spins with no strings attached. Some of the time, they’ll be for a specific game, but if they can be used with a number of different qualifying slots, use the advice you’ve just learned to pick the slot that’s right for you.

Comp points: Comp points are a fundamental pillar of loyalty programmes, but at most casinos they are flawed, and heavily weighted towards players who stake more, or play more often. At PlayOJO, you get money back on every bet, win or lose, with OJOplus. The cash is instantly credited to your account, and you can play or withdraw it as you wish.

Slots tournaments: As well as bonuses and rewards, a fair casino should give you things like entries to slots tournaments, where you can play risk-free and win for real. At PlayOJO, you’ll get the chance to compete against your fellow OJOers in Reel Spinoffs with added prizes up for grabs.

Slot myths debunked

The internet is littered with theories of how to win at slots, but most of them are nothing more than urban legend and have no basis in reality. Here are the most common ones, debunked for your convenience.

• “This slot is due a win.” - Nope. Every slot spin plays independently. Previous spins, wins, and losses have no bearing on the outcomes of future ones.

• “Playing max bet can trigger a payout.” - Not true, but with a caveat. Playing at a higher bet size may make you eligible for the jackpot in some games. However, it has no influence on your chances of winning as it doesn't affect the RNG.

• “There’s a best time of day to play.” - No. The time of day is not taken into account by game RNGs. Payouts are entirely random by design.

• "Casinos change RTP rates on the fly." - Absolutely not. Casinos can't dial up or down the RTP of their hosted games as they see fit, under any circumstances. These settings are hardcoded by the developers.

• "Online slots are rigged." - Not at licensed online casinos. While there may be some rogue sites out there, properly licensed and regulated sites must only host games by legitimate developers. Games are tested regularly by independent third parties to ensure fairness.

Before you spin checklist

Now that you're armed with our top tips, run through this checklist before you hit that spin button to get the most out of your next slots experience:

• Have I set a budget?

• Have I set a time limit for my session?

• Did I try the slot in free-play mode first?

• Have I checked the paytable?

• Do I know how the bonus features work?

• Can I set my desired bet size?

• Have I checked the slot's RTP?

• Do I understand the volatility rating?

• Have I adjusted the paylines?

• Am I playing for fun and not just to win?

Summary

No one can teach you how to win on slots, and although I’ve given you some useful online slots tips about finding good games and squeezing more value from your sessions, clearly the secrets to winning on slot machines will stay undiscovered for another day! The best way to win on slots – given the odds are always stacked in a casino’s favour – is to play safely and enjoy yourself, whatever happens on the reels.