Being a winning slot machine player is impossible. All slot machines are created to be able to give the house a long-term edge, so the home will invariably come out ahead if you play long enough. The only real way to counteract the house edge on slot machine games is to play a game with a really big jackpot, bet the max every time you play, and hope that you hit the jackpot. Then whenever you do hit the really big jackpot, guess what you do next? Stop playing that game.

Do not get me wrong. I am not saying that you should not play slot machines. Actually, I think slot games, especially the really good online slot ones, are a lot of fun. But you want to keep in the forefront of your head that mathematically, what you’re doing when you’re playing a slot machine on a long term basis is paying for entertainment. You may calculate the amount you are paying for that entertainment by multiplying the home edge times your average bet times your number of spins by the hour.

As an example, for anyone who is playing a slot game with a payout of 95%, then the home edge is 5%. (The casino keeps 5% of every bet you make long term.) And in case you are average bet is $3, then you are going to pay the average of 15 cents per spin to the house. (5% times $3.) Assuming you’re making 500 spins each hour, that game costs you $75/hour to play, which may or may not be a reasonable price for you entertainment. That is determined by your bankroll.

Something else to factor into your calculation is the amount the perks and bonuses you are getting back from the casino are worth. For anyone who is playing in a land-based casino where you’re getting free drinks while you play, then you can subtract the cost of those drinks from you’re hourly cost. (Or you can add the cost of those drinks to the value of the entertainment you are receiving–it’s just a matter of perspective.) My recommendation is to drink top-shelf liquor and premium beers as a way to maximize the entertainment value you are receiving. A Heineken can cost $4 a bottle in an excellent restaurant. Drink two Heinekens per hour, and you’ve just lowered what it costs you to play each hour from $75 to $68.

Slot clubs also give back a share of your losses each hour, so definitely be sure you join the casino’s slot club and ALWAYS use your card to track your play. There is absolutely no reason not to do this. Casinos also reward their larger slot players with comps like meals, show tickets, and free rooms, which all add up to reduce the total amount of money you are spending each hour that you are playing on their machine.

Just how to be a winning slot machine player? I’d sum it up by saying know the amount it’s costing you to play each spin and each hour, make use of all the comps and also the perks, and go for the big progressive jackpot.