Being a winning slot machine player is impossible. All slot machines are developed specifically so that you can give the house a long-term edge, so the house will always come out ahead if you play long enough. The only real way to counteract the home 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 when you do hit the really big jackpot, guess what you do next? Stop playing that game.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not proclaiming that you shouldn’t play slot machines. In fact, I think slot games, especially the really good ones, are a lot of fun. But you want to keep within the forefront of your brain that mathematically, what you are doing when you’re playing a slot machine on a long-term basis is paying for entertainment. You may calculate simply how much you’re paying for that entertainment by multiplying the house edge times your average bet times your number of spins each hour.

For example, in case you are 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 for anybody who is average bet is $3, then you’re going to pay an average of 15 cents per spin to the home. (5% times $3.) Assuming you are making 500 spins each hour, that game costs you $75/hour to play, which may or might not be a reasonable price for you entertainment. That relies upon your bankroll.

Another thing to factor into your calculation is the amount the perks and bonuses you’re getting back from the casino are worth. When you are 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 expense of those drinks to the value of the entertainment you could try this out‘re receiving–it’s just a matter of perspective.) My recommendation is to drink top-shelf liquor and premium beers to be able to maximize the entertainment value you’re receiving. A Heineken can cost $4 a bottle in an excellent restaurant. Drink two Heinekens an 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 amount of money you’re spending each hour that you’re playing on their own machine.

So how to be a winning slot machine player? I’d sum it up by saying know just how much it’s costing you to play each spin and each hour, take advantage of all of the comps as well as the perks, and go for the big progressive jackpot.