Are you of the opinion that one slot machine is very much the same as the other? That although there are differences between machines, they are all, essentially, the same thing?
It is understandable why many people do think this. There are many different versions of roulette, video poker and blackjack available but while there may be small subtle differences between each version, the actual mechanics and the chances of success for the player, remain almost constant between each.
Therefore, it is only natural that players who don't understand slots will assume that slots are the same, but in actual fact, they are making a big mistake.
Dissatisfaction from playing slots often heralds from players expectations not being met. When a player starts playing a slot, they have a preconceived notion of how the game will go. Pick the wrong kind of slot for the game you want, then you could be in for a frustrating time.
So to help players pick the right kind of slots to play, we first need to be able to identify the key differences between slots.
Differences between slots
Of course, some of the most obvious differences between slots is that they are usually about different subjects and as a result, will have different features. Some slots have three, four or five reels, some are 'old-style' slots that feature hold buttons or nudge buttons, others are more modern video slots featuring digitised sound effects and music as well as video clips.
These are the most obvious differences between slots along with jackpots. Some slots have smaller jackpots, others have much larger progressive jackpots. We'll come to the jackpot issue later as it does have a bearing on which slot you may wish to play.
However for all the other cosmetic differences between the slots, the truth is that these are not significant in determining which is the best slot to play for you.
You have to dig a little deeper to uncover the real differences between slot games that do impact how they meet your expectations as a slot player.
There are two key elements to consider here; payout percentage and volatility (sometimes known as variance).
Payout percentage is simply a measure of how much the slot pays out to players over the course of a lengthy period of time (or over the course of millions of spins). Within that of course, there may be times when the slot pays out considerably more, or considerably less than the stated amount.
On a slot machine, the payout percentage is measured by the authority that checks the veracity of the machine. With Microgaming slots, this is eCogra. When the slot is certified as safe and fair, eCogra will also publish the payout percentage that they have found as per their detailed review of the slot.
It is very important to understand what the payout percentage actually is and means as many novice slots players can easily confuse it. The payout percentage indicates how much the slot will pay out over millions of spins, it does not indicate how much of your cash you should expect to win back if you play the slot.
So, if a slot has a payout percentage of 93 percent and you spend 100 on the slot, you should not expect to win back around 93 of your cash.
Remember, that 93 percent payout percentage will likely include at least one, if not more, jackpot payouts to players, plus other big wins which will eat up a significant chunk of that percentage. Add to this then the medium sized wins and then all the smaller wins and you can see why you won't get back 93 percent of your cash each time relatively easily.
It is certainly true though that the higher the payout percentage of a slot, the better it is for the player. Most slots have a payout percentage of between 75 percent and 97 percent and it is worth investigating what the slots you like to play actually return to their customers.
While payout percentage is important, it is probably not as important to a player seeking the ideal slot as the volatility of the slot.
The volatility of the slot explains how a slot pays out its payout percentage. For two different slots may have payout percentages of 93 percent, but actually pay out that amount in very different ways. Volatility is a measure of this difference.
A low-volatile slot is one that pays out its payout percentage in regular small amounts to players. There's usually few big money wins and instead, players who play the slot tend to get more regular smaller amounts when they hit a winning payline.
A high-volatile slot is one that doesn't pay out anywhere near as often as a low volatile slot, but when it does, it is capable of paying out much larger sums in just a single payment, with less frequent smaller wins to compensate. Many progressive jackpot games are examples of high-volatile slots, where players can win a massive amount on any given spin, but the big wins only occur relatively rarely.
So what type of slots should I play?
The question then must be asked, what type of slot is right for you as a slot player and in truth, the answer is that it depends what you want to get from your slot gaming.
If you prefer to play a slot that offers you more chance of success and gives you regular smaller wins to keep your bankroll topped up, then a high payout percentage, low-volatile slot is the ideal choice for you.
If on the other hand you would rather play a slot that doesn't pay out as much, but when it does pay out there is a chance you could win a significant amount of money, then a high volatile slot is probably the best option.
The good news is however, is if you just want to enjoy fantastic slot gaming whatever the percentage payout or volatility of a slot, then you have a choice of hundreds of games, each offering a fantastic slot experience for players.
Enjoyment really is key to getting the best out of the slots you play and whether you play games that reward you often, or which offer you a lesser chance at a much greater prize, enjoying the experience should be your primary goal and anything you win, a bonus.
Next Post: The importance of having a realistic & positive mindset when gambling
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