Most people do not lose money playing slot games. They lose it due to choosing the wrong machine for the amount of money they have to gamble. While figuring out how to select the correct slot machine for your budget is simple, most people have trouble finding a decent explanation. For that reason, casinos certainly do not rush to help you find a slot machine for your bankroll that will allow you to stay in the game longer instead of wiping out your bankroll within ten minutes. Therefore, we will attempt to provide you with some assistance in this area.
Whether you have $20, $50, or are using a substantial $100 + bankroll, the best slot machines for your budget are those that match your level of risk tolerance. In other words, the best slot machine for your budget is the one that has payouts suitable for the number of dollars you can afford to lose, not the ones that appear the coolest with flashy bonus rounds on the home page.
Identifying the type of player your bankroll creates
I believe there is a huge difference between someone gambling with $15 on a Tuesday evening versus someone spending $150 on a casino for a birthday celebration. One thing I have seen repeatedly (and experienced myself) is selecting slot machines based on themes and graphics and not considering the mathematical odds associated with each machine. There is a significant difference between gambling with $5 to $20 and playing Penny slots. Regardless of whether you call it “Penny slots,” this is typically where you will find minimum bets ranging from $0.01 to $0.10 per line, combined with low volatility.
When you are playing with a low bankroll, you want to find slots that provide a gentle rise and fall in your bankroll; therefore, you want to avoid slots with high volatility. On a slot machine with a $2 minimum spin and a $20 bankroll, you can expect to get approximately Ten spins. Ten spins are basically getting warmed up. With a $20 bankroll and playing Penny slots, you may be able to get as many as 200 spins or more, depending on how many paylines you activate. These additional spins could literally be the entire point of enjoying the gaming experience as opposed to watching your bankroll dwindle to zero before your coffee has cooled off.
Once you move up to a bankroll in the range of $20 to $50, you’ll generally have more flexibility. At this bankroll range, you can mix and match low volatility with the occasional medium volatility title, as long as the return to player (RTP) is 95% or greater. You’ll have sufficient financial flexibility to withstand an extended string of poor results without your bankroll disappearing. However, when playing at this bankroll range, you still prefer slots that offer low-stakes games as opposed to those that are designed to either win large sums quickly or fail quickly.
Once you reach a bankroll range of $50 to $100, you’ll have sufficient financial resources to take on medium-volatility slot machines and even occasionally medium-high volatility slot machines. Your bankroll can absorb an extended series of losses without significantly impacting your ability to continue gaming. Finally, if you’re playing with a bankroll of $100 or more, you enter a different world altogether. High rollers can reasonably bet larger maximums on high-volatility slot machines because a prolonged series of losses won’t negatively impact their overall gaming session.
The three numbers you must know before spinning
Almost every slot machine – regardless of whether it’s a physical cabinet or a web-based application – is created around three basic numbers that provide a great deal of information regarding how well-suited a particular machine is for your gaming preferences. Ignoring both the theme and intro animations and going straight to these numbers is a good strategy.
The First number is the return to player (RTP), which represents the percentage of total wagers paid back by a slot machine over time. Keep in mind that RTP is a long-term average, not a guarantee of performance during your current gaming session. Nevertheless, it is important. Machines with RTP values of 96% or higher represent excellent options for low-budget gamers, and machines with RTP values of 95% or higher represent acceptable options.
Volatility (sometimes referred to as variance) represents the Second number and is commonly overlooked by low-budget players. Low-volatility slot machines tend to generate smaller payouts more regularly than high-volatility machines. As such, your bankroll will fluctuate gently as opposed to experiencing steep declines. That’s precisely what you want when playing with limited funds – it keeps you engaged in the game longer. High-volatility slot machines remain silent for an extended period of time and then suddenly payout large amounts.
Although high-volatility machines can be exciting for players with large bankrolls, they can be disastrous for players with limited funds. I recall watching my friend lose nearly his entire bankroll ($30) in less than five minutes on a high-volatility slot machine because he didn’t realize that every spin without winning still represented an expense equal to the previous spin’s cost, and he did not receive sufficient rewards throughout the session to mitigate his losses.
The Third number is the minimum bet. This seems self-evident; however, it causes many problems for players because the minimum bet is not always clearly listed. Many slot machines display a “minimum bet” value that is actually the product of multiplying the per-line cost by the number of activated paylines; therefore, what appears to be a $0.20 minimum bet becomes $2 when all 25 lines are turned on. Check the total stake per spin before committing your funds, particularly if you’re attempting to limit your costs per spin to less than $1.
Penny slot machines and 1p slot machines
Although Penny slot machines developed somewhat of a negative image over time primarily due to people believing “Penny” refers to the amount of money required for each session, it does not. Rather than referring to the amount of money spent during a session, Penny slot machines refer to providing control. By offering machines with a $0.01 minimum bet, players can determine exactly how much risk they take with each spin rather than being forced into the stake selection determined by another party.
In the United Kingdom alone, 1p slot machines exist in abundance and perform essentially the same function as Penny slot machines; they provide control. A £20 budget on a 1p slot machine with relatively moderate paylines offers the possibility of obtaining several hours of playtime as compared to losing the same £20 in approximately 15 minutes on a machine with a £1 minimum bet. Another common misconception surrounding low-stakes slot machines is that they cannot generate meaningful winnings. Although this statement holds true for most slot machines, they use the exact same RTP and payout structures as their higher-stakes counterparts; therefore, winning large prizes on a lucky bonus round is equally possible on Penny slot machines as it is on higher stakes slot machines.
In recent years, slot providers have dramatically improved their offerings for players who gamble with limited budgets. Today’s low-stakes slot machines feature many of the same features found in higher stakes versions including free spins, multipliers and cascading reels; they simply require players to place lower stakes bets. Providing players with control over their bets is extremely beneficial for those seeking to maximize their entertainment value while minimizing their exposure to loss.
Payline flexibility (adjustable paylines) vs fixed paylines
Another aspect of slot gaming that confuses more low-budget players than anything else — including those who have been playing for many years — is determining whether adjustable paylines (or flexible paylines) improve their chances of success relative to fixed paylines. Adjustable payline slot machines allow players to choose how many paylines are active prior to spinning; thus allowing direct control over their total stake. Activating five lines instead of 25 reduces the cost per spin by approximately 80 percent while maintaining the same bet-per-line value. That’s very real and meaningful control over your bankroll.
Slot machines with fixed paylines do not provide this flexibility. Players are forced to bet on every line regardless of whether they desire to or not. Even though these games are often built with reduced costs per-line in order to encourage players’ participation, the total cost per-spin can grow rapidly — especially on Megaways-style titles featuring tens-of-thousands of possible line combinations. To help protect your spend while playing on a low budget, verifying whether paylines are adjustable prior to loading funds is among the easiest steps toward limiting your spend.
Grid size
While neither grid size nor payline flexibility are incorrect approaches to playing slots, they do apply differently based upon your budget. Classic three reel slot machines with fewer paylines are obviously less expensive than cluster pays or Megaways-style titles featuring six reels and potentially thousands of combinations — even at the same nominal minimum bet — primarily due to the design characteristics inherent in each type of machine.
Putting it all together
Here’s how I personally approach things today after making numerous mistakes and having several sessions end prematurely than I desired them to end.
Firstly, acknowledge which budget range you belong in — i.e., which budget range you are currently operating in and not which budget range you wish you belonged in. Secondly, identify a slot machine with an RTP of 95% or greater; thirdly, whenever feasible choose slots with low-to-moderate volatility unless your budget can support risking larger sums; fourthly confirm the true minimum bet (i.e., include all activated paylines) prior to depositing any funds.
What should I play using my $20 budget?
When using a $20 budget Stick with Penny or low-stakes slot machines that feature adjustable paylines with low volatility and RTP values greater than 95%. Examples include diamond dozen and similar games that will extend your gaming session using a $20 bankroll substantially longer than simply burning through your $20 in five minutes.
High-volatility vs low-volatility on limited budget
On limited budgets: low volatility almost always. High volatility slot machines can generate larger payouts when they occur but given your limited bankroll you are more apt to deplete your bankroll before said payout occurs.
Can I actually win large amounts playing low-stakes slots?
Yes; although the payout multiplier remains unchanged between low-stakes and higher stakes versions of slot machines, controlling your risk limits your potential exposure; it does not limit your potential payout.
What is a good RTP value for someone playing on a tight budget?
Values at or exceeding 96% are desirable for those playing on limited budgets; values exceeding 95% are reasonable floors.
How can I make my limited budget last longer at slots?
Selecting low volatility; confirming your true minimum bet across all active paylines; and utilizing adjustable paylines wherever possible in order to maintain your lowest necessary cost per spin based upon your limited bankroll will enable you to create more opportunity for continued enjoyment at slots.
