Slot machines are fun, and time and time again lucky players laugh their way to the bank after landing a much-coveted jackpot prize. Before you dip your toe in for the first time however, there are three important things about a slot machine that you need to understand. Knowledge about these things will help you make an informed decision about which slot is likely to lead you to riches.

Progressive Jackpots

A progressive jackpot is a type of grand prize that keeps on increasing until such time that a player wins what is usually a monster-sized payout. If you think about national lotteries, the game boards increase the award after every draw if there is no winner. Slot machines with progressive jackpots operate in the same capacity. Progressive slots take a small percentage of each bettor’s wager and put this amount into the pot. Many slots do not have this, offering a fixed amount for the jackpot instead.

RTP

This acronym stands for return-to-player rate. It is a number expressed in a percentage, which indicates how much money a machine is likely to distribute to players over a long period. If the RTP of a slot machine is 97%, it means that it will give out, or payout, $97 for every $100 wagered on it.

Does this mean you will always walk out keeping 97% of your capital? No. If you lost a $100, another player, or several players, may receive $97 from your $100. It sound obvious, but you should choose slot machines that have high a RTP. This is an indication that the game was designed in favor of the player, not the casino or game developer.

Volatility

This terminology refers to risk. A volatile machine means it is “shaky”. If you have a coin that has two sides, and you ask one person to bet on one side, that person’s volatility is low. His odds of winning are 50:50. In slot machines, the number of symbols incorporated in the game, the number of reels, plus the way the paylines are designed, all contribute to the calculation of volatility. A low volatility slot means that you are likely to land winning combinations often, while high volatility slots make winning difficult to come by. There are advantages and disadvantages in both – low volatility games usually pay out less money in proportion to your bet, while high volatility slots pay out more.

The choice is down to the player. If you play high volatility slots, you may take a few dozen spins or even hundreds to find a win, but the payout is going to blow you away. Or, you can play low volatility slots and win every five spins or so, but you will take home a much lower amount of cash. A more detailed breakdown of slot machine volatility can be found here.

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