Casino Slots Games: Strategy

You’ve checked out hundreds of casino slots games and found a machine you like the look of – what’s next? Well, you need to have some sort of strategy. It may seem like there’s not a lot to most slots games (just put the money in, press the button, and leave the rest to chance, right?) but it always pays to have a plan of action. And while it is simply not possible to alter the actual odds generated within the software of casino slots games, it is possible to maximise your enjoyment and, in turn, your profits.

First of all, practise. If your preferred casino slots game allows it, play for free for a while. It’ll help you get to know its features and foibles. As they say, knowledge is power; and the same applies to casino slots games. Once you’re comfortable you can start putting real money in.

Secondly, control your spending. It usually pays to bet the maximum amount allowed by casino slots games – this ensures that any payouts are always as big as possible. Plus, progressive jackpots typically only pay on max bets. But it is equally important to know your limits. In general, betting more or less than necessary ends in varying levels of disappointment.

Lastly, know when to quit. It’s worth remembering that the longer you play casino slots games, the more the house edge (the mathematical advantage that all casinos have) works against you. Once you’re up, it’s a good idea to call it a day, sit back and count your winnings. Otherwise you may end up putting it all back in again. And if you do that, you’ll have nothing left to play with next time.

UK Categories of Casino Slots Games

As part of the Gambling Act 2005, UK casino slots are divided into three main categories with maximum stakes and prizes (as of June 2009). Land casinos are only permitted to install a certain number of slot games from each of the particular categories, which are defined as follows:

Category A

Originally intended for the planned Super Casino in Manchester, these casino slots had no limits placed on either stakes or winnings. The controversial Super Casino development was cancelled shortly after Gordon Brown became Prime Minister and consequently there are no Category A machines currently in the UK.

Category B

Slots games within this category are divided again into further subcategories. B1, B3, and B4 games differ mainly in their stakes and prizes, which range from a maximum stake of £1 to £2; and maximum prizes between £250 and £4000. B2 games (Fixed Odds Betting Terminals – or FOBTs) are electronic roulette machines that are generally found in betting shops or bookmakers.

Category C

These machines are most common in pubs and bars. They are often referred to as fruit machines, one-armed bandits or AWPs (Amusements With Prizes) and usually feature three reels. Game play is fairly simple and features kept to a minimum – often limited to traditional Hold and Nudge elements rather than intricate bonus games and multiple video screens.

There is a further category of slots games, Category D, which is defined as ‘non-complex’ games. These include ‘machines where the game outcome is achieved by mechanical means such as a coin drop & moving decks’. Traditional amusement arcade entertainments of the ‘crane grab’ or ‘penny pusher’ variety would fall into this category. They are rarely found in casinos.