The slot machine may not be the oldest type of casino game but it has still been around for a long time. It was developed during the final years of the 19th century and is the brainchild of a man called Charles Frey.
He came up with the very first real money slot machine and called it Liberty Bell. His machine boasted three reels and five icons, with an automated system for paying out winnings. That means it had all of the essential features of a slot machine right from the start.
The games have undergone an evolution in the century-plus since then of course. First video slot machines were invented and then the games transferred to the internet.
Now it is possible to find online slots real money options very easily at casino sites. You need to know what you are doing when you play them though.
This article will provide some tips for playing online slots.
Find a Trustworthy Casino Site to Play at
Before you begin to think about spinning a slot game, you will have to choose a casino site to play at. The first tip to remember is to make sure you select one that is trustworthy.
This cannot be emphasised enough, because a bad casino site will wreck every other aspect of your experience. You may find a game that you enjoy only to discover that any winnings are very slow to arrive in your account.
That is not even the worst that can happen if you are not careful. A dubious casino is less likely to take data security seriously, so you may end up having your personal details stolen.
The way to ascertain whether a site is legitimate or not is by looking for its license, as all online casinos should be licensed. There are bodies like the Gambling Commission regulating the industry.
If you were visiting a casino in London, you would check its reputation first. So make sure you do the same thing with an online casino.
Learn How Real Money Slots Work
Slot machines are the easiest type of casino game for a first-time player to get familliar with. They have very simple rules and game-play and there are no real strategies for them.
That makes learning how they work something that can be accomplished in a matter of minutes. An online real money slot has a number of reels (usually five) and the point is to get a row of icons on a reel that matches.
There will also be several pay lines, which the player puts their bets into. You can bet on as many, or few, of these lines as you choose. In the case of most slot games though, the more lines you play, the greater the opportunity to win.
A good way to put this tip into practice is to spend some time playing slot games in demo mode first. This will not involve actual money but will let you get a feel for the games.
Set Your Playing Budget First
Setting a sensible playing budget is essential for any kind of real money gaming. Therefore, a third useful tip is to do that before you begin to play and stick to it no matter what.
Your budget for playing real money slots should be determined by your monthly income and expenses. Figure out your earnings per month and what you pay out in bills and household costs.
Then set yourself an affordable sum to play with from what is left. Do that on the basis of what you can afford to lose, as slot games do not offer any guarantee of wins.
When it comes to putting this into playing practice, it means walking away when you have spent your budget. You can also select a slot game based on how big that budget is.
Lower volatility games that pay out more frequently will suit those with small budgets. Only play high volatility progressive jackpot slots if you have a lot of money to gamble with.
Make Careful Use of Promotional Offers
Whichever casino site you choose will have promotional offers available. These can be a way to boost your winning chances, but be careful which ones you take advantage of, as some have unfavourable wagering requirements.
Free spins are a particularly effective bonus when it comes to slot games. They are a common welcome offer at casino sites and they will let a new player spin a slot without using their own money.
If the player chooses a low volatility slot to play, there is a good chance of landing a win before the free spins run out.
Follow the four tips listed above if you want to have a good time playing slots.