There are strategies for pretty much all casino games. When there’s a chance of winning money, there’s no doubt that people will put their heads together to try and uncover a loophole in their favour.
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Nowhere is this more prevalent than the slot machine. People have been uncovering tricks and cheats for slots pretty much since they were invented. But as many players now enjoy casino games online, the question has turned to how to beat online casino slot machines. Is it possible? Can it be done legitimately? Let’s take a look at the current playing field.
How To Win At Slot Machines Online
You can’t understand how to win on an online slot machine if you don’t know how they work. So let’s first look at that.
Modern slots online use what’s known as a random number generator (RNG). This is a complex algorithm which generates results randomly. But how random are they? Is it possible for a player to guess what the results will be?
According to the UK Gambling Commission which regulates gambling in Great Britain, it should be “computationally infeasible to predict what the next number [of an RNG slot] will be without complete knowledge of the algorithm and seed value”.
Of course, players don’t get access to the algorithm or seed value. But neither does the casino. This helps to keep the game fair. Also, the previous results of an RNG online slot machine have absolutely no impact on the next result. If you won on the last spin, it doesn’t make it any more or less likely that you’ll win the next spin. And vice-versa.
Slots also have what’s called a return-to-player percentage (RTP). This is the average amount that the game would be expected to payout in the long run compared with how much has been paid to play. For example, one with an 95% RTP (which is around the standard percentage of online slots) would be expected to pay back 95% of what’s been put into it over time.
However, you should not expect the RTP to represent your gameplay sessions. For example, if you play £10 on a slot machine with 95% RTP, you should not expect to receive £9.50 back. That’s because the RTP is measured over hundreds of thousands of games, not individual sessions.
So what’s the best way to beat online slot machines?
It’s impossible to guarantee that you’ll win on online slots machines due to the random number generator that it uses. So the best way to beat them is to use bonuses that online casinos give to players. Not just any casino bonuses either, but ones with favourable terms and conditions.
Most casino bonuses have what’s called a wagering requirement. This means that anything you win from a bonus must be rebet several times before it can be cashed out. For example, it’s common for players to get a £100 bonus and have to place bets worth £4,000 before it can be cashed out. Most players will lose it before getting close to this target.
So instead it’s better to look for no wagering casino bonuses. Anything you win from these bonuses will be paid as cash straight away. You just need to play the slot and see what you win.
It’s the best and most legitimate way to try and beat a slot machine as you’re not betting using your own money, but anything you win will be given as real money. Of course, because the outcome of online slots is random, you might get a no wagering bonus and not win anything. You just have to hope that luck is on your side.
Also, a very few elite casinos have no wagering requirements ever, so you’ll always win cash at these sites when using a bonus.
Can You Cheat Slot Machines?
When slot machines were first invented, a lot of cheats were created. And a lot of them worked too, at least for a time. Some cheats were very simple and easy (like attaching string to a coin), while others were a bit more sophisticated (like using magnets to affect where the reels landed).
But as time went on, the design of slots became a lot more stringent. Obviously tricks like attaching string to a coin were easily eradicated. But manufacturers also developed magnetic-resistant casings along with other security features to reduce cheating some more.
Today, it’s incredibly difficult to cheat slots. Not impossible as Russian engineers recently exposed when having access to the machines. But pretty difficult. And online slots that you don’t have physical access to are even harder.
Do Slot Machine Hacks Work?
When playing online, people often ask whether online slot hacks work. These are basically the same as cheats, but via a different strategy as there’s no physical machine to crack or trick. Instead it’s generally referred to as hacking into the code or taking advantage of loopholes or errors.
When you play slots at an online casino, the games are provided by a third-party provider. This helps to prevent any hacks. However, this is a good thing for players.
Because, unfortunately, it’s been known for rogue and unlicenced online casinos to provide cracked versions of slots. The game looks and acts exactly as it should, but the mechanics have been tampered with to rig the game in favour of the casino.
Luckily this is a very rare case and something that’s not possible at licenced casinos as all their games are vigorously tested for fairness independently. This also helps to identify any loopholes or errors before being made available for play.
The slots are also monitored thoroughly after release just in case any loopholes or errors are found at a later date. It’s rare for this to happen, although game provider NetEnt had to remove their Street Fighter slot temporarily in 2020 after concerns with potential player staking were found after release. Game providers are able to apply patches to fix any problems, before sending the amended version to be independently tested and approved so players can enjoy it again.
So in general, it’s best to stay away from looking for hacks, cheats, and tricks, and instead just see a slot machine as the game of chance it is. You should always play for fun and remember to gamble responsibly.
