The first step to playing slots successfully is deciding how much money you want to spend and sticking to it. Treat this as an entertainment expense – the same kind of money you would pay for dinner, drinks or a night out. Then, when you’re ready to leave the casino, walk away with a ticket with any remaining cash on it – called a TITO (ticket in, ticket out).
Choosing a machine with an appealing theme is also important. Whether you prefer the adventure of Vikings on their crusade to hell, or the excitement of winning big on a video game style slot, you’ll find the right machine for you. But beware of a machine’s volatility, which is the amount it pays out over a short period of time.
Lastly, it’s crucial to know that any win at a slot machine is random and unaffected by previous spins or other players’ actions. A winning combination is determined by the machine’s internal random number generator and only those combinations receive a payout. Many people have a hard time believing this, but it’s true. Never chase a machine that appears to be ‘due’ to hit, as it won’t. This myth persists mainly because people like to play with their friends and want to see them succeed. This is why casinos offer incentives such as free drinks, food or shows to keep the action going.