Slot machines are one of the most iconic aspects of the casino experience. The flashing lights add vibrancy to the casino floor while the bells and whistles provide an exciting soundtrack. It's hard to imagine a casino without slot machines.

Online casinos have brought the slot machine into the 21^st century. The continuing popularity of slots is obvious from the fact that the majority of online casinos have game libraries with hundreds, or even thousands, of slots.

We all know how to play slots. Put your money in, pull the lever or click the button, and watch the reels spin. Then do it all again in the hopes that you hit that lucky jackpot. It's that winning bit that's harder to nail down. Since slots are a pure game of chance, they're a perfect canvas for projecting theories of secret ways to win.

Unlock the secrets of winning at slots

In reality, there are some not so secret ways to win at slots. In this article, we'll give a quick overview of the history of slot machines and then we'll dive into the strategies and tips for spinning yourself a win.

Before we begin though, it does need to be reinforced that even with all the tips, tricks and strategies in the book, slots are still a game of chance and winning can't be guaranteed. It's just nice to have a chance to even up the odds a little bit.

Tips for maximizing your winnings on slots

One of the best tips is to consider the return to player (RTP) rate of a slot before you play. All casino games have a set RTP rate, which is the average amount you can expect to win back over time as you play. A game with a high RTP and a low volatility is the ideal, it means you will likely win back most of your money without any dramatic losses.

One of the great things about online casinos is that the RTPs for all their games are available online. Looking at a list of the best online slots, they all have similarly high RTPs. If you want to maximize your winnings on slots, avoid playing any games with a low RTP.

Taking advantage of bonus offers can get you free spins on the slots. This lets you get a feel for how to bet before risking any of your own funds. Speaking of bonuses, many online slots have bonus games that you can access by hitting certain combinations. These games are usually where the more lucrative wins can be landed. Focus your bets on these games for bigger returns.

The history of slots and slot machines

Gambling games are one of humanity's oldest pastimes. Rudimentary cards and dice have been found dating back to over a thousand years ago. Many of our favorite gambling games have their roots in the 18^th century. The earliest slot machines were created in the 1890s in the United States.

These first slot machines were created by Charles Fey and had three reels with five symbols. The original symbols were diamonds, spades, hearts, horseshoes and the Liberty Bell. On these early machines, the bell was the jackpot symbol. As different companies began to produce their own machines, the symbols were changed and adapted to suit their brands.

In the 1970s, the video slot made its appearance in Las Vegas. Video slot machines can now be found all over the world wherever they're legal. The authentic British pub experience isn't complete without a fruit machine or two in the corner for patrons to play.

Online slot games were in the works from the early 1990s. With the rise of the internet and online gambling, it became obvious to game developers that there was going to be a huge market for online slots. The last decade has certainly proved them right, with online casino gambling taking over a huge share of the entire gambling market.

Different types of slot machines explained

There are four main types of slot machines. The first is the traditional slot, the classic one-armed bandit. These slots don't have the same animations and complicated paylines, but they do have the charm of being an actual machine with a pull arm.

Today, video slots are the most common type of physical slot machine. They have a screen where the reels spin. Some have an arm to pull while others just have a button to press. These slots come in all sorts of different genres and themes and are often available in online versions as well.

Progressive slots, also known as progressive jackpot slots, are a type of video or online slot machine. With progressive slots, the jackpot amount grows as people play. Many of the biggest jackpots come from progressive slots.

Multi-line slots break up the betting process. Instead of just betting on the spin, with multi-line slots, the player can place a bet on each line on the reels. These machines require a bit more thought and planning but can also lead to huge payouts.

There are also two ways that slot machines are programmed to pay out: random and compensated. All slots have a set rate that they pay out at, the return to player rate. With random slots, a random number generator controls the outcome, but it has no memory, so each spin is completely random. Almost all online slot games use the random payout method.

With compensated slots, the game keeps track of how often it has paid out and compensates for any runs of good or bad luck. Compensated slots are incredibly rare these days. With a compensated slot, a run of bad luck probably means a win is coming. Compensated slots were designed as machines could only hold a set amount of money, so the fuller a machine becomes, the more likely it is to pay out.

Strategies for winning at slots

The number one strategy for winning at slots is to thoroughly research each game before you play. The more you understand, the easier it will be to make smart bets. You need to work out what paylines are and how best to exploit them as well as any rules and bonuses that are specific to each individual slot that you're playing.

The next strategy is to play on demo mode, sometimes called free play, to get a feel for the game before you start spending money on it. Playing in demo mode can also give you a good idea of how volatile a slot is. If you prefer slow and steady wins, you'll want a slot with a low volatility.

Most people who play online slots are familiar with welcome bonuses. These bonuses make it easier to start playing. What is typically less well-known is that many online casinos run promotions throughout the year to reward loyal players. Taking advantage of these bonuses can boost the credit you have to play with and give you more leeway while you're playing.

Similarly, many online casinos will have a 'Slot of the Day' or 'Slot of the Week' promotion where your winnings from that specific slot are increased. Even though they may not be your favorite games, playing the games that have an associated promotion can increase your winnings.

Our last tip is the hardest for many gamblers to hear: quit while you're ahead. Chasing that ultimate jackpot might pay off, but it's more likely to cost you everything that you've won so far. It's better to consistently win small amounts than to chase after that one big score.