When Is The Best Time To Play Online Slots? Learn Now!
Are you a slots fan? If you are one, you've most likely thought about when's the best time to play online slots. Answers are many and different. Some think you should wager during the off-peak hours, others have a favorite day of the week or hour of the day and so on. But let's get deep into how those machines work and see what is the best time to play slot games online.
How do slots work?
In order to undestand how to time your play and tailor your gaming sessions, you need to realize how do slots work. There are several quite important terms that are important to know and actually understand because that's what lies underneath the entire online gaming industry.
RNGs
Slots are powered by RNGs which is an abreviation of Random Number Generators, or, if we had to put in other words, the technology that controls the outcomes of the slot machines. That's a software that produces random numbers (hence the name) which, in turn, determine how will the symbols land on the reels. They don't work only when you press the spin button but all the time. And every number generated is entirely independent of the previous one. That's why you cannot predict whether a given spin will be a winning or a losing one: it's fully randomized and no external influence is possible.
RTP
Now that's another quite important abreviation to know. RTP comes from return to player, or what percentage of the money wagered on a given slot machine are paid out as winnings. The higher this number, the more a given game pays out. But that's a theoretical number calculated upon hundreds of thousands of spins. And a slot having a 97% RTP doesn't mean you're getting actual 97% of your money back. Because the software is programmed to take into account the whole pool of players who're wagering on it. That why some players win more and some get nothing at all.
Volatility
Volatility is another characteristic within the iGaming industry which determines how slots pay out. The higher it is, the less frequent the payout are but their amount is bigger. The lower it is, the more frequent winnings combinations you'll receive but their sums will be smaller.
Hit frequency
Hit frequency refers to how regularly does a slot land on a winning combination. For instance, if it's 15%, within 15% of the spins players get a payout. It can differ, though, and might be lesser or higher and it's also calculated per all spins made by all customers who're playing around all casino sites.
Slot machine payout
The oayout of slot machines is the amount you win on them. This can be achieved through managing to land certain winning combinations which can be specific symbols in specific order (the so-called paylines) or a given group of symbols next to each other (cluster pays). All combinations have a different payout depending on what symbols are included in the winning sequence and they're all assigned a value which you can see on the paytable.
Best time to play online slot games
So, now the main questions remain:
- Do slots pay more at night?
- Is it better to play during off-peak hours?
- Should you pick a specific day of the week?
- Are there certain times of the month the games will pay more?
- How much the timing of your slot play determines whether you'll win or lose?
Well, unfortunately there is no way to discover the best time to play online casino slots, be they classic ones, progressive jackpots, Megaways or whatever else you'd like. The outcomes of those games are fully random and undependent of what you're doing, when you're playing or how long you've been trying to 'hack' a given game.
Busting some slot myths
A huge number of players believe in the various slot myths which we'll try to bust below to show you how to play safe when you engage in online gambling.
There is a best time to play slots online
While many players believe that playing at certain times increases your chances of winning, that's actually a big misconception which can lead you to losing lots of money. Regardless of whether you're playing during off-peak hours, evenings and weekends or have your preferred day of the week, you don't have any better chance of winnings. There's no magic hour that comes into play. Slots don't pay out more at night or at any specific time of the day. It doesn't matter how many people are online. The outcome of every spin is determined by RNGs which are, just like their name suggests, fully random. They're technology which generates an unique outcome any time you spin the reels and they don't care if there are more or fewer players.
Longer slot sessions are better
Every player falls in a losing streak sometimes. In those cases many slot fans decide that if they simply keep betting, they're bound to come ahead because the big win awaits them. That's simply not true because the RNGs don't take into account if you've lost on 10 or 100 spins beforehand. They're fully random and if your luck manages to run out, it's better to take a break and come back another time.
There is a must win jackpot
Many players believe that if a progressive jackpot slot hasn't landed the jackpot in some time, now's the ideal time to play on it because it's guaranteed to land. But that's not even close to being true. When you play a jackpot slot, the same RNGs that generate a fully random, separate and unpredictable outcome are integrated within the underlying technology. So, even if the slot hadn't landed a jackpot in quite some time, it could be months more than someone manages to win it.
Cold games guarantee you dropping a huge payout soon
Same's valid for the so-called cold casino slots. The ones which haven't landed big payouts recently. Some players consider them to be due to land a massive prize soon. But the random number generator doesn't care about sequences and the fact that lots of the previos outcomes have been losing or low payout ones doesn't mean you're certain to land a big win on the given game.
Strategies for online slot play: How to increase your chances of winning when you play slots online?
Sure enough, there are some strategies of picking casino games at the best slot sites out there. Even though there is no real best time to play, some games are better than others. And that's what matters more than the time you play at. So, here are some tips.
Pick a high RTP slot machine
Check the advertised RTP rate of the slot machine. The higher it is, the bigger the chances of landing a winning combination. Slot machines with RTP over 96-97% are the best picks.
Try some new slot casino offers
You can also make use of some casino bonuses and promotions, especially those with free spins. They can enhance your gaming experience and provide you with more chances to spin the reels and, therefore, try to win. But take a look at the wagering requirements before claiming your casino promotions and bonus because they can be the difference between an offer that's worth your time and a one which only lowers your chances of withdrawing a good payout. Slot tournaments can be a good pick, too, but don't get too hang up on your ranking. Play for fun, pick the games that take part in the competition and if you manage to win part of the prize pool, great. If not, there's always another time.
Think about the bonus functions
The bonus functions of a given slot can also maximize your chances of winning. If the machine's got plenty of them, you can make use of free spins, multipliers, mini rounds and the Gamble function to up your potential of getting a nice payout.
How to gamble responsibly when you play slot machines online?
Online casinos may feature thousands and thousands of slots but this doesn't mean you've got to play them all or bet lots of money on them. What matters even more than the time you're playing the given casino game is being responsible with your wagers. So, make a budget, stick to it, don't go overboard and set up deposit limits. If you're prone to losing track of time, set up reality checks and take a break once the notification pops up. Don't hesitate to take a longer break via a time out (to ban your access to your account for some time) if you feel the need to.
Best slot strategy: Bankroll management
Since slot games are a matter of pure luck, your best strategy is the bankroll management. This way you'd be able to keep your spending under control. The most important rule to follow here is to never bet more than you could afford to lose without financial troubles. Stop once the money you've set aside for today's playing session is over and don't try to chase losses: in most cases that's not going to work out. The players who are successful in the long run know when to stop in the short run.
