Being a winning slot machine player is impossible. All slot machines are specifically designed to give the house an edge in the long run, so the house will always come out ahead if you play long enough. The only real way to counter the house edge in slot machine games is to play a game with a really big jackpot, bet the max each time you play, and hope you hit the jackpot. Then when you hit the big jackpot, guess what you do next? Stop playing that game.

Do not misunderstand. I’m not saying you shouldn’t play slot machines. In fact, I find slot games, especially the really good ones, to be a lot of fun. But you want to keep in mind that, mathematically, what you’re doing when you play a slot machine long-term is paying for the entertainment. You can calculate how much you’re paying for that entertainment by multiplying the house edge by your average bet times your number of spins per hour.

For example, if you are playing a slot game with a 95% payout, then the house edge is 5%. (The casino keeps 5% of each bet you make in the long run.) And if your average bet is $3, then you will pay an average of 15 cents per spin on the house. (5% multiplied by $3.) Assuming you are doing 500 spins per hour, that game costs you $75/hour to play, which may or may not be a reasonable price for your entertainment. That depends on your bankroll.

Another thing to factor into your calculation is how much perks and bonuses you get from the casino are worth. If you’re playing at a land-based casino where you get free drinks while you play, then you can subtract the cost of those drinks from your hourly cost. (Or you can add the cost of those drinks to the value of the entertainment you’re getting – it’s just a matter of perspective.) My recommendation is to drink premium spirits and premium beers to maximize the value of the entertainment you want. you are receiving A bottle of Heineken can cost $4 in a good restaurant. You drink two Heinekens an hour and you’ve just cut your hourly gambling cost from $75 to $68.

Slot clubs also give back a percentage of your losses every hour, so definitely make sure you join the casino’s slot club and ALWAYS use your card to keep track of your play. There is absolutely no reason not to do this. Casinos also reward their biggest slots players with freebies like meals, show tickets and free rooms, which all add up to reduce the amount of money you spend every hour you play on your machine.

So how do you become a winning slot machine player? He would sum it up by saying know how much each spin and hour is costing you to play, take advantage of all the freebies and perks, and look for the big progressive jackpot.