Every casino game should be approached with a specific money management plan that corresponds to the game’s peculiarities, and slots are no exception. In fact, adequate bankroll management is even more important for slots because of the dynamic pace of this type of game – players who lack a plan of action risk depleting their entire bankroll in just a few unlucky spins.
While there is no way for players to predict whether they will land a winning combination on any given spin, proper money management can greatly increase their chances of maximising their winnings and can even help them end their betting session in profit. It is always advisable for slot players to incorporate a suitable bankroll management technique into their gaming sessions, as this instils discipline and enables them to control the amount of money they spend when playing a particular online slot.
Key Aspects of Slots Money Management
Players are strongly advised to choose a money management plan in advance, before placing their bets on online slots. Managing one’s bankroll is a complex process, as it comprises several key aspects players need to consider beforehand. You will find more detailed information on each of these aspects below.
Determine Your Bankroll Size and Stick to It
The first thing players are advised to do is determine the size of their bankroll, i.e., the amount of money they intend to use for playing the slots. Your monthly bankroll should consist of funds you are comfortable spending and, potentially, losing, which is not to say you will necessarily exhaust it.
That being said, players should never resort to gambling with money they need for food, rent, or utility bills. Decide what amount you can comfortably set aside to play the slots with and stick to it. Another good idea would be to open a separate bank account or use a separate credit or debit card to fund your online casino balance. This will spare you the temptation to extend your gaming session by using funds that are not intended for gambling.
Divide the Bankroll by the Number of Betting Sessions
Once you have decided how much you can comfortably spend on the slots per month, you need to break down your overall monthly bankroll into smaller portions reserved for each betting session you intend to take part in.
For instance, if you can afford to spend a total of £800 per month and you have planned four separate betting sessions in advance, you will have £200 for each session. This approach can help you restrict your losses. If your luck deserts you and you lose the £200 during the first session, you will still have £600 for your remaining three sessions, which could help you finish the month in profit.
Choose Coin Values Sensibly
When it comes to slots, inexperienced players are advised to choose their coin value sensibly. After all, hitting the Spin button takes only a split second, and if you play with a higher denomination you might deplete your entire bankroll in under ten minutes. In addition to the coin value, players need to decide how many coins to bet per active payline, based on how much money they have set aside for the session.
As a general rule, the higher the stake, the larger the payback percentage will be. More experienced slot players recommend that novices play one coin on slots with higher denominations rather than betting three or more coins on slots with lower denominations. However, if you choose to play slots with progressive jackpots, you are generally advised to bet the maximum amount per spin, as this will increase your chances of triggering the life-changing prize. Otherwise, you will only end up contributing to the jackpot without actually having a chance of winning it yourself.
Set Win and Loss Limits
There are players who become greedy after they land a lucrative combination on the reels and earn a hefty payout. These players typically end up losing what they have already won to the house because they covet additional profit and do not know when to stop. Yet learning to accept small wins is another essential aspect of bankroll management. Seasoned slot players always set a win limit for themselves in advance as this helps them end the betting session with their winnings intact.
Experts recommend setting a win limit that amounts to 60% of your starting bankroll for the betting session. For example, if you start the session with a bankroll of £100 and your win goal is 60%, you can continue betting until you have generated £60 in profit.
At this point, you can either quit betting or apply the “guarantee and excess” principle. You can set aside half of the profit, or £30, as this would be your guarantee – no matter what happens, you are guaranteed to finish the session with £30 in profit. The remaining £30 is the excess, which is to be added to the bankroll. You can use the excess to place more aggressive bets if you wish.
Setting a loss limit is equally important. More often than not, it is recommended to quit when you have lost about 50% to 60% of the starting bankroll. So, if you start with a £100 bankroll, you need to quit playing once you are roughly £50 down. Whatever you do, do not attempt to chase your losses. This is a common mistake that has caused many slot players to exhaust their bankrolls altogether.
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Adopt the “Naked Pulls” Approach
In slots, the reel spins that render no returns are referred to as “naked pulls”. When players experience several losing spins in succession on a given slot, this might be interpreted as a signal to wrap up the betting session. Less experienced slot players often persist in betting on the same slot after suffering several consecutive losses because they believe they are “due” for a payout. However, this could not be further from the truth.
This is how the “naked pulls” approach works. First, you need to pick one number between seven and fourteen, although you can opt for a lower number, like four or five, if you wish. It all depends on the size of your session’s bankroll. Let’s assume you pick number eight. You choose an online slot to play and give the reels a minimum of eight spins. If the first eight spins fail to result in any returns for you, this might be interpreted as a sign the game is “tight” and you should consider switching to a looser slot. When combined with the loss limit you have set for yourself, this approach will enable you to cut down your losses and protect you from depleting your entire bankroll for the session.
Increasing Bets after a Win
Inexperienced slot players tend to increase their bets after a loss occurs, hoping that they will be able to recoup the losses on the following spins. However, this approach often ends up costing them their entire bankroll. Some experts recommend doing precisely the opposite and wagering smaller amounts when you are losing. The bets should be increased only when you start winning. This method will help you weather a losing streak and maximise your profits on a hot run.
Let’s demonstrate how this technique works with an example. First, you start the series by betting one coin. If you win on the first spin, you can increase the second wager to two coins. You win again, so the third spin should cost you three coins. Your luck fails you on the fourth spin, so you need to reduce the next bet to two coins.
If you lose again, you bet one coin on the following spin and so on. Players who reach five coins per spin are not advised to increase their stakes further; instead, they should continue betting five coins until they experience a loss, after which they start decreasing their bets on the subsequent spins. If you reach the number of naked pulls you have set for yourself at any time during the betting session, it would be a good idea to cash out the remainder of your bankroll and terminate this session.
There is another approach, which dictates that players should start with the minimum bet amounts allowed on their preferred slot. They continue placing lower bets until they land a winning combination, at which point they must bet the maximum amount. Should they win again, they continue placing the maximum bet until they eventually lose and go back to their starting, low wager.
Play at a Slow Pace
Slots easily earn the title of the most dynamic game to play in both online and land-based casinos. The game is indeed played at an extremely rapid pace, as the outcome of each spin is determined within seconds, while hitting the Spin button takes only a split second. Needless to say, this means players can potentially lose (or win) money at a very rapid pace.
Like all casino games, slots also have a built-in advantage in favour of the house. The faster and the longer you play, the more money you will end up losing in the long run because the house edge will catch up with you. That is why it is always a good idea to slow down the pace a little. You can achieve this by playing only one coin per round on slots where the payouts increase proportionately to the number of coins you bet per spin.
Of course, another way to slow down your gameplay is by simply taking breaks every couple of spins. There is no rule that states players should hit the Spin button every three seconds. Feel free to take a break, enjoy a cup of coffee, or grab a sandwich. This will allow you to extend your gaming session and play longer without having to increase the size of your bankroll.