But there’s luck and “luck”!

Sure, luck is the way of the gambler but, as with anything in life, you can help nudge luck into going your way.

And it’s one of the most valuable insights into effective slots playing.

Do your homework. Don’t just sit at a random machine or click on an arbitrary online game – find out about it. Check the data and you will find you have a much more profitable gaming session.

The most important thing to look out for is the RTP. A high RTP will give you a better idea of just how often you are likely to win. A low RTP means you’re less likely to hit a win but more likely to win a lot more if you do.

Check the pay table to see what the posted RTP is, and you may even find a volatility guide to give you even more info on the game you want to play.

Study the paylines. The more paylines, the more opportunities to win – theoretically! We say theoretically because more paylines can also mean a more complicated game with less chances of winning big.

If you’re an online slots fan, look for reviews on the slots game. Most fans are more than willing to give others an insight into whether or not the game is worth playing and review sites, like OCR, often post reviews on new slots games (you can find our slots reviews right here

Try before you buy

The online casino world has quite a few things going for it when stacked against land-based casinos and one of our bestest ever bonuses is that you can often try a slot game for free before you risk your moolah. Look for demo modes and play for free options at the online casinos and give the slots games a try-out before you invest.

Not only will it give you a better grasp of the gameplay, but it will also give you an idea of the pay percentages and frequency. And you get to play on a huge number of different games and experience all the different styles and themes without going bankrupt!

Progressive is not always progress

A lot of slots players will tell you to play progressive jackpots sparingly. Which makes no sense if you know that the really big, life-changing jackpots are on the progressive slots.

If you’re playing for fun, it’s wiser to avoid progressives for a number of reasons. The biggest reason is the cost. Progressive jackpots have a much higher bet amount than random jackpots and you will burn through your bankroll much faster.

Another reason is the volatility. Progressive jackpots are massively volatile games meaning that yes, if you hit the jackpot you’re going to be set for life, but that jackpot is not hit very often at all. Fixed jackpot slots will pay out lower wins but your chances of hitting those wins are much higher.

This is not to say you should avoid progressive slots, just don’t put all your time and money into chasing the big win and lose out on the fun and thrills of slots games.