Unlike blackjack and poker, where gamblers can increase their odds of winning with a proper strategy, slots are games of pure chance, and one of the most important things slot players can learn is good bankroll management. This skill is the only one that can help them avoid losing their money and, sometimes, even finish with a profit. This may not be the most ambitious goal when starting to play, but it is the most reasonable once we realize that slots are, after all, a negative expectation game.
Bankroll management typically involves many aspects, including setting a budget and establishing limits on both losses and wins, among others. Many gambling experts online also argue that discipline is crucial unless players want to lose all their money. Controlling your emotions, however, does not always work when gambling online, especially when playing slots. The reason for this is simple yet not so obvious: slots are popular among casino players for their entertainment value, not for favorable rules or good odds. It is the emotional response that every slot fan seeks when playing. The sooner players understand that, the better.
Still, good bankroll management skills can help slot players stretch their funds and make the most of even the smallest budget. This article briefly explains why bankroll management is so important when playing online slots. It also outlines the most crucial steps in developing money management skills: what to do and what to avoid when playing slot games.
Bankroll and Game Sessions
The first thing players need to understand is what a gambling bankroll is. It is money specifically set aside for wagering on casino games, whether slots, blackjack, or roulette. The bankroll should not include funds one would spend on food, rent, bills, or living expenses in general. Players should also ask themselves a few basic questions before entering a casino: what percentage of their total bankroll they should spend per session, and how much they should bet on each spin based on their fixed budget.
General Guidelines for Setting up a Bankroll
Game Sessions and Betting Units
Loss Limits and Win Goals
General Guidelines for Setting up a Bankroll
To establish a proper gambling bankroll, players must decide how much money they can afford to lose over a specific period, such as a month, a week, or a day. This is the amount they feel comfortable risking on slots. In other words, money they are willing to lose without suffering any significant hardship. For many people, that figure may be no more than $200 per month, though some slot enthusiasts can set aside $1,000 for play.
The size of a bankroll depends not only on personal finances but also on risk tolerance. After players identify an amount they are comfortable with, they should divide it into several smaller portions for each planned game session. For example, with a monthly bankroll of $200 and four planned casino visits, they would allocate $50 per visit. A single trip could then include one session with a $50 bankroll or two sessions of $25 each.
Experienced gamblers often recommend a session budget equal to 5%–10% of the total bankroll. This approach is less practical with a modest bankroll of $200 because it limits players to $10 or $20 per session. Another option is to set only a session bankroll without planning a long-term budget for slot play. This method is easier to follow, especially for newcomers who are just beginning to implement bankroll management.
Game Sessions and Betting Units
The next essential step in managing one’s bankroll is to decide how much to wager on each spin. Beginners should stick to fixed stake amounts, whereas experienced players may choose a betting range that suits their budget. Typically, the smallest amount they are willing to stake becomes their base betting unit. This could be $0.02, $0.10, $0.25, $1.00, and so on. A common guideline is to keep a session bankroll that is at least 100 times the betting unit.
Many slot players prefer a bankroll that is 200 or even 300 times the betting unit. This strategy ensures they can afford 200 or 300 spins, even in the unlikely event of losing every round. For example, if we bet $0.25 per spin, our session bankroll should be $50 (200x the betting unit) or $75 (300x the betting unit). If we raise the stake to $1.00, we would need at least $200 for the session.
Loss Limits and Win Goals
It is also crucial to know when to walk away from a slot machine. This principle applies to every casino game and form of gambling. Some players believe they should set aside their winnings and continue betting only with their initial stake, but this is not always practical. Instead, slot players should establish clear loss limits and win goals for each session. When either threshold is reached, they must stop playing and leave with the remaining funds.
A good starting point is a loss limit equal to 30%–50% of the session bankroll. This conservative approach is suitable for novices and ensures they will not lose more than half of their budget, even during a long losing streak. The same logic applies to the win goal: after earning a profit of 30% or 50%, players should stop and secure their gains.
How to Get the Most of a Game Session
Following the bankroll management tips mentioned above is effective, but casino patrons should consider other important factors before playing slots for real money. To maximize any game session, they need to account for several variables unique to themselves and to the game they choose.
Watch How to Get Most of a Game Session Video
Consider the RTP of the Slot
Penny Slots or High-Roller Games
Low and High Variance Games
Playing Slots Slowly
Bonuses and Comp Points
Consider the RTP of the Slot
Unlike land-based casinos, most online casinos display the average return of the games they offer. This figure, expressed as a percentage, is commonly called RTP (Return to Player) and typically ranges between 92% and 97% for slot games. If a game has an RTP of 95%, players can expect to win back $95 of every $100 wagered on average.
This theoretical return is calculated from the odds of each possible winning combination and its payout. In general, games with higher RTP percentages are more profitable, so players should seek slots with at least a 95% return. They should remember, however, that real-time results often differ from the theoretical value. After wagering $100 on a 95% RTP slot, a player might lose $25 or, in other cases, show a profit of $12. These are short-term fluctuations, whereas the RTP provides only a long-term indication of a game’s profitability.
Penny Slots or High-Roller Games
One of the most important factors to consider before betting real money is the type of slot you plan to play, and more precisely, its coin denomination. In general, a game’s RTP increases with the denomination because higher stakes, maximum coin sizes, and all activated paylines produce larger payouts.
Some slots cap the maximum bet per spin at $1.00 or $2.00; these are often called penny slots because spins can cost as little as one cent ($0.01). Other games accept stakes from $1.25 to $50 per spin and are better suited for high rollers whose goal is to hit the jackpot. Choose a game that fits your budget and adjust your bet size so you can afford at least 50 or 100 spins.
You usually do not need a session bankroll equal to 300x your bet if you stake $5 per spin; that would require $1,500 for a single session. A more realistic target is a bankroll equal to 50x–100x your bet.
Low and High Variance Games
Variance is another gambling concept many casino players overlook. It reflects risk and indicates how a game pays over time, whether it delivers frequent small rewards or less frequent but larger payouts. Low-variance slots tend to pay out frequently, whereas high-variance games can produce longer losing streaks followed by big wins or even a jackpot.
Variance matters in bankroll management because high-variance slots typically require larger bets and more spins before a player can turn a profit. This can be costly, so players should allocate a larger session bankroll if they intend to play such games. Low-variance slots, by contrast, cause fewer dramatic bankroll swings and are better suited for smaller budgets, though they rarely award wins of 300x or 500x the stake.
Determining a slot’s variance can be tricky. Some developers publish this information, but you can also estimate it by examining the paytable. Compare the payouts for 3- and 4-symbol combinations with the payout for 5 symbols. If the 5-symbol prize is 10x higher than the 4-symbol amount, the game is likely high variance. If the differences are modest, the slot is probably low variance.
Playing Slots Slowly
One of the simplest ways to control spending on slots is to slow your pace. By doing so, you risk less money per hour. Many players spin the reels 500 or 600 times per hour, which, at a $1 machine, means wagering up to $600 in just 60 minutes. The Autospin feature amplifies this effect and can drain a bankroll quickly. If players slow down to 200 or 300 spins per hour, for example, they can effectively cut their losses in half.
Bonuses and Comp Points
Bonuses, special promotions, and comp-point programs can greatly influence a player’s slot bankroll when used correctly. There are various types of online bonuses, including welcome offers, free spins, reload bonuses, and cashback, while comp or loyalty points are usually awarded for wagering on different games. Before claiming a bonus, players should pay close attention not only to its amount but also to the accompanying Terms and Conditions.
Some conditions are nearly impossible to meet. Consider the large welcome bonuses awarded with a first deposit. Suppose the bonus is a 100% match worth $200 but carries a 50 times wagering requirement. Players would need to wager $10,000 ($200×50) before withdrawing even $5. By contrast, some smaller free bonuses are cashable and come with far less restrictive rules.
