There has long been a conversation in the gaming community about hot and cold slots, and whether timing your spins perfectly can help you win. So, are there occasions when it’s better to play – or to increase your bet size? Perhaps, there are even times when it’s best to avoid a slot machine entirely.
Many players have their theories about when a machine might be hot or cold, but we’re about to throw some cold water – yes, pun intended – on that thinking. We’ll explore the popular topic of slot machine randomness and then point you to the best real money online slots to play in Canada right now.
Do Hot and Cold Slots Really Impact Your Online Gambling Wins?
The theory of hot and cold slots refers to how predictably a game pays out. If a slot machine is ‘hot’, then it pays out more frequently. Conversely, a ‘cold’ slot gives little or nothing in winnings back to you.
This slot machine myth comes from the false belief idea that games are more likely to hit at certain times. For this reason, some players in physical casinos use the gambling strategy of standing and watching others play before having a go themselves.
If the player at the machine hasn’t had success for a while, they wait for them to finish and then quickly step in for a turn. The hope is that the machine will be more likely to hit after a long time without paying out. The inverse of this slot strategy is also popular – to stay away from a machine that hasn’t paid out in a while because it’s a cold slot that won’t let you win.
We’re here to tell you these are all just slot machine myths. The truth is, slot payouts, in both land-based casinos and online, are based on a Random Number Generator (RNG) that can’t possibly run hot or cold.
Winning on Slot Machines Is Unpredictable and Based on Pure Luck
You were probably hoping we’d tell you that hot and cold slots exist, and give you the secret recipe for winning. Unfortunately, slot payouts are completely random and nobody can predict them.
How do slot machines work, exactly? RNGs not only ensure the result of every spin is random, but that slot machine odds always average out to the game’s Return to Player (RTP) percentage eventually.
Here’s an example. If you see a slot game with a 95% RTP, it means that for every $100 bet, the game returns $95 back on average to the player. If it’s that simple, what makes them so unpredictable?
Slot machine randomness is due to their RTP averaging out over long periods of time, amounting to millions of spins. How this looks, in practice, is that one player might bet $100 and still win nothing, while someone else could hit the jackpot from a single $1 spin. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles!
Play High RTP Slots for the Best Chance of Winning
Don’t worry though, there is still some good news for slot players, and that is not all games are made equal. If you want to win more, the best slot machine strategy is to choose games with a higher RTP or payout rate. It’s really that simple!
As we mentioned, these slots are rigged to be more rewarding for players. While these games won’t guarantee you any luck, playing high RTP slots will increase your chances of winning in the long term.
More Slot Machine Strategies You Can Use to Your Advantage
In finding effective strategies for online gambling, overcoming slot machine randomness is your biggest hurdle. That said, there are things under your control we recommend for improving your success rate:
- Select online slot games with a high RTP (97% or more)
- Use smart bankroll management to determine your bet size
- Place smaller bets on high-volatility games to extend your play
- Choose your bonus games wisely when given the option
- Bet at least the minimum to qualify for a progressive jackpot
- Try demo or free online slots before playing for real money
Choosing the Best Slots to Play Online Is About Finding Your Happy Place
Aside from choosing high RTP slots for better returns, we recommend playing games that appeal to your sense of enjoyment. It’s all about having fun at the end of the day, so don’t let anyone tell you which games you should and shouldn’t enjoy.
In our experience, the best slots to play online are those you’ve chosen based on your personal preferences related to the theme, graphics, bonuses, and gameplay.
