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7 Tips for Finding Hot Slots at Your Favorite Casino
- If you’re trying to find out how to find a hot slot machine, there are several ways to do your research.
- One of the best ways to find hot slots is to play a hot drop jackpot, which tells you when they win.
- Slot machines with higher RTPs will win more consistently, some also offer massive jackpots.
After wandering into a casino, everyone has at one time or another wondered how to tell if a slot machine is hot. You might have even asked a casino worker to see if they would give you some insight.
Regardless of whatever streak the slot host or cocktail waitress waved their hand at, we dutifully pumped a few bucks into it, sometimes winning a bit, losing a bit, but very rarely experiencing the winning streak we would expect.
There are plenty of common slot myths, but the ones involving so-called “hot slots” are the most persistent, so let’s look at some of the real ways you can identify the slot machines worth playing.
By the way, there’s only one answer to the question, “How to find a hot slot machine?” And that answer is this: You’re suddenly playing on the casino’s money.
1. Do Your Research
Do you want to know how to find a hot slot machine? Do your research! That includes learning about RTP (Return to Player) and, more importantly, what makes a slot either low, medium, or high volatility.
Once you understand those two concepts in rating slot machines, find out which of your favorite slots offers the best of each.
If you have a particular slot machine you enjoy playing, you should search the internet for that slot machine, its RTP (Return to Player), and its level of volatility.
Exacerbating the problem is the fact that while online casinos tend to reveal the RTPs of their various slots, actual brick-and-mortar casinos have not followed suit.
Here is what you want to see for any slot you play, regardless of whether its real-world or cyberspace: An RTP of 95% or greater, and low volatility (if you like regular small wins) or high volatility (if you’re willing to accept the long periods of losses because the wins will be larger).
Even the RTP for the online version of your favorite brick-and-mortar casino slot machine is helpful, just because RTP is usually adjusted a fraction of a point or in either direction.
What makes a slot “hot” is the variance when it pays out much more or much less than you would expect if it were paying out according to its official RTP. The problem with variance is that you cannot predict when it will swing to your advantage and when it will crush you like an insect.
If you want to know how to tell if a slot machine is hot, start thinking that hot slots pay out more consistently than others, rather than one that just hands out free jackpots.
You could even read a list of the biggest slot wins ever for some inspiration.
Once you have done your research, you’re going to want a legitimate site that pays out. Follow the steps below to start earning some real money.
2. Play in High Traffic Areas
Nobody advertises their product on billboards next to dirt roads. They spend their advertising dollars on billboards next to busy freeways.
Now, the slot machine is its own billboard, with its alarms and bells and assorted flashing lights and clanging and carrying-on (even without the coin buckets, slot machines are still very noisy).
Attractive slot machines are those that pay off regularly and loudly, so these are the machines you’re likely to find lining the busiest pathways through the casino. Naturally, not every machine in that area will be “hot.”
Still, the law of averages says you are more likely to find low volatility (small wins/more often) slot machines on the major thoroughfare through the casino floor. Do hot slot machines exist? If so, the casinos would probably use them to attract players to their slot machines.
It’s just a matter of finding the one that’s actually hot and not a decoy.
3. Play Multiple Machines
Naturally, this is not something you want to do for any length of time, but if you want to know how to pick a hot slot machine, this is one of the fastest methods.
Remember, you’re not here to play three machines. You’re looking for hot slots and interviewing these three machines to choose the one you will be working with today (or for the next hour or so).
The slot machine won’t think of you after you’re gone. Once a machine has quit being generous, move on. Try another three machines and dance with the most generous one. Rinse and repeat.
Incidentally, one excellent reason for not playing three machines for an extended period is because casinos know some people like to do just that. And while I can’t say for sure this happens, I know if I owned a casino, I’d alternate “HOT” slots with “NOT” slots.
But maybe casinos are more generous than I am. Some slots are a bit more giving, too. I would stay away from slot machines at Kroger stores, but it’s a good idea to have a rotation of reputable slots in your arsenal.
If you want to know how to find hot slots, you can use one of the top online gambling sites for slot machines, such as DuckyLuck Casino. They have a 500% welcome bonus (up to $7,500), which also awards free spins.
Read this full DuckyLuck Casino review for more, or head straight there to start spinning now!
4. Play Higher Denomination Slots
Casinos understand that people wagering a quarter or a dime at a time are not as emotionally attached to those coins as those playing a dollar or ten-dollar slot.
They know they need to work harder to keep that ten-dollar player hitting that spin button, so the RTP of the higher denomination slots tends to be higher than that of their cheaper brethren.
Additionally, the volatility of the larger denomination machines might be closer to medium than the cheaper slots.
Are you looking for other slot machine secrets? Don’t worry; we uncover them in the blog post below.
5. Play Hot Drop Jackpot Slots
As you are probably aware, not all slot machines are the same. Some offer higher RTPs, others have better graphics, and there are fun bonus games and free spins too.
If you want to know how to find a hot slot online, I highly recommend playing hot drops slots.
Hot drop jackpot slot machines were made for this category. This type of slot machine has three major jackpots, including the Super, Daily, and Hourly. These jackpots tell you when they have to drop by.
Those two jackpots are not as big as the Super, but they can still award thousands of dollars.
Is there a downfall to playing hot drop jackpots? I wouldn’t say there is, really. Most high jackpot slots will reduce their RTPs, so you don’t win as often, but many of the top hot drop jackpot slots have respectable RTPs.
For example, Temple of Athena has an RTP of 96%. There are a ton of slot machines that don’t offer the hot drop jackpots and have lower RTPs, which makes Temple of Athena the superior option by far.
If you don’t know how to pick a hot slot machine, head over to Ignition Casino! All of their hot drop jackpots are worth your time.
6. Play at Older Casinos—or Brand-New Ones
How can you tell if a slot machine is hot? Generally, older casinos—particularly those encroached upon by newer casinos—must work harder to earn your gambling dollar.
They do this in many ways. Perhaps they run a trendy bingo hall or deal 50-cent blackjack, or maybe they serve 99-cent shrimp cocktails. Or they might just have the loosest slots in town.
Identify which older casino does that last thing—the one regarding loose slots—and play there.
You’ll still want to apply all the other strategies for finding loose slots, but it’s more likely that you’ll find what you’re looking for at a casino fighting more glamorous neighbors.
7. Ask a Slot Host to Point Out a Hot Machine
Are you curious on how to know if a slot machine is hot? Some people say that a slot host could point at any machine randomly and be just as likely to point out a hot slot machine.
To these people, I say “Hey! Show some respect.”
Slot hosts spend all day in a specific area and are more aware of what’s happening with each of the machines under their supervision than anyone else on the face of the planet.
Sure, the hottest slots they point you to might have already peaked and is now descending into that pit variance says awaits us all. Of course, there’s a lot that goes into finding the right slot, or playing them in general.
Learn more by reading our guide to the best online casinos.
How to Find Hot Slots
As you can see, there are many ways for how to find a hot slot machine. Everyone is trying to win big when they play slots, so it’s no wonder why so many are wondering where the best slots are.
The important thing to know is that there’s no real reason why a slot machine would be “hot.” Jackpots are won at random, which means you can win two in five total spins, or it could take you hundreds of attempts.
There’s always a chance of that happening on just about any slot machine!
Do hot slots exist? I would say so, but there’s just no real way of knowing. That said, I would consider hot drop slots to fit this description perfectly. All you have to do is start spinning when one of the three major jackpots are about to be dropped.
You now know how to find a hot slot online, but you can also take one step backwards to see the bigger picture. I’d also read more about the best big win casinos online.
Footnotes:
- Story about Kroger stores allowing people to gamble is from Mashed.
