Useful tips

When Is the Best Time to Play (And Win) Progressive Jackpot Games?

If you are a newbie in this industry, and especially in the world of online slots, you may have heard a thing or two about the best time to play these machines so as to capitalize on your chances of winning.

The question is, do we have a good time playing slot machines so as to reap big from them? Let’s dig deeper and see what our experts have to say.

Progressive jackpot games

What is the Best Time to Play Slots Online for Free?

Playing free online slots is a fun exercise to try out different games and choose which you want to stick with without risking your funds. However, due to UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission) provisions, free play in UK online casinos is only available after signing up and verifying your account.

The great news is that your winnings from these free online slots can be withdrawn, once you meet the wagering requirements. However, you must pick the best time to play.

If you're a new player to any online casino, it is usually a good idea to play slots for free since you will be able to redeem the site's welcome bonus, which often includes free spins.

Because free spins bonuses are fairly common in the online casino world, you won't have to look far to find one.

As a result, you can choose only those online casinos that offer the most generous incentives, biggest prizes, or the ones with the richest portfolio of games.

What is the Best Time to Play Progressive Jackpot Slots?

Progressive jackpot online slots are among the most famous games at online casinos. This could be attributed to their payout potential because they can pay out life-changing jackpots worth millions of pounds.

If you want to try your hand at a progressive jackpot, all that you need to do is to wager the maximum bet. This is a clear indication that these types of games are more suitable for high rollers.

However, these games also offer relief and you can play them for secondary prizes, which means that progressives are also available to low-budget players. Learning how these games work and the best time to play progressive jackpot slots generally requires a knowledge of how these games operate.

While the gameplay expectation of progressive jackpot slots is just the same as what you will get in regular online slots, the winnings are paid in a slightly different way. Progressive jackpots share a prize pool, as opposed to standard slot machine prizes, which pay a multiplier of the gamer's individual stake. As a result, a portion of each player's wager will go toward the prize.

So, every progressive jackpot usually starts with prize money determined by the software developer or in other cases, the casino. The jackpot will then continue to grow, or progress, with each bet made on the slot till a lucky gamer wins the prize, after which the jackpot resets to its base (seed) amount.

A majority of online slot players believe that a progressive slot will never pay out after the jackpot has been won. This, however, is one of the many casino myths, since all slot machine outcomes are determined by random chance.

Is there a good time to play a progressive jackpot slot machine? While you can play and win immediately after the jackpot is triggered, you may not want to. The jackpot will take some time to re-accumulate, so you might be better off waiting.

When Is the Best Time to Play Slot Machines in a Land-Based Casino?

Online slot

Thus far, we've largely focused on the world of digital slots, but what about when you get dolled up and go to a land-based casino? If you've been looking for the best time to play slots online, you've probably come across the Inverse Correlation Theory which is a common term that is used in gambling tips websites.

This theory states that fewer people playing a slot machine have a better chance of winning, while more people playing have a lower chance of winning. It is primarily a probability analysis that, but my logically fail when implemented on online slots.

Inversion Correlation Theory is a crucial part of this piece of slot machine information: All games’ results depend on a Random Number Generator (RNG), which means players, as well as the casino, have no influence on the final outcome of the game.

If you want to enjoy some great quiet time, more room at the game tables, more available slot machines, and a smaller queue at the bar, then visiting the land-based casino at less busy times is a good idea.

But keep in mind that it won't affect your chances of winning. Whatever time of day, week, or month you visit, your chances of winning a slot machine prize remain the same.

Myths Surrounding Best Times to Play and Beat Online Slot Machines

Many myths surround online slots as well as land-based slot machines, just as they do all other gambling games. Most of these myths are linked to misconceptions regarding the best time to play a slot machine, and how to maximise winning potential at particular times. Let's take a look at a few:

You have a higher advantage playing on certain days, weeks, and months:

This is not entirely true. Random number generators are the powerful system behind both online and land-based casino games. They are commonly referred to as (RNGs). 

With the RNGs in place, it means that the outcome of each spin is completely unpredictable and could result in either a winning or a losing combo. Casinos lack the power to easily reconfigure machines, and no credible gambling site would do so because it is ethically wrong. Other than pure luck, nothing affects your odds of winning.

There are no chances of boosting your odds of winning:

This is not true. Yes, it does seem like we are about to contradict all that we have written thus far. There are, however, a few things you can do to improve your odds of winning. Before you start playing any slot machine, whether it's in an online or land-based casino, do some research on it.

Even though spins are random, each slot has a different set of odds, volatility, wagering limits, and maximum possible wins. Fixed-prize games, for example, have higher chances than progressive jackpot slot machines.

Different slots have different volatility and RTP settings, which govern how big the payouts are and how regularly they keep winning.

Slots have hot and cold spells:

Many slot players believe that if a slot machine has recently paid out a prize, they should avoid it. The myth of "hot" or "cold" slot game periods is quite common.

However, when a prize was last paid has no bearing on when it will trigger again. Devise a strategy and consider each slot spin to be a new game of chance. The final result is always independent of what has transpired earlier.

Managing Your Budget for Online Slots

Money is one of the most important factors at an online casino, as it is in other areas of life. It is an element of how much you need to spend and how much you can possibly win.

When visiting a land-based casino or gambling online, always keep your budget in mind and be aware of the casino's dos and don'ts. Playing online slots often becomes not only safer but also a lot more enjoyable when using proper bankroll management.

Video slots games are fast-paced and action-packed, so identifying how and when to spend your money is quite reasonable. You will not be able to use bets to affect or predict the outcome of games. Nonetheless, by properly managing your budget, you can increase your odds of making the most of the game.

Understand and Commit to your Budget

Only you know the amount you have to invest, but having a specific budget before starting a gaming session is super useful, and sticking to your budget is equally important.

Put some money aside for gambling, and this should be money that you can afford to spend and stand to lose. Slots gamers should only gamble with money that they don't rely on for living expenses.

Managing your finances will allow you to maintain a good relationship with gambling. It can be difficult to walk away without stopping for that "one last spin," but if you have already spent your budget, resist the temptation to play any further.

Return only after your budget has been reset, which could be the following day, week, or even month as this will depend on the situation.

Divide Your Funds

Setting a monthly bankroll and then splitting it is a great way that will enable you to have money for regular online slot sessions all through the month. Divide your monthly budget, for instance, into weekly allotments.

You can further divide your budget into quick daily sessions. Alternatively, you can use a combination of time and money limits to limit your spending.

This strategy not only helps you control losses but may also help you make the most out of your wins. If you generate a profit, reinvest some of it in your game stake and save the rest for a withdrawal.

Learn the Values of Coins

We strongly advise you to read the paytable for the slot machine you have selected before playing it. The paytable will showcase all potential winning combos, allowing you to see how much money you can win.

It also displays the maximum and minimum bets. You may find different wagering amounts (coin values) on some online slots.

Recognizing the coin values allows you to compare games and choose those which fit your budget. You will not get many spins for your money if the online slot has a relatively high wagering limit and you have a limited budget. In this case, it might be worth looking into a different slot machine with lower betting limits.

There is still some controversy on this topic, and some skilled slot players believe that people on a tight budget should still play slots with greater coin values. They argue that because these games typically pay out larger prizes, a single win can result in a large payout.

Of course, it is all about risk in the online slot world, so the most important thing is to check the coin value of a slot machine and make an informed decision.

Conclusion

Whether you're playing slots at an online or land-based casino, over the weekend, or during the day, keep in mind that gambling is always a form of entertainment.

You should never perceive slot machines, or any other casino games, as a sure means of making money. Set time limits and budgets for yourself, and keep a close watch on your bankroll. If you believe your gambling is out of control, always try and seek help.

There are many online casinos where you can play real money and free versions of slots. Check some of the top-rated here.

Updated:
Shawna Dudley

Shawna is an ambitious and free-spirited digital nomad with expertise in creating high-quality and SEO-friendly guides and reviews in the iGaming and travel industry. Follow her on Twitter or Linkedin or send her an email.