Online slots are and it’s easy to see why. The convenience of spinning the reels from anywhere with an internet connection, the huge variety of games, and the potential to win big jackpot prizes make slots an exciting form of entertainment for millions of players. However, the random nature of slots also makes them a game of chance – the outcome of each spin is completely unpredictable. It leads many players to devise betting systems and strategies to beat the slots and deliver consistent profits over time. But is this possible?
What are betting systems?
A betting system is a structured approach to staking money when gambling, to increase winnings. The idea is that by following a predetermined set of rules about how much to bet the house edge and win in the long run. Common systems include the Martingale, Fibonacci, Paroli, and D’Alembert. They typically involve increasing or decreasing bet sizes after wins/losses, to try to ride winning streaks and recoup losses.
Testing slot betting systems
To test whether slot betting systems work, I decided to try out some popular systems while playing online slots. I started with a bankroll of $200 – one amount, but enough to test the waters. Here’s how I got on with each system:
Martingale System
It is a ‘negative progression’ system where you double your bet after each loss. So if you bet $1 and lose, you bet $2 next time. When you eventually win, you go back to betting your original stake. The idea is that even just one win will recoup your previous losses plus deliver a profit.
I tried this system playing $0.20 slots. After encountering a losing streak, my bets soon became unaffordable. The problem is that slots can generate a lot of consecutive losses – you may simply run out of money before that winning spin comes in. Verdict: this high-risk system didn’t work for me on slots. The potential losses far outweigh the winsClick here for more info.
D’Alembert System
A safer system involves increasing your bet by one unit after a loss and decreasing it by one unit after a win. I tried playing progressive jackpot slots with $1 bets. I played for longer without wiping out my balance, but still ended up making an overall loss in the end. With the random outcomes of slots, I felt this system didn’t influence the results either way.
Fibonacci System
Here you bet using the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.), decreasing or increasing your bet depending on wins/losses. I tried this with $1 bets again. My issue this time was that the bet amounts soon escalated (e.g. from $1 to $3 to $5) putting a strain on my bankroll. Like the Martingale, I found the risk of losing big wasn’t worth the times I won.
Betting strategies
Rather than structured systems, some players swear by betting strategies to beat the slots. These include:
- Betting higher amounts when jackpots are large– The idea is to take advantage of the inflated RTP (return to player) percentages offered on some big jackpot games. However, I found that even when betting max, the jackpot wins still didn’t come in often enough to profit.
- Stopping play when you’re ahead– Quitting a session when you’ve had a big win can protect profits. But consistent long-term gains are unlikely as wins happen randomly.