Beginner’s Guide to Finding the Best Slots 

Slots games have an undeniable magic that draws beginners and veterans alike to their reels. With whimsical themes, exciting bonus features and the ever-elusive promise of a big jackpot, it’s no wonder slots are among the most popular casino games today.

However, with literally thousands of slot titles available across land-based and online casinos, how do you know where to begin? As a beginner, you’ll want to educate yourself on spotting slots with the best odds and maximum entertainment value. Follow these pro tips to get started on the right foot.

Understand Slots Variance for Risk vs. Reward

High variance (volatile) slots on such sites as Mecca Bingo offer less frequent but significantly larger wins versus low variance games which pay out smaller amounts more often. Neither is intrinsically “better” – it comes down to your bankroll and tolerance for risk versus reward.

Here’s a comparison:

Variance Risk Level Payout Frequency Jackpot Potential
Low Lower More often Smaller
High Higher Less often Larger

Generally, if you have a limited bankroll, you may want to stick to low variance games to maximize playing time. However, if you have some risk capital and are looking for life-changing jackpots, high variance is the way to go.

Seek Out Games with Higher RTPs

The “Return to Player” (RTP) percentage indicates how much a slots game pays back over an extended period of time. The higher the RTP, the more favorable the odds.

RTPs can range anywhere from 80% on less generous games, up to 99% for those with the best odds. As a beginner, you’ll want to look for RTPs 92% and higher. This still gives the house an edge but provides you the fairest shot possible.

Online slots generally publish their RTP front and center. With land-based slots, RTPs aren’t published, but can be uncovered through casino gambling forums and guidebooks.

Take Advantage of Free Play Modes

The vast majority of online slots providers offer a free play version of all their games. This is the perfect risk-free way for beginners to test out new titles and get a feel for variance, bonus features and overall enjoyment before playing for real money.

Pay attention to things like:

  • How often do bonuses trigger?
  • Do special features re-trigger frequently?
  • Is the theme entertaining?

Free play is also a safe way to vet new casinos before depositing funds. Test their platform, game selection and customer service thoroughly first.

Seek Simpler Games at First

While flashy video slots with elaborate animations and bonus rounds are exciting, they can also be confusing for total newcomers. As a beginner, you may want to start on vintage-style slots with just 3 reels, 1 payline and basic fruit or bell symbols.

These simplified games have a classic slots feel and allow you to focus on core gameplay mechanics versus getting overwhelmed by complex features. And many of these vintage games have RTPs on par with their modern counterparts.

Good starter titles in this category include:

  • Double Diamond
  • Triple Diamond
  • Jackpot Express
  • Blazing 7’s

Once you get slots basics down, you can graduate to more tricked out video slots!

Take Time to Study Pay Tables

All slot games have an attached pay table detailing the value of winning symbol combinations. Yet remarkably few players actually utilize them!

As a beginner, get in the habit of checking the pays for every new slot game. This will reveal key factors impacting volatility and overall profit potential, including:

  • The gap in payouts between larger and smaller wins
  • How many high-value symbols there are
  • Whether special symbols pay out more

Thorough pay table analysis takes a bit of time upfront but will serve you extremely well in identifying the best slots moving forward.

By taking the time to educate yourself as a beginner on slots terminology, variance, RTPs and core features, you’ll be off to a running start. Always gamble responsibly and within your means, but approach slots with an analytic eye, and you’ll be equipped to discover the most generous games with the top entertainment factor.