Is there such a thing as a ‘best time’ to play slots, or is it a total myth?

Is there really a best time to play slot machines? Are there certain days where slots are known to be ‘hot’, whereas on other days they’re… not?

Many people are of the opinion that it really doesn’t matter what time of day they play slots, as slots are affected not by time, but by RNGs. Others believe that the time of day, or year, has an impact on their winning chances.

So, while there is merit to both beliefs, there are a few things that you can do to influence the outcome of the game.

There are factors to consider, such as casino bonuses and promotions that will add to your win potential. This could come in the form of a deposit match, or free spins. Naturally, these bonuses will boost your bankroll, and will give you an added chance of winning, as you’ll have more funds to play with.

And while slot games are pretty much all luck and chance, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your gaming time.

Let’s take a look at some insights around when you should play slots to increase your odds of winning.

Best time to play slots: Holidays

This one is understandable. Holiday seasons are jam-packed with special offers. Online casinos will often offer seasonal or holiday-focused bonuses, especially over Christmas and the New Year. Naturally, if you want to benefit from these bonuses, it’s best to take advantage of these special offers.

People also have a lot more free time on their hands over the Christmas season, which means the player volume is higher than usual. This is great news if you’re a progressive jackpot lover. With progressive jackpots, the more people that play, the higher the jackpot prize pool soars, and the more money you can win.

You’ll also notice that many casinos will drop new slots, many of which are holiday-themed. They’ll often accompany these new slot releases with free spins offers, cashback, or deposit match bonuses.

Best time to play slots: end of the month

This is a no-brainer, especially if you’re playing progressive slots. The end of the month is usually when people have more money at their disposal, and are therefore wagering more on their favourite slots, progressives, and tables.

Best time to play slots: morning or night?

There isn’t really a best time to play slots. There are, of course, peak hours – when there is a lot of player traffic. This is usually between 20:00 and 02:00. But this won’t really affect your win potential – unless you’re playing a progressive slot. As we mentioned in the paragraph above, progressive slots will have a larger prize pool to win from because of the amount of people wagering on them. Each wager added to the pool contributes to the jackpot – the more that people play, the higher the win amount for that jackpot. But this isn’t to say that the more people are online, the higher your chances of winning that pot. The same applies to slot machines. The outcome is based on that slot’s RTP (return to player) percentage, as well as the slot’s volatility.

Understanding RTP to increase your chances of winning

RTP (Return To Player) is a theoretical return percentage. You’ll notice that every slot carries an RTP – and it basically indicates how much the game can be expected to give back to players, based on its average payout over time. That’s why the higher a slot’s RTP, the more likely you are to get a payout.

So, if your aim is to win when playing online slots, you’ll naturally want to pick the highest RTP casino slot machines. Because your likelihood of winning is much higher. (For more on what RTP is and why it matters, read this blog).

Slot volatility plays a part, too

Slot volatility is an important consideration when it comes to playing online casino games. Slots are categorised as either high volatility or low volatility.

High volatility slots pay out less frequently, however their payouts are higher. Low volatility slots, on the other hand, pay out regularly, but in smaller amounts. For those that are interested in winning, then we recommend that you play low volatility slots with a high RTP. Low volatility slots do not require a large bet amount, either.

Pro tip: look for ‘hot’ slots

Some casinos will take the guesswork (or the need to research) out of the equation, and will straight-up tell you which of their slots are ‘hot’. These slots are called hot because they are currently paying out.

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FAQs

Do slots pay more at night?

Slot machines don’t have a particular time of day or night when they pay out. While casinos usually have peak times where there is more player traffic, this doesn’t really have any impact on the slot’s payout potential, nor does it increase the payout potential.

Is it better to play slots in the morning or at night?

It doesn’t really matter what time of the day you decide to play slots. The only thing that truly impacts a slot’s payout potential is slot volatility and RTP. If a slot has a high RTP and hasn’t paid out in some time, it’s likely that the slot will pay out soon. But this is not to say that there is a specific time of the day that this is likelier to happen.

Do slot machines pay out at certain times?

Slots are not known to play out at certain times only. There is no data to support this theory. Slots payouts can be predicted, but not guaranteed, based on their RTP percentage and volatility.

Is there a best time to play slot machines?

There is no best time to play slots. However, there are certainly perks to playing slots during particular periods of the year – especially over holiday seasons, such as Christmas or New Years. This is because casinos are more likely to offer special bonuses and promotions during this time of year – a surefire way to boost your bankroll.

What is the best day to win at a casino?

There is no hard and fast rule around the best day or time to play at the casino. Special occasions and holidays are usually best for making the most of special offers and promotions themed around these occasions.

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Rebecca Chalmers