Playing video slots is an attractive business. Although there are plenty of places to play slots at land-based venues, depending on the laws in your country, online casinos are where most players tend to play. Online, the return to player (RTP) is generally much higher than playing in a slot shop or casino, and online, you have a more diverse array of games to choose from.
However, there are a couple of pitfalls newbies to the online slot scene may not see coming. Firstly, the default spin bet is a budget player’s worst nightmare. Second, if you are sucked in by the lure of bonuses, there is also the temptation to try and take shortcuts in order to play through the wagering requirements needed to convert your bonus money into cash.
Amazingly, some of these self-proclaimed slots YT slot experts appear completely unaware of how bonuses work – mainly because in most of their other videos where they claim they’ve won big, they were not playing free slots demo games.
Let’s take a look at how you can avoid slipping up while playing slots.
Watch Out for Sneaky Default Bets
Ever open a shiny new online slot, eager to spin the reels, only to later realize you were betting way more than you meant to? It happens to the best of us. I call it falling into the “default bet trap.”
See, every game starts with a default amount already set, usually around $2 a spin. If you don’t pay attention and change it, you could accidentally bet more than you wanted. I’ve totally done it before – set the phone down for a second, come back, and bam, there goes my budget!
Default bets trip up the budget players of our team the most. Just a couple of spins at $2, and voila, half my bonus money’s gone. Makes it wicked hard to complete any wagering when that happens! And chasing losses almost never works out well.
Luckily, this default bet issue is easy enough to avoid once you know about it. A few things that help me remember: slapping a sticky note on my laptop, adding “DEFAULT BET” in caps to all my casino app names, and stuff like that.
Oh, and if you’re into autoplay (which can definitely backfire!), find a site with good max bet and loss limit options. They’ll have your back if you walk away and lose track.
Anyway, now you’ve got the inside scoop on the sneaky default bet trap. Check your bet amount before every spin, and you’ll be golden. Just a simple habit that saves a lot of headaches (and money!).
Scoring Casino Bonuses without the Headaches
As a newbie to internet gambling, nothing beats the thrill of scoring a juicy casino bonus. Extra cash to play with? Yes, please! But those promos can turn from a blessing to a headache if you don’t read the fine print. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way.
So, before you dive in guns blazing, let’s talk common bonus blunders and how to dodge ’em.
Mistake #1 – Ignoring the Terms
I get it; legal mumbo jumbo is a snooze city.
But powering through will save your skin later. Skim for stuff like max bets, which games qualify, and when you can withdraw. Boring now, but you’ll thank me after.
Mistake #2 – Going Over the Bet Limit
Most bonuses cap max bets, often around $5 a spin. Bet higher than that, and you could wave bye to your bonus. Casinos only check limits when you go to cash out, so stay disciplined during play.
Mistake #3 – Playing Excluded Games
Every bonus has a list of games that don’t count for unlocking your cash. And nothing hurts more than putting in work only to learn it didn’t qualify. Do your homework so your effort pays off.
Mistake #4 – Guaranteed Winning Bets
Thinking you’ll outsmart requirements by betting both red and black in roulette? Casinos are hip to that trick. Not only will your bonus go poof, but you’ll look silly losing cash you could’ve kept.
Mistake #5 – Cashing Out Too Early
Scoring real money while your bonus is still active is a one-way ticket to bonus jail. Be patient and play clean – your payout will come.
I’ve done my dumb moves already, so you don’t have to. Play it smart from the start by knowing the bonus rules, and the headaches melt away. Now get to those tables and score big!
There’s More!
Bonus mistakes and default spin bets are just two of many concepts you need to grasp if you are new to online slots. Even experienced slot players slip up when they are not concentrating. I’ve even seen YouTube slot players trying to claim a casino scammed out of their bonus, but when you watch the entirety of their video, they’ve simply not read the terms and conditions of the bonus.
