When is the best time to play slot machines at a casino?

Most experienced slot fanatics believe that the outcome of online slot machines is merely based on the Random Number Generator and we can’t really blame them. It is in fact true that your luck is in the RNG’s hands and it’s the generator that’ll decide if you win or lose. At the same time there are players who would stress the importance of picking the best time to play slot machines and they’re kind of right as well. We’ll explain why there are both good and bad times to play slot machines at a casino. 

Just think of your casino’s most popular game that just hit the jackpot. Now, you don’t want to be the next player playing with a max bet as the jackpot will first need to fill up again before it becomes interesting again. And there are some other logical reasons why good timing can make a difference. In this guide we will take a closer look at some of the best moments to play slot machines and we’ll also highlight some moments you’d better avoid playing slots.

Best slot sites

Best Casinos in US

Slot machines in land based casinos

For the key question of when is the best time to play slot machines at a casino we will need to head to land based casinos first as there is actually a bigger difference between traditional slot machines and online videoslots. The best time to play slot machines in any major casino destination would obviously be at night. Just imagine the difference between a buzzing Vegas strip on a Friday night and the same place on a Monday morning. If you’re looking for the complete casino experience your best bet is to go to a brick and mortar casino at night. Because of more nighttime visitors, jackpots increase rapidly within a short period of time. Our advice is to head to a casino when you’ll get the most entertainment value: in the weekend when restaurants are open, bars are packed, and live music shows are on. Let’s say Friday, Saturday night: probably from 8 o’clock at night and onwards should be just fine.

When jackpots are hot

Now, we already pointed out the jackpots and this is where you’ll need to pay some attention. Timing does actually matter when you’re aiming to hit the jackpot and it’s a pretty easy math: avoid jackpot slots when the jackpot has just hit and go for it when it’s up in the sky. A good moment to play a jackpot slot is when an all-time record has been broken. Most casinos will clearly communicate this to players making sure the jackpot augments massively within a short period of time. This will also mean that it becomes more likely the jackpot falls, although you’ll need to bear in mind that your relative chance of winning the ultimate prize is a lot lower. But if you do, you’ll be able to quit your job and sleep in for the rest of your life.  

Wait until the week before payday

Waiting until payday is always a good idea as this will boost both the amount of players that bet on slot machines, especially in smaller communities, and you won’t have to worry too much about your budget. Responsible play is very important though as you might tend to wager with more money than you would usually do. If you’re responsible you could opt for waiting until the days before payday as players tend to feel a lot more dissatisfied with the outcome when they have to wait longer to play again. On the other hand, losing some quids a day before your bank account gets topped up should soften the pain. This will avoid the need to compensate for previous losses and losing control of your emotional state of mind. 

Bad weather? Actually a good thing

Weather is another factor to take into consideration when playing online slots. Cold weather makes people a lot more patient to make a responsible wager online whereas hot weather would make players feel a lot more stressed and agitated. With cold weather outside there’s no rush at all as you’ll have fewer reasons to leave your home, while a warm and sunny day might make you take more risks as the sun is calling you. Generally, people feel like they’re missing out on all the fun when the weather is good. This is not a fruitful combination with online betting as you might want to get it over with, bet all your money and enjoy the weather asap. Playing online while it’s raining cats and dogs, on the other hand, could actually be a good reason to play as your favourite casino might have a national progressive jackpot that hits new heights when people in a certain region bet online. Even slot tournaments of a particular online casino may attract a lot of extra players when the weather is bad.

When the time isn’t right

Now you know when is the best time to play slot machines at a casino, we feel it’s our responsibility to warn you for the quite opposite as well: that is, when the time isn’t right. You might want to avoid playing slot machines (in either an online or land based) casino when:

• You can’t afford it: it is never a good time to play on slot machines unless you have a clear and pre-defined budget. Always stick to this budget as proper money management is essential for getting the most out of your wagers.
• You’re too emotional: avoid playing real money slot games when you feel like you’re not in control of your emotions. This could be because you’re simply upset about something, but also the result of too many drinks or other substance abuse.
• If you’re addicted to gambling: you will need to seek help and at least set limits. Most online casinos offer their players the option to set deposit and session limits. Make sure to do so and feel free to contact the casino if you feel you can’t control yourself. 
• You haven’t practiced yet: luckily, most slot machines give their players the option to try out the game by playing in the free demo modus. First make sure to understand the rules and only then would be a good moment to start playing for real money. 

Make sure to have fun

Of course, this list of best times to play slot machines and moments to avoid them isn’t fully complete and good and bad moments could depend on your personal preferences as well. 

With this in mind, we do recommend you to pause your gambling session every now and then and wait for the proper moment to resume your session and make a wager. In the end, it’s always a good idea to play on slot machines if it’s about the fun and you can control both your emotions and your bankroll. Slot games should always be considered as entertainment. 

Relevant news