As a gambling writer, one of the most frequent questions I hear is: How can I win regularly at slots? The answer is a bit complex, but unlike most people think, you can regularly win at slots.

Slots are the number one casino game online and in physical casinos. Why? They require no skill to play, unlike table games, and they’re a lot of fun. Plus, with slot bonuses, players can get a solid return on their money. These bonuses are given to players for a variety of reason, and they’re the only way to overcome the inherent loss factor built into slots.

For instance, if you look at a snapshot of some Nevada slots, you’ll see a wide range of payback percentages, sometimes called the ‘house edge’:

Penny slots are the worst, with 93.58% payback. That means the casino is guaranteed to take 6.42 cents on every dollar played. Payback percentages range widely and are based on a variety of factors, including day and time, promotions, and even low casino profits. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how slots payback percentages are calculated.

The slot machines in physical casinos are always set to payback less than online casino slots. Without the large brick-and-mortar overhead, online casinos can offer much better returns to players. You should have no problem finding a 99% or better payback percentage online.

Payback percentages are a big part of being a winning slot player. The goal is to find the highest payback percentage possible. Most often, these are found on higher denomination slots, but not always. If you take the time to look around, you can find a high payback percentage for almost any slot.

You also need to look at the slots themselves for the best payout odds. Don’t confuse payback percentages with payout odds. Odds are the probability of hitting a paying combination based on your initial wager. The main goal is to find a slot that lets you play the lowest wager for the highest possible return. Learning how to compile odds is important to becoming a winning slot player.

Once you’ve found the casino and slot with the best returns, it’s time to start claiming some bonuses. Bonuses and promotions allow winning slot players offset the house edge. Let’s say you’re playing on a 99.4 payback percentage three-reel slot, with good low-wager odds. The house is claiming .06 cents on every dollar you play, but giving out a $25 bonus. Claiming this bonus gives you 416 chances to spin before the house edge overrides the bonus.

So, yes there is a way to beat slot machines. It just takes some research, knowledge, and patience.