Although every spin on a slot machine is random, some players believe that playing slots at a particular time of the day or year can increase their chances of winning.
Is there a best time to play online slots or is hitting the jackpot completely up to chance?
What Is the Best Time to Play Online Slots?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as you might think.
The first thing to understand is that the outcome of slot machines is completely random. Actually, it is determined by a Random Number Generator (RNG)—a mathematically-based program that creates random sequences of numbers and symbols every millisecond. Therefore, theories spread by some players regarding lucky days, huge payouts at night and hot and cold spells are just that—theories.
That doesn’t mean you can’t do something to boost your chances of winning and one of them is playing at busy times. The reasoning behind this theory is that slot machines rely on RNG to balance out winning and losing, ensuring that the game makes a profit, but at the same time keeps players coming back for more. In other words, if more people play online simultaneously, there will be more users winning to balance out the number of losing players.
This is especially true for progressive jackpots that increase every time the game is played but not won. The more users play and lose, the bigger the jackpot gets and the faster it is paid out.
Another thing to look out for is bonuses and promotions—these can significantly boost your account, giving you more chances to spin the reels and thus increasing the likelihood of winning.
With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the best time to play slot machines in Canada.
Holidays
For many players, holidays, especially Christmas and New Year’s, are the best time to play slots.
For one, holidays attract a larger number of players as people spend more time at home with not much to do. Plus, those that have been getting in the holiday spirit tend to spin the reels of their favourite slots more often than on busy workdays. This means that both the payouts of jackpots and prize pools increase, as do your chances of winning,
Secondly, some of the biggest online casinos in the country up their promotions and bonuses in time for the holidays, in particular around Christmas and the start of the new year. It is not uncommon to find Christmas-themed bonuses that award 50 or 100 spins on top of thousands of dollars in seasonal promos.
Which casinos have the highest payouts? Check out our selection here!
Summer
Summer is another great time of year to hit the slots at online casinos. Since the player count is lower in summer (with people travelling and enjoying the outdoors), casinos introduce several bonuses and promos to attract more users.
These promotions range from no deposit offers, free spins and cashback deals that can seriously increase your bankroll and thus your odds of hitting the jackpot.
What to try your luck at other fun and easy-to-play titles? Here is a list of the best casino games for newbies
Morning or Night
Most gamblers agree that the best time of day to play slots is either in the morning or at night. In fact, the peak hours are somewhere between 8 pm and 2 am.
The logic behind this belief is that more people play slots this time of the day—as mentioned above, the more players contribute to the jackpot, the bigger the prize pool grows.
Related reading: What do slot machine symbols mean?
When the Jackpot Is High
You might think that a huge jackpot can be harder to win but in reality your chances of hitting a progressive jackpot increase along with the prize pool. So go for jackpots that have not been won in a long time—these are bound to be hit sooner or later, so you might just be the lucky winner.
This is particularly true of must-fall jackpots, which come with a sort of expiration date, i.e., the money must be won when the clock runs out or when the jackpot reaches a certain sum.
Before you put money on online slots, research how often certain games and titles payout. For example, Major Millions by Microgaming pays out an average of once in six weeks, while other titles, like Jackpot King by Blueprint, is said to pay every 24 months. You can then time your play and thus boost your chances of walking away with money.
When You Can Afford to
The best time to play slot machines is when your budget allows it. You should never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and you should definitely steer clear of slots and other casino games when your paycheck is about to run out.
Related: Are gambling winnings taxed in Canada?
Before You Take These Strategies for a Spin
You need to remember that there is no guaranteed way to win at online slot machines. You can try playing at some of the times suggested above, but really, all you can do is spin the reels and hope that you’ve got Lady Luck by your side.
