How do you play your slots?

[Dipity]

I'm posting this as I always end up staying on a machine too long, and wasting valuable wins due to anticipating another feature, or another bonus round.

I know, I know, it's all random, but that doesn't help you thinking theres a bonus just around the corner!

How do you determine when to leave a machine?

[onlineprime08]

Well when I have reached that limit on that certain machine..
I always remind myself to control playing slots..
All I want is to enjoy and not to spend much money..
Even when the slot has good pay outs, I stick to my limits.

[PlexRep]

For me... when playing slots games I set a bracket on either side of my balance.

Say for example I have $50 in my account. The limits I may set are $75 and $25.
If my balance hits $75, the bracket moves up and now the range is $50 to $100.
If the balance drops below $25 I'll move on to another game or take a break.

Those are just an example of the numbers, and it's not a hard and fast rule. The size of the bracket varies depending on how much fun I'm having at the slot, my balance, how much of it is bonus funds, if I've got something planned for later on etc.

This is a bankroll management tool that's worked quite well for me so far. Every time I get to move the bracket up it's like a mini victory which is good, but you do still need the discipline to move on when you hit the bottom of your bracket... even if your 'spidey senses' say the bonus is on the very next spin....

[KasinoKing]

Definitely the last option for me.
For example, if I'm playing a slot where I know the chances of hitting the free-spins is once in every 140 pulls and I've just hit them 3 times in 50 pulls, I may play a few more spins, but not many before moving on.

The worst scenario is when I don't get the feature for like 200-300 spins and my heart is saying "it MUST come soon...!" while my head is saying "leave it!"
Usually, my head is right!

KK

[funeral979]

For me, it depends on the software, but usually I will take the following approach:

I will choose 3-5 slots. I will rotate between these until my balance drops below a certain level (sort of like the bracket system Plex mentioned....but again, no hard and fast rules here), or until I hit a decent feature (initially 30x or more). When that happens, I will replace the slot I just got a good hit on with another slot, so I am always rotating between 4 slots looking for a good feature. If I get a crap feature then I will leave it in the rotation, and next time I get a feature on that slot I will replace it if I get 20x or more hit (and if that fails then i'll leave it in again and try one more time).

If my balance gets below a ceratin level then I will go to blackjack and try to recoup my losses (and hopefully a little gravy). This usually works but when it doesn't im usually staring at a big fat ZERO balance.

That probably sounded alot more confusing than it really is, but it usually gives me good playtime

[vinylweatherman]

I start with my "favourites", which are usually long term favourites, such as Munchkins & clones, and a few of the AWP games.

I play one until I have gone down a given amount, and if it seems "dead" move on. If it seems willing, I will press on further.

If a slot is stubborn, I will play another, but eventually have another try at the stubborn one.

If I get a big hit, I play on to see whether it is still offering near misses on free spins, and if so, may press on - a bit too far sometimes. If after a big hit it seems to have changed state abruptly to "dead", it's off the list for the rest of the session.

If I hit really big, I will sometimes increase my bets, particularly on slots that have yet to offer the free spins.

I will also mess around with coin size and coins per line, keeping the bet about the same, but made up of different combinations. Absolutely NO scientific evidence to suggest it makes a difference, but it's a break from just clicking "spin" all the time

I tend not to cash out minor gains, but when I hit a decent streak, I set a floor value, and when the streak dies, and by balance falls to that value - I cash out (well, MOST of the time ).

When well ahead, I try some "mad" bets, and some new slots, or even both together. This sometimes turns a good win into a LEGEND, such as the £67.50 Munchkins bet that hit free spins on the FIRST spin at that level, and then retriggered countless times to yield over 10K (got bonus banned for that one).

[Dipity]

Some great answers so far - personally, I do the roatation over several machines strategy, especially with Rival - I like Pigskin Payout, Scary Rich 2, and Opera Night (although why I even bother with that POS machine, I have no idea, it takes forever to hit a bonus, the free spins are crap, and the payouts are terrible).

My problem is always winning, then moving on and hitting 'stubborn' slots, and listening to that little voice saying "Surely, surely, surely it has to give a bonus soon!" - then before you know it, the winnings you made are gone

[wanda5]

The worst scenario is when I don't get the feature for like 200-300 spins and my heart is saying "it MUST come soon...!" while my head is saying "leave it!"
Usually, my head is right!

KK

The only thing worse than that... is when AFTER 200 disastrous spins you FINALLY get the feature you've been waiting for and you win NOTHING or close to nothing...SO DISAPPOINTING...just happened to me on Cashapillar and then on Break the Bank almost back to back.
I then regress into a 5 year old and usually say things like "REALLY??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW??? THAT WAS SO MEAN!!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SO MEAN!! WHY EVEN GIVE ME THE FEATURE IF YOU ARE GONNA DO THAT??!!"

[Dipity]

I then regress into a 5 year old and usually say things like "REALLY??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW??? THAT WAS SO MEAN!!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SO MEAN!! WHY EVEN GIVE ME THE FEATURE IF YOU ARE GONNA DO THAT??!!"

I think we've all done that at some point :P

Normally me with Scary Rich, when you finally get the free spins, and win...0. Or even worse, you get loads of coffins, but never in positions where they actually make a win...13 times.

[wanda5]

On a GOOD note...I have won over $100 on a 9 cent bet during a bonus round.
OR accidentally hitting "bet max" and getting the feature...is AWESOME! At first you're like OH NOOOOOOOO....then happy dance! I won about $300 on an accidental hit on Loaded during the bonus round.