It’s a crazy world out there. Some people are hitting the jackpot, while others, not so lucky, are going bust. In the middle of all this, there’s someone trying to balance the scales. Someone’s trying to figure out when’s the best time to take a shot at the slot machine, to really let it rip. That person is You.
Before anything, let’s travel to another dimension. In this dimension, you are about to spend your last dollar. When is the best time to spend it? Some might tell you to spend it in the early hours of the morning. Or late in the evening. And you might tell yourself, no, the best time to spend it is on a full moon. BAHAHAHA.
It seems as if everything I’m saying is going in one ear and out the other. You badly want to know some things about slot machines: When’s the perfect moment to hit that spin button? Is it early in the morning when the machines are fresh and ready to pay out, or late at night when the casino is buzzing?
Honestly, who can say for sure?
In this post, we’re going to dig deep into those questions. We are going to uncover the truth and the mysteries about when to play slot machines and probably get that big bag in return.
Here’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, albeit the truth is, the day of the week or time of day doesn’t affect your winnings at slots. Luck is the root of the game. The odds stay the same, no matter when you push the button or pull the lever.
This isn’t just my opinion — many experts agree. And it’s not just because they said so; there are solid reasons backing up their claims. Don’t let this revelation deter you from reading on. I’ve carefully packed those “reasons” to share with you, and there’s more to come.
One of the main reasons for this is because of this component called Random Number Generators (RNGs) in slots. These RNGs are the heart of the slot. They ensure that every game is fair and square. They’re constantly generating numbers, every second of every day, without any discernible pattern.
When you hit the spin button, the freshest number generated by the RNG is grabbed and then paired with the symbols you see whirling around on the reels. If these symbols line up just right to form a winning combination, you’ll… You’ll win! (I can already hear the cheerful jingle).
(Clears throat) So, how on earth could playing a slot, with all its intimidating, seemingly mindless, and intricate parts, early in the morning or around, say, 07:25 AM possibly influence your chances of winning more money or hitting payouts more often? Do tell.
Don’t bother. Your winnings are purely luck, but there’s another player in the game that influences your play at slots, particularly how much you pocket from them. It’s known as RTP or Return to Player, and casinos can tweak this!
No, no, no. No cause for alarm because they cannot just change it willy-nilly. If the machine is in a place with legal regulations, there’s typically a minimum RTP that casinos aren’t allowed to dip below. Therefore, you’re still in safe hands.
Before you start spinning the reels, you have to check for the RTP percentage. This is what determines how much you should expect in winnings in the long run. Don’t worry, RTPs are boldly posted on each machine, either on the screen — in the help section, or some other area. Either way, it won’t be hard to find.
For instance, a casino may post an RTP percentage of 90%, and this means that for every $100 deposited, you get $90 as your winnings over extended gameplay. The remaining $10 is for the house — the House Edge.
You might have noticed that there’s never an RTP that’s 100% or more. This can’t happen because the casino always gives itself an edge.
In the end, there’s no such thing as a “best” day or time to play slots. It’s primarily because of the Random Number Generator (RNG). It doesn’t care about what day of the week it is or what time of day you’re playing. It just does its random job and passes the numbers to the next guys.
Brian Christopher, a well-known figure in the slot industry, in 2019, shared some insights that might make you rethink the idea of the “best” time or day to play slots. He posed an interesting question: If you owned a casino, would you really want to create a system that pleased some customers and upset others based on when they chose to visit? That is definitely not a winning strategy.
He also debunked a common myth that casinos intentionally set slots to pay out poorly. In reality, adjusting the payout percentage is a labour-intensive process that requires at least two employees to physically open each machine and make internal adjustments. This can take up to 45 minutes per machine — now imagine doing that for hundreds of machines!
Brian also addressed the belief that players tend to lose on holidays but win in the mornings. He humorously noted that he’s seen players rub the screen 20 times before finally getting a bonus, thinking they’ve discovered a winning strategy. Nonetheless, in reality, it’s all luck. If you think rubbing the screen 20 times guarantees a win, you might as well quit your job and focus on your screen-rubbing technique.
Brian emphasized that he’s hit jackpots at all times, even on holidays and weekends.
I know some of you might still be holding onto the idea of a day or time. Uhm… That’s cool! We are about to go into some of the common beliefs about the best times and days to play slots.
Many players believe the best time to play slots are daily peak times i.e. early in the morning or evening, especially between 08:00 PM and 02:00 AM when it’s the busiest.
Other players believe the best time to play is Summertime because, during the summer, online casinos offer their best deals, such as free spins and cashback to attract many players. Again, playing during busy times can increase your chance of winning.
Players sometimes target the holidays, especially Christmas and New Year, because it brings out a larger player base. It is believed that because players are spinning with excitement, then there is a chance for bigger winnings.
Also, some players believe playing slots at the end of the month is a wise decision because it seems to them that most players tend to gamble in the last few days of the month — maybe because it’s salary week.
If you want to enjoy the bars and the lovely atmosphere of the casino, Saturday could be the best day to go because it’s the busiest day at the casino. Some players even believe that games pay out more on a Saturday, but there isn’t any evidence to support this claim. Casino slots work damn randomly.
Even though there’s no definitive “best” day or time on a billboard to play slot machines, one thing I can say for sure is that you’re reading this post at just the right time.
Slots are not railways that expand in the sunshine and shrink at sunset. Day, time, or season cannot affect them. Let go of the idea of finding the best day or time to play slots — even the casinos don’t have that information.
What you should focus on is playing games with a good Return to Player (RTP) — that’s where you’ll see the benefit. Just enjoy the game without letting the casino dip too deep into your pockets. When you’ve reached your budget limit, it’s time to call it a day and head home. You can’t win every day!
