Progressive slots are among the most-random games in the casino. Nevertheless, there are still times when you can gain a progressive slots advantage.
You can’t count on these advantages as much as card counting or similar techniques.
But you can still try to make long-term profits with the following three methods.
1. Play When the Jackpot Has Grown Considerably
A game provider seeds a progressive slot machine with its initial starting jackpot. For example, the gamemaker may fund the jackpot with $10,000.
The top prize then grows based on how many players gamble on the game. This means that the original $10k value and could go up to $100,000 or higher.
You can actually gain a long-term edge when you play a slot after its jackpot has grown so far. For example, the game’s payback might be offering over 100% return to player (RTP) when its jackpot is worth $1 million.
You can then jump on the game and start playing to take advantage of positive expected value (+EV). This by no means guarantees that you’ll win long-term profits, but you at least have a theoretical advantage edge.
2. Play Mystery Progressive Slots
Mystery progressive slot machines pay their jackpots automatically at a certain value. For instance, one of these games might pay their jackpot at exactly $100.
You can therefore walk around the casino and look for mystery progressive jackpots that are close to their triggering value.
For example, you can play the game mentioned above when its jackpot is at $90. You then only have to play until contributing the remaining $10, at which point the jackpot will be unlocked.
3. Play Banking Slots
Banking slots feature a bonus meter that rises as you collect special scatter symbols. But once you have enough of these symbols, the meter reaches the top and pays a bonus.
You gain an edge on banking slots by playing them when the meter is almost full. This makes the biggest skill spotting banking slot machines with a nearly full meter.
The biggest drawback to this progressive slots advantage play method is that there aren’t many banking machines left in Las Vegas. But you can still find some at a few Vegas casinos.