Do Smaller Jackpots Have Better Odds? A Guide for Smart Gamblers

Once you get your free stuff like the Vulkan Vegas 50 free spins, should you bet in slots with smaller jackpots or bigger ones? Do small jackpots have better odds?

In a nutshell, yes. Bigger jackpots tend to have more factors at play, and they therefore reduce your odds of winning the coveted prize.

What Are Slot Odds?

How do we calculate slot machine odds? Well, one should do that based on the number of symbols in the game. You can also include the number of reels of the slot machine. These odds are represented by the RTP (Return-to-Player) rate. Another representation of it is volatility.

• RTP – it is a percentage of money that the machine returns to the players. Not for “a” player but “the players.” If the RTP is 95%, and the machine took a total of $1,000 in a month, 95% of that money will go to the players who won. The slot machine will only have a profit of 5%.
• Volatility – this one refers to how easy or hard it is to win or produce a winning combination. A high volatility means it is hard to line up the symbols to create a winning combo.

From experience, one can say that slot machines with low volatility have low cash prizes. They typically have no jackpots, but it is also easy to make a winning combo. This, however, does not mean that your prizes match or even come close to what you paid for. Sometimes, by design, it is easy to win, but the prize is not enough to compensate for your wager.

Do Small Jackpots Have Better Odds?

Yes, they have better odds than the bigger ones. The logic behind this is that by game design, it is easier to make a winning combination. There are fewer symbols in these slots. Just think about a slot with three symbols in a reel. The chances of one symbol appearing are one out of three, or 33.33%. If there were 10 symbols in that reel, the odds are now 10% for a symbol.

To calculate it better, let us reduce the involved symbols. Let us say there are only two symbols in one reel. It is an apple or a lemon. The chance of either an apple or lemon appearing is 50% (one out of two symbols). Supposing there are three reels, the likelihood of making either a lemon or apple combo is 12.500%.

To get this number, the formula is:

50% x 50% x 50% = 12.500%

So, where did the 87.5% go?

Well, there are many potential combinations for this setup. These are:

• Apple, Apple, Apple;
• Apple, Apple, Lemon;
• Apple, Lemon, Apple;
• Lemon, Apple, Apple;
• Lemon, Lemon, Apple;
• Lemon, Apple, Lemon;
• Lemon, Lemon, Lemon;
• Apple, Lemon, Lemon.

As you can see, there are only eight possible combinations in this slot setup. Each combo has a probability of 1 out of 8, or 12.5%. So, if this slot were real, then the odds of hitting the jackpot is 12.5%. This is high if you think about it as such, expect the jackpot prize in this slot to be small. It is easier to hit it because it only has eight possible combinations.

Strategies to Follow in Slot Machines

Here are some best practices to increase your chances of winning in slot machines.

• High RTP – choose games with high RTP. By design, these games can easily produce wins, but the prizes are small.
• Low volatility – as mentioned earlier, slots with low volatility have a lower symbol count. Making combos is also easier, but the prizes are not that big.
• Do not play progressive jackpot – slot machines with progressive jackpot may sound appealing. Most of them even have thousands of paylines. The problem is that winning the jackpot is next to impossible. There are so many symbols; most of them have either three or four rows, making it more difficult to land a winning combo.

Lastly, you must set a budget and stick to it. Keep in mind that every round resets the odds to zero. There is no such thing as a hot or cold slot. Set your budget, enjoy, and play again next time. Discipline and being rational are the keys to winning in slots. Do not let your emotions take over you. It is a game of chance, and only chance will make you win.

The best way to maximize your chances of winning is to bet on slots that have a low jackpot. This, of course, is not a guarantee. It’s just that games with smaller jackpot prizes have better odds. The same thing goes with the lottery and other games of chance. If the jackpot is smaller, it also means there are fewer numbers (or combinations), which means that you have better or higher odds.