Savvy iGamers will know that some video slots feature a “tight” design, and some have a “loose” one. However, novice iGamers are often blissfully unaware that some video slots are looser than others. That is a goldmine for iGaming operators that can entice newcomers to play any kind of video slot, regardless of how much they are likely to win or lose over time. A loose slot is one that generally pays out more than most. Meanwhile, a tight slot is one that pays out fewer times if you were to play it over the long-term. It almost goes without saying that a loose slot is far more attractive to an iGamer, as you lose less money over the long-term while going in search of those big jackpots.
The best benchmark for newcomers to online slots is that any video slot with a return-to-player (RTP) percentage of 97 percent or higher is considered loose. Slot titles with an average RTP of between 95–96 percent are considered somewhat average. Meanwhile, those slots with RTPs of 94 percent and lower are considered tight, and you should not touch with a ten-foot pole.
In truth, all the leading video slots on iGaming platforms utilize random number generators (RNGs), so there are no specific patterns you can use to win. However, by searching for games with the highest RTP percentage, you can have a clear goal in mind: to minimize your losses while giving yourself the best possible chance to win on the reels. If you wonder why a loose slot pays out most often, you have to delve a little deeper into the mathematics of it all.
If you were to play a video slot with an RTP percentage of 98 percent, for every £100 you spend on the reels, you win £98, losing only £2, on average, in a gaming session. However, if you were to play a video slot with an RTP percentage of 94 percent, for every £100 you spend on the reels, you win £94, losing at least £6, on average, in a gaming session. While £4 more might not sound like a lot of money to lose in a single gaming session, were you to play tight slots all the time, you would be losing significantly more money over the course of a year.
The idea of a slot being loose is by no means a new one, but it does have different connotations to what it used to mean. When mechanical slots were the only kind available to play, slots with defects that were more likely to pay out accidentally were considered loose. Of course, in today’s world of iGaming, operators tend to become creative with their ways of enticing customers into playing tighter video slots. The might be branded and based on a leading film or video game franchise in popular culture, encouraging casual players to play without considering the mathematical consequences.
Undoubtedly, the most beneficial reason for playing loose slots is when you have some bonus funds to play with and meet the wagering requirements. Bonus money comes in all different forms but is most commonly doled out to new customers upon sign up or when they make their first real money deposit. In some cases, these bonuses have wagering requirements that are almost impossible to meet, especially if you find yourself playing the tightest slots on the website. However, by playing the loosest slots, you can seek to minimize your losses in each gaming session. In the event you win a big jackpot, playing with these winnings on loose slots also helps you clear those wagering requirements quicker.
However, it is crucial to remind you that even if you bet the maximum amount on a loose video slot, it won’t boost your chances of winning. The RNG of each slot predetermines when it pays out, and this is entirely random. Loose slots have the least volatility and, therefore, you don’t need to bet the maximum to capitalize on wins. Thus, the best approach when playing on loose slots is to bet lower and take a more considerate approach, with the aim of accumulating lots of steady wins and keeping a ceiling to your losses. It’s when you play tighter slots that betting more aggressively can prove beneficial to maximize your jackpots when they do arise.
