The jingling, jangling sound and flashing lights of penny slots draw players in like bees to honey. But it’s important to protect your bankroll from these tempting games. Here are some tips to keep in mind when playing penny slots.

Don’t Focus Too Much on Comps

Many casino players love to chase comps, which are rewards for playing a particular slot machine. However, this can lead to bad habits that make you lose more money than you’d otherwise. In the long run, it’s better to focus on the experience of playing slots rather than racking up comps.

Play the Maximum Bet

The higher the bet amount, the greater your chances of winning a jackpot prize. However, many online casinos limit the maximum bet size to discourage players from placing too large a bet. This is why it’s important to check the maximum bet for each slot before you start playing.

Paylines

The number of paylines on a slot game determines the type of symbols and bonus features that can be triggered. Some slots allow players to choose their own paylines, while others have a fixed set of lines that cannot be changed. In either case, the percentage of money that a slot game returns over time is known as its return-to-player (RTP) rate.

Also referred to as volatility, the variance of a slot machine determines how often you win and how big your wins are. A low variance slot game offers more frequent wins but smaller amounts, while a high-variance slot machine has less frequent wins but larger payouts.