I get asked all the time if you need to Max Bet to be eligible for various jackpots. On most slot machines, the answer is: Absolutely NOT! Most slots make you eligible for jackpots on any bet, and your chances of winning jackpots increase with your bet. And although your chances increase, it’s still just a chance – I can still lose my butt with the best of them!
Some slots, however, do require a certain level of bet to qualify for a jackpot, and that leads me to today’s topic – my biggest gambling mistake, which cost me a jackpot in the process!
My Biggest Gambling Mistake
When my channel was still new (and my filming quality was sub par, haha), I showcased what’s probably one of my biggest mistakes as a slot player:
In this case, I failed to reach what folks in the gaming industry call “cost to cover.” What that means is that I didn’t bet high enough to ensure I qualified for all the payouts.
In the case of the example above, it requires three credits to qualify for the progressives. I only bet two, so I got paid for the symbols, but less than half what I could’ve been paid for just one additional credit! That’s an expensive mistake.
Most online slots on BetMGM Casino don’t have this, but some do. An example of this is Double Jackpot Bullseye. To qualify for the top prize, you need to be playing all five lines – the top prize is connected to getting the best symbol in a row on the fifth line.
However, the slot lets you choose to play less lines. While you’ll spend less per spin, you’ll also be ineligible for the top payout on that fifth line because that same best symbol pays less on the other four lines.
Most games on BetMGM provide you with the payback information (called the Return to Player, or RTP). On this particular game, you’ll see it has a range of payback, as opposed to a single number. That’s because when you cover all the lines, you have a better long term payback, thanks to that higher top prize.
How To Avoid Gambling Mistakes
So, how do you avoid making the same gambling mistake I did? Follow these tips!
Read the Slot Pay Table
Each slot machine has to offer pay table information – that is a list of the slot machine’s payouts. A game’s pay table will tell you if you have to bet a certain amount to be eligible for certain bets.
Reach a Slot’s ‘Cost to Cover’
Be sure to bet enough to be eligible for all pays on a slot. This will ensure you’re not betting too low, and missing out on the opportunity to be paid the best prize available if you line it up just right!
Too Expensive? Play Something Else
The beauty of online slots is there’s something for everyone. If the cost to cover is too high for your slot bankroll, that’s OK – there are plenty of other games that can give you a good opportunity to win.
Some slots on BetMGM let you bet 20 cents, 10 cents or even less per spin! And their paybacks are going to be just as good as some of the games that require you to bet more.
The last thing you want to do is spend more than you can afford per spin while chasing a big jackpot. You’re more likely to run out of money before reaching that jackpot, and that means less time being able to enjoy the slots and relax!
Try New Slot Games on Demo
If you want to get a feel for how a slot works before trying real money, another great feature of BetMGM is the ability to demo slots first – this can help you get familiar with a game and what you’re looking for before putting real money on the line. You can see how volatile a game is and what the bonuses are like before deciding if that slot is right for you!
Sign Up With BetMGM Casino Online to Get Started
Now that you know what to look for, it’s a great time to get started with BetMGM Casino! If you’re new to BetMGM, you will qualify for an online casino welcome bonus to get to know what they have to offer. And if you want to see BetMGM in action, check out my BetMGM Casino videos – I showcase full length videos and shorts playing every week!