Is there really a strategy that will help you win at the slot machines? Well, er, a simple answer to this question is NO. There are no winning strategies to learn that are going to make you rich playing a slot machine.

There truly aren't a bunch of hidden techniques that will turn you into a big slot machine winner. But, all is not lost. Nonetheless, a good deal of common sense and practical knowledge will mean that you - the gambler reading this - can make smart decisions that will give you bigger wins and smaller losses.

So, here's some costly (at least, to me) advice on how to play the slot machines that will mean you get the best value for your money.

Tip #1 - Check the slot game before playing.

Make certain that, before you place a bet at an online slot machine, you are sure you know the coin size the machine is set to. Often, online casinos set their slots to one of the larger coin sizes. So, be sure you make this and adjust it to the value of coins you want to bet. Otherwise, you might find you're betting $20 per pull instead of the $2 you wanted.

I have made this mistake myself when first playing online slots. I loaded a slot game that had a coin range from 1 cent per line bet up to $5 per line bet, and my intention was to bet about 5 cents per line at first to get to know the game.

To make a long story short, I - for reasons that I can only guess at - never checked the coin value when I started playing. After four spins, I was down $20 rather than $2. And that's a huge difference.

Tip #2 - When playing a multi payline slot game, make sure you can afford to bet on every line. If the slot game has 20 paylines, then you should bet on 20 paylines. Even if it's the minimal bet allowed, you want to cover all lines that are available to play on because if you don't, you will most definitely miss out on a lot of winning bets.

I know many players who couldn't afford to bet on all the paylines and who have lost out on some massive wins as a result. If your bankroll is such that you can't afford to cover all paylines on the slot you are playing, then switch machines. Play on one with less paylines where you can bet on every one.

Tip #3 - If the Casino offers a "Play Mode" I highly suggest trying that first before making any actual bets. This way you can find out how the slot games work, and which ones you like or don't like before betting your hard earned cash.

This is a smart move for any gambler and if it was allowed at land based casinos, many gamblers would walk away from a slot machine without spending a dime once they saw how it worked or how tight it was.

Tip #4 - Betting maximum bet on every slot machine is not necessary. Some gamblers believe that the only way to win on any slot game is to be max bet each and every spin. All this is guaranteed to do is drain your bankroll that much faster if you're on a slot that is not hitting.

So, don't believe that old myth that the only reason you are winning is because you are betting the maximum coin value. But, if you do have the money, obviously, you'll win bigger with a bigger bet, so go for it.

As slot machines are controlled by random number generations, the amount of your bet has nothing to do with the combinations chosen.

Tip #5 - The best tip I can give you on strategy is to just sit back, relax and enjoy your time playing your favorite slots. Play with money you can afford to lose, and don't expect to win, that way when you do, it's that much more fun.

Keep in mind that gambling is a form of entertainment. Stop worrying about how to win, have fun and just play the games.