I get asked frequently whether there is really a set of strategies that will ensure you win playing the slots. Well, honestly, the answer is NO. Unfortunately, the random nature of slots makes this an impossibility.

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, if you want to get the most fun, and, potentially, the most cash out of your slot machine play, here's a few things you should keep in mind.

Tip #1 - Make sure you know the game before you start.

Before playing any casino slot machine, please make certain you know what coin size the game is set to. All online slots are automatically set to one of the larger coin sizes. So, if you forget to check this, you could end up betting $50m per spin instead of the 50 cents you wanted to.

This is an error I, myself, have made when first starting to play slot machines online. I played on a new game that had a maximum bet of $5 per line, but my intention was to bet around 5 cents a line to get to know the slot.

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 - If you play a multi payline slot machine, ensure you can afford to bet on every line. If it's a 25 line machine, then bet on 25 lines. Otherwise, you will be missing out on winning bets.

If you can't afford to bet on all the paylines, I would advise you to switch to a game with less lines, so you can cover every one. You don't want to lose out on a big win just because you can't afford to bet on all the available paylines.

Tip #3 - Most online casinos have a 'play mode' for their games. This means you can test out a slot machine, learn how it works and whether you enjoy playing it without risking any of your bankroll.

We recommended this to all slot players, no matter how experienced. If land based casinos had this, many players would walk away from a slot machine without spending anything once they saw how it work.

Tip #4 - Betting the maximum on each and every spin just isn't necessary. There are players who believe this is the only way to win on a slot machine. It isn't. It will just mean you drain your funds more quickly.

If you can afford to, or if the slot is payoff good while your playing then by all means, go for it, the bigger your bet the bigger the payoff, but do not believe that the only reason why you are winning is because you are betting maximum bet, that is just plain silly.

Slot machines are run by a "random number generator" and the winning combinations or non winning combinations are already chosen the minute you spin those reels, it has nothing to do with how much you are betting.

Tip #5 - This isn't so much a tip, more some good advice. Just enjoy playing the games, only play with cash you can afford to lose and, above all, don't expect to win.

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