Why Jackpot Slots Need Special Bankroll Rules
The general rules for managing your slot bankroll do not apply to jackpot slots due to their high variance and the long losing streaks that are part of the experience, the requirement of placing minimum or max bets to qualify for the jackpot and the inherent unlikelihood of winning the jackpot.
The 200-Spin Rule
To give your bankroll some breathing room for the variance and to avoid risking all of your money in a single playing session it is a good idea to only risk your bankroll on sessions of at least 200 spins at your chosen stake level; thus, if the minimum stake level for qualifying for the jackpot is 0.001 BTC per spin your budget should be at least 0.2 BTC for a 200 spin session.
Most jackpot slots include bonus features that occur roughly every 100 to 200 spins so 200 spins will give you a chance to win at least one bonus round in a session.
Stop-Loss Rules
Set these before you start — not in the middle of a session when emotions run high:
- Session loss limitIt is always a good idea to set a limit on how much you will lose during one gambling session which is typically set at 20% of your total bankroll for gambling.
- Win goalIf you have even made 2 times your initial deposit into the slot you should call it a session and stop gambling as there is no benefit to continuing to play and risking your winnings getting eaten up by the slot machine.
- Time limitIt is also a good idea to set a hard stop time for your gambling session so that you do not risk poor decisions or overspending due to fatigue.
Stake Sizing for Jackpot Qualification
Before you begin to play check the minimum bet required to enter the jackpot, whether the jackpot probability increases with higher bets, whether you can afford to make 200 spins at the minimum bet required to qualify for the jackpot and whether there is a lower jackpot that you can aim for that is more likely to win such as mini, minor or major jackpots.
Bitcoin-Specific Considerations
- Track your BTC budget in fiatEnsure that your BTC budget is converted into a fiat currency amount that you are comfortable with losing as the price of BTC can be volatile.
- Use a dedicated gambling walletUse a separate wallet address to gamble with so that you have separation between your gambling and saving addresses.
- Don't top up mid-sessionIf you hit your stop-loss during your playing session do not send any more BTC to the casino.
- Factor in network feesMost crypto casinos will use their own wallets so the on-chain transaction fees will only apply to the initial deposit and the final withdrawal from the casino.
Chasing the Jackpot vs Enjoying the Base Game
The best approach to playing jackpot slots is to treat the jackpot win as a lottery with the game that you enjoy the most as most jackpot slots will be boring to play the base game but when you hit the jackpot you win so it is better to ensure you enjoy the game regardless of whether you win the jackpot; as seen in our review of the best bitcoin slots the base games of most slots are more important than their jackpot features as they should be fun to play without needing to win the jackpot.