Step Betting Explained
You may already be doing it
Step betting on a slot machine is simply changing your bet in a methodical manner, either up or down. If you’re betting 88¢ spins on a 1¢ denom and not winning, you can move up to $1.60 spins, then $2.40 and so on. You can also change your denomination from 1¢ to 2¢ to 5¢, etc.
When we started playing slots, this came naturally because on many slots it’s extremely easy to change multipliers in the same denom; you just move your finger 2″ to the right and press the button for the next higher multiplier.
Does it work?
The step betting strategy (or any slot strategy) doesn’t guarantee a win. However, on slots where the player’s odds improve with a larger bet or denomination, it may give you an advantage. The caveat is that it can mean burning through your budget because—on slots like Dragon Link or Buffalo—there can be 36 denom + multiplier combinations, each of which is a separate game.
We typically change DENOMINATIONS rather than multipliers, since it’s possible on some slots to keep the same bet. For example, it’s often possible to make a $3 bet at a 1¢, 2¢, and 10¢ denom. On single denom slots, it’s much easier to step bet because it just means playing a few spins then moving to the right for the next few.
Changing your bet if you’re not winning is fundamental to our MAD slot method. Step betting is basically the same thing, but in a more orderly progression.
Do we step bet now? No. If you watch our videos, you can see that we’ll move up and down as we look for whatever denom/multiplier combination is paying more frequently.
Should you try it?
Yes, but we would modify it.
Changing your bet if you’re not winning just makes sense. However, because our default bet is usually $5-$6 per spin, we REDUCE our bet just as often as we increase it. The reason is that lower denomination bets sometimes get more action on a particular machine at a particular time.
The same M.A.D. Method rules apply however. If you’re not getting anything, get up and move to a different slot or take a break.