Coin Denominations and When to Bet Max

There can be a lot of confusion for new slots players when it comes to some of the different betting terms and options available. Here is a look into coin denominations and when you should bet max when playing slots.

Coin denominations

The coin denomination you select on a slot game will reflect the value that each coin you bet will hold, whether it’s 0.01 or 1.00 (or sometimes even more), that is the value of each coin. Think of it as a penny, nickel, dime, etc. If you select a coin denomination of 0.01, then you can consider each coin you play to be equivalent to a penny. Slots that offer 0.01 coin denominations are often referred to as penny slots.

Coin denominations allow for a wider range of slot limits, thus, accommodating a wider range of players’ bankrolls. The value of the coin applied to the number of paylines you’d like to bet, and the number of coins you’d like to wager on each line, will give you the total of your bet amount.

A maximum bet is an optimized bet of all possible paylines wagered at the highest number of coins per line possible. A true Bet Max is set at the highest coin denomination offered. Be careful though as sometimes a max bet can be as high as several hundred dollars per spin, though this is more common in online slots.

Megabucks by IGT is a perfect example of when betting max is essential - if you don't bet max you can't win the huge jackpot

Why bet max?

Bet Max simply means the maximum amount you can bet on a spin. Online slots players also refer to Bet Max as Maximum Bet or Max Bet.

There are many slot games nowadays that incorporate a Bet Max button or tab that automatically places the maximum bet with 1 click.

The reason that betting max is important in slots is because there are numerous games in which the Jackpot or the progressive Jackpot feature can only be won when you bet the maximum.

This can dictate though, whether or not you can afford to play that slot in particular, because if your budget for a slots session is $50 and the maximum bet is $5, you’re not going to get value for money, as unless you run very hot, your kitty will be empty in no time.

You should always bet max when there is a possibility of getting to the free spins or bonus rounds. You should also bet max when you have the sole aim of hitting a progressive jackpot.

A bigger slice of slot pie

High denomination slots have a higher fixed Max Bet than ordinary slots. More so, high denomination slots have higher payouts.

Some slot machines pay out better when you play max bet. For example, on some 3-reel slot machines, if you hit a line of the top-paying symbols you might win (for example) 1,000 credits if you are playing a credit per line. However, if you had been playing maximum credits per line (for example, 3 credits), then the top win might rise to 10,000 credits.

Not betting max is often a big mistake

Generally speaking, it is always best to play the maximum bet when you play slots, whether it's online or in real world casinos. Wins normally pay out at higher multiples and many progressive jackpots can only be won via a max bet. If you have a smaller bankroll, rather than betting less lines or less coins, you should look for games with lower max bets. In the long term, this will be a far more profitable strategy.