Slingo Strategy Guide

The online gaming industry has thrown up some innovative betting options in recent years. Even a cursory look through the Live Roulette online casino will reveal modern twists on classic ideas. For example, if you love roulette but want something a little more action-packed, you can try Live Double Ball Roulette. Alternatively, for the bonus lovers among you, there’s Lightning Roulette.

This culture of invention and innovation is present elsewhere on the site. Blackjack comes in a variety of styles, including speed, infinite, and perfect pairs, while slots have been evolving for years. Wherever you look, today’s casino games are a combination of traditional concepts, new ideas and hybrids, which brings us on to Slingo.

Slingo is the brainchild of New Jersey property tycoons Dave Lyons and Sal Falciglia. First developed in 1994, the game has gone on to become a global hit with dozens of variants. Today, you can play Slingo at LiveRoulette.com but, like every type of casino game, you need to understand the basics before you start. In this Slingo strategy guide, you’ll learn about the game’s fundamentals, how to play and, finally, some tips on how to get the most from your experience.

What is Slingo?

Slingo is a hybrid that fuses the best parts of slots and the best parts of bingo. Similar to the innovations referenced earlier in this Slingo strategy guide, this game offers a unique experience by combining two industry classics. Although Slingo itself is a variation of bingo and slots, there are further variations of the game itself, including Slingo Extreme and Slingo Cascade.

The way Slingo fuses the two games is simple. Firstly, there are five reels, just like an online slot. Secondly, instead of symbols, there are numbers emblazoned on each reel. Finally, a gamecard contains a random selection of numbers, just as you’d get in a game of traditional bingo.

How to Play Slingo Online

A standard game of Slingo starts with a 5X5 gamecard containing 25 squares. 20 of these squares are filled with a random selection of numbers ranging from 1 to 75. As it is with a standard bingo card, each column contains numbers with a certain range. In turn, each of the game’s five reels also features numbers from a set range:

  • Reel 1/Column 1 = Numbers range from 1 to 15
  • Reel 2/Column 2 = Numbers range from 16 to 30
  • Reel 3/Column 3 = Numbers range from 31 to 45
  • Reel 4/Column 4 = Numbers range from 46 to 60
  • Reel 5/Column 5 = Numbers range from 61 to 75

Just like an online slot, you’ll need to place a bet to set the five reels in motion. However, in Slingo, a single bet gives you 20 spins. So, instead of one shot per bet, you get 20. The minimum bet for most Slingo variants is between €0.20 and €0.50. Whatever amount you stake, the initial bet triggers 20 spins. Each spin lines up five numbers. If any of the numbers (horizontally or vertically across a payline) correspond with those on your gamecard, they’ll be crossed off just as they would in a standard game of bingo.

The aim of Slingo is to cross off all 20 numbers on your gamecard within 20 spins. Certain variants may offer special bonus features, but the general flow of a game sees the reels spin and random numbers appear in view. If you complete your card within 20 spins, you’ll win a prize relative to your stake. For example, if you bet the minimum, you could win €100. If you play for higher stakes, it’s possible to win upwards of €20,000 and, in some cases, more than €100,000.

It’s hard to devise a Slingo strategy based on the game’s fundamental dynamics alone. However, to offer more from your play, there are additional, optional extras to choose from. It’s these extras that allow you to exert some control over the action and, in turn, develop a Slingo Strategy. The three features you need to look out for are:

Slingo Wilds

Wilds in Slingo are the same as they are in traditional online slots. Their main job is to substitute for any other symbol in the game. They’re often represented by jokers but, depending on the variant you play, they could be any type of icon. When a wild rolls into view, you’ll have the option to cross off any number in the row directly above it.

Slingo Free Spins

Again, free spins in Slingo are the same as those in an online slot. The only difference here is that they can’t be used until the end of your standard spins. As you play, there will be certain symbols or bonus features that award you Free Spins (all of this is random). These spins will start when your initial 20 turns are over. In essence, Slingo free spins are extra lives that give additional ways to complete your game card. 

Slingo Buy Feature

The final Slingo feature you need to know about is the buy option. When your 20 spins and any extra turns are over, the software will ask if you want to buy an extra go. The price per spin will depend on how many numbers you are away from completing your card. For example, if you need just a few numbers to win, the cost will be relatively high compared with an emptier gamecard. The trick here is to assess the potential risk vs. reward ratio. There’s no guarantee that buying extra turns will give you the numbers you need.

Slingo Strategy: Five Tips for More Fun

Based on the basics of Slingo, there are ways to get more from the game. As with all casino gaming strategies, nothing will definitely tip the scales in your favour. If that was the case, everyone would be able to use Slingo strategy and win. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

However, even though there aren’t any guarantees, it is possible to make smart decisions when you play. So, with that in mind, here are five Slingo tips you can try when you play online.

1. Buy Extra Spins Wisely

The most obvious Slingo strategy you can employ is buying spins at the right time. This isn’t an exact science. There aren’t any definite rules on when to buy spins and when not to. However, you should base your decision on what seems logical at the time. The three factors you’ll need to consider are:

  • The amount of numbers you need to complete your gamecard.
  • The cost per spin.
  • The amount you can win.

If you only need one or two numbers to complete your card, it might be worth buying a spin or two. But, in this situation, “worth it” is a relative term. If it costs €7 to buy a spin and the top prize is €10, it’s probably too expensive. If you needed two spins to complete your card, it would cost €14, which would leave you €4 out of pocket. Conversely, if the cost per spin was €1, it might be worth taking a chance.

Once you’ve determined that buying spins is worth it, you need to decide how many spins you’re going to buy. It might be worth buying two spins, but there will be a tipping point. Your job is to determine how many spins strikes the right balance between value and expenditure. That’s a skill you’ll develop over time. Again, it comes down to one simple question: what’s the risk/reward ratio? If things line up, then it might be worth a shot.

2. Choose Your Wilds Wisely

Wilds allow you to cross off numbers in the row directly above where they land. Choosing the right number to eliminate from your card could make a difference, but you’ll only know this in hindsight. Maybe that number would have appeared on the next spin anyway so you’ve wasted a wild, maybe it wouldn’t have. Regardless, wilds are a chance to knock off a number and move you another step closer to winning a prize.  

3. Choose Games with Multipliers

Game selection should be part of your overall Slingo strategy. There’s no right or wrong answer. You may enjoy Slingo Classic or you might prefer something like Slingo Extreme. Whatever variant you like the most should be the one you play. However, certain Slingo variants contain more bonus features and multipliers. In theory, the more added extras a game has, the better. 

For example, Slingo Cascade features exploding barrels. Each time you complete a line, the barrels explode, and new numbers appear. This feature gives you another way to cross off numbers without using spins. It’s the same with things like multipliers. A variant that features multipliers will boost your prizes at random which, in turn, gives you more bang for your buck.

You can’t control bonus features, but they can help. Therefore, it’s often a good idea to choose Slingo variants with some optional extras. Again, you should only play the games you enjoy. However, if you’re torn, always choose the one with the best bonus features.

4. Play for the Special Features

You can’t control when a bonus feature will drop. However, you can choose the type of game you’re going to play and, thus, have some control over the types of bonuses you’ll be exposed to. As you’d expect, every game of Slingo is random. Therefore, you can’t dictate when multipliers, free spins or any other type of added extra will start.

What you can do, however, is play. To unlock bonuses, you have to hit the bet button. The secret here is to bet at a level you can afford. Don’t risk more than you can afford. Each bet should be a small percentage of your overall bankroll. As a general guide, you should stake no more than 0.1% of your overall bankroll on a single spin. For example, if your bankroll is €1,000, your maximum bet should be €1.

Betting the right amount is part of strong bankroll management strategy and something you should employ not just when you play Slingo but any casino game. When you keep the stakes to an affordable level, it takes away any pressure and allows you to enjoy the experience. That, in reality, is why we all enjoy casino games.

5. Play Responsibly

The final Slingo tip you need to remember is to play responsibly. Bankroll management and game selection are a big part of a responsible gambling strategy. However, you should also learn to control your emotions. Letting wins and losses cloud your judgement is the biggest mistake you can make. When you act on emotion instead of logic, you open yourself up to problems. Therefore, to ensure you don’t bet more than you can afford, chase losses or buy spins when you shouldn’t. Take emotion out of the decision-making process.

If you can use logic, learn to relax and remember to have fun, Slingo is a fantastic game. Regardless of the results, it’s something you can enjoy via your desktop or mobile at any time. Therefore, in summary, if you can play responsibly and utilise some of the tips outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to enjoy Slingo to its full potential here at LiveRoulette.com. When you combine this with fun and the ability to win jackpots worth five and six-figure sums, it’s easy to see why Slingo is one of the hottest casino games online and found on our Canadian online casino.

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