It’s good advice, when playing online slots, to set yourself goals.

Playing online is great fun, and you can do it whenever and wherever you like but there’s a difference between online and offline casinos.

If you’ve been used to going to the likes of Las Vegas or Atlantic City, you’ll probably have been putting actual dollars into the slots.

Each time you reach the end of those credits, you need to put more money in and every time you do that you’re aware that your funds are being reduced.

It’s easier, in that situation, to think “shall I break another $20, or is that enough”? You may need to keep some money for the cab fare back to the hotel, or for a meal or a show, so you know that you need to walk away.

Online slots are all run via credit card funds. So, once you’ve registered your account and given your credit card details, you don’t need to worry about where the lady is with the change or how many quarters you have left in your cup.

It’s easy to get mesmerised by the slots, because they have great graphics and great sounds, so you can pass lots of time without even noticing. If you’re sat at home, on the living room couch, you may not be aware of how long you’ve been playing.

That figure that you see on the screen, though, that tells you how much credit you have, it represents reality.

Unless you’re playing free online slots, your balance going up and down means you have more or less actual cash. And because we all have bills to pay and other financial obligations, it’s important to set limits.

That means knowing when to log off. If you’re having a bad day, it’s tempting to chase your losses. But if you have a figure in mind for how much you’re prepared to lose, make sure you stick to it.

Equally, it can be tempting to keep riding a lucky streak. But often you find that the winnings get reduced and soon you’re back to square one.

So, have a figure in mind for what you’d like to win, then once you’ve got to that level it’s a good idea to call it a day.

Written by Alex Corcoran, who enjoys the occasional trip to Las Vegas for some casino fun but much prefers to stay at home to play red bus bingo!

How to play video slots – tips