The weekend gambler on a shoestring budget knows: every penny counts, and so does every slot or table spin. I’ve been playing at CasinoStars casino for months now, trying to make my £50 bankroll stretch as far as possible. One of the best ways to do that is by using game filters—it’s like setting your own rules before you hit the tables. Here’s how I’ve been testing them out, with some hard numbers and real-life results.

Key Numbers to Watch Before diving in, here’s what matters most:

• Minimum deposit: £5
• Minimum bet per spin: £0.10
• Maximum bet per spin: £20
• Payout time (slots): 24 hours
• RTP for favourite slots: 96.3%

I’ve played a few games where the RTP was lower, but 96.3% is solid for a budget player.

I started by checking out the filters in CasinoStars’ mobile app. The first thing I noticed was that slots are categorised by volatility—high, medium, and low. High-volatility games pay out big but less often, which isn’t ideal when you’re tight on cash. Medium-volatility slots are my go-to; they balance risk and reward.

I picked “High Variance Slots” at first, just to see what happens when you bet a bit more for bigger wins. My first spin landed me £1.80 on a £0.50 bet—nothing spectacular, but it taught me that patience pays off in high-variance games.

Then I switched to “Low Variance Slots” with a £1 deposit limit. The first game I tried was “Luck of the Irish” (RTP 96.3%). I spun 50 times with £1 bets—no jackpot, but I hit a small bonus round after 12 spins. It was the kind of win that made me feel like I’d done something right.

The next filter I tested was “Free Spins”—because who doesn’t love free action? CasinoStars offers free spins on promotions like “Double Free Spins” (2 extra spins per bet). I used this on “Golden Aces” (RTP 97.4%), betting £0.20 per spin. After claiming the free spins, I spun again and won £2.50 on my second try.

I also checked out “Cashback” filters—some games offer up to 5% back on losses if you play within certain limits. I tried “Blackjack” with a £10 deposit and lost £8 in two hands before winning back £4 on the next round. The cashback didn’t kick in here, but it’s good to know the rules.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when games have hidden wagering requirements—like needing to bet 50x your win before claiming a prize. CasinoStars’ filters let you pick games with “No Wagering” or low wagering ratios (e.g., 3x). I tested “Spin City” (RTP 96.5%) with a £2 deposit limit and no wagering needed for payouts.

The only downside? Some promotions require you to play within certain hours or days to qualify for free spins or bonuses. I missed out on one because I played too late—lessons learned: check the terms before hitting play!

I also looked into “Live Casino” filters, where you can set minimum bets and maximum losses per session. For example, “Live Roulette” lets you bet up to £5 per spin with no daily loss cap—but if you’re playing for fun, not profit, it’s better to stick to lower limits.

My final test was “Bingo” with a £1 minimum bet and no time restrictions. It’s not high-stakes, but it’s fun when you hit that lucky number seven first!

What worked best? Low-variance slots with free spins and no wagering requirements gave me the best balance of risk and reward while keeping my bankroll safe.

If you’re playing at CasinoStars casino, remember: filters aren’t just about luck—they’re about strategy. And trust me, after losing half my bankroll on one high-variance game, I’m glad I took control!

Now go forth and filter your way to better odds!