Online slots, unlike other casino games, require you to possess no particular skills. You just have to spin the reels and read the game’s rules by clicking the “Info” button.
The payouts can be quite high. Max wins of 1,000x the bet are even considered modest, given that plenty of slot machines pay 10,000x and more.
Thousands of slots exist on all sorts of topics: TV shows, mystery, fantasy, ancient civilizations, horror, romance, etc. The gaming providers constantly enhance their products by adding new and fun bonus features.
Keep scrolling to see our selection of the top 10 real-money slot websites. Don’t forget to get a generous welcome bonus to give your bankroll a boost in the beginning.
Updated for May, 2023
Online slots are largely games of luck, where computer software runs your entire experience. The software uses a Random Number Generator (RNG). This is the tool that determines what symbols will appear on the reels at the end of each spin.
To ensure this process is fair, all recognized gaming software providers and online casinos have their games’ RNGs tested and certified by third-party independent agencies. In addition, all licensed online casinos are obliged to observe the respective licensing requirements that aim to prevent fraud.
Betting on online slot games is quite easy in fact. The market offers machines for every budget, starting from as low as $0.1. Many of the old-fashioned slots require you to select your coin size and determine the number of coins per payline as well as the total number of paylines. Based on this, your total bet is calculated.
However, modern-day games have largely automated this process to make it easier for you. You can both increase and decrease your wager as per the specific slot’s instructions, which you can read by clicking the “Info” button. Before we proceed further, let us mention that the most frequently used expert advice is to always activate the largest possible number of available paylines.
Another thing you need to look up is the payout table for each game. It contains valuable information about how much you can expect to win if you are lucky. Typically, payout tables express amounts either as absolute values or as wager multipliers.
Once you have placed your wager, it is time to play. You can do so by clicking the “Spin” button. Thus, your bet will be deducted from your balance, and the reels will start spinning until the symbols arrange themselves in a certain order.
Once this action is completed, the game’s software will automatically check if a winning combination is formed. If so, you will be awarded the stipulated payout, which will go straight into your balance. Here we need to remind you again that slots usually come with multiple winning possibilities. This may sometimes result in getting a smaller payout than your total bet.
If you wish to play more of the same game, you can either spin again with the same wager or change your bet amount before hitting the button. Quite a few online machines possess the so-called “AutoSpin” feature, which allows you to automatically spin the reels a predetermined number of times with the same wager.
One of the best things about online slots is that they are extremely diverse. Many gaming software companies produce online slot machines of different types. They constantly invent new features and game mechanics to deliver greater entertainment and rewards.
Here are the most common types of video slots:
Many players love the unsophisticated gameplay classic slot machines offer. The physical form of these games has existed since 1899. Traditional 3-reel slots quickly became popular in land-based establishments and were among the first gambling products to conquer the newly emerged online casinos.
Nowadays, they still dominate the market despite the wide array of innovative and advanced releases. The reason is that they are simple, fast-paced, and fun to play. The only thing you have to do is spin the reels and hope for three identical winning symbols to line up.
Progressive slots are some of the most attractive online machines. In essence, they are a network of games connected by a common jackpot. Every time someone plays a progressive jackpot game, their input goes straight into the common jackpot. The amount grows until a lucky player wins it. In other words, the jackpot increases as the number of players grows.
The most famous progressive jackpot slot is Mega Moolah by Microgaming. It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest online casino jackpot since a British soldier won around $20 million by playing it in 2015.
Virtual Reality has become the thing in recent years, and it is no wonder the concept has moved to online casinos as well.
Many popular slots are now available to play in VR mode, thus allowing you to take the action to an entirely new level by using your voice, gestures, and overall body movements. This brings an entirely different and immersive experience, and many players prefer to play well-familiar slots in VR mode.
Unlike classic online machines, video slots usually have five reels and multiple paylines. They also often come with bonus features that expand your gaming experience and may increase your winning chances. Also, they provide advanced graphics and audio effects to create an inviting and exciting atmosphere.
These games much resemble 5-reel slots but with boosted adrenaline levels because of the possibility for extended matches. The idea is that the reel structure allows you to have more fun and better winning shots when using the traditional bonus features like free spins, scatters, wilds, and more.
Multi-paylines slots are another much-beloved gaming format. The reason is obvious – the more paylines you have, the greater your winning chances. Nowadays, there are machines with even more than 100 paylines!
Mega Spin slots are another thrilling type of game that players adore. These machines allow you to play 3 to 9 games at the same time. You can have up to 45 reels spinning simultaneously in all games, thus increasing your winning opportunities tremendously. Most commonly, 3-reel slots are used to play Mega Spins, but sometimes you can find other types of machines as well.
These are particularly enjoyable machines, where a mini-game gets triggered inside the main game. The goal is to create a more entertaining experience and bring you extra rewards. Typically, the bonus games are connected to the slot’s overall theme and require you to perform certain actions. For example, you may need to collect fruit, gemstones, etc. Some slots allow you to also retrigger the bonus game, thus intensifying the action.
The segment of Megaways slots is booming these days. The Megaways mechanic, which was developed by the world-famous Big Time Gaming software provider, uses a random reel modifier. The goal of the engine is to change the number of symbols that appear on the reels. Thus, it increases your winning chances.
If you open any reputable online casino website, you will find hundreds, if not thousands of slots on a variety of themes that offer multiple features. Free spins, wilds, multipliers, cascades, mini-games, and scatters are just a small portion of the fun and exciting highlights of today’s best games. Therefore, without further ado, let us dive into the amazing universe of online slots:
Two major factors impact your chances to win when playing online slots. The first one is Percentage Return to Player (RTP). This is the variable that stands for the rewards you can expect to win over time by playing a certain machine.
For example, if you invest a total of $100 on a game with an RTP of 95 %, you will get back $95 if you are lucky. The remaining 5 % will go to the operator. The industry average RTP is 96 %. Some games go well beyond that but never hit 100 %. The reason is that the casino has to have a profit.
The other thing that influences the outcome of your play is the slot’s variance, also known as volatility. It indicates how often you are likely to create a winning combination and the average payout size. For more clarity, please see the table below:
Variance | Win Frequency | Win Sizes | What to Expect? |
---|---|---|---|
High | Rare | Big | high risk, high reward |
Medium | Average | Average | average risk, average reward |
Low | Often | Small | low risk, low reward |
If you are already feeling impatient about spinning the reels, we will be quick to guide you through the process. There are five simple steps you can follow for a successful start. We have described them briefly below:
Select an online casino
To begin with, an online casino should possess all valid licenses required to operate in your country of residence. Further, the games need to come with the necessary quality assurance and fair play certificates. Your chosen casino should also provide safe and secure payments and must apply a number of internal procedures and advanced technologies to protect your privacy.
Get a blasting welcome bonus
Free money and free spins are every player’s dream. Online casinos are generally quite inventive when it comes to first-time subscriber deals. There are plenty of generous welcome packs combining cash rewards and free spins. The only thing you need to be cautious about is the promotional terms and conditions. Make sure to read them carefully.
Create an account
With the help of today’s technology, this is very easy. Simply find the new user registration button, click it, and follow the instructions. The entire procedure should take no longer than a couple of minutes.
Choose a slot to play
This step might seem easy and entertaining, but some players find it challenging thanks to the tremendous variety of available games. If you have difficulties finding the right game for you, try experimenting in demo mode first.
Place your bet and go for the win
This is the final stage. You can follow the game’s instructions to adjust your wager and start pursuing the jackpot.
If you are looking to increase your bankroll and enjoy extended, more satisfying play, please follow our pro tips listed below: