Best Slots Casinos 2024
- Types of slots
- Slots bonuses, promotions and offers
- Slots tips and tricks
- and much more including slot FAQ
Slots games are probably the most popular type of online casino entertainment, due to the simple rules and large variety of themes available. There are plenty of casino sites offering or even specialising in the best online slots, so you’re spoilt for choice.
Whether you want video slots, fruit machines, 3D slots, classic slots or mobile slots, there’s a lot to consider. On top of the type of slots, there is RTP, number of reels, amount of paylines, wagering options and more that should be evaluated before signing up with an online slots site. With this in mind, read on to discover all you need to know from the various slot types, tips and tricks to the bonuses, promotions and offers.
The first slot machine came into existence back in 1891, when New York company Sittman and Pitt created a game with 5 drums and 50 playing cards. They were located in many bars, and cost only a nickel to play, making them a popular choice for those who had had a drink or two and fancied a flutter. To play, people would simply insert their money, then pull the lever. To receive a payout, poker hands needed to be lined up on the reels. There wasn’t a direct payout mechanism, so back then, winners were paid at the bar, and these prizes were usually in the form of free drinks and cigars.
Many people believe that Charles Augustus Fey is the inventor of the first slot machine, although there isn’t a precise date when said machine was created. It was most likely at some point between 1887 and 1895. The creation of the machine had a key feature that allowed automatic payouts. This was done by making it easier for the machine to work out when a win came up, and Fey achieved this by replacing the 5 drums with three reels. The playing cards also got replaced – with the 5 symbols of diamonds, spades, hearts, horseshoes and a liberty bell. This liberty bell would allow for the highest payout if three appeared at once, so this naturally led to the machine being named the Liberty Bell. It became hugely popular, but because Fey didn’t get a patent for this setup, it got copied by other slot manufacturers.
Money Honey, the first electromechanical slots machine, was released by Bally in 1964. To avoid alienating fans, the lever mechanism was still present, which means games continued to be started by pulling it. However, the reels ran on an electronic system. This machine was the first one to make use of a bottomless hopper, allowing it to pay up to 500 coins automatically if a player won. As this type of machine grew in popularity, the lever was removed from newer versions.
During the 1990s, the online casino also began to rise in popularity. Although only classic games, such as roulette and blackjack, were available at first, slots got added before too long. As with the trend seen in land casinos, slots skyrocketed in the online sphere, and became more popular than these traditional options. As a result, many casino sites offered slots as a large proportion of their games library. At first, online slots were similar to those seen in brick and mortar casinos – they had the same number of reels and selection of symbols. This wasn’t the case for long, as coding allowed for a huge variety of game styles and themes to become available. Nowadays, there is a massive choice of themes, symbols, bonus rounds and additional features to browse on every casino site.
With each year that passes, the number of slots developers and the amount of slots games they create increases. There are over 100 online slots developers, compared to the much smaller number of those who create fruit machines for land casinos. With the advent of online casino slots came the development of jackpot slots, and Microgaming were first to the table with Cash Splash. However, this didn’t provide as large a payout as we see these days. For example, Mega Moolah regularly pays out jackpots that rack up to millions, and it holds the world record for the largest payout from an online slot – 17.9 million Euros.
3 Reel slots – When slot machines first started being developed, they had three reels. It’s common for people to refer to classic slots as 3 reel slots. It’s a good option for those who want a quick and easy game without bonuses and extra features to contend with.Those who like traditional slots will also prefer this option. Essentially, reels are the vertical sections which roll over whenever the lever is pulled (or you press ‘spin’ in an online casino).One example of a three reel slot game is Double Diamond, which was created by software provider IGT. The disadvantage of three reel slots is the fact that the payout will usually be lower than five or seven reel slots, and it can easily get boring for those who tire of the repetitive action. However, the game is quick and easy, so it has a loyal fan base for that reason.
5 Reel slots – Five reel games are the most popular when it comes to online slots, and players will often find these carry the most varied and exciting themes, bonuses and mini-games. This therefore makes five reel slots a good option for those who want to have a wide selection of themes to get stuck into, or dedicate themselves to one kind of game and increase their payout with bonus rounds and other special features. Although the number of paylines varies according to the game you play, on average there will be 20 paylines as a standard setup.
7 Reel slots – Players who want to try something new or play at a different speed can try the seven reel online slots layout. It is a relatively new trend, but there are many people who believe in the power of the number seven – so they will be drawn to this number of reels. Real Time Gaming and WGS Technologies offer a number of 7 reel games, but those who love this game will need to wait for more developers to catch onto the trend. So that there isn’t too much complexity in the game, the average seven reel slot will have a matching seven paylines. Although they won’t always have videos and animations, players can enjoy extras such as multipliers, free spins and bonus symbols.
Fruit machines – This style of machine was originally created for use in arcades, bars and pubs, after slot machines were banned from these locations and were only allowed in casinos. They seem to have a similar setup to classic slots, but to play fruit machines, the player is required to be more involved in the game, as there are lots of features to harness within each round. An example of such a feature is the cash ladder, which gets activated at random stages during gameplay and requires the player to decide their next move by choosing higher or lower. This results in a bonus prize being won on many occasions, which enhances the basic gameplay.
3D slots – In order to remain competitive, software providers will do their best to provide as authentic a slots gaming experience as possible. This has lead to the rise in 3D slots, which deliver high quality graphics as well as smooth and efficient gameplay.It’s usually required for the player to download these games, so the full set of graphics and features can be experienced without any problems caused by an unstable internet connection. However, it’s possible to try the games for free at many online casinos, using virtual credits, before deciding to play with real money.
The Rise Bonus feature is triggered when this symbol lands on the first reel. It provides a player with a cash bonus for every human and ape symbol which lands on the screen. Additionally, the Dawn Bonus feature allows for up to 1200 times your stake possibly being won, and the Dual feature activates respins, plus up to 1000 times your stake to be won.
It’s a quick and easy process to sign up for slots gaming in any online casino. Generally speaking, all you will need on the sign-up form is your name, date of birth, email address, identification (this will be photo ID like a passport or driver’s license) and proof of address. The creation of an account usually doesn’t take more than a few minutes, and once you have signed up, it’s often possible to play slots in demo mode, for play money. To start using real cash, you will need to connect a payment method to your account and transfer money to your virtual wallet.
Depending on which online casino site you sign up with, there will usually be a range of bonuses available that are centred around slots games. This is because slots are one of the most popular games to play on casino sites, making up the bulk of many virtual libraries. Often, slots bonuses come as part of a welcome bonus, so players may be entitled to a number of free spins on a specific game. The amount is typically between 10 and 100 spins. The welcome bonus is offered to players simply for signing up, so if you choose wisely you could have 100 free spins without needing to deposit cash. However, read the small print on such offers, as they are usually subject to wagering requirements, and as with most things in life, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Sometimes you can make the most of a welcome bonus to land free play on a slots game. For example, if you receive a 100% welcome bonus up to $/€500, you can use this additional cash to play extra rounds of slots. But for those who want to receive a more straightforward option, there are many casinos online which will offer bespoke promotions and offers for slots players. These will be featured on the promotions page of a casino site, or they could be emailed to loyal customers. To add to the excitement and keep players logging into the site regularly, promotions can be packaged as available daily, so that if players log in each day, they will receive a perk such as a cash sum to spend on a slots game.
RTP is an important feature of any casino game, including online slots and slots machines, so it’s worth finding out more about what it means and how it can impact your gameplay.
In short, RTP is short for Return to Player, and it delivers a percentage that will tell you your odds of winning when playing an online slot. It indicates the percentage of total wins over a long period of time – in fact, over the total stakes played. So, for example, if the online slot you choose has an RTP of 96%, and you play 100 rounds at $/€1, you can expect to win $/€96 back. The $/€4 remaining is the house edge; what the casino will earn from your wagers in total. It isn’t quite as black and white as this, as the RTP is calculated over huge amounts of spins – going into the millions. So, for example, it wouldn’t be a given to win that $/€96 back every time you wagered $/€100. But, if you wagered that much over a long period of time, that’s the average you would begin to see. The figure has been formed as a general indicator of how reliable the game is. Generally speaking, if the house edge is high, people will be put off playing a certain game, as it means that you’ll be paying the casino a fairly high percentage of your bankroll. You’ll always know what the RTP of a game is, as slot game developers are required to inform punters of how likely they are to win. This information is typically found in the information section of a slot, or on the paytable. It’s good to know what the RTP of a slot is as, besides indicating the quality of a game, a slot with a high RTP will be more likely to offer a player features such as bonus rounds, mini games, wilds and multipliers. As many slots these days are offering a high RTP, it’s an ever increasing competition for software developers to come up with additional features that players will enjoy. It’s typical for most popular online slots to have a RTP of around 96%.
Other factors influencing the RTP are house edge, hit frequency and volatility. The house edge is important to consider, no matter what casino game you are playing. It will inform you of the percentage of your wager which is automatically going to be paid to the casino. Even if you have found the highest RTP slot you think it’s possible to find, there will still be a few percent going to the casino, so that they earn something from the gameplay. The hit frequency, like the RTP, is calculated over a long timespan. It’s a percentage which explains how often a slot will provide a win. However, game manufacturers are not required to provide this information, so if you can find it out, you are at an advantage in the sense that you have additional assistance in working out how favourable a slot will be for a player. The volatility is widely considered to be the most important number when it comes to thinking about the RTP of an online slot. It’s either described using a scale between 1 and 10, or using the word low, medium or high. It will tell you about how often wins can be expected, and how high they will be when they do occur. So if a slot has low volatility, you can expect small but regular wins. With a high volatility, there may be many rounds with no wins, then once in a while you will land a big one. Many players opt for a game with medium volatility, as it strikes a balance between how often the wins are and how much is in them.
The good thing about online slots is that there are so many out there, you will easily find one that suits your budget. Whether you’re a slots newbie or a high roller, there will be a maximum and minimum wager combination that fits your bankroll. In terms of what the average is, there isn’t really an answer to this – it varies hugely depending on what casino site or type of slots you are browsing.
But what are maximum and minimum wagers? This essentially refers to the amount that each coin you bet will hold. For example, 25p per coin. You can choose to raise or lower the amount, use the bet on all or some of the paylines, and more, depending on what suits you. If you place a maximum bet, this will be a bet making use of all the paylines, wagered at the highest number of coins per line. Additionally, it will be set at the highest wager amount too. This is often an option for those with a bigger bankroll, as max bets can sometimes equate to hundreds per spin. This option is taken by those who may want to be in for a win on the jackpot or progressive jackpot feature, which is only available for those who bet max. It’s recommended by many to bet max where possible, as the payouts will often be more generous. This doesn’t have to mean running out of money right away, though, as if you’re not a high roller, you can find a lower wager slot – perhaps even a penny slot to warm up.
Mega Moolah – This online slot game has 5 reels and 25 pay lines, offering players a whole host of ways to win. There are 4 progressive jackpots available to win big on, as well as wilds, scatters, multipliers and free spins. As a low volatility game, this offering from Microgaming is one of the most popular progressive jackpot slots to play. It has an African Safari theme, which features animals such as antelopes, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, monkeys, lions and elephants. These are spread throughout all of the available reels, with animations and sound effects enhancing the experience. You can bet between 1 and 5 coins per line, and the values can be adjusted to either $.01, $.02 or $.05. The wild symbol is a lion, and can be swapped in for any other symbol on the screen – except the scatter – to form winning patterns. What’s more, this symbol will double wins it helps to achieve. The scatter symbol is a fortune-telling monkey, and when three, four or five show up during gameplay, the Mega Moolah bonus feature is activated. This feature provides players with access to four progressive jackpots, and they can be won if bonuses are randomly triggered upon spinning the wheel. The Mega Moolah Jackpot wheel has 20 segments and operates a colour scheme to decide which jackpot a player will win.
Jackpot Giant – This progressive jackpot game is operated by Playtech and provides players with 5 reels and a whopping 50 paylines. You can play from a minimum of 50p per spin, and there are two bonus features available, plus 5 wilds which will win a massive jackpot if they land across the first payline. This historically themed game is set in the Stone Age, and the objective is to have volcanoes erupt and bestow incredible rewards. Stacked symbols are a lucrative feature, as they will take up two vertical reel positions and offer bigger payouts. The bonus symbol is a volcano, and it only appears on the first and fifth reel. If both appear at once, the Giant Bonus feature is activated, which comprises six volcanoes. The player chooses three of them, with each one offering a cash prize, extra pick or win ‘em all option. However, the main attraction is the Giant Jackpot feature, which becomes active when a player lands a five of a kind combination with the wild along the first payline. In order to win the progressive jackpot, you need to be playing at the maximum stake, which is $/€4. Landing five wilds on paylines not including the first one will net you 50,000 times your like bet (or 1000 times your stake).
Major Millions – This progressive slot is a big name in the video slot world, and was developed by software provider Microgaming. It was released in 2000, and provided a simple, straightforward style of gameplay that appealed to players around the world – particularly in Canada and Australia. It has five reels and fifteen paylines, which is an unusual combination. Microgaming joined all the video slots from the total online casinos it works with for this game, meaning that massive wins can land in players’ pockets. On average, the winnings are half a million, and this is paid out to a lucky winner around every three months. The theme is guns and military, which will appeal to certain players, but largely, people will play it in the hope of landing that big win.
Cash Splash – This slot was also developed by Microgaming, and it has five reels and fifteen paylines. Its traditional-looking setup means that the symbols take up the screen, leaving little room for a backdrop of any sort. Following with this theme, the symbols are also traditional – bars, sevens and cherries feature on the reels. The most valuable one is the Cash Splash logo, which is worth 6000x the line stake for five on an active payline. The wild is the Cash Splash symbol, and it takes the place of everything except scatters. If you land five of the Cash Splash symbols on the 15th payline, with all paylines active and playing at the maximum bet, you’ll be in for the big wins.
Arabian Nights – This jackpot slot was developed by NetEnt, and provides players with a medieval Arabian theme. It has somewhat of a higher minimum bet than many slots games, as it can be played from $/€5 a spin. The free spins feature allows a player to be in with a chance of receiving up to 30 free spins with a 3x multiplier, as well as being in the pool of prospective jackpot winners. The game has five reels and ten paylines, and the minimum bet of $/€5 is also the maximum bet, which ensures that all players have an equal chance of landing the jackpot. If five Arabian Nights symbols appear on a payline, the player could be winning big money.
One of the benefits afforded by the digital world of casino gaming is the opportunity for players to start out with a play mode when they load up their slots game of choice. This will often be a method that newbies love, as it gets them used to a game, but others prefer to go straight in with real money for an authentic gaming experience.
By playing in fun or demo mode, players new to the world of gambling can experience what is involved in a game before risking losing their bankroll due to not understanding a setup, or making rookie errors. It will let a player see what free spins involve, what bonus rounds look like, how scatters, wilds and multipliers impact a game, and whether it’s more beneficial to set coins at lower or higher value. Due to the amount of online slots types available, it’s a good chance for a player to work out if they prefer fewer or more reels, the number of paylines they prefer, the pace of gameplay, presence of bonus features and more.
However, playing in demo mode can’t substitute for the real experience, which many people prefer to dive into upon deciding they want to experience online slots gameplay. This means that you can fully enjoy the random chance of the game, and if you don’t fully understand the setup just yet, you could still win on your first few spins. It’s also inherently more exciting, as you’ve put money behind each spin, so the chance of winning feels much more real, whereas spinning in demo mode could soon become dull.
Experience social aspects of a casino – While classic casino table games such as blackjack, roulette and craps are increasingly offering live dealer options, allowing players to interact with others and play live versions of the game, this isn’t as readily available with slots, meaning that if you are playing online slots, there isn’t usually as much of a chance to interact with people as there would be in a brick and mortar casino. Many people will visit a land based casino for the enjoyment of being with friends and meeting new people, so this is where the traditional casino has an advantage over online operators.
Discover the latest releases sooner – It’s often the case that the latest slots games releases are revealed in land based casinos first, meaning that those who travel to the physical operators will experience them first. So if you want the perks of seeing what’s coming out next first and being front of the queue, it may be worth at least the occasional visit to a land based casino.