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There are thousands of real money slots to choose from, so picking the best is no easy task. Should you go with the highest number of paylines, the best gameplay, or the biggest jackpots? And what about RTP and bonus features?
Safe to say, there’s a lot to unpack. Luckily, we’ve found the top slot games that pay real money online and the casinos where you can find them.
Top Casinos with Real Money Slots
Key Takeaways for Real Money Slots
After playing dozens of real money slots across multiple sites, we’ve narrowed down our list of the best to Pharaoh’s Gold, Age of Spartans, Safari Sam 2, Aztec’s Millions, and Caesar’s Empire. So why did we pick these?
- All of these slots have a high RTP of 96% or above
- Each has bonus rounds offering more chances to win
- Max payouts range from 1,500 to 50,000x your stake
Types of Real Money Slots
One thing you’ll quickly notice about real money slots online is that there are thousands of games with hundreds of themes. Below, we’ll take a look at six of the main types of games you’ll find at top slots sites.
Classic Three Reels
These slots stick to the basics. They have three reels, simple paylines, and easy gameplay. They’re great if you want that old-school Vegas vibe.
Best Classic Three Reel Slots
- Pharaoh’s Gold (Realtime Gaming): Timeless three-reel action with lots of bling, available at Raging Bull Slots.
- Sevens & Bars (Realtime Gaming): Offers a 95% RTP and straightforward payouts, available at BetWhale.
- Diamond Fiesta (Realtime Gaming): A colorful three-reeler with bonus multipliers, available at Lucky Red Casino.
Why Play Classic Three Reel Slots
They’re simple, fast, and fun and the gameplay is something that you can pick up instantly. Three reel slots also feature low betting options since they have fewer paylines, and excellent bet/payout ratios. But one slight drawback is that they have limited bonus features.
Video Reels
Video slots are the next step up from classic three-reel slots. They tend to have slick animations and run across five reels instead of the usual three. They also offer fun themes and a range of features, including free spins and wilds.
Best Video Reels
- Age of Spartans (Saucify): Packed with multipliers and stacked wilds, available at BetWhale.
- Cash Bandits 3 (Realtime Gaming): A 96% RTP and a player-favorite for its free spin heists, available at Slots of Vegas.
- Take Olympus (Betsoft): Epic mythology slot with detailed graphics, available at Red Dog Casino.
Why Play Video Reels
Play video reels if you like slick graphics and great storylines. They come in various volatility levels and bonus features, and have everything from random features to generous multipliers. Video slots cater to everyone.
Megaways Slots
Developed by the Australian game provider, Big Time Gaming, Megaways introduced new slot mechanics that make it possible to complete combinations in more than 100,000 ways. While easy to play, prepare for a thrilling experience filled with multipliers and bonus action.
Best Megaways Slots
- Safari Sam 2 (Betsoft Megaways): Known for its collapsing reels, available at Everygame Casino.
- Primal Hunt (Betsoft Megaways): Offers free spins and a 96% RTP, available at BetWhale.
- Dragon Queen Megaways (BGaming): Huge ways to win with stacked wilds, available at BetWhale.
Why Play Megaways Slots
Play Megaways slots if you’re a fan of action-packed gameplay with loads of features. But keep in mind that these are usually high volatility slots, meaning payouts take longer to activate.
Progressive Jackpots
These real money slots pool all bets together, increasing the jackpot with every spin of the reels. In some cases, these can hit millions of dollars.
Best Progressive Jackpot Slots
- Aztec’s Millions (Realtime Gaming): Famous for multi-million-dollar payouts, available at Lucky Red Casino.
- Caribbean Draw Poker (Realtime Gaming): Progressive jackpot table-style slot hybrid, available at Lucky Red Casino.
- Shopping Spree II (Realtime Gaming): Nostalgic theme with a seven-figure prize pool, available at Raging Bull Slots.
Why Play Progressive Jackpots
Play progressive jackpot slots if you’re looking for the chance to win life-changing prizes. The massive jackpots can climb into millions of dollars. Incredibly, the biggest progressive jackpot prize ever won was $42 million on Wheel of Wishes.
Fixed Jackpots
As the name suggests, fixed jackpots don’t grow over time like progressive slots. Instead, they offer fixed top prizes and consistent payouts on smaller prizes.
Best Fixed Jackpot Slots
- Caesar’s Empire (Realtime Gaming): 97% RTP with a Roman theme, available at Raging Bull Slots.
- Plentiful Treasure (Realtime Gaming): Features multiple fixed jackpots and bonus rounds, available at Raging Bull Slots.
- Tiger’s Claw (Betsoft): Next-level graphics and a set jackpot prize, available at BetWhale.
Why Play Fixed Jackpots
Play fixed jackpots if you like consistency and klnowing exactly what you’re playing for with each spin. They’re reliable and have clearly labeled top payouts. You also get more frequent mid-sized wins compared to progressive slots.
Live Online Slots for Real Money
Live slots combine live gameshows and slots into one, offering a unique experience where the presenter adds various additional elements to the game.
Best Live Online Slots
- Buffalo Blitz Live: First-ever hosted slots game powered by PlayTech, six reels, with 4,096 paylines.
Why Play Live Online Slots for Real Money
They combine the atmosphere of a real casino floor with the convenience of online play. It’s everything you get from live dealer games combined with fast-paced slots.
Our Best 3 Online Slots Casinos
The best slots casinos will have a large variety of the slots listed above. But when it comes to the overall slots experience, these three sites listed below come out on top.
Best Slots Casino Overall – BetWhale
BetWhale is our top pick thanks to its massive range of 1,200+ slots games. While it may sound like a lot to get through, it has some great filters that let you narrow down your search to the slot types that suit you best.
- The Perks: Enjoy a high-value welcome offer with a low rollover, plus regular reload offers.
- Top Games: 1200+ slot games, including 40+ jackpot titles.
- Cashier: One of the only sites that offers both deposits and payouts to credit cards, and no upper limits for crypto.
- Wild Card: All slots can be played in demo mode for virtual credits.
- The Catch: Limited number of progressive jackpot titles
| Welcome Bonus | 250% Welcome Bonus up to $2,500 |
| Promo Code | ACTIONPACK |
| Minimum Deposit | $20 |
| Wagering Requirement | 30x |
Best for RTG Slots – Raging Bull Slots
Raging Bull is all about the slots. Even though it has a smaller library, all of these titles are provided by RealTime Gaming (RTG). This means you get high-quality games from a trusted developer with excellent gameplay and jackpot titles with million-dollar prizes.
- The Perks: Enjoy lots of free spins deals for new slots each week, plus a 20% boost on deposits with Mastercard.
- Top Games: Progressive slots include Aztec’s Millions and Spirit of the Inca with million-dollar jackpots.
- Cashier: Supports cards, prepaid cards, and crypto. Buy crypto with changelly.
- Wild Card: 98 free spins every week once you deposit $30 or more.
- The Catch: Since it’s a one-provider site, some popular slots are unavailable.
| Welcome Bonus | 350% Bonus + 50 Free Spins |
| Promo Code | SMART350 |
| Minimum Deposit | $30 |
| Wagering Requirement | 10x |
Best Slot Site for New Players – Lucky Red Casino
Lucky Red is one of the simplest slots sites in the business. It’s got a downloadable client that you can use on a desktop, and you can access the mobile site on any device. It’s a great option if you’re new to real money slots online.
- The Perks: Lots of bonuses for new games, game of the month deals, and leaderboards.
- Top Games: Enjoy plenty of popular slots, including Asgard, Spirit of the Inca, and Stradust.
- Cashier: Deposits and payouts via crypto coins, fast payouts via Interac, and card deposits are available.
- Wild Card: Play all slots in demo mode using ‘fun balance’ before you sign up.
- The Catch: Limited filtering options compared to rival slots casinos.
| Welcome Bonus | 400% Bonus up to $4,000 + $75 Free Chip |
| Promo Code | N/A |
| Minimum Deposit | $35 |
| Wagering Requirement | 50x |
Bonuses for Real Slots Online
Everyone loves a bonus, and promos are always available at the best online casinos. They offer extra value, including more spins and chances to win, without requiring you to risk your own cash. But it’s always good to know how these bonuses actually work before grabbing them.
Here are the most common bonuses for real slots online and how they work.
Slot Welcome Bonus
A welcome bonus boosts your first deposit. It gives you extra credit, allowing you to try out all the slots on a site. Some might even include free spins for a specific slot.
At Raging Bull, you get a 350% deposit match. This means that if you deposit $100, you’ll get $350 extra as site credit. This can be used to play slots, and all winnings are yours to keep once you hit the low wagering requirement of 10x.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses give you extra credit of free spins for topping up your account with more cash. These are usually in the shape of deposit match deals, similar to a welcome offer. But they do tend to be lower matched percentages, ranging from 25-100%.
Watch out for regular reload deals. Some real money slots sites will run special reload deals on set days of the week.
Slot Tournaments
Slot tournaments are a great way to add a little extra to your bankroll. All you’ve got to do is play slots for real money. The site will set up the leaderboard and let you know which slots qualify for the tournament.
The player who racks up the biggest wins over a period of time gets the first prize. Lucky Red Casino runs quite a few slot tournaments with prize pools worth thousands in bonus credits.
Free Spins
Free spins let you try the most popular or latest online slots for free, and the best part, you get to keep what you win. These are often tied to a specific slot or provider, and some sites, like Raging Bull, will give you free spins weekly just for adding cash to your account.
Just make sure you watch out for the wagering requirement. Since these are just like free wagers, the rollover might be a little higher.
Cashback Bonuses
Cashback gives you a percentage of your weekly net losses back. Most top-rated slot sites start you off with a standard 10% cashback benefit, but you could unlock up to 30% cashback if you climb the loyalty levels.
For example, Raging Bull’s 10% cashback deal means if you lost $100 during the week, you’d get $10 back into your account.
VIP Program
VIP rewards are all about loyalty. The more you spend and play, the better the rewards. This type of program is usually tailored to your gameplay, so if you are a high roller, you get bigger deposit limits or faster payouts.
Some VIP programs are invitation-only and are limited to big spenders. But loyalty programs are also available for casual players.
How to Choose the Best Online Casino Slots
The best slots to play online for real money are more than just flashy themes. Check out the factors we consider when picking the right game.
- Type of Slot: Decide what type of slots you’d like to play: classics for simplicity, video slots for more action, megaways for thrilling bonuses, or jackpots for those massive wins.
- Betting Options: Make sure the game fits your budget, whether that’s low stakes for casual play or high stakes for high rollers.
- Fairness (RTP): Look for slots with 95% RTP or higher. These give you more potential for better long-term returns.
- Payout Rates (Volatility): High volatility slots mean bigger wins but they happen less often, while low volatility gives smaller, frequent payouts.
- Free Slot Games to Play (Demo Mode): Demo mode allows you to test gameplay before playing slots for real money.
Features of Online Casino Slots
The best online slot games work hard to keep things fresh. And that means more than slick graphics.
Developers are constantly adding new features to make every spin of the reels truly unique. But all of these features, no matter how unique, tend to fall into one of the categories below.
Special Symbols
Special symbols like wilds and scatters are standard in most online slots for real money. How these work is that they substitute other symbols or unlock free spins and bonus rounds. These are the most common ways a game will boost your wins.
- Wild Symbols – Wilds act as substitutes for other symbols (except special ones like scatters or bonuses), helping you complete winning combinations and boost your chances of payouts.
- Scatter Symbols – Scatters usually trigger bonus features such as free spins or special games. Unlike regular symbols, they often pay out or activate features regardless of where they land on the reels.
One of the best examples of special symbols can be seen in Starburst, where the game focuses heavily on wilds that trigger bonus rounds and free spins.
Free Spins and Bonus Games
Landing bonus triggers usually reward you with free spins or interactive side games. And yes, many of the triggers are actually the special symbols that we mentioned earlier, but some can be a specific combination of non-wild symbols on the reels.
Book of Dead is a good example of bonus games. It features expanding symbols during free spins that create major win potential.
Cascading/Rolling Reels
Instead of spinning, symbols fall into place, and winning combos disappear to make room for new ones. This gives you the chance to win more on a single wager. It’s kind of like a boost on the spins, but it looks incredible and can trigger anything from better paylines to a multiplier.
Gonzo’s Quest made cascading reels famous. The original idea was to offer multiple wins on a single bet, and it worked so well that it’s now standard for many real money slots.
Cluster Pays
Rather than paylines, cluster pays let you win based on groups of matching symbols. These symbols still need to be in a combination, but the combination is made up of clusters instead of paylines.
A great example is NetEnt’s Aloha! Cluster Pays. There are no standard paylines, but when nine or more symbols are grouped together, you win.
Developers of the Best Online Slots
The best slots to play online for real money generally come from a handful of top developers. These are the innovators that lead the market and set the standard for others to follow.
While most developers these days deliver high-quality games, the developers below are the gold standard that you’ll find at the best offshore casinos.
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play is well-known for releasing new games almost every week. They often feature exciting themes and are high volatility, so fewer wins but higher payouts. This provider’s slots are popular at casinos like BetWhale and Everygame.
Best Real Money Slots from Pragmatic Play
Top Pragmatic Play hits include:
- Gates of Olympus
- Sweet Bonanza
- The Dog House Megaways
- Big Bass Bonanza
- Starlight Princess
NetEnt
NetEnt set industry standards with excellent visuals and innovative mechanics, like cluster plays. This studio is responsible for some of the most iconic slots ever created.
Best Real Money Slots from NetEnt
NetEnt’s portfolio is littered with all-time classics like:
- Starburst
- Gonzo’s Quest
- Dead or Alive II
- Twin Spin
- Divine Fortune
Play’n GO
Play’n GO is known for combining strong storytelling with engaging features. This makes the studio’s games titles that you can kinda get lost in thanks to their great story arcs and themes.
Best Real Money Slots from Play’n GO
These are the must-try titles for this studio:
- Book of Dead
- Reactoonz
- Fire Joker
- Moon Princess
- Legacy of Dead
Tips to Play Real Money Slots
The best online slots to play for real money are all about fun. But when it comes to potential wins, there are a few smart choices you can make to help stretch your bankroll and possibly even grab a win or two along the way.
- Set a Budget: Decide what you can afford to lose before you start to play and be comfortable with losing it all, as that just might happen.
- Don’t Chase Losses: If you lose, you lose. Take a break or start a new game. Remember, there’s no pattern to slots payouts and no game is ‘primed’ to payout after a long session.
- Update Your Limit After a Big Win: Protect those winnings by deciding how much of your profits you want to set aside.
- Wager According to Your Limit: The size of your bet should match your bankroll. You’ll blow through a $50 budget in no time if you’re making $2 bets.
- Avoid Bonus Buy Options: Bonus buy options don’t really improve your chances of winning. They just give you more spins, so it’s better to trigger bonuses with your regular play.
- Play Slots with High RTP: You can’t guarantee a win, but sticking to games with an RTP of 95% or higher will certainly improve your chances.
Real Money Slots FAQs
Yes, you can play online slots for real money. All of the casinos listed above allow you to deposit and play slots for real money. Just choose one of our recommendations, sign up, and start spinning.
No, reputable casinos use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to make sure that all results are fair. This is a basic requirement for any licensed online slots casino sites we recommend.
Progressive jackpot slots like Mega Moolah and Divine Fortune are among the best slots for payouts. These titles feature massive jackpots that can easily hit millions of dollars.
Yes, you can play slots online for real money with no deposit. Some casinos offer no deposit bonuses with free spins. Winnings from these spins are yours to keep, but you will have to meet the wagering requirements first. Since this is like free money, those requirements can be pretty high.
Yes, online slots pay real money. When you play for real money, your winnings are always in real money. The only exception is when playing using bonus funds. In this case, you may receive site credit that is only converted to real cash once you meet the wagering requirements.
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