Online Slots
Welcome to Slots Today, the best site for everything you need to know about online slots. Here, you will find information about legal online slots, including real money and free slots..
Are online slots legal?
Yes, there are currently several US states where real money online casinos are legal, plus a handful of other states where they may become legal soon. Meanwhile, even if you are in a jurisdiction where online casinos have not yet been introduced, there are multiple ways you can play online slots for free.
States where real money online slots are currently legal include:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
In states where real money online slots are legal, you must be physically located in the state to play the games on a state-licensed site.
Choosing a casino for online slots
When selecting a casino at which to play online slots for real money, there are certain factors you should consider.
- Properly licensed in your jurisdiction: If the site is legal and licensed in your state, you can rest assured the slots will be fair, and your money and personal information will be safe and secure.
- Banking options: Check to see which deposit and withdrawal methods are available on the site. Also, note the limits for each.
- Bonuses and promotions: Online casinos frequently offer welcome bonuses and other ongoing promotions to players, including some that are focused on slots or a particular slot. Look for these and compare them as you evaluate where you want to play online slots.
- Mobile apps: You can play slots at most online casinos either on a computer via a web-based browser or on your mobile device by downloading the casino’s mobile app. Most sites offer many (though not always all) of the same slots on the app as on the main site, with the games optimized for the smaller screens.
- Slots selection: Once you’ve considered these other factors, take a look at the number of slots the site offers and the quality of the selection. The number of slots can vary widely from site to site. Also, be sure to look for the casino’s selection of progressive jackpot slots if you enjoy playing those.
There are other factors you’ll want to consider, including the general design of the online casino and how easy it is to navigate. It is also preferable that information (rules, paylines, info about return to player percentages) about each slot is easy to access.
Online slots vs. live slot machines
Online slots have a lot in common with slot machines in casinos. In fact, many of the same games are available both online and live. There are differences worth noting, however. These may make online slots preferable to some players. Some distinct qualities of online slot machines include:
- Play any time, anywhere: Online slots afford the convenience of playing whenever and wherever you like. You can play online slots at home on your computer or on the go using your mobile device. The casino is always open.
- Increased availability of slots: Unlike in a retail casino, with online slots you always know the game you want to play will be available. Online sites are also able to offer more slots and a greater variety of slots since there is no limit on available floor space.
- Better selection and easier navigation: Building on that last point, online casinos tend to have a greater variety of slots than a typical retail casino has. It is also much easier to hop from game to game when playing online. The next slot is usually just a mouse click or two away.
- Lower stakes: While there are so-called “penny slots” in live casinos, often the minimum bet is actually more than that. Meanwhile, you’ll find most online casino slots offer a wider range of potential stakes. That includes being able to play for much lower stakes online than you would in a casino, which is great when managing your slots bankroll.
- Higher return to player (RTP) percentages: Generally speaking, online slots have higher RTP percentages than live slots, although that varies from game to game. You can find some online slots with very high RTP percentages of 95% or more, while many live slots are in the 85-90% range.
Of course, online slot machines lack the social aspect of going to a casino to gamble. Nor do online slots offer quite the same physical sensation of pulling a lever or pressing a button on a slot machine and then watching reels spin and hearing the sounds of the game amid the casino floor’s larger ambiance. That said, for some, those aren’t necessarily disadvantages to online slots.
Top online slots to play
Online slots feature both new, innovative games with state-of-the-art graphics and features as well as classic titles first made famous in retail casinos.
There are thousands of slots available to play online. You are virtually guaranteed to find any popular slot at an online site.
Best slots providers
Certain slots providers stand out from the crowd and are responsible for the best online slots around. Here’s a rundown of the best providers of online slots with a listing of the popular games developed by each:
- Ainsworth — Amazon Gold, Arabian Rose, Big Thunder Quad Shot, Cash Hound, Laughing Dragon, Mustang Spirit Cash Stacks, Rise of the Dragon, Run With the Wolves, Thunder Cash
- Aristocrat — 50 Dragons, A Christmas Story, Buffalo Gold, Dragon Emperor, Game of Thrones, Lucky 88, Mr. Cashman, Queen of the Nile II, The Walking Dead, Zorro
- Bally — Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Celestial King, Dragon Spin, Fu Dao Le, Jinse Dao Dragon, Lucky Tree, Monopoly 250K, Quick Hit Super Wheel Wild Red, Sword of Destiny, Vegas Hits
- Everi — Black Diamond, Cash Money, Double Jackpot Gems, High Voltage Blackout, Jackpot Inferno, One Cent Red Deluxe, Shamrock, Smokin’ Hot Gems, Triple Jackpot Gems, Wild Wild Gems
- IGT — Cleopatra, Da Vinci Diamonds, Double Diamond, Golden Goddess, Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania 2, Pixies of the Forest, Siberian Storm, Texas Tea, Wheel of Fortune, Wolf Run
- Konami — Astronomical Magic, Castlevania, Chili Chili Fire, China Shores, Destiny of Athena, Fortune Stacks, Gypsy Fire, Lion Carnival, Rocky, Secret of the Mermaid
- NetEnt — Bloodsuckers 2, Dead or Alive 2, Fruit Shop, Gonzo’s Quest, Hotline 2, Jumanji, Mercy of the Gods, Narcos, Starburst, Twin Spin
- WMS — Cool Jewels, Crystal Forest, Enchanted Kingdom, Epic Monopoly II, Heidi’s Bier Haus, Invaders from Planet Moolah, Lock It Link Night Life, Neptune’s Quest, Raging Rhino, Zeus
That may seem like a lot of providers and slots, but it only scratches the surface. Many more studios are developing new games and hundreds of online slots to try.
Best real money casinos to play online slots
There are many real money online casinos up and running in different US states that offer a wide selection of slot machines online. These online slot casinos have hundreds of different titles from which to choose.
Top online casinos with real money slots include:
- Bally Slots
- Bet365 Slots
- BetMGM Slots
- BetRivers Slots
- Caesars Slots
- DraftKings Slots
- FanDuel Slots
- Golden Nugget Slots
- Hard Rock Slots
- PlayStar Slots
- Unibet Slots
- WynnBET Slots
Each of these sites fields hundreds of online slot games, including many with progressive jackpots. Keep in mind, though, that to play real money games on these sites, you need to be located in a state where online casinos have been authorized.
Different types of slot games
There are many different types of slots both at online and retail casinos. Here is a short overview of some of the common varieties of slots highlighting different features of the games:
- Reel slots — Traditional reel slots usually feature three or five reels with 20-24 stops per reel, although when playing online, you’ll find all sorts of different combinations.
- Video slots — Both online and retail casinos offer video slots, which are computerized versions of slots that sometimes mimic reel slots or introduce other novel variations. Video slots usually can offer more paylines than reel slots (as discussed below).
- Multi-line slots — Also called “multiple payline” slots, these are slots that enable players to play many paylines at once, even up to more than 200 paylines on some games. For some slots, the multi-line slots have “fixed” paylines, meaning you can’t alter the number. Others let players choose how many paylines they wish to play, usually up to a maximum number. For example, you can make your bet size $0.05 but play 40 lines at once (giving you 40 ways to win), which means you will be wagering $0.80 on the spin.
- Multiplier slots — Most slots are actually multiplier slots, with the amount you wager automatically multiplying the amount you can win. For example, a winning combination that pays 5x for one coin will pay 10x for two, and so on.
- Buy-your-pay slots — With buy-your-play slots, the size of your bet affects the number of winning combinations. For instance, betting just one coin might yield just one or a few ways to win, but betting five coins will add many more.
- Wild play slots — Slots featuring “wilds” or special symbols that unlock bonuses or trigger multipliers can increase your winnings on a given spin.
- Progressive slots — Slots with progressive jackpots come in different varieties, but all of them offer big payouts that increase every time a player plays without winning the top prize. Sometimes these games connect several slots in a “network” with every game contributing to the jackpot. Once the jackpot is hit and the top prize is won, the jackpot amount resets to its minimum and the process starts again.
How to play free slots online
There are multiple ways you can play slots for free online.
Social and sweepstakes sites with online slots
At many social and sweepstakes sites, slots are the main attraction. Popular social and sweepstakes sites include:
- Pulsz
- Chumba Casino
- LuckyLand Slots
- Funzpoints
- WOW Vegas
Each of these sites features a wide range of slots, with some even offering hundreds of slots titles.
In most cases, these are “in-house” games designed and developed by the sites themselves. That said, there are examples of such sites offering games from popular developers. Pulsz, for example, features a selection of NetEnt games like Starburst, Divine Fortune, Gonzo’s Quest, and others.
Social and sweepstakes sites use virtual currencies for their games but, in some cases, do offer opportunities to redeem winnings for real cash prizes.
Demo versions on real money sites
Demo versions of slots at real money online casinos provide another way to enjoy popular slots online. Several sites offer demo versions of their games even if you don’t sign up for an account. These games play exactly like their real money counterparts, only they use play money.
Caesars Casino, DraftKings Casino, Golden Nugget Casino, Hard Rock Casino, and Unibet Casino all offer demo versions of their real money slots. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with game features without risking any money.
Free slots on mobile apps
Be sure to look as well for free slots on mobile apps. Retail casinos often invite guests to play slots on such social casino apps. You can also find apps featuring specific slots from different developers. These apps generally are available for both Apple and Android devices.
Slots Today FAQs
If you are playing online slots on a legal site that has been licensed and regulated for your current jurisdiction, you can rest assured that the game is fair.
In states with legal online casinos, the sites must be regularly audited to ensure the integrity and fairness of all the games. After many losing spins players may be tempted to complain that a slot is “rigged,” but if the site is legal and licensed, this won’t be the case.
Yes, some slots do have higher RTP (return to player) percentages than others. This means players enjoy a higher theoretical, long-term return on those games than on some others.
For instance, if the slot has a 96% RTP, that means players average winning $96 for every $100 they wager on it. That doesn’t mean you will always win that amount, but over the long term, the game will pay out that amount on average. That also means a 96% RTP slot generally pays out more than, say, a slot with a 92% RTP. But again, keep in mind these are only long-term averages.
Progressive jackpot slots often yield the largest one-time payouts a casino offers, including sometimes featuring seven-figure jackpots (or larger) for just a single lucky spin.
That said, the biggest jackpots are often very hard to win. This makes some players prefer the regular non-jackpot slots, which usually have higher RTP percentages than the progressives. Your preference will likely depend on how you like to gamble and what features and styles you enjoy.
This idea that slot machines get “hot” or “cold” is mostly a myth. When you play slots, the games pay off on a strictly random basis. There really is no way to tell when that will happen.
For online slots, the games employ a random number generator to ensure this randomness. Some might argue you’re more likely to win at online slots during the morning hours or late at night. But there’s no concrete evidence to back up such claims.
Again, when you play slots you are definitely gambling. There is truly no skill or strategy involved, and the outcomes are wholly subject to chance. That said, you can learn more about different slots’ RTP percentages and/or progressive jackpots as you judge whether to play them.
You should also always practice responsible gambling and never wager money at slots you cannot afford to lose. Being smart and informed when playing slots can help ensure your play remains enjoyable and does not become problematic for you or those who care about you.