If you like slots then chances are you will enjoy playing them for real money at an online casino site. In fact, many of the most popular casino games that people love to play in person are also available on the Internet.
Best Game Show Slots – Top Game Show Slots for 2023We have a complete list of top-rated slot sites if you want more options and if you already know which game you would like to play, scroll down and pick one from our list of recommended real money slot machines. However, if you are new to online casinos or are looking for some additional information about how to get started playing real money slots, please continue reading.
To help you get started we have put together this complete guide to playing real money slots online. Here you will find everything you need to know about these fun and exciting casino games including how to pick a great online casino, what types of bonuses are available, how to maximize your time and most importantly, how to win money while having fun playing your favorite slot machine variants. We have even included our list of the ten best real money slots available right now as well as a few strategic tips to improve your odds of winning big jackpots without cheating. Let’s start with the basics.
How to Pick a Great Site to Play Real Money Slot Games
The first step to playing real money slots online involves picking a great site to play on. There are hundreds of different online casino sites but not all offer the same level of quality. As such, it is very important that you take the time to make sure any site you sign up with is both reputable and safe to use. Here are four easy steps to follow when choosing where to play.
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Check Licenses and Certificates: The easiest way to ensure an online casino is trustworthy is to see if it has active licenses from trusted gaming authorities such as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), Gibraltar Gaming Commission (GBC), Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), or Curaçao eGaming. Any site that is licensed is operating within the law and is much less likely to rip customers off. To find a license number, simply look at the bottom of a casino’s homepage. Top sites also prominently display logos for each certification they hold.
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Read Reviews from Other Players: One of the best ways to find out what it is really like to play at a particular online casino is to read reviews left by other players. Since it is impossible to cover every single site, we here at Pokerlistings devote countless hours testing and ranking each one so you don’t have to. Our experts personally create accounts, make deposits, play games, and cash out millions of dollars worth of winnings every year in order to produce the most accurate rankings possible. To speed up the process, you can also search the name of a casino along with the word ‘review’ online to see what others are saying.
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Examine Game Selection: Another simple way to separate the good online casinos from the bad ones is to see which ones are powered by leading software developers. For example DigiCert secure sockets layer (SSL) encryption certificates to ensure player communications are protected. Leading casino software providers include NetEnt, Microgaming, IGT, Playtech, Play’n GO, Quickspin, and Evolution Gaming (for live dealer games.) Furthermore, the best sites offer games with high return-to-player (RTP) rates and big bonus offers. Fortunately we only recommend slots sites that fit this description. Otherwise we wouldn’t rank them highly in the first place.
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Consider Convenience Factors: Last but not least, it’s always a good idea to consider various convenience factors when picking a site. This could mean anything from supporting your preferred payment methods to offering mobile apps that allow you to play anywhere, anytime. Some players may also prefer to play at sites with large communities and lots of bonus offers. It all depends on your own personal tastes. That being said, we generally advise against getting too hung up on small details because most online casinos offer similar services.
Are Real Money Slot Machines Legal and Safe?
As mentioned above, the only way to ensure you don’t fall victim to a scam website is to play at regulated sites. All the slot sites we recommend here on Pokerlistings are fully licensed and regulated and are therefore completely legal and safe to play at. When playing on these sites you can rest assured that your money and personal information is totally secure. Additionally, you will be able to actually collect your winnings should you hit a big jackpot.
There are online slots where real money prizes are not the main focus. These social casino free slots do away with actual currency and instead employ a fake “fun” currency as their form of wagering and prize payouts. While these slots can be fun to play, especially if you don’t want the added pressure of potentially losing money, this guide will focus primarily on legitimate online slots where real money can be won.
Notice for US Players
Playing slots online with real money for US players is slightly different than outside America due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Signed into law by President Bush in 2006, this bill essentially made it illegal for US banks to process transactions related to online gambling.
This forced most reputable online casino operators out of the US market but it didn’t completely outlaw the activity. In fact several states, including New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada have since passed their own laws permitting certain online gambling sites. Thus as long as you stick to licensed sites operated in your state you should be fine.
Unfortunately not all US states offer regulated online gambling at this point in time. For this reason we strongly advise all US players to research local gaming laws before making a deposit at any online casino.
Best Online Casinos in the USA (2023) - Top US Casino SitesWhat Kind of Real Money Online Casino Bonuses Are Available?
One of the most alluring aspects of online casinos is the abundance of bonuses and promotions offered to new and returning players alike. Most sites will give you extra funds or free spins just for signing up while others will reward you with special perks such as exclusive access to new games or invitations to elite VIP clubs.
In truth there are almost too many different kinds of casino bonuses to count but we can go over a few of the most important ones here. No Deposit Bonuses are among the most popular as they tend to be entirely free. Such bonuses are typically awarded to new customers after they sign up for an account and usually come in the form of either a small deposit match or a fixed number of free spins on select slots.
Another common type of welcome bonus is the First/Second/Third/Eighth Deposit Match. This promotion simply means that the casino will instantly add a predetermined amount of extra cash to your account balance the first time you make a deposit (or some other variation thereof.) For example Slots Heaven offers a 100% First Deposit Bonus up to £100, which would double your money if you put £100 of your own cash into your new account.
Reload Bonuses function exactly like deposit matches but are offered to customers who have already had an account for some time. Some reload bonuses are activated whenever a player makes a deposit while others may only apply during special promotional periods or for certain games. Be aware that almost all bonuses, regardless of type, will come with certain conditions known as “wagering requirements.”
betmgm poker njWagering refers to the amount of money you must gamble (and occasionally lose) before being allowed to withdraw bonus funds from your account. For example a 30x wagering requirement meant that you would have to bet 30 times the total of your initial deposit plus bonus before cashing out.
All online casinos set their own wagering limits but 20-40 times the bonus amount seems to be average. Some bonuses have no strings attached while others may never be cleared no matter how much you play. Always check the terms and conditions beforehand so you know exactly how many wagers you will be expected to make.
Finally every casino will offer VIP Rewards or some sort of loyalty program for regular customers. Exactly what constitutes VIP treatment will vary between sites but most will include a mix of special events, exclusive games, personal service from an account manager, fast track support, higher deposit limits, bigger bonuses and better wagering deals. Some programs will even dispense cash back or real money for every game you play.
How to Win at Real Money Slot Machines
Everybody wants to know how to win big prizes on online slot machines. Unfortunately there is no surefire way to consistently beat these games because they are all based on random number generators (RNGs.) Every result is completely independent of the last thanks to sophisticated algorithms embedded deep within the code of each game.
In other words there are no recognizable patterns to learn or hot times of day to play. It’s always just pure luck as to whether the reels will line up in your favor. That being said there are a few things you can do to maximize your time and possibly win more money:
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Pick Games With High RTPs. As previously mentioned, RTP stands for return-to-player and represents the average percentage of all money wagered that will be paid out to players over the long term. For instance a slot with a 97% RTP would return $97 for every $100 wagered. Every game at a regulated slots site must pass multiple quality control checks to ensure its RTP is set within an acceptable range. This means that over time players of that slot should receive roughly the amount of money that the game is programmed to pay out. Even so, there are huge variations from title to title. Some slots are designed to be quite generous while others are stingier still. For this reason it’s a good idea to seek out games with high RTPs and stay away from those with low ratings. You can usually find RTP ratings for most online slots with a quick Google search or by checking a casino’s game catalog.
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Activate All Paylines. It may cost you more per spin to activate all of a slot’s paylines but doing so gives you a better chance to win. This is because paylines serve as win lines, determining whether a combination of symbols appears in the correct order across a game’s reels. Activating fewer paylines reduces your chances of completing a winning combo, but it will also lower the cost of each spin.
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Choose Slots With Multiple X Multiplier Symbols. In the world of slot machines, symbol multipliers can increase the value of winning combinations manyfold. A traditional multiplier is often depicted as a diamond or gemstone with a number in it, such as a 2X, 3X or 5X. This number represents how much the prize for a winning combination will be increased if the multiplier symbol aligns with that win. For example, say you choose a slot game where three cherries aligned horizontally would normally yield a payout of five coins. If a 3X multiplier symbol appeared in that same payline, however, it would triple the cherry prize and pay out 15 coins. Some special symbols can multiply wins exponentially, too. For instance, a 5X multiplier during that cherry win would equate to 25 coins.
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Take Advantage of Free Spin Offers. As the name suggests, free spin bonuses allow you to spin the reels of a slot without spending any more money. Of course, if it were really that simple then every player would only ever play free spins. To make the offer more attractive, all wins earned during a free spin session are typically multiplied by a set number (such as 2X or 3X.) Furthermore, it is possible to retrigger even more free spins while playing a bonus round at no charge to your own account balance. Free spin rounds also give you plenty of opportunities to hit symbol multipliers as well. All told, free spins can be one of the best ways to maximize your slots experience and maybe even win some decent prizes without breaking the bank.
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Use Bonuses Wisely and Clear Them Efficiently. As discussed earlier in this guide, online casinos regularly offer deposit matches, reload bonuses and other promotions to entice new and returning players. By taking advantage of these bonuses, you can significantly decrease the amount of your own money that you need to spend to play your favorite slot games. Furthermore, if you sign up through a site like Pokerlistings, you’ll find the best online casino bonuses available. Simply create an account, make a qualifying deposit and the casino will instantly add bonus money to your account. With these free funds you’ll have even more opportunities to win real money playing slots online. Of course it’s important to keep in mind that you’ll eventually have to clear – or wager – most bonus amounts a certain number of times before being allowed to convert the cash to real money that can be withdrawn. To efficiently earn as much real money as possible when clearing a bonus, we suggest finding titles with high RTPs and activating all available paylines. You’ll stand a better chance to win while clearing the bonus and, assuming you adhere to any other restrictions or validity rules, you’ll get to keep more of the money you win.
Best Real Money Online Slots for iPhone & Android Mobile Devices
In addition to being convenient and accessible, another major benefit to playing real money slots online is that most games are now designed to work on mobile devices. In fact many modern slot machines are built specifically with mobile in mind rather than being adapted from desktop versions like used to be the case. As such, these mobile slot games feature intuitive touch screen interfaces that are a joy to play on smartphones and tablets.
Every slot on our top 10 list can be played on iOS and Android mobile devices but some are clearly better than others. For one, touchscreen devices don’t support rollover buttons so all mobile slots utilize a simple spin button. Additionally most mobile slots have been simplified somewhat in the interest of ease of use.
For example the following eight-inch marvel now regularly hits jackpots worth millions of dollars, there are plenty of solid eight-line options that regularly pay out smaller sums in the six- and five-figure ranges.
If you’d like to dive deeper into mobile casino games, head over to our full page here:
10 Best Real Money Online Slot Machines
Now that you’ve got all the background info you need to play real money slots online safely and responsibly, it’s time to get down to business. Below is a complete list of the top 10 real money slots you can play online right now. Each slot supports big jackpot wins and features exciting gameplay, unique themes and many ways to score big prizes.
Cleopatra
Notive Features:
- 20 paylines
- 95.1% RTP
- Minimum Bet: $0.01
- Maximum Bet: $200
- Free Spins Bonus Round
- Multipliers / Extra Wilds
Based on the Egyptian queen famous for her seductive wiles, Cleopatra is a five-reel slot from IGT that remains a casino favorite more than a decade after its release. Its “dual respun” free spin feature gives players 15 extra chances to win while multiplying all prizes by two.
Mega Fortune
Notable Features:
- 25 paylines
- 96.60% RTP
- Minimum Bet: $0.25
- Maximum Bet: $50
- Progressive Jackpot
- Free Spins Bonus Round
- Multipliers / Extra Wilds
This glitzy, diamond-encrusted slot from NetEnt features a plethora of luxury yachts, champagne, stacks of cash and, of course, mega fortune for those lucky enough to hit the progressive jackpot. It also has a nifty innovative feature that expands wild symbols to fill the entire reel. Mega Fortune is widely considered one of the best online slots ever created and routinely awards multimillion-dollar prizes to players.
Irish Luck
Notable Features:
- 20 paylines
- 95% RTP
- Minimum Bet: $0.20
- Maximum Bet: $200
- Free Spins Bonus Round
- Multipliers / Extra Wilds
Who doesn’t love a leprechaun? Whether it’s Brian from Family Guy or that mischievous little guy from Leprechaun Hills, these tiny irritants somehow always lead to pots of gold. Perhaps that’s why NextGen’s Irish Luck slot remains a player favorite with its 20 lines, free spin bonuses and up to 10x stake winners.
Tomb Raider - Secret of the Sword
Notable Features:
Michigan Online Gambling Update - New Sites & Apps- 30 paylines
- 95% RTP
- Minimum Bet: $0.30
- Maximum Bet: $300
- Free Spins Bonus Round
- Multipliers / Extra Wilds
Lara Croft may be pushing 20 years old but her slot counterpart is going stronger than ever. Based on the classic video game, Tomb Raider - Secret of the Swords features all the trademark elements fans have come to expect such as motorcycles, tigers, idols, daggers and the lovely Ms. Croft herself. Of course there are also plenty of opportunities to win big prizes with 30 selectable paylines, a bonus wheel, free spins and up to 3x prize multipliers.
Starburst
Notable Features:
- 10 paylines
- 96.10% RTP
- Minimum Bet: $0.10
- Maximum Bet: $200
- Expanding Wilds
- Re-Spins
Starburst is among the most popular online slots of all time, and for good reason. This beautiful space-themed game from NetEnt features five reels, three rows and 10 paylines. It also boasts split wilds that expand to fill entire reels and trigger a free re-spin in either direction. Simple yet elegant, Starburst remains a go-to choice for countless slot lovers around the globe.
Gonzo’s Quest
Notable Features:
- Cascade winning mechanism
- 95.97% RTP
- Minimum Bet: $0.20
- Maximum Bet: $200
- Cascades / Multipliers
Contrasted with the static nature of traditional slots is Gonzo’s Quest, an adventurous NetEnt slot where lines win in all directions and successive wins stack additional cascades that can reach absurd heights. Add in azek Aztec ruins, lush jungle foliage and the titular character Gonzalo Pizzaro and it’s easy to understand why this slot is so beloved.
Ways To Tell If You're Really Playing Online PokerGladiator
Notable Features:
- 40 paylines
- 95.98% RTP
- Minimum Bet: $0.40
- Maximum Bet: $200
- Free Spins Bonus Round
- Multipliers / Extra Wilds
Speaking of classics, Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning film Gladiator starring Russell Crowe was one of the greatest epics of all time. It only makes sense that a slot would be created to commemorate the action. Complete with armor-clad warriors, lions, swords, helmets and the late Caesar himself, this PlayTech creation certainly looks the part. Beyond its stunning visuals, Gladiator also rewards players with free spins and up to 3x multipliers to win big prizes.
Jack Hammer II
Notable Features:
- 97.07% RTP
- 20 paylines
- Minimum Bet: $0.20
- Maximum Bet: $200
- Free Spins Bonus Round
- Sticky Wins
- Multipliers
While it might seem like a cash grab to milk two slots from the same source material, Jack Hammer II is different enough from the original to stand on its own. Featuring a continuation of the comic book storyline with new artwork, this NetEnt creation also boasts the innovative “Sticky Win” mechanism that keeps matching sequences in view across all free spins.
Raging Rhino
Notable Features:
- 60 paylines
- 95.91% RTP
- Minimum Bet: $0.40
- Maximum Bet: $600
- Super Re-Spin / Free Spins
- Multipliers / Extra Wilds
Safari fans have plenty to cheer about with this 60-line beast from Safari Line developer WMS Industries (now a subsidiary of Barcrest, which itself has been purchased by Scientific Games.) Featuring lions, gorillas, rhinoceroses, diamonds and orange-colored sunsets, this slot has plenty of ways to win with six total reels, super re-spins, free spins and up to 5x multipliers.
e-games casino onlineBlood Suckers
Notable Features:
- 25 paylines
- 98% RTP
- Minimum Bet: $0.25
- Maximum Bet: $50
- Free Spins Bonus Round
- Multipliers / Extra Wilds
- Monster Hunt Bonus Game
It’s Aliens meets Ghostbusters in this creepy yet fun NetEnt game where players become vampire hunters. With 25 lines, free spins, up to 3x multipliers, wilds, scatters and a monster hunt bonus round, Blood Suckers is definitely one of the most entertaining slots available. Oh, and did we mention it has a whopping 98% RTP? That basically means you should win once every time you fire this one up.
How to Play Free Online Slots
If free real money slots sound too good to be true, that’s because the concept was banned by the US Government in 2006 thanks to the Unlawful Internet Enforcement Act (UIGEA.) At least that was the case for American players until state-regulated online gaming markets began opening in New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada.
Now residents of those states, as well as anyone physically located within those borders, can enjoy free and real money slots online from the comfort of home. Residents of other states may also find that they can access free slots or casinos that accept real money wagers. Just be advised that if you try to play for cash without meeting a site’s geofencing requirements, you’ll likely be locked out after entering the room.
With all that being said, it’s still possible to at least play free slots for cash, otherwise known as . Nearly every online casino offers demo or practice versions of select games that let you play with virtual chips. This allows you to familiarize yourself with a slot’s layout, features and pay tables before risking any of your own cash. Naturally you’ll also be able to tell instantly if you enjoy the theme and gameplay. Best of all, free play credits your account with an ample starting balance so you could theoretically play forever. Of course actual prize value of in-game wins will be greatly reduced so it’s unlikely you’ll hit the jackpot in free play mode.
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Where Can I Play Real Money Slots Online?
There are dozens of safe and reputable online casinos that offer high-quality slot machines with big prizes. For our detailed guide check out our dedicated online slots page here:
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How Do I Know if an Online Slot Machine Is Going to Hit?
Short answer: You don’t. All rely on random number generator (RNG) technology to produce independently deciding results. Each new spin is a new and equal chance to win.
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What Percentage Payouts Should I Look For?
Ideally you’ll want to choose slot machines with high returns to player (RTP.) This ratio expresses how much of all money wagered a game will eventually pay out over the long run. For example, an slot with a 97% RTP would return $97 for every $100 wagered. Generally speaking you’ll want to pick games with ratios of 95% or better to give yourself the best opportunity to win some money back.
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Will I Get Bored Playing Slots Online?
Possibly. It really depends on the individual game. Some slots, particularly older titles, don’t offer a lot of variety or excitement beyond spinning the reels and hoping to hit a combination of symbols. Newer games often feature bonus rounds, free spins, cascading wins, sticky symbols and other innovations that can add depth and entertainment value to the core spinning mechanic.
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Am I Going to Lose All My Money Playing Slots?
Hopefully not, but it is possible. As noted above, all online slot machines use random number generator (RNG) tech to produce independently deciding spins. This ensures every result is a game. It’s also important to note that slots are by far the , so your odds of winning will generally be better with slots than with games like roulette, baccarat or craps. Plus, playing on sites that are properly licensed and regulated will give you added assurance that you’re dealing with a fair and honest operator.
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How Do I Know if a Slot Machine Is Hot?
You don’t. The truth is that nobody can predict when a slot machine will hit because every result is produced independently and randomly. So-called “hot” tables are just streaks of luck, much like rolling five consecutive tail waves goodbye to your folding money at a craps table.
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Do Casinos Have Slots That Never Hit?
No. As explained above, all use random number generator (RNG) technology to ensure every result is a random event. This means there is no pattern to follow and no guarantee a particular slot machine will hit or not hit.
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What Does it Mean When a Slot is Lab Certified?
It means an independent testing agency has audited the game’s random number generator (RNG) to verify it produces results in a truly random and unbiased manner. Basically lab certifications prove a slot will operate according to the published payback percentage (or return-to-player rating) (RTP). Popular testing agencies include eCOGRA, Technical Systems Testing (TST), GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) and iTech Labs.
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How Many Ways to Win Are in a 243 Ways Slot?
A 243 ways to win slot literally offers 243 different ways to win on every spin. Instead of requiring players to hit matching symbols in specific positions on defined paylines, any three or more matching symbols aligned from left to right on adjacent reels will trigger a win. This includes symbols appearing on reels adjacent to those with a non-matching symbol. As such, it’s obviously easier to win with 243 ways than a standard 10 or 20 payline slot.
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How Do Free Spins Work?
Free spin bonuses award players a predetermined number of complimentary turns with free money-in-hand to wager on an online slot machine. Wins during this time require no bet per se, as the cost of the spin was deducted from your previous balance. This means all the money your winnings generate on free spins are pure profit. Keep in mind that free spin bonuses often come with win multipliers that increase the value of each prize by a set amount (such as 2X or 3X.)
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What Is a Stacked Wild?
A stacked wild is simply a bonus symbol or feature that can appear on certain slots. Stacked wilds increase the likelihood to win by automatically substituting themselves for any other symbol (with the exception of scatter coins) to create the highest possible paying combination on active paylines. If if a batch of stacked wilds happen to align on the same spin, it can generate a big win all on its own. Sometimes stacked wilds will expand to cover the entire reel(s) they appear in, effectively giving players multiple chances to win on the next spin.
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What Is a Cascade?
Also referred to as tumbling reels, cascades, collapsing wins or falling wins, this feature causes all symbols in winning combinations to explode and disappear from the play area. The empty space left behind is then filled with new symbols falling in from above to fill the vacancy. This process continues as long as new winning combinations are created. Some cascade mechanisms also feature sticky wins, where successful matches hold steady while additional symbols stack up around them.
