In Pennsylvania, a market in which DraftKings operates, online slot machine handle topped $1 billion for the first time in May, while table games saw $778.5 million in action, up $150 million from. DraftKings Casino offers a 100% deposit match bonus offer up to $1,500 along with $10 in free site credit. Terms and conditions apply. DraftKings Casino is available in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The New Jersey version of the platform offers more than 200 games, including slots, table games, and video poker. The Ugga Bugga slot machine game has the highest payout percentage, at 99.07%. The second highest is Mega Joker by NetEnt, with a 99% RTP. Jackpot 6000 by NetEnt and Uncharted Seas by Thunderkick.
Even though slots have been around for more than 100 years, they still work the same way today. Technology has only made them better, easier, and more interesting. The machines usually have between three to five reels, which the players spin and wait till it stops to know if they win or not. While the old land-based machines may not have a lot of the modern features like cascading reels, expanding wilds, and bonuses, the basics are still the same. Here are some important features to understand about online slots:
The RNG is one of the major features that differentiate slots at the Internet casinos from land-based machines. RNG is the software in these games that generates a sequence of symbols or numbers randomly. It generates thousands of numbers/ outcomes every second. The software is completely random, and this means it isn’t affected by the previous results. There is no strategy or method with which you can predict the result of the next spin. It cannot be manipulated or influenced by the casino or the player. And this makes the game completely fair.
All casino slot machines have different RTPs/House edges. You need to understand them before you start to play online slots for real money. RTP means return to player, and it is the variable that determines how much you should expect from a slot after a period of playing.
On the flip side, the house edge is the return to the casino. The house edge is the amount the casino expects from the slot over a period. Thus, the house edge of any slot is 100 minus the RTP. Expert players take time to know the RTP of slots, as it is a very important factor.
For instance, let’s say a game has an RTP of 96%, the house edge will be 4%. If you wager $1,000,000 on that game over a period, you will get $960,000 as returns while the casino gets $40,000 as profit.
We made use of a large amount of money in our example because RTP is worked out over a long period. When you start playing, you may get returns of between 30% and 1000%, depending on how lucky you are. But if you play that game for long, your total returns will be close to the RTP.
For this reason, you must choose only slots with the highest RTP. You have better odds of winning or reducing your losses over a period. The industry’s average RTP is 96%, but it is possible to find games with up to 98% or 99%.
The volatility of real cash casino games is another important factor. They could be either low, medium, or high. If it is low, it means the game pays out small wins regularly. Games with high volatility usually give big wins but not often. The medium volatility stands somewhere between high and low. Many players usually go for low volatility slots to stay safe.
If you have a huge bankroll, you can carefully choose a game with high RTP and high variance. These types of games may be rare to find, but you could get a life-changing prize if luck is on your side.
Whether you want to play online slot games for real money or for free, there are many casinos available to you. Some casinos offer hundreds, while some have thousands of these online machines on their sites. In the table below, we have listed some sites where you can play online slots in the USA. All the casinos on our list are reputable; you may only need to find out if they are legal in the state where you reside.
Casinos | Number of slots | Examples |
SugarHouse | 100+ | Irish Riches, Diamond Delight, Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Wild Wild West |
Unibet | 400+ | Starburst, Cleopatra, Divine Fortune, Dead or Alive, Davinci Diamonds |
888Casino | 400+ | Foxin Wins, Monopoly Megaways, Golden 7s, Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest |
Tropicana | 600+ | Cleopatra, Coins of Egypt, Berry Burst, Cool Jewel, Blood Suckers |
Golden Nugget | 700+ | Imperial Ruches, Divine Fortune, Desperados Wild, Extra Chilli, Monopoly |
Virgin Casino | 150+ | 7s Wild, Secrets of the Phoenix, Cleopatra, Cool Jewels, Sapphire Sorceress |
BetMGM | 350+ | Gorilla Go Wild, Mercy of the Gods, Starburst, Jumanji, Thunderstruck |
Betfair | 40+ | Cleopatra, Double Diamond, Golden Goddess, Water Dragons, Kitty Glitter |
Slots are the easiest types of online casino games to play. They require no specific knowledge or tactics. And whether you’re playing for free or real cash, the rules remain the same. Here are the two major steps to take:
You win the game round when the spin ends, and symbols are matched on the reels. Most games pay for matching at least 3 symbols, while some may pay for matching 2 high paying symbols.
Here are some important elements of slot games.
The reels in a slot machine are the vertical positions on the grid while the rows are horizontal. Reels are spun when the game begins, and symbols land on them to create winning combinations.
These are icons in the game, which are usually based on the theme. They appear on the reels, and the pattern in which they combine determines whether the player wins or not. The most popular symbols are the generic card symbols (A, K, Q, J, 10, and 9). Some special symbols which occur frequently are the Scatters and Wilds.
This is another important feature. They determine the number of ways you can win in the game. The games may have as little as 5 paylines or as much as hundreds of paylines. Some games have all their paylines fixed, which means you have to bet on all lines. Other games allow you to choose the number of paylines to bet on.
This is a table that shows the prizes or payouts for combining each symbol on the reels. You can find the paytable when you go to the menu icon on the slot interface.
These are optional parts, but they help to make the game interesting. The special extra features depend on the theme of a particular game. The general ones are free spins and multipliers. These features are usually activated when special symbols are matched. Other popular features include cascading reels: expanding wilds, and gamble bonus.
In the table below, we have selected some games based on the biggest slots jackpots ever paid out.
Slot | RTP | Developer |
Mega Moolah | 88.12% | Microgaming |
Gladiator | 91.50% | Playtech |
Cleopatra | 95.02% | IGT |
GoldFish | 96.00% | SG/WMS |
Lucky Leprechaun | 96.83% | Microgaming |
Buffalo | 94.85% | Aristocrat |
Book of Dead | 96.21% | Play’N Go |
Wheel of Fortune | 94.22% | IGT |
Rainbow Riches | 95.00% | Barcrest |
Avalon | 96.01% | Microgaming |
As we’ve stated before, online casino slot machines work similarly to the land-based machines. They are controlled by RNG, which generates random results exactly like the land-based versions. Many software providers even develop their online slots to look like physical ones in terms of gameplay, sound effects, and visuals.
However, the number of slots available online is far higher than what is available at physical venues. You can have access to thousands of slots on just one casino or different online gambling sites. The online versions are being developed with better graphics and extra features that cannot be found in physical ones. There are also benefits like no deposit bonuses, free spins, etc., which are given at online casinos.
Another significant difference is the environment where you play. Land-based venues provide an extra vibe, and you get to enjoy the feeling of people around you. On the other hand, online slots can be played from homes or any location with PCs and mobile devices. Online games do not give the real casino feel, but they offer more convenience and are easier to access at any time.
In addition, you can decide to play online for free or real cash. This allows you to try out the games and only wager with real money if you like it. But when you play for free, there are no chances of winning money. Land-based venues will not allow you to try out the game for free.
Playing at online casinos can be interesting, especially when you choose slot machines with the highest payout percentage. The first thing you need to do is choose a casino that offers you safety and security. Then, consider the RTP and variance to increase your chances of winning.
Overall, always remember that slots are games of chance. Thus, you should manage your budget efficiently and do not wager more than you are ready to lose.