Welcome to our guide to playing slots online for real money. If you’re a fan of slot games and want to experience the thrill of potentially winning big while playing for real money, you’ve come to the right place. This page features the best real money slots available at online casinos, as well as tips and strategies to help you maximize your chances of winning. We’ve evaluated the top slots based on bonus features, graphics, gameplay, and return to player, so you can be confident that you’re playing the best games with the highest payouts.
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Gambling is for entertainment purposes only. Stay safe and ensure success when you gamble responsibly. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for confidential support. Visit SAMHSA’s National Helpline website for resources that include a treatment center locator, anonymous chat, and more.
Tips for Real Money Online Slots
Making a decision on which real money slot you should play consists of quite a few different categories. It’s absolutely worth educating yourself about the tips below so you can maximize your success while spinning your favorite slots.
Bonus Features
Take a look at the additional features each game offers in addition to base game spins. For example, slots that feature a variety of bonuses, such as free spins, jackpots, and scatters, have the potential to offer larger payouts and more entertaining gameplay.
Affordability
While there are some players looking for high-limit real money slots, there are many more looking for games that allow them to stretch their bankroll. Slots with lower minimum bets give players of all levels more chances to trigger wins and bonus features.
Minimum and Maximum Bets
Before you even start spinning, you should ensure that the slot you’re looking to play offers minimum and maximum bets that satisfy you and keep you comfortable. If you’re a new player, look for low minimums until you get the hang of things, and if you’re a high-roller, look for games that offer wagers that suit your play style.
Return-to-Player
This category is important in your ranking process. Return-to-player (RTP), as mentioned just below in our full guide, is theoretical math that gives an idea of how much you can expect to win after extended play. For example, a slot with 96% RTP means that you can expect to end up with $96 for every $100 wagered. Of course, bonus features and the random nature of slots can greatly alter this number in either direction (and that’s where the excitement of slots play comes from). If you’d like to learn more, you can read our full guide to Return To Player (RTP).
Volatility
This is a very subjective consideration, but you should still take it into account because it can help you narrow down your choices. Volatility is a measure of win sizes vs. frequency. For example, a low volatility slot will generally pay more frequently, but the wins will be smaller. On the other hand, a high volatility slot will pay less frequently, but the wins will be larger. There are also more balanced slots that feature medium volatility and everything in between. Read our guide to slot volatility.
Random Number Generation
One of our most important tips is to be aware that slots at real-money online casinos utilize random number generators to determine outcomes. In other words, no spin is contingent on or affected by another, and there are no “hot” or “cold” slots beyond the theoretical math that supports them.
Avoid Gambler’s Fallacy
Considering the previous point, you should know by now how to avoid the gambler’s fallacy. As briefly mentioned, always keep in mind that no spin is contingent upon the last, and every spin is random and independent of any other. Avoid gambler’s fallacies, such as thinking that one spin was “close to a big win,” so the next one will be a winner. Another example of a gambler’s fallacy would be the false idea that you’re due for a win after many losing spins in a row.
Player Popularity
The popularity of a slot is a good, albeit subjective, measure of how well-liked it is. Slots that are extremely popular in both land-based and online spaces will generally go higher on our ranking list, as we know they’ve garnered their popularity for a good reason. For some people, it can come down to a slot theme.
Availability
Last but not least, we look at availability. After all, what’s the point of a highly-ranked slot if there’s nowhere to play it? Our top-ranked slots should be easy to find and easy to get started playing.
Play Responsibly
You should always practice responsible gambling when playing at real-money online casinos, and that includes spinning slots. Never bet above your means, always stay within your comfort zone, and take advantage of RG tools such as deposit, wager, and time limits.
Best Online Slots for Real Money
If you’re interested in playing online slot games for real money, it’s important to find a slot with a good Return to Player (RTP) and payout percentage that helps increase your winnings. We’ve curated a list of the best online slots at online casinos with the best payout, offering various themes and features, including progressive jackpots, high payout slots, and more. Before we get into the details, we’ve also included a quick snapshot table below that lists the number of reels and paylines for each.
| Slot | Reels | Paylines |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel of Fortune | 5 | 720 |
| Starburst | 5 | 10 (Both Ways) |
| Divine Fortune | 5 | 20 |
| 88 Fortunes | 5 | 243 |
| Cleopatra | 5 | 20 |
| Bonanza | 6 | Up to 117,643 |
| Buffalo | 5 | 243 |
Play at BetMGM Casino
Wheel of Fortune Slot
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Wheel of Fortune Slot is an IGT-developed 5-reel themed slot based on the long-running TV game show of the same name. The medium-volatility, all-ways-pays slot can offer huge payouts and provides exciting bonus rounds where players can progress to higher payout levels. The minimum bet is $1.00, and the maximum bet is $500.
Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme Spin features two main bonus rounds – a Mini-Wheel Bonus and a Triple Extreme Bonus. The Mini-Wheel Bonus is triggered by three or more scatter symbols and can multiply your stake by 50x to 3,850x for major win potential. The Triple Extreme Bonus is triggered by three or more bonus symbols and involves choosing twelve different envelopes to reveal your bonus. As you can see from the bonus rounds, this slot is an easy favorite for players who enjoy games that enjoy wheel spin bonuses.
What we like about Wheel of Fortune Slot:
- 720 ways to win
- 94% – 96.6% RTP
- Triple Extreme Bonus (triggered by three or more bonus symbols in any position)
Play at FanDuel Casino
Starburst
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Starburst is a low-volatility 5-reel created by NetEnt that has been wildly popular with slots fans since its release in 2012. While it lacks bonus rounds and a progressive jackpot, it makes up for it by allowing players to win two ways – connecting three or more symbols on the left or right. The minimum bet is $0.01, and the maximum bet is $200.
Players who favor modern video slots without being overwhelmed by a plethora of features will enjoy Starburst. The low volatility creates excitement on every spin, as wins come frequently.
What we like about Starburst:
- 10 paylines
- 96.1% RTP
- Win two ways
Play at BetRivers Casino
Divine Fortune
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Divine Fortune is a Greek mythology-based 5-reel slot developed by NetEnt Software and plays host to bonus features, wild symbols, and free spins on top of its famous progressive jackpot. The minimum bet is $0.20, and the maximum bet is $100, which makes it an excellent choice for low-stakes and high-roller casino players alike.
Of course, the biggest draw for Divine Fortune is its large progressive jackpot. Aside from that, however, it also features falling wild re-spins and free spins with expanding wilds. It’s remarkable and uncommon that a game that already offers such a large progressive jackpot also offers multiple other bonus features that give players even greater win potential.
What we like about Divine Fortune:
- 20 paylines
- 96.6% RTP
- Progressive Jackpot (triggered by a bonus round activated with 3+ gold coin jackpot bonus symbols)
Play at Golden Nugget
88 Fortunes
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88 Fortunes is one of the most popular five-reel slots across the US, with 243 chances to win with every spin. The minimum wager is $0.08, and the maximum is $88. A maximum wager could pay as high as $200,000, making it an appealing option for players looking for big win potential.
88 Fortunes is a well-known name to fans of Asian-themed slots, and that notoriety can partially be attributed to its beautiful theming and high base game win potential. However, it’s also worth noting that 88 Fortunes offers other exciting bonus features, including free games with re-triggers and the Fu Bat Jackpot feature, which gives players a chance at one of four jackpots.
What we like about 88 Fortunes:
- 243 variations to win
- 96% RTP
- Fu Bat Jackpot (triggered by one or more Fu Bat symbols)
Play at DraftKings Casino
Cleopatra Slot
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The Cleopatra slot is a medium-volatility 5-reel slot game developed by IGT and released in 2005. The ancient Egyptian-themed slot has one bonus option that can lead to free spin opportunities. Cleopatra bets range from $0.01 to $200 and can be played at almost every online casino.
Most online casino players will recognize the Cleopatra name, as it has long been among the most well-known online slot classics. And, as mentioned earlier, it offers free spins for players to create even more win potential.
What we like about Cleopatra Slot:
- 20 paylines
- 95.02% RTP
- Free spins bonus feature (triggered by 3+ Sphinx scatter symbols)
Play at Caesars Palace Online Casino
Bonanza Slot
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Bonanza is a popular slot that comes up frequently, and for good reason. Aside from offering up to 117,649 ways to win via its fan-favorite Megaways feature, it also features cascading reels and free spins. Players enjoy a wide range of denominations, from a $0.20 minimum bet to a $80 maximum, as well as the aforementioned features.
One of the more unique points in Bonanza is that “cascading” symbols during the win reaction feature may also come from the right in mine carts rather than always coming from above. The free spins bonus round features re-triggers (three scatters for five extra spins, four scatters for ten extra spins), and spins begin at 34,300 Megaways and build from there.
What we like about Bonanza Slot:
- 117,649 Ways to Win
- 96% RTP
- Cascading Reels
Play at Fanatics Casino
Buffalo Slot
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Buffalo is a name that land-based players would absolutely expect to see on the list of the best real money slots. However, it’s a relatively new offering for online players. Despite its recent release by Aristocrat Gaming, it has already grown in popularity as it has over the years at land-based casinos. It features free spins, wilds, scatters, and more, allowing players great win potential on every spin. Due to its high volatility, wins may come infrequently but are generally large when they do hit.
What we like about Buffalo Slot:
- Land-Based Classic
- 94.72% RTP
- Free Spins
Types of Real Money Online Slots
Overview
When looking for the best online slots for real money, your options are vast. Sometimes figuring what you like means starting with the basics and choosing the actual type of slot you’d like to play. There are many varieties of real money slots such as the below.
Classic Slots
Classic slots are three-reel slot games that offer a more straightforward and simple gameplay experience. They are typically low to medium-volatility games and offer a nostalgic appeal for some players.
Video Slots
These are the most common types of slots you’ll find at online casinos. They are generally 5-reel, although that may differ, but they feature intricate theming and graphics as well as more advanced bonus features. Video slots can be high or low volatility and come in various themes.
5-Reel Slots
5-reel slots are exactly as you’d expect — slots that have five reels. These generally give players more slots paylines and features than traditional three-reel slots, which we’ll cover in the next section below.
Stepper Slots (also known as Three-Reel Slots)
Also known as steppers, these slots are based on classic three-reel mechanical slots you’d find at land-based casinos. While much simpler than video slots, they still offer multiple ways to win, and some do offer bonus features such as free spins. Stepper slots usually only consist of a few paylines, as opposed to video slots which can feature hundreds or thousands. However, because they’re only three reels, you’re more likely to hit on a payline.
Fixed Jackpot Slots
Jackpot slots are actually made up of two categories — progressive jackpots and fixed jackpots. Fixed jackpot slots feature one or more jackpots that are based on your wager amount. The higher your total bet, the higher the jackpot. While progressives are generally responsible for the biggest slot wins online, fixed jackpots can trigger life-changing payouts.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
Progressive jackpot slots have an ever-growing jackpot that builds as more people spin. Progressives can get up to extremely high numbers, often reaching over $1,000,000. They begin with a “seed,” or minimum amount contributed by the online casino itself. Depending on the slot itself and the configuration, this seed can start relatively low or extremely high.
MEGAWAYS Slots
MEGAWAYS slots are video slots, but they differ in that they offer up to 117,649 ways to win. That’s a much larger amount of paylines than the typical video slot, which makes this option appealing for many. They are typically high volatility games, making them suitable for players who are willing to take risks.
Branded Slots
Branded slots are online slots that are based on popular movies, TV shows, or musicians. They are usually video slots that offer various features and bonus rounds and come in different volatility levels.
Slingo Slots
Slingo slots are a newer entry into the online casino world, and they operate almost like a bingo board. They are also considered video slots, but they don’t operate like a traditional slot. Players spin to reveal numbers which then get marked off on a 5×5 grid. The more slingos a player lands, the more they can win. Slingo slots are usually medium to high volatility games, depending on the specific game.
There are many other smaller types of online slots, but when looking for a new favorite, these are the basics that you need to know.
Best Casinos With Real Money Slots
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| Caesars Palace Online Casino | 800+ | Play Now |
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| Fanatics Casino | 540+ | Play Now |
| Golden Nugget Casino | 1,400+ | Play Now |
Caesars Palace Online Casino
While Caesars Palace Online Casino doesn’t have the largest slot catalog, it also doesn’t have the smallest. In the grand scheme of things, over 800 slots are more than enough to ensure that no player will ever get bored or be unable to find a game they enjoy. Plus, playing slots at Caesars Palace Online Casino earns players rewards towards the excellent Caesars Rewards program.
BetMGM Casino
If you’re looking for a truly massive slot catalog that also happens to play host to the largest progressive jackpots online, look no further than BetMGM Casino. The depth and variety of this catalog is truly unmatched, and as mentioned, it includes games that are part of “The Big One” jackpot network, which continues to break its own records for the largest online progressive jackpot wins.
DraftKings Casino
The name of the game at DraftKings Casino is exclusives. In fact, DraftKings Casino has more exclusive slots (and other games) than any other casino on this list. So, if you’re looking for unique experiences that you can’t find elsewhere, DraftKings is a great landing spot for you. Beyond that, it goes without mentioning that players will never find themselves short of options with such an impressively large catalog.
BetRivers Casino
BetRivers Casino is a great choice for players looking for a large slot catalog and social aspects that allow them to feel part of a community, such as the King Cash Community Chat and frequent interactive tournaments. While BetRivers doesn’t take first place for the largest slot selection, it does feature a community feel that you won’t find elsewhere on our list of the best real money slots online casinos.
FanDuel Casino
A name that needs no introduction, FanDuel Casino is a well-known option for casino players and sports bettors alike. The large slot selection integrates perfectly with a platform perhaps best known for sports betting, so players who are fans of both will find themselves happy here. In addition, promotions such as the Daily Reward Machine add another level of depth to one of the best real money slot casinos available.
Fanatics Casino
Fanatics is one of the newcomers to the online casino world, so the game catalog isn’t as large as some of the other options here. Where it does excel, however, is the variety it presents. Players will find plenty of options here including progressive jackpot slots, Megaways, Slingo, and more. Fanatics Casino is currently only available via mobile app, so all effort goes into making it a convenient and intuitive on-the-go experience.
Golden Nugget Casino
Golden Nugget Casino has long been well-regarded in the real money slots department, and its only added to its catalog over time. Players here will find just about every game they want, in addition to DraftKings exclusives thanks to the platform partnership and more. And, there are tons of categories for players to find new favorites browsing.
Highest Paying Online Slots
It can be beneficial to play real money slots that offer the best RTP. If you’re not familiar with the term, RTP, or return-to-player, is a percentage that is established via theoretical math that gives players a general idea of what they can expect to earn from a particular slot. For example, if a slot is 98% RTP, players can theoretically expect to get $98 back for every $100 wagered. Of course, this amount varies greatly due to the random nature of slots, but it’s a good starting point for understanding which slots offer the potential to be the highest-paying options. Below, we’ve created a table of some of the highest RTP options available at online casinos today.
Slot Machine RTP Slot Type Max Payout
1. Mega Joker 99% (varies based on wager) Five reel slot $40,000
2. Basketball Star 98.7% Five reel slot $120,000
3. White Rabbit Megaways 97.24% Five reel slot $348,400
4. Big Spinner Slot 97.1% Three reel slot $500,000
How to Play Online Slots That Pay Real Money
Signing up and getting started with an casino is easy and is your first step on your journey to play slots for real money. Here’s a quick guide to get you started:
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Choose Where to Play
Choose your preferred online casino. You can download the app or visit the desktop site.
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Get Registered
Click ‘register,” “sign up,” or similar to get started. Follow the prompts and enter your personal info as requested. Be prepared to upload a picture of your photo ID and provide the last four digits of your social security number to confirm your identity.
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Claim Your Bonus
If prompted, enter a bonus code. Check out our online casino bonuses, all of which are great options for slot players. Once that’s done, unless you claimed one of our no deposit bonus codes, you’ll need to make a deposit to play the games for real money. Check out $5 minimum deposit casinos for the most budget-friendly options. Keep in mind that the method you choose to deposit with here (PayPal, ACH/eCheck, etc.) will likely also have to be used as your withdrawal method.
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Choose a Slot
Choose a slot to play. If you get free spins on a certain slot as a bonus, that’s a good place to start. If not, pick a slot included in the eligible games of any other welcome bonus you’ve claimed. And, if you aren’t currently working on a bonus, we recommend the slots on this page and other high-RTP slots. Once the slot game loads, start spinning the reels and hope for a win!
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Withdraw Your Winnings
If you win, meet any bonus playthrough requirements, and want to withdraw, head to the cashier section and cash out. This process is made all the more enjoyable at an instant cashout casino. Remember from our deposit step that you’ll have to use a withdrawal method you previously used to deposit for security purposes. Common options include PayPal, ACH/eCheck, and online bank transfers.
Popular Online Slot Software Providers
The top studios in the slots world make games for brick-and-mortar and online casinos. More often than not, players can find the same game at both outlets. Here are some of the biggest slot machine manufacturers and studios that release the most popular titles.
| Slot Studio | Description |
|---|---|
| Light & Wonder | Formerly Scientific Games, Light & Wonder is a collection of some of the most popular game studios from both the land-based and online casino worlds. These partner studios include Big Time Gaming, Evolution, Lightning Box, and more. Mostly focused on slots, the Light & Wonder catalog includes popular options such as Ultimate Fire Link, Duo Fu Duo Cai, and much more. |
| IGT | Perhaps one of the best-known game studios for both land-based and online casino players, IGT has created countless slots and table games. These offerings also happen to feature some of the most recognizable names in casino gaming, including Cleopatra, Raging Rhino, and more. |
| Play’n GO | Focused exclusively on online slots, Play’n GO offers a wide variety of slots with themes ranging from Ancient Egypt to sci-fi and everything in between. Perhaps one of the best-known offerings to come out of this game studio is the “100” slot series, including player favorites such as Viking Runecraft 100 and more. |
| NetEnt | Known for well-designed, visually appealing games, NetEnt is another game studio that can be found across almost all real money online casinos. Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Divine Fortune, and more popular titles shape this studio’s impressive catalog. |
| Aristocrat/Anaxi | Land-based casino players may find themselves familiar with Aristocrat, which is known for ever-popular offerings, including the iconic Buffalo slot. More recently, Anaxi has begun to introduce these land-based games to the online world, serving as Aristocrat’s online gaming division. Those unfamiliar should know one thing: this is great news for the online casino world. |
| Pragmatic | Pragmatic Play is a game studio focused primarily on online slots for the sweepstakes casino world—until recently. Now, players can expect to find more and more Pragmatic Play offerings at real money online casinos. Aside from slots, the studio offers live casino, bingo, and more. |
| Bally Slots | Bally is an iconic land-based casino game studio name, perhaps best known for its Quick Hit slots, although the name can be found scattered throughout US casino floors. Beginning as a pinball company in the 1930s, Bally is a trusted name throughout the casino industry. |
| High 5 | Fans of fantasy-themed slots should know the High 5 game studio name well from games like Pixies of the Forest, Golden Goddess, Shadow of the Panther, and more. These popular games can be found throughout the real money online casino world. |
| WMS | Now residing under the Light & Wonder game studio umbrella, WMS (a.k.a. Williams Interactive) serves up some of the best-known games in the industry. Its catalog includes classics such as Bier Haus and modern favorites such as MEGAWAYS games. |
| Konami | Famous for its contributions to the Japanese (and then international) video game industry, Konami also serves up excellent slot offerings as an iGaming game studio. Perhaps unsurprisingly, its game catalog features a heavy focus on Asian-themed slots, some of the most popular at online casinos across the country. |
Components of Real Money Online Slots
Many components should be considered when looking at real money online slots. Everything comes together to create a slot-spinning experience – the symbols, the bonus rounds, the features, the mechanics, and so much more. Below, we’ll give you the information you need to know about both bonus rounds and symbols, which are perhaps two of the most important slot components that you should know about.
Real Money Slot Bonus Rounds
Bonus rounds aren’t the most common experience when spinning slots, but they are the component that most players strive for and will remember. Real money slot bonus rounds vary drastically, but some of the most common include:
- Free Spins: A bonus round that offers additional spins without taking additional funds for wagering. Often, free spins rounds feature bolstered reels with more valuable symbols and additional multiplier and wild symbols. In some cases, free spins can be retriggered by landing more symbols during the round. In other cases, free spin rounds are capped at a specific number of spins.
- Sticky Bonuses: These bonus rounds are often known as links, such as in Lightning Link, or a Hold & Win feature. In these rounds, specific symbols with instant win amounts on them will stick to the reels. Respins will be triggered around them, creating an opportunity to land more instant win symbols. The bonus round ends once the reels are full of symbols or once respins have run out – usually, players start with three respins, and they are reset every time a new sticky symbol lands. Instant win prizes on these symbols can range from the smallest wager all the way up to grand jackpot amounts.
- Item Selection: These bonus rounds involve players picking certain items, such as envelopes, to reveal instant win amounts. The round usually continues until symbols to stop it are uncovered or until all of the items have been selected.
- Wheel Spins: Some games, such as the Wheel of Fortune slots, feature wheel spin bonus rounds that may award the player with instant win amounts, multipliers, free spins, and more.
- Other Bonus Rounds: Of course, slot providers are constantly innovating, and new and unique bonus rounds, or fusions and unique takes on existing bonus round types, are always popping up. The best way to familiarize yourself with all of the bonus rounds available is to demo as many slots as possible and find your favorites before you spend any real money.
Real Money Slot Symbols
There are plenty of real money slot bonus rounds, but slot symbols are a bit more straightforward. There are the base symbols, which are plain symbols that aren’t wild, scatters, or of high value. These symbols combine on paylines to multiply your wager by a certain amount, usually small, and do not trigger any other special features. These are obviously the most common symbols you’ll come across and are often represented on slots by numbers or generic fruit symbols.
Beyond that, you’ll find higher-value symbols that can provide higher multipliers. These symbols typically are image-based, rather than simple letters, numbers, or fruit symbols, for example. These offer much larger multipliers than base symbols if they land on paylines and create an opportunity for some of the biggest wins you can rack up in the game.
Last but not least are special symbols such as wilds, scatters, and expanding symbols that grow to fill entire reels. To the left, you’ll find an example of a wild symbol. Wild symbols typically substitute for all symbols other than special symbols, creating an opportunity to win on more paylines. Scatter symbols typically unlock bonus rounds, such as the ones mentioned above, when three or more land anywhere on the reels. Lastly, expanding symbols can grow to fill entire reels and create more winning opportunities by covering more paylines.
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