Pop into any online casino, and you will likely find that the most popular slot games are video slots. Moreover, they make up the most extensive array of casino games at each site.
Playing the best online slots is one of the easiest experiences you can have when betting. Look for the best online casino bonus offers to help you get started.
If you are not quite sure about how to go about playing these games, but nonetheless want to learn how to play video slots, this is the guide for you. Let us walk you through the most played casino games on the net.
- 1How did we get here? – A brief history of video slots
- 2Things to look for in the top online casinos offering video slots
- 3The basics of video slot gameplay
- 4Top video slot bonuses you can expect to see
- 5Top tips for playing (and maybe winning) on video slots
- 6Classic slots vs. video slots – The analysis
- 7Get started with the 10 most popular video slots of all time
- 85 new video slots you must try
- 9Top software providers offering the best video slots
- 10Other top slot machines you may enjoy
- 11FAQ: Your questions about video slots answered
- 12Play top video slots online today
Before you dive off to spin the reels of video slots and games, you need to find a place to play. Our site has plenty of reputable and respected domains for you to choose from. If you want to play at one of the top ten online casinos offering video slots, then pick one of our recommended casinos:
Top 10 Online casinos offering video slots - [2023] Updated list
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How did we get here? – A brief history of video slots
Further Information
For most of their history, slots have consisted of 3-reel fruit machines, also known as one-armed bandits, and were played in much the same manner as the original Liberty Bell. The advent of electronic games added a new dimension to the slot. Video slot machines would introduce a “bonus round” to the game, played out on a second screen, which was only possible with this new format. This video slots with bonus rounds format would make the jump to the online casino games world when the internet began its rise.
The internet era has seen a surplus of new ways to play. Initially, slots had to be downloaded to be played, and required real money bets. Free slots Canada, like any other free slots, in fact have the same features of real money slots. Nowadays, you can play free video slots with no download necessary. On top of that, you can now play free video slots via your mobile phones.
The last ten years have seen the greatest period of originality and invention in the evolution of videoslots. In 2023, the video slots players can get to grips with differ significantly from one another. With that in mind, it is worth taking a closer look at their features and how they work.
Things to look for in the top online casinos offering video slots
Free play games
Device compatibility
Bonus bonanzas
Security, safety, and licensing
Developer and gaming libraries
Banking Methods
Customer support
The basics of video slot gameplay
You will be aware that you need to spin the reels of slots to win prizes. However, there is more to it than that. Let us look at each feature of real money slots, in turn, to help you better understand what you are looking at.
Most video slots come with a theme. Moreover, the theme will often determine the icons or symbols which appear on the reels. Some slots contain thematic imagery, and others opt for the classic card or fruit machine symbols. Graphics may vary greatly from game to game. Have a look at our review of the best Alice in Wonderland themed slots.
In most video slots, there are five reels in play. Each reel contains a series of symbols. These are spun when the player hits the “spin” button.
Across the five reels are “invisible” paylines. In most slots, players need to match up three or more identical symbols across these lines to win a prize. You may or may not be able to alter the number of lines you play with. You can view those paylines either via the paytable or in older slots by holding your mouse over one of the payline numbers.
Each slot has its own RTP rate. This is the theoretical return to player rate at which the slot pays out. The higher the figure, the better.
Similarly, some slots are more volatile than others. Volatility determines whether the slot pays frequently but with smaller prizes (low variance), or less often but with larger prizes (high variance).
Payouts are weighed against your wager. The more you bet, the more you can win. Video slots may have uncapped (progressive jackpot) or fixed (non-progressive) jackpot prizes.
Most video slots have a few special symbols alongside the standard paying ones. Wild symbols work like a joker in a deck of cards and can substitute for all standard symbols. Scatters count no matter where they fall (they do not need to be on a payline) and can often trigger bonuses when three or more appear.
A primitive bonus, the gamble feature appears in some, though, not all slots. It effectively allows you to gamble your recently acquired wins in a game of chance. Many Amatic slots, like Party Time slots, have this gamble feature.
Top video slot bonuses you can expect to see
Video slots are sometimes known as the best bonus slots. The reason for this is that most come packing a secondary bonus, perhaps even several bonuses. Most are triggered by landing three or more scatter or bonus icons on the reels, though, some are triggered at random. These include:
Top tips for playing (and maybe winning) on video slots
Tip
- Play free casino video slots, as they enable you to learn about a game before you bet
- You can use a video slot machine strategy in relation to bets. Betting strategies can help you manage your balance, allowing you to stay in the game for longer
- Only play the best payout slots. Avoid video slots with low RTP rates of below 95%
- Your best shot at winning regularly is by playing low variance games. Highly volatile games pay a lot more but do so less frequently
- Play slots which feature fewer symbols, like OMG Kittens slot machine. The more paying symbols you have on the reels, the less likely you are to line up winning combos
Classic slots vs. video slots – The analysis
Some players prefer classic slots over video slot games. Which is for you, though? Let us take a quick look at the pros and cons of fruit machines and video slots.
Get started with the 10 most popular video slots of all time
Further Information
- Immortal Romance: Microgaming’s legendary vampire-themed Immortal Romance slot was recently re-mastered. It introduced the world to Rolling Reels, and the randomly triggered bonus.
- Gonzo’s Quest: A mainstay at online casinos and one of the most popular 20 line slots, this Conquistador-themed slot serves up re-spins. It regularly appears in online casino bonuses, too.
- Starburst: A simple slot, the Starburst slot also regularly appears when there is a Net Entertainment casino bonus. It is not heavy on features but is cheap to play and provides re-spins with entirely wild reels.
- Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven: One of the most popular sports-themed slots. This horse-racing slot from Playtech is brimming over with special features, including skill-based bonuses. Check this list of Playtech casinos to find where you can play it.
- Book of Ra: Book of Ra was the very first “book” slot. It set the tone for other Novomatic slots (like the Roller Coaster slot machine game) to follow, with scatter wilds and randomly selected expanding icons in its free spin bonus.
- Mega Moolah: The record-paying progressive jackpot on the net. This Microgaming hit has paid out over a billion euros in cash since its debut.
- Cleopatra: Ancient Egyptian themed slots are always popular, and IGT’s Cleopatra was one of the first. It is based on the globally popular land-based slot of the same name.
- Mega Fortune: NetEnt’s record progressive jackpot slot. This game is notable for paying out multi-million-euro winnings with stakes costing as little as 0.25 per spin.
- Thunderstruck II: Another Microgaming legend, Thunderstruck II, introduced us to progressively triggered free spin bonuses. This Norse mythology-themed slot is still going strong. You can find this slot along with other popular ones at $1 deposit Microgaming casino sites.
- Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead: Play ‘n Go’s flagship game. Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead is arguably the most popular in a series of several adventure and exploration-themed slots.
5 new video slots you must try
New video slots debut at casino sites all the time, at well established casinos but also at new ones, like the newest Microgaming casinos. Some may go on to be among the best video slots to play, and some will not. If you want to try top new slots, then the following new video slot machines are among the hottest around:
Video Slot
Developer
Released
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Free Play
Top software providers offering the best video slots
Further Information
- Net Entertainment: Some of the best NetEnt slots include Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, Mega Fortune, Hall of Gods, Guns ‘N’ Roses and Piggy Riches slots.
- Microgaming: Leading Microgaming slots include those Playboy slots you can find online, as well as Thunderstruck II, Tarzan slots, Mega Moolah, Carnaval slot, Immortal Romance, Jurassic Park and Game of Thrones.
- Playtech: Top Playtech slots include The Mummy, any of the Age of the Gods slots, DC Universe slots, Marvel Slots (among which you can find Captain America slot machine), Gladiator and Halloween Fortune.
- Yggdrasil Gaming: Notable Yggdrasil slots include Valley of the Gods, Beauty and the Beast, Wicked Circus, Double Dragons, and any of the three Vikings Go Wild slots.
- BetSoft Gaming: Amongst the best BetSoft slots are Good Girl Bad Girl, the Lucky 7 slots game, Stampede, WhoSpunIt and Arrival.
Other top slot machines you may enjoy
There are, of course, many more top video slots at casinos for you to play. Some even offer free bonus deals for video slots gameplay. IGT slots, the Titanic slot machine, Williams Interactive slots, the Thundercats Slot, land-based hits such as Aristocrat slots and Bally slots are worth a punt. Here’s our “Types of casino games” list you may wish to have a crack at when playing online.
Classic Slots
Classic slots are sometimes known as 3 reel slots, one-armed bandits, and fruit machines. They represent the most basic types of games around and seldom contain a wealth of paylines or special features.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
Video slots with uncapped jackpots. These progressive slots can often pay out many millions of euros in prizes.
Progressive slots
3D Slots
3D slots are essentially 5 reel slots (like Peggle slots), although they contain 3D symbols and often animated imagery and cut-scenes.
3D Slots
Mobile Slots
Most video slots are mobile-friendly. Video slots can be played via apps or in instant play domains with adjustable screen sizes. All video slots which can be played via phones or tablets (so, most of them) can be deemed to be mobile slots.
Mobile SlotsFAQ: Your questions about video slots answered
In this final section, we will try and answer any lingering queries you may have about playing video slots at online casinos.
Play top video slots online today
You should now know a great deal about video slots and how gambling on them works. If you want to play, you are required to sign up to an online casino. Our page lists many reputable and top online casinos where you can do that.
We can also provide you with a slot machines list, featuring the best video slots at online and mobile casino sites.
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