Best Online Slots 2024 - Play Top Real Money Slots Games
You can now play the best online slots in multiple states across the US. With thousands of options available, this page highlights the top slots by features, gameplay, and RTP. We also cover popular titles, high-paying games, and the pros and cons of playing real money slots at online casinos.
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Recommended Slot Games
Best Online Slots for US Players
- Sweet Bonanza slot (Pragmatic Play): Highest Maximum Win Potential
- Buffalo Gold slot (Aristocrat): Best Overall
- Gates of Olympus slot (Pragmatic Play): Best for Tumbling Reels
- Better Wilds slot (Playtech): Best for Bet Size Options
- Lucky 7 slot (Betsoft): Highest RTP
Sweet Bonanza Real Money Slot
The Sweet Bonanza slot lands you into a candy utopia. The 6-reel, 5-row grid offers an all-ways pay feature which means you can form lines in any direction, giving you the chance to earn up to 21,175x your total real money slots bet. There are also tons of bonus games that take the game to a high volatility level. This includes multipliers, free spins, and a tumbling reels feature. These features come together to pay out some sweet rewards.
- RTP: 96.8%
- Volatility: Medium
- Maximum Win: $2,110,000.00
- Theme: Sweets/Candy
- Where to Play: Tipico Casino
Buffalo Gold Slot
The Buffalo Gold slot brings a stampede of action, features, and top payouts. The game is played on a 5x4 layout with up to 1024 ways to land a win. With wins forming in any direction, you can earn some great payouts The game also offers other bonus features, including free spins, wilds, multipliers, and even a risk game where you can double your rewards. You can take advantage of the Xtra Reel Power feature to further customize your wagers and potential prizes.
- RTP: 96%
- Volatility: Medium
- Maximum Win: $648,000.00
- Theme: Wild West
- Where to Play: BetMGM Casino
Gates of Olympus Slot
Play the Gates of Olympus slot and discover rings, crowns, and an hourglass on the 6x5 grid. Winning combinations trigger a Tumbling Reels mechanism, and multiplier symbols boost wins by up to 500x! These multipliers build up over the course of a free spins bonus round, potentially leading to even greater prizes.
- RTP: 96.5%
- Volatility: High
- Maximum Win: $500,000.00
- Theme: Ancient Greece
- Where to Play: Resorts Casino
Better Wild Slots
The Better Wilds slot shines brighter than the others with dazzling diamonds, gold bells, sparkling fruits, and shining 7’s. Played on a 5 reel, 4 row grid, this slot allows you to activate up to 25 paylines for the chance to win up to 500x your stake. There are loads of options to choose from when it comes to selecting a bet size. The multiple selections of wild features include regular wilds, expanding wilds, and moving wilds. Not to mention a good helping of free spins, respins, and multiplier rewards.
- RTP: 96.42%
- Volatility: Medium
- Maximum Win: $500,000.00
- Theme: Fruit, Jewels
- Where to Play: PlayStar Casino
Lucky 7 Slot
Just like the traditional brick and mortar slot machines, Lucky 7 slot features a classic three-reels screen and only one available payline. You don't have any bonus features to look forward to while playing apart from some classic symbols that pay even when they're not in a sequence. This doesn't mean that the game can't be fun or profitable though. On the contrary, there's plenty of excitement offered here for anyone with a taste of authentic old-school gaming.
- RTP: 97%
- Volatility: Medium
- Maximum Win: $5,000.00
- Theme: Bars and Bells
- Where to Play: Caesars Casino
The Latest Slot Releases for Dec 2024
Here are the latest online slots in the US. You can play these games at all our recommended online casinos.
- Lockdown Loot (Playtech)
- Great Temple (RTG)
- Hot Lucky 7's (Betsoft)
- MegaJackpots Majestic Buffalo (IGT)
- 3 Pots Riches Hold and Win (Playson)
Real Money Slots Online vs Free Play
You can now play legal online slots for real money in many US states, but what about playing slots for free? While there are some advantages to free play, it also means you miss out on winning jackpots and other cash prizes.
Real Money Slot Pros & Cons
✅ Real money slots players get access to welcome bonuses and free spins.
✅ Playing slots for real money means you can win real cash prizes.
✅ Players can play for progressive jackpots.
❌ There is a risk of losing your hard-earned money.
❌ Withdrawing winnings is not always instant.
Free Slots Pros & Cons
✅ Players can start playing immediately with no sign-up required.
✅ Free play allows players to hone in on their skills before spending any money.
✅ Can be played anonymously without the need to give personal information.
❌ Free games are not eligible for any casino bonuses or promotions.
❌ Players can’t win any real money or jackpots.
How We Pick the Best Online Slots for Real Money
Only the best online casino slots make it onto our list. Here’s what we look for in a great real cash video slot:
RTPs (Return to Player percentages): All real money online slots have a theoretical return-to-player percentage (RTP). This is the average return made to the player. The best online casino slots will have an RTP of 95-98%. You can easily access payout information via the slot paytable. Some operators also place this information within their FAQ or Help section.
Volatility: All real money slot games have volatility or variance. The volatility is the frequency with which a slot pays out. High-variance slots payout large but infrequent payouts. Low-variance slots pay lots of small and frequent jackpots. Our team tests out every slot to check its volatility and payout frequency.
Game Design & Playability: No one wants to risk their bankroll playing dull slots. We always review every slot for graphics and playability. You can always test out a game in the free slots demo mode if you're feeling curious, but unsure.
Licensing & Reliability: Your bankroll should be safe whenever you play online slots for real money. All of our recommended online slots carry proper licenses in the US. Games are tested for fairness before they reach the slots casino lobby..
Online Availability: The best real money slots will be available at multiple legal online casinos in your state. Whether you have just one or several casino accounts, you’ll be able to find a broad range of great slots.
Types of Online Slots
What online slots pay real money? In 2021, you can play a range of exciting online slot machines for real cash. Just make a deposit and open a game in your browser.
Classic: Relive classic Vegas and Atlantic City steppers on your PC or tablet! Classic 3-reel slots are provided in the US by major developers like Bally, Barcrest and NetEnt. Enjoy nostalgic slots action with a few paylines and no bonus features.
5-Reel: The majority of legal online slots in the US are 5-reel games. Slots with 5 reels boast more paylines and often feature bonus rounds such as free spins.
6-Reel: You can now find a growing number of 6-reel online casino slots. 6-reel slots often feature many hundreds or thousands of paylines, plus exciting bonuses like stacked wilds and free spins.
Slots with Bonuses: Most online slots for real money feature at least one bonus round. Trigger free spins, a prize wheel, or an instant cash win when you land three or more scatter symbols. Or hit a prize win simply by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels. Multiway slots can feature anywhere from 243 to 100,000+ possible win ways.
Branded Slots: Relive your favorite movie, TV program, or singing star with a branded slot. Branded games may feature actual video or audio footage from the source material. The bonus features will be generous and the jackpots can be huge.
3D Slots: 3D online slots utilize the latest online casino technology to provide an amazing gambling experience. Games feature slick animated graphics, amazing sound and music and innovative bonus games.
Real Money Progressive Slots
Progressive slots are games that feature a special jackpot that grows with every qualifying bet. Some progressives are linked across multiple online casinos.
Usually, you must bet the maximum stake to trigger a progressive jackpot. The jackpot may activate at random, or you may be required to play a special bonus game first. In general, the more you bet, the better your chance of triggering the progressive.
Popular progressive slots feature the biggest jackpots. They are played by more gamblers at more online casinos. And the longer the jackpot goes unclaimed, the bigger it gets. The best games may also feature a series of tiered progressive jackpots.
Best Progressive Online Slots for Real Money
The top US casinos online spread up to a dozen progressive slots. Here are 5 of the top progressive jackpot slot games in at US casinos:
Divine Fortune (NetEnt): NetEnt’s Divine Fortune has one of the largest online progressive jackpots in the US. The game features a bonus game where you can win one of three jackpots: Minor, Major or Mega.
Gong Xi Fa Cai (IGT): Gong Xi Fa Cai is an Asian-inspired progressive that features free spins, multipliers and the Lucky Fortune Progressive Picker. Keep choosing lucky red envelopes until you match three colored gems and win the respective jackpot.
Loot’EnKhamun (WinStudios): WinStudios’ Loot’EnKhamun is part of a group of online progressive slots that can be played at legal casinos in the US. The game features a “BigOne Jackpot” that contains five levels of prize: Blitz Cash, Quick Cash, Super Cash, Mega Cash and Colossal Cash. The BigOne Jackpot has regularly reached over $3 million.
Stellar Jackpots with Silver Pride (Lightning Box): This African-themed progressive slot has 1,024 ways to win and a free spins bonus. Three Spaceship symbols will trigger the Stellar Jackpot Bonus where you can win one of three prizes: the Mini, Minor or Major.
China Shores with Quick Strike (Konami): This exciting Asian-themed slot features Action Stacked Symbols, free spins and a linked two-level progressive. The mystery jackpot is awarded at random during any base game. The more you bet, the higher your chance of hitting the progressive jackpot.
Highest Paying Casino Online Slots
Not all online slot games are equal. If you want to win real money slots, you should know what to look for. A Return to Player Percentage, or RTP, is important. Sifting through 100s of games for the best RTP slots is probably something you're not eager to do. We've done a bit of that work for you. Below are the top 10 highest-paying online slots in the US right now. You can also check out our list of the best payout online casinos.
What a Top US Slots Casino Offers You
You can now play legal online slots for real money in many US states. Here are five reasons why online slots beat land-based slot machine games:
✅ Enjoy Your Favorite Land-Based Slots Online: Many US slot developers have adapted their land-based games for online casinos. The good news is that online versions are virtually identical to their land-based cousins.
✅ Play Slots Anywhere, Any Time: Why travel miles to have fun at your nearest brick-and-mortar casino when you can gamble online? That’s the beauty of playing online casino slots. Just fire up the PC or laptop and gamble for real cash any time you like.
✅ Find Higher RTPs Online: Some of the best land-based slots have RTPs up to 95 or 96%. Depending on the state, land-based casino slots' RTP may be in the mid-'80s. You won't find that at our recommended real money online slots; period. There are plenty of legal online slots in states like New Jersey that have RTPs up to 98%. Ultimately, if you are looking for a win, an online slot casino might be the better choice.
✅ Gamble on Your Tablet or Smartphone: You can find hundreds of great slots to play for real cash on your mobile device. As long as you have a strong Wi-Fi connection, you can turn your iOS or Android smartphone into a portable casino.
✅ Claim Free Spins or a Deposit Match Bonus: An online casinos will often boast a better slots bonus than land-based casinos. Claim free spins on your favorite games or earn a deposit match when you open a new account. For instance, many players can claim a Caesars promo code to get started with a generous welcome bonus.
Online Slots Software Providers
In 2021, you can find approximately a dozen licensed and regulated slots software developers in the US. Some developers already supply land-based slot machines to US casinos while others are exclusive online manufacturers. Here are some of our favorite developers supplying online slots.
WMS Gaming
WMS Gaming/Williams Interactive provides top-quality online slot machines to many of the world’s best casinos. WMS is now a subsidiary of SG Gaming (Scientific Games) but continues to produce world-class gambling titles like Raging Rhino, Fire Queen and Epic MONOPOLY II.
Bally
Bally is one of America’s oldest slot machine manufacturers. Like WMS, Bally is now part of the Scientific Games giant and supplies legal and licensed games to many US online casinos. Popular online Bally games include adaptations of their land-based favorites like Quick Hit Super Wheel, Anchorman and Cash Spin.
IGT
IGT (International Game Technology) is another giant of the land-based slot machine market. You will find lots of IGT mobile and online slots at licensed casinos in the USA. Try classic slots like 7s Wild and Double Diamond or hit the big stakes in games like Cleopatra Plus and Gong Xi Fa Cai.
WINStudios
WinStudios is the development team behind the bwin/partyGaming brand. They provide many of their exclusive slots to partner online casinos in the US. The developer offers nearly a dozen linked progressive slots like Loot’EnKhamun and Melon Madness.
NextGen
NextGen forms part of the NYX Group, and supplies games and software to many US online casinos. Popular NextGen slots include Astro Cat and Big Foot, plus classic games like Bars & Bells and Ambassador.
NetEnt
NetEnt is a Swedish provider of online slots to the global casino market. It provides legal games to most US online casinos. Among the most popular NetEnt slots are Gonzo’s Quest, Jack Hammer and Starburst, as well as big progressives like Divine Fortune.
Other Software Developers:
- Microgaming
- Betsoft
- Playtech
- Novomatic
- Barcrest
Online Slot Machine Basics
Little to no skill is needed to play slots at the top online casinos. Let us guide you through the basics of slot machine play.
How to Play Online Slot Machines
Online slots are played on a series of vertical reels filled with symbols. In every game, the reels spin and randomly come to a stop thanks to a random number generator (RNG) that is regularly audited to ensure fairness. You win money by lining up matching symbols on paylines that run horizontally across the reels (though a few games have vertical or diagonal paylines, too).
First, you need to select your coin size and the number of paylines you want to bet on. Some slots have fixed paylines where you will have to bet on every possible combination.
Online Slot Bonus Features & Rounds
Most modern online slot machines feature a bonus round. The bonus can be triggered at random or by landing the required number of scatter symbols. These are symbols that payout regardless of where they land on the reels. Common slot bonuses include:
- Free Spins: You receive a number of free games, sometimes with a prize multiplier attached
- Prize Wheel: You win a spin of a prize wheel that contains free spins, multipliers or jackpot cash sums.
- Wilds: Wilds are joker symbols that help complete a winning combination across the reels. Wilds sometimes have prize multipliers attached.
- Cascading Reels/Re-spins: In a slot with cascading reels, winning symbols are removed from play, allowing symbols sitting above on the reels to fall into their place. You then receive a free reel re-spin. Consecutive winning cascades are usually awarded with a progressive multiplier.
- Pick ‘em Bonus: In a pick ‘em bonus, you get to choose from 10-12 hidden symbols on the screen. Behind each symbol is a cash prize, free spins or multiplier. Keep choosing symbols until the “Collect” sign appears.
How to Create an Account for Online Slots
If you want to play slots for real money, you'll need to begin with setting up an account. In most US states, you must be 21 or over to play real money slots on an app or online. The registration process is simple. You will need to:
Step 1: Create a unique account name and password.
Step 2: Provide personal details such as a home address and cellphone number.
Step 3: Provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number (sometimes your full SSN will be required.
Step 4: Verify your account by clicking on the email link.
Step 5: Make a first deposit; you may have to provide personal documentation like a scan of your passport or driver’s license, or utility bills to further establish your age, identity and address.
Step 6: Claim a welcome bonus; you can sometimes play online slots for real money with no deposit. Good casinos will offer a no-deposit bonus where you receive free spins slots on popular games. You may also received a slots bonus such as a deposit match. Make sure to read through all the wagering requirements as they differ from casino to casino.
Online Slot Strategies to Consider
Online video slots are simple to learn and play. But how can you make the most of your gambling bankroll? Follow our five easy tips.
1. Choose the Highest RTP
Every slot has a theoretical RTP built into the game. Always check the paytable first to see what the average payout is. The higher the RTP, the better the long-term payouts and the better your chances to win.
2. Choose a Game You Enjoy
There are thousands of online slot machines to choose from. It’s important to select a slot that you won’t get bored of. Choose a game with an interesting theme or characters, and make sure you care about the bonus features.
3. Test the Volatility with Demo Play
Some slots will have a low hit rate. That’s the frequency with which a game pays a prize. Volatile slots might decimate your bankroll before awarding a big prize. Test these games out with play credits first to see whether they have high or low variance by playing casino online free spins.
4. Increase Your Stakes for a Progressive Jackpot
Progressive slots award a big jackpot at random or through a special bonus game. But progressives will usually award big prizes to players who pay the highest stakes. Try increasing your coin size and take a shot.
5. Claim Your Casino Free Spins
The best US gambling sites will award free spins to new signups. As a regular player, you can also claim bonus spins on a Slot of the Week. Take advantage of these bonus promotions when you play online slots for real money.
FAQs
Who can play online slots?
The legal age to play at online slot casinos is typically 21. Some states do have varying laws so it is best to confirm beforehand. You will also need to be in a legal state such as Michigan, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania.
Why play online slots for real money?
Nothing beats the excitement of real cash gambling online and slots are even harder to beat. For small stakes, you can win big prizes and even a progressive jackpot. Maximum online stakes can be as much as $500-$1,000, or more.
Are real money online slots rigged?
No. Only tested and licensed games make it into the lobbies of reputable US casinos. Every game’s RNG (Random Number Generator) is audited for complete fairness, the online operator is also heavily monitored by the respective states' gaming board. This is what makes our recommended casinos so safe and fair.
What is a payout percentage?
A payout percentage is an amount paid back to players over the long term. An online slot with a payout percentage of 95% pays on average $95 of every $100 gambled on it. For a high payout slot we recommend playing games with at least 97%.
Which slots have the best payouts?
Many legal online slot machines in the US have high payout percentages. We recommend checking out 1429 Uncharted Seas (98.5%), fan-favorite Bloodsuckers (98%) or StarMania (97.867%). All of these are available at our top online casinos.
What are some slot misconceptions?
A common misconception of online slots is that they aren’t 100% random. If you're playing at a licensed sites (which you should) you can rest-assured that the games are regulated by a third-party to ensure fairness. This means the games cannot be rigged and are completely random.
What is slot machine variance?
All real money slot games have variance, or volatility. This is the frequency with which a slot pays out over the long term. High-variance slots payout big jackpots infrequently. Low-variance slots pay lots of small and frequent prizes.
Do online casinos offer free slots?
Yes. The best US casinos online let you try Demo Play slots with no financial risk involved. That means you can play free online slots without committing a penny to make sure you like the game. Of course, this also means you won't win any real cash.
Are online slots safe to play?
Yes, as long as you're playing at a licensed US casino. Online slot machines are tested by independent auditors before they hit the casino lobby. Licensed casinos will have regular audits of their software, including for their table games, to ensure fairness.
What are paylines?
Paylines are typically horizontal combinations of symbols that award prizes. The number of paylines varies from slot to slot and can affect the volatility of the game. Some slot machine games have vertical or diagonal paylines, too giving the game a modern twist.
How many paylines do online slots have?
Paylines vary from slot to slot. Classic 3-reel slots may have 1-5 paylines, while 5-reel slots can spread many thousands of win lines. When it comes to which one you should play, it all depends on preference.
What's the difference between high stakes and low stakes slots?
High-stakes slots allow max bets up to $500, and sometimes higher. Low-stakes slots allow for bets starting at just $0.01 a spin. The latter are great if you're just starting out and want to test out the gameplay before committing to higher bets.
What should I look for in an online slot casino?
A good US casino site should have exciting games, a user-friendly lobby, and interesting bonuses. Fast deposits and withdrawals are essential, as is great customer support for players. And their bonuses should have reasonable wagering requirements that can be achieved.
How much can you bet on an online slot game?
Most online slots for real money have max bets around $500. However, you can often bet from just $0.01 a payline. If you're a new slots player we recommend going low until you get the hang of the game.
Can I win real money playing online slots?
Yes, of course you can play for and win real cash. Apart from the features and bonuses found at most online slots, you can also be in the chance to win a jackpot if you choose to try your luck on a jackpot game. You can then withdraw your winnings to a bank account or e-wallet.
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