The Ultimate Guide to Casino Slots

Intro

There are many of us that miss the atmosphere of a live casino when we’re playing slots online. Luckily, there’s plenty of casino and Vegas-themed slots that recreate all the land-based casinos have to offer. Join us as we discover how these games work and the 10 best the industry has to offer right now.

Casino Slots Description and History

When slot machines transitioned online in the mid-1990s it made sense that developers would create games that closely matched the classic casino experience customers love. These slots have remained a consistently popular choice, especially with players that don’t have the time, or the cash, to visit a real-life casino.

Most of these types of slots tend to come with a Las Vegas theme attached with all the glitz, glamor, bells, and whistles you’d expect. Other than that, they follow other industry norms with most of the games being five-reel options with around 30 paylines or more.

That being said, this genre isn’t quite as popular as others like fantasy, history, and animal games. This means you might have to do a little bit of digging among the wide variety of options.

Why Are Casino Slots So Popular Among Online Players?

Most players opt for these types of slots because it’s a chance to take in a little of the atmosphere of a live casino.

The games are very relatable and the symbols and styles will be instantly familiar to most people. You can expect packs of cards, fruit, diamonds, and other classic images you’d find on slot machines the world over. This means that the games are fairly easy to learn and the majority of players can be up and running in no time at all.

Casino Slots Average Return to Player (RTP)

Casino slots tend to sit around the average industry RTP of around 96%. This means that for every £100 you spend on any given slot, they’ll pay out around £96 on average. You can certainly find those with better RTP rates, but these are often buried within an online casino’s website. If you’re looking to take more of a risk, you can opt for a lower RTP machine that could have larger jackpots. Always remember to check before you play the game, though.

Types of Casino Slots

• Three-reel classic - It makes sense that three-reel classic games are popular - these were the first types of slots to appear in real casinos and were big in the 1950s and 60s. This variety has made the transition to the online world too and you’ll find what you’re looking for in games like 777 Vegas, Diamond Dazzle, and 777 Booming
• Five-reel - A modernized version of the classic three-reel games, these slots are most commonly found using a 5 x 5 grid. This opens up the possibility of more paylines, more exciting bonus rounds, and additional free spins. Generally, new games are made using five reels these days, but you can find those with six or seven too. Some popular casino slots include Wheel of Fortune, Always Hot, and Lucky 88
• Progressive - Progressive slots are a good choice for players looking for a little more risk. Every single spin by all players of the game will incrementally add to a prize pot. This means there could be thousands of players contributing over the months and years, with the eventual winner landing a huge jackpot. However, it’s incredibly rare for you to win, so don’t plan your retirement yet. You can try out Straight Down the Middle, Explosive Wins, or Hot Joker Four Ways for progressive games.
• Jackpots - Unlike progressive slots, jackpot games have fixed prize pots, and some will have several jackpots to win in a single game. Volatility is usually high, so payouts will be quite rare, but they’re higher than other varieties. Some popular choices include Wheel of Wishes, Mega Moolah, and Wish Upon a Jackpot

Best Visual Effects, Sounds, and Graphics in Casino Slots

Casino slots don’t necessarily have to contain fruit symbols or lucky sevens. Graphics and sound effects are pretty similar across the genre, but some interesting features include:

• Different eras - Some casino slots let you relive the classic casino of the 1950s and 60s when the Rat Pack ruled the airwaves. You can even find games centered around celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin that come with amazing soundtracks and graphics
• Joker games - The joker symbol is a staple of just about every casino’s slot collection, and online counterparts are no different. You’ll find dozens of iterations of the joker, from cutesy cartoons to hand-drawn masterpieces
• Bold sounds - Online casino slots recreate the authentic sounds of spinning reels, inserting coins, and the crash of cash hitting the metal tray when you win. Dim the lights at home and you’ll really start to feel the live casino atmosphere as you play

Casino Slots Features, Bonuses, and Free Spins

Casino slots carry many of the same features as most other modern slot genres. Plus, there’s enough variety in this theme that just about everyone should be well-catered for. Top features include:

• Cascading reels - This is an increasingly popular feature in which the reels don’t spin but instead come cascading down. This can add a little tension to the game as you can start to look for winning patterns
• Free spins - Match up the correct symbols and you’ll net yourself some free spins. It’s incredibly rare to find a casino slot that doesn’t offer this these days and you’ll usually win them in sets of 10 or 20 at a time
• Bet multipliers - Landing on a multiplier is the most common way to win cash using an online slot. These can be anywhere between 2x and 10,000x depending on the game you’re playing

Tips on Playing Casino Slots

Unfortunately, there’s no single strategy that guarantees victory with every spin. To meet the Gambling Commission’s regulations, all slots must be random, so it’s impossible to game the system. That’s why you shouldn’t trust any website offering cheats or guaranteed wins. However, there are plenty of legitimate tips and tricks you can apply. Some of these include:

• Set a budget - It’s important to never go over your set spending limit. Once it’s gone you shouldn’t chase losses and should stop that gaming session
• Check the RTP and variance - This will give you a good idea of how often and how much the game might pay out. You can then choose games that fit with the level of risk you want to take
• Utilize sign-up bonuses - Most online casinos will give you free spins and extra cash as a gift for creating an account. Make sure you make use of these before any expiry date

Top 10 Best Casino Slots

1. Mega Joker - Perhaps one of the most famous casino slots, Mega Joker looks exactly like the old school machines you’d find lined up in any traditional casino. With classic fruits, bells, and gold symbols making up the winning paylines you’ll be drawn into this retro atmosphere. The game is a progressive slot so there’s a chance of a big payout too. What’s more, it has an incredible RTP of 99%, which is probably why it’s so popular
2. Double Diamond - This Vegas-themed slot offers all the glitz and glamor of the strip from the comfort of your own home. It’s incredibly simple and has just one winning payline. Much like many classic slots, you don’t need to spend any time at all learning any rules. If you manage to land three diamonds then you’ll receive a bonus and 1,000x your bet. The RTP is 95.08%
3. Vegas Magic - This game recreates some of the flashy magic shows you often see playing at casinos on the Las Vegas strip. This means the graphics are bright and bold and there’s always something to grab your attention. It has five reels, 20 paylines, and jackpots of 50x that can be won. It has a medium variance level so it’s a good choice for players looking for respectable wins over a consistent period. The RTP is 96.08%
4. Elvis Frog in Vegas - Moving onto something a little more light-hearted now, Elvis Frog in Vegas chronicles the life of the King of Rock and Roll if he’d lived as a frog. While this might sound strange at first, it works surprisingly well and you’ll quickly be drawn into the Vegas atmosphere. Maximum jackpots can be up to 2,500x your original bet and the RTP is 96%
5. Casino Charms - This is an interesting game with six reels and 80 winning paylines. It has royals, diamonds, lucky sevens, poker chips, and dice as its main symbols as well as a glamorous croupier acting as a wild. It’s a good choice for high rollers with maximum bets per spin set at a very generous £500. However, we’d always recommend thinking carefully before betting big. The RTP is 96.06%
6. Diamond Strip - This slot is very old school, with just three reels and only one winning payline. It’s set up just like the old casino slots of the 1950s and 60s, making it a perfect choice for gamblers looking for a hit of nostalgia. The game has a respectable RTP of 96.26%
7. Cleopatra Slots - You’ll find an ancient Egyptian or Cleopatra-themed slot in just about every land-based casino, and this game recreates this style perfectly. Made by industry giant IGT, the game has five reels and 20 paylines, so it’s a simple one to play. There are frequent chances to win up to 15 free spins and there’s an autoplay feature for those looking to kick back and relax. The RTP is 95.02%
8. Pina Nevada - A play on words for a pina colada, Pina Nevada transports you to a casino bar where various drinks and cocktails provide the winning symbols. It’s the third three-reel game to make our list and the accessible interface and easy-to-learn rules make it a good choice for newcomers to the world of online casinos. Plus, minimum bets start from just 1p so you can get a good long gaming session here. The RTP is 96%
9. Vegas, Baby! - You’ll find showgirls, bright lights, cocktails, wedding chapels, chips, dice, and just about every other item associated with Vegas as part of this slot. It’s known for its cascading free spins bonuses which can stack up to 180 at a time for lucky players. Plus, you can sometimes win bonuses of up to 100x your original bet. The RTP is a little lower than average at 95.02%
10. Sin City Nights - Delving into the seedy underbelly of the casino world, Sin City Nights will make players feel they’ve stepped into a mob-run casino of the 1950s. It has five reels and 25 paylines, as well as exploding icons that cascade down. This means that bonuses can be stacked and some big payouts might be on the cards. What’s more, it has a very impressive RTP of 97%

Some Other Popular Slots Themes

If the casino atmosphere isn’t your thing, there are dozens of other slots themes to try out. Some of the best include:

• Magic
• Fantasy
• Music
• Animals
• Ancient Egypt
• Norse mythology
• The Old West
• Fruit
• Movies
• Pop culture
• Horror
• Adventure
• Vampires
• Mafia