What to look for in Online Casino Slots

8 min read

When it comes to online casino slots and gambling, there’s nothing more exciting or more iconic than playing online slots. They’re action-packed, they’re fast-paced, and they’re filled with life-changing jackpots just waiting to be won. Plus with hundreds of titles to choose from at almost every online casino. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to placing your bets.

With so many different slots to choose from though, how do you find the one that’s right for you? It’s easy! Just take a look at our tips for finding the best online slots, and get ready to spin your way to a win!

Make sure you have a theme for your online casino slots

1. Theme. Part of the excitement of online slots is the vibe and atmosphere they create. And that’s all dependent on the type of theme they use. From ancient Egypt to Greek and Roman mythology, leprechauns, Eastern symbolism, the Wild West and more. There are a huge variety of themes for you to choose from when searching for online casino slots. So much so that making a selection can often seem overwhelming.

Don’t feel discouraged though – this is the fun part! If you’re able to play at your online casino for free first, trying out demo versions is the best way to get a feel for the various online slots on offer. Plus you’ll keep your real money bankroll safe too. If there’s already a specific kind of topic you know that you like, try a few of those games out first. Or if you want to try a selection of different themes instead. Play a variety of slots and see which ones you find the most interesting. It’s all about trial and error and finding the games that offer you the most entertainment value for your money when playing online casino slots. So go out, have a few spins and see which themes keep you coming back for more.

You want to look for variety in your online casino slots.

2. Games developers. If you’re an experienced online casino player, you’ll more than likely already be familiar with industry leaders like Microgaming, Playtech, NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. These are games developers that have been around for years. And have built solid reputations for themselves as innovators in the online casino space. So when you see a title released by one of the big names in online casino slots, it’s a safe bet that it’ll be entertaining and rewarding too.

That’s not to say you should avoid titles released by smaller, less well-known games developers though. There are plenty of companies working hard to make a name for themselves. Which means you get the best of creativity and cutting-edge technology as they try to make their brand and their portfolio more visible to online casino players. If you’re unsure of a particular games developer. A quick online search will tell you all you need to know – as will testing out their games for yourself. Once you find a developer whose games you like, keep an eye out for their future releases. It’ll give you and potentially even your bankroll something to look forward to!

Make sure you get a return when playing online casino slots.

3. RTP. It’s something you’ll always see in every online casino slots review – the Return to Player percentage. That’s because this theoretical figure represents how much you can expect to win back from a slot over the long-term. So, for example, if you choose to play a slot that has a 96% RTP. There’s a chance you could win up to 96% of your wagers back over time, which is a positive move for your bankroll.

It’s important to remember that this is only a theoretical figure however, not a guarantee. So don’t go into a slots session expecting to win back exactly 96% of your wagers on the dot. Moreover, RTP is a figure that accumulates over time. Not a single gaming session. So you’ll need to factor this into your financial management too. However it is generally agreed that the higher the RTP, the more rewarding the experience for players. Particularly with online casino slots whose RTP is 95% and over. So keep an eye on the RTP figure as a decent indicator of a slot’s winning potential, but also don’t take it too seriously either. As long as you always manage your finances responsibly, you’ll be winning.

The volatility has to be just right.

4. Volatility. Along with a slot’s RTP, its volatility (otherwise known as variance) is also a factor you should be paying attention to. Slots with low volatility will pay out small amounts often. While slots with high volatility will pay out large amounts less often (and online casino slots with medium volatility strike a balance between the two).

The good news is that one type of volatility isn’t inherently better than the other. Your choice depends entirely on the type of gambling experience you’re looking for. If you want to enjoy smaller wins over a longer time period, then try out low volatility slots for size. If you’d prefer to wait until you hit on a decent-sized win instead, then high volatility slots might be a better fit. Just think about the kind of winning you want to do. Choose your volatility from there, and see what kind of rewards your slot has in store for you.

Make sure you bet the right amount for you.

5. Bet size. Good gambling behaviour is all about responsible financial management, which is where choosing your bet size comes in. Most slots from reputable providers will offer a wide betting range to accommodate all types of budgets. Often starting with minimum bets as low as $0.10, going all the way up to max bets of $100 and beyond.

It’s completely up to you as to the size of the bet you place when playing online casino slots. But it’s always important to settle on a wager size that you can maintain throughout your entire gaming session. While it’s true that only placing a max bet will put you in line to win a slot’s max jackpot. It’s better to place smaller bets for a longer time rather than blowing your entire bankroll on one single overly expensive bet. A good way to manage your finances is to place a series of smaller bets. Followed by a bigger bet, repeating this pattern for the duration of your gaming session. This strategy will allow you to stretch your bankroll further. While still making you eligible for bigger prizes along with your bigger bet. It’s all about the money, so make sure you always keep an eye on yours.

Is the online game easy to play?

6. User-friendliness. This element you’ll only be able to assess once you actually start playing a particular slot, but it’s good to keep in mind. The last thing you want is to be spending money on a slot you’re not enjoying. So once you do place your bets, see how user-friendly the online casino slots feels for you. Is it easy to play, is it easy to navigate through, is the quality of the sound and graphics at a good level. And is the slot exciting to play? If you can answer yes to all these questions then chances are likely you’ll find the slot a good fit – in which case, play on!

7. Bonus features. While online slots are exciting enough on their own, there’s one element that truly adds to their exhilaration, and that’s bonus features. From Megaways to cascading and tumbling reels, wilds, scatters, free spins, respins, expanding reels, bonus games and more. There are so many ways to add extra thrills and extra winning opportunities to online casino slots. In fact, bonus features are often the only way to help you on your way to a slot’s top jackpot. So the more extras there are, the more chance you could have of winning the big one!

While some slots offer more bonus features…

While some slots, like classic 3-reel slots, may sometimes not offer much in the way of bonus features, there are plenty of slots that are packed full of them. So if you like surprises and you love winning, look out for slots filled with bonuses. More excitement for you and potentially more money in your account at the same time!

8. Value: This is actually a combination of factors like RTP, volatility, bet size and jackpot. Is the money you’re spending on a particular slot actually worth it once you take into account the maximum winnings available and the amount you have to spend to be eligible to claim them? If you’re playing a slot with a low RTP that hardly pays out, you won’t be enjoying your online slots experience much at all. That’s why it’s always crucial to pay attention to these elements. And to cut your losses as soon as possible if you ever think you’re not getting as much out of your game play as you should be.

Make sure you get your value.

Keep value for money in mind at all times, and make sure you prioritize it when choosing online casino slots title to stick with in the long-term. After all, you work hard for your money – it’s only fair that it works just as hard back for you.

We don’t know about you, but we’re excited to get in the game and start spinning those reels. Keep our tips in mind when choosing your next game to play, and make sure you get the most entertainment, the most value, and the most fun out of your next online slots experience. Good luck!

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Nicola Davidson

Senior Casino Content Editor & Industry Researcher

1532 Articles

Highlights

Nicola Davidson is a content writer with a focus in online gaming. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, she has extensive expertise in casino games, sports betting as well as emerging trends that pop up in the iGaming sector. Content is more than just information. It’s about creating an engaging experience for players. Nicola perfects this by writing reviews of new slot releases, a guide to betting strategies or cutting-edge industry news.

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P. White
P. White
1 year ago

Totally absurd hyping card color guess strategy! What a frustrating excuse for a ‘game.’ LOL!

W Weiss
W Weiss
1 year ago

Wow, the myriad of slots at online casinos is exciting! With themes from mythology to the Wild West, there’s endless entertainment to explore! Happy spinning! 😊

Gabriel Edwards
Gabriel Edwards
1 year ago

The tips for engaging with online casino slots are insightful and thoughtful! 🎰 Embracing varied themes and understanding features like RTP and volatility truly elevate the gaming experience. Navigating gameplay dynamics feels like embarking on a captivating journey, enriching each spin with excitement and strategy!

Nathan Diaz
Nathan Diaz
11 months ago

Curious to see how the blend of themes and features keeps players engaged over time! 🤔

Levi Tyler
Levi Tyler
11 months ago

Hyping recycled spins as thrilling is absurd—same old cycles dressed up! 😠