PokerNews Online Slots Guide: How to Play Slot Machine Games & Win, Best Slots & Top Sites

PokerNews Online Slots Guide

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, in this PokerNews Online Slots Guide we’ll tell you absolutely everything that you need to know about this exciting casino game. Find out which are the best online slots out there for both real money slots and free slots play and see where your next Jackpot might be coming from!

Play Real Money Slots Online
Play Real Money Slots Online

Looking for the best real money slot machines to play online in the US?

Read our guide for the best slot games and online casinos to play at today.

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If you're based outside the US, check out our guide to real money slots for casinos based elsewhere.

Let PokerNews guide you on your journey to find the best online slots around...

Important Notice: We apply special filters to the links on these pages which mean that if real money casino is not allowed in your location we will direct you to a free-to-play alternative. Always check your eligibility to play.

Latest Online Slots Bonuses

Check out our full list of Online Slots Bonuses.

What are Slots?

Slots are the most popular type of casino game in the United States and can be played either on a physical slot machine, or via an online casino. In either case, the fundamental premise remains the same; you place a bet on the outcome of multiple spinning reels that show various themed symbols. Once the reels stop, if the symbols in the payline/s match with a winning sequence, as defined by the slot machine, then you are a winner!

How to Play Slots?

Physical Slots are some of the most popular casino games to play, but how do you play an online slot? Let’s break it down really simply….

  • The first thing to do is to decide which slot game you want to play
  • Next, choose how much money you want to bet on the spin of the reels
  • Now hit the ‘Spin’ button
  • Once the reels stop, you will have either won by matching the symbols across the payline/s, or you will have lost that spin (or sometime you may trigger a bonus feature).
  • Choose whether to spin again (remember, you can always walk away).

So, let’s get started. Here are some exciting and fun online slots that you can play.

How to Win at Slot Games

As with any game of chance in a Casino, there is no guarantee that you will win every time. There are, however, some important things to know before you get started which will improve your chances of being a winner, all of which is explained here: How to Pick a Winning Slot machine.

Amongst those, is the Return to Player (or RTP), which is the percentage of all the wagered money that a slot pays back to its players. This is a really important consideration when choosing which online slots games to play. Find out more about Online Slots RTP.

Online Slots with Highest RTP

Best Real Money Slots

Whilst Online slots are a game of luck you can sometimes win a tidy sum! Take a look at some of our favorite online slots for real money.

Best Online Penny Slots

Read our guide to best online version of the classic Penny Slot machine and find your new favorite online penny slots game.

Penny SlotThemePlay Online
Book of DeadEgyptGo to Game >
Golden ColtsWild WestGo to Game >
Blaze of RaEgyptGo to Game >
Pirates CharmAdventureGo to Game >
Vikings Go to HellMythologyGo to Game >
Divine FortuneMythologyGo to Game >
Wild WheelRichesGo to Game >
Valley of the GodsEgyptGo to Game >
Gold KingRichesGo to Game >
Temple of TUTEgyptGo to Game >

Best Progressive Jackpot Slots

Find out where your next jackpot might be coming from with our list of the best Jackpot Slots and where you can play them.

In this PokerNews Casino guide, you will find all the most popular online slots games. Simply register with one of the casinos displayed on this page and you will have instant access to demo versions (or you can, of course, jump into real money play) to old favorites, such as Starburst, Book of Dead, Mega Moolah, Rainbow Riches, Dead or Alive II, Immortal Romance, Buffalo Slots, or Monopoly Slots, or you could choose of the more recent classics like Game of Thrones Slots.

You can play some of these standout slots by clicking the links below:

Best New Online Slots for 2023!

With the popularity of online Slots growing all the time, new games are being released by the top game providers every day. Here are some of the best new slots right now.

Mobile Slots

Whether you have an iPhone or an Android device, you will likely be wanting to play online slots on your mobile phone. You are covered here, with some of the best mobile Slots for Android AND the best mobile Slots for iPhone. Together.

 Egyptian RiseBerryburstBirthday!Dead or Alive 2Crystal Lotus
Editor's Rating:9/109.5/109.5/109/108/10
Released:20162018201820192019
Theme:EgyptFruitFestiveWesternClassic
RTP:97.756%96.56%96.3%96.8%96.5%
Real Money Play:PLAY GAMEPLAY GAMEPLAY GAMEPLAY GAMEPLAY GAME

Read our full guide to the Best Mobile Slot Games.

Best Online Slot Software Providers

The experience that you, as a player, will have when playing online slots depends on who provides the games. Most people choose those providers that make their games fun and exciting to play, but it’s also worth looking out for those who have fair and transparent practices, such as certified RNGs and clearly displayed RTP. Some of the best online slots software providers include: Play’N Go Slots, NetEnt Slots, Red Tiger Gaming, Microgaming and Aristocrat Slots.


NetEnt Slots

NetEnt are a name that is synonymous with exceptional online slots, and it's no coincidence that if you're diving through the slots catalog of any major online casino, you'll see them well represented.

NetEnt are home to some familiar titles like, Starburst, Gonzo's Quest, and Mega Fortune, but also have a steady stream of newer titles being rolled off the production, games like The Wishmaster Megaways, Let It Burn, and Hotline 2.

See more NetEnt Slots


Microgaming Slots

Just as well-known as other names shown here, Microgaming games are a regular fixture at many online casinos, with some huge brands opting to have a range of Microgaming exclusive slots.

Microgaming include games like Game Of Thrones (which has a whopping 243 paylines!), Lucky Leprachaun, and Asian-themed slots like House of Dragons.

See more Microgaming Slots


Play'N Go Slots

Play'N Go slot games are some of the finest you'll have the pleasure of playing, and have been supplying some of the top casino brands since launching in Sweden way back in 2005. As well as the usual games you'd expect, Play'N Go also specialises in 'grid slots' where players need to match clusters of symbols instead of symbols lining up in traditional paylines. This can make for a more engaging slot experience as these clusters can appear in a multitude of ways, giving you more ways to win.

Play'N Go slot titles include games like Animal Madness, Rise Of Olympus, and Book of Dead through to more animation-based titles like the Reactoonz series.

See more Play'N Go Slots


Red Tiger Gaming Slots

A perennial fixture in the slots library of many top casinos, Red Tiger Gaming have a solid track record in creating the best online slot games. Personally here at PokerNews, we favour the more graphics-based titles, but the Red Tiger range takes players from Norse legends, with Hammer Gods, to Ancient Egypt on Riddle Of The Sphinx, and even outer space with Astronaut.

See more Red Tiger Gaming Slots

Take a look at the Best Slot Software Providers full guide.


With so many different online slots out there, choosing which you want to play can sometimes be difficult. Besides the gameplay and the RTP, some people choose their slot game based on a particular theme that they like. Some of the most popular online slots themes include Ancient Egyptian Slots, Asian Slots and Animal Slots, but there are many more Slots themes to choose from.

Best Real Money Casinos for Online Slots

Ready to start playing for real money? You need to know which are the best real money casinos to play slots games online. The answer to that questions depends a lot on you location. Let us break it down for you….

Best Real Money Casinos for Online Slots for US Players

if you're reading this from one of the US States that allows online gambling, you can't get better than FanDuel Casino for online slots - both in terms of selection and quality. Other strong options amongst the best online casino in the US include PokerStars Casino and BetMGM Casino, who both provide a fantastic selection of games to spin on and win real money.

Best Real Money Casinos for UK, Canada & Global Players to Play Slots

What about UK players and the Rest of the world? Well, for slots you're very well-catered for with the online casinos in the UK. We like 888casino for their dedication to excellent gaming software, and it's worth looping in PartyCasino and bet365 Casino for the variety of online slot gameplay they are providing to UK players. These UK Casinos are available in may other countries in Europe and other parts of the world such as Canada, but please always check the legality of online slots where you live and your eligibility to play before signing up and placing a bet.

If you're in Ontario, Canada then the good news is that legal and regulated real money casino gambling is available to ON residents. We recommend brands like Jackpot City Casino Ontario, NorthStar Bets Casino Ontario, and of course, PokerStars Casino Ontario - all of whom offer a wide range of popular real money slot games.

Best Free Online Slots

As well as real money casinos and slots, we also look at the best free games offered by big names such as Slotomania, LuckyLand Slots and Chumba Casino. These casinos all offer a fantastic selection of slot games, and what’s even better, you can get started playing for FREE!

These casinos are what’s known as social casino, which are casinos linked closely to social media channels. These sites allow you to try out casino games like Blackjack, Roulette and, yes SLOTS, but all for free. Most social casinos use a ‘coins’ system to allow players to build up winnings. In some cases, these can be redeemed for prizes. Some of these free online games are available in selected locations only, so please check your eligibility to play beforehand.

Play Free Online Slots at Luckyland Slots

Luckyland Slots are well-established in the world of free games and have built a stellar reputation for offering slots and casino games, all free to play.

As a social casino, Lucklyland Slots uses a system of coins to offer their players free gaming. You can use Gold Coins for Standard Play and then FREE Sweeps Coins for Promotional Play using free Sweeps Coins, which can often be obtained with Gold Coin purchases and other means. Winnings from Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for real prizes including cash and gift cards.


Play Free Online Slots at Chumba Casino

Like Luckyland Slots, Chumba Casino uses a social casino system for their free games, which includes a huge selection of slots and other casino games. This means that FREE Sweeps Coins are used in Chumba Casino so that players can play specific games, and redeem any winnings for cash prizes or gift cards. Gold Coins are also used for Standard Play, but are just for fun, and are not transferable for other prizes.


Play Free Online Slots at Slotomania

One of the biggest gaming platforms, Slotomania have a lot to offer both the casual slots player and the gaming enthusiast. You can play a multitude of slots titles, and take the game with you through the mobile casino - just visit the Slotomania website or connect via Facebook.

Right now you can take advantage of a bonus of 1,000,000 Coins as a welcome offer for new players! Just follow the link below to visit Slotomania and sign up.


Online Slots FAQs

Can you play slots online?

Yes - all casinos offer a range of games based on the same mechanics as slot machines you find in a casino.

How do online slots work?

In the same way that slot machines have reels that you need to line up, online slots use the same mechanic but through video animation. You press a button to spin the slot, and the symbols will spin across the reels and come to a rest. if you match a specific number, in a specific pattern, then you win!

How can you win at online slots?

Winning or losing on an online slot is entirely down to chance. All online slots use a 'Random Number Generator' to determine the outcome of each spin.

What does the RTP tell me about a slot game?

The RTP or 'Return to Player' number is a percentage which tells a player roughly how often it pays out. The RTP number is calculated by using the average results of thousands and thousands of spins on the game, so you'd have to play for an extremely long time to expect the same return as indicated by the RTP %.

Which online casinos have the best slots?

Any decent online casino will have an extensive slots section, which will include slots favorites, jackpot games, and classic slots. You can't go wrong by consulting our Best Online Casinos Guide, but in short the best casinos include: BetMGM Casino, FanDuel Casino, and PokerStars Casino in the US, bet365 Casino, Sky Casino, 888casino, and PartyCasino in the UK, and PokerStars Casino, 888casino, and Jackpot City Casino elsewhere.

Can you play online slots for free?

Yes there are a couple of different methods for playing online slots without risking your own money. First, some real money casinos will allow new players to sign up and use a 'no deposit bonus' to play certain games without depositing money. Similarly you may also receive a 'free spins bonus' which does the same job. However there are also specific sites offering free online games, including slots. These sites are closely linked to social networks, and allow free gaming using a special system of tokens or coins.

Are slot machines rigged?

No, slot machines are not rigged. All slot machines will, however, have a house edge, normally defined as return to player (RTP), which shows how much of each dollar wagered is returned to the player on average.