Online slots offer a great deal of serious entertainment value, with the added perk of potentially paying out Big Wins and even life-changing jackpots. The question of whether online slot games are worth investing real money in depends upon what you are hoping to get out of online slots.
So, instead of giving you a one-size-fits-all answer to this complex question, let’s take a deep dive into the pros and cons of online slots, and then analyze what kinds of online slots suit what kinds of slot players.
Are online slots worth playing for real money?
Online slots’ worth for real money play depends on your goals: for entertainment with big payout chances, carefully chosen slots can be worthwhile, but for solely seeking major wins, their high volatility and low probability of that may make them seem less so.
Key slot takeaways:
- Determine what your slot goals are and find the right slot to match your goals.
- Check RTPs, max payouts, and volatility when playing any slot for real money.
- Set limits and enjoy slot games responsibly.
- Enjoy a combination of entertainment value and big-win opportunities.
If you want to start playing many online casinos out there but aren’t sure which one to opt for, advantage of online slots and whether it is really worth it, then continue reading and you’ll get to know everything.
Assessing Slot Value
Thinking about whether a slot game is “worth” playing, we should first define what attributes make up a slot game’s value. Here we will break down some of the central features that you can consider when weighing up which slot games to play.
RTP (Return to Player)
More players are wising up to slot RTPs nowadays. While an RTP is only a theoretical return a player can expect to get back from a slot game, it is a good base guide for a slot’s potential payout. In the past, standard non-jackpot slot games had average RTPs of 96-98%.
This means, in essence, that for every £1 you bet on a slot, you should expect to get £0.98 back in the long run. In recent years, slot software providers have been reducing RTPs and giving casino operators a choice of RTP variations, in effect reducing the average slot RTP from 96-98% to 92-94%.
If you think of an RTP translating as: a player’s chance of winning (which isn’t an exaggeration), you might be rightly annoyed that casino operators are lowering RTPs to cover the rising costs incurred by gambling taxes and more stringent player safety measures.
But that is the reality of slot RTPs in 2024, and the trend seems to be that casinos are only going to further reduce RTPs.
Jackpot Slot RTPs
Jackpot slots have a slightly different mechanic when it comes to RTPs. Because a portion of the RTP contributes to the progressive jackpot, RTPs are far lower on average.
With average RTPs of around 86-90%, you can expect fewer regular returns, but the trade-off is that if you do win on a progressive jackpot slot, you could nab a life-changing jackpot win like the recent record-breaking £30M+ WowPot jackpot win from a Games Global slot.
Slot RTP roundup
- RTPs is a theoretical Return To Player average.
- Non-jackpot slot RTPs in 2024 vary from an average of 92%-96%.
- Casino operators and software developers have been reducing RTPs in recent years to offset costs incurred from taxes and responsible gambling measures.
- Jackpot slots have much lower RTPs because they pay out much larger jackpot sums.
Snapshot of classic slots and their RTPs:
| Slot Game | RTP |
| Goblin’s Cave | 99.32% |
| Mega Joker | 99.00% |
| Blood Suckers | 98.00% |
| Starmania | 97.87% |
| Hot Ink | 97.50% |
| Thunderstruck II | 96.65% |
| Gonzo’s Quest | 96.00% |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 95.10% |
| Rainbow Riches | 95.00% |
| Cleopatra | 95.02% |
Snapshot of popular Jackpot slots and their RTPs
| Slot Game | RTP |
| Mega Moolah | 88.12% |
| Mega Fortune | 96.00% |
| Hall of Gods | 95.50% |
| Beach Life | 93.25% |
| Arabian Nights | 95.60% |
| Age of the Gods | 95.02% |
| Jackpot Giant | 94.22% |
| Divine Fortune | 96.59% |
| Major Millions | 89.37% |
| King Cashalot | 90.59% |
Slot Payouts
Online slots’ true draw often lies in the potential for substantial payouts, with reputable online casinos offering games where a £1 spin could make online slots worth playing by yielding a massive jackpot win that might surpass land-based casinos. The prospect of playing and potentially winning big is really worth it for slot enthusiasts to take a chance.
Payout Tables in-game
The best way to assess whether you think a slot game is offering you enough bang for your literal buck is that all top slots have an in-game payout table. When launching a slot, before spinning for real money, click on the payout table symbol and you will be able to see the maximum win.
Payout tables will also give information on which symbols to look out for and which winning combinations are the most valuable.
To give you an idea of what kind of payouts to expect from slots, here are some of our favorite slot titles and the max payout values they offer.
- Gonzo’s Quest: 37,500x the total bet amount.
- Mermaid Millions: 37,500 coins during the free spins feature.
- 9 Masks of Fire: 2,000x the total bet amount.
- Cleopatra: 10,000x the line bet, with the free spins feature and a 3x multiplier.
- Bonanza: 10,000x the total bet amount.
- Ghostbusters Slot: 2,919 x stake per spin
- King Kong Cash Even Bigger Bananas: 20,000X the bet
- Big Bass: 2100x your bet.
- Gold Cash Free Spins: 2,500x the stake
- Cops ‘n’ Robbers: 3,125x the stake.
Factoring max payout values into your assessment of whether a slot is worth playing is crucial since it gives you a price to weigh against the cost you are willing to spend in trying to achieve that maximum win.
Low and High Volatility Slots
Volatility is often overlooked when players are searching for value in a slot game. But slot volatility is fast becoming the headline in many slot reviews, as players are cottoning onto this vital concept.
What is slot volatility?
The volatility of a slot determines the frequency of payouts. With a low volatility slot, payouts may be more frequent but the payouts will usually be small. While with high volatility slots, the payouts will be less frequent, the amount of the payout will be very high and it could be potentially your biggest one.
How to research a slot’s volatility
The best place to start when looking for a slot’s volatility is in the in-game Help or Information screen. Volatility might be published there. If not, try either the slot provider homepage or there are hundreds of slot review sites that publish this information.
Failing that, here is a list of our top low and high-volatility slot games to choose from:
Top Low Volatility Online Slot Games:
| Slot Game | Provider |
| Da Vinci Diamonds | IGT |
| Starmania | NextGen Gaming |
| Fortune Coin | IGT |
| Starburst | NetEnt |
| Wolf Run | IGT |
| Cornelius | NetEnt |
| Crystal Vault | Playtech |
| Pixies of the Forest | High 5 |
| Wild Scarabs | Microgaming |
| Reel King | Novomatic |
| Vikings Go to Hell | Yggdrasil |
| Jazz Time | Realtime Gaming |
| Cats and Cash | Play’n GO |
| Dragon Kings | BetSoft |
| Food Fight | Realtime Gaming |
| Flame Busters | Thunderkick |
| Book of Dead | Play’n GO |
| Rainbow Riches | Barcrest |
| Fire Joker | Play’n GO |
| Viking Runecraft | Play’n GO |
Top High Volatility Slot Games Online
| Slot Game | RTP | Provider | Volatility |
| Chicago Gold | 96.00% | Pear Fiction | High |
| Jack In A Pot | 96.06% | Red Tiger Gaming | High |
| Reactoonz | 96.51% | Play ‘N Go | High |
| Mustang Money | 94.38% | Ainsworth | High |
| 88 Fortunes | 96.00% | Light & Wonder | High |
| Zodiac Infinity Reels | 95.57% | ReelPlay | High |
| Fruit Shop Megaways | 96.06% | NetEnt | High |
| Towers of Olympus | 93.86% | Wizard Games | High |
| Bass Boss | 95.70% | Red Tiger Gaming | High |
| Book of Atem | 96.45% | Microgaming | High |
| 9K Yeti | 97.00% | 4ThePlayer | High |
| Wheel of Fortune Power Wedges | 97.00% | IGT | High |
| Dead or Alive | 96.82% | NetEnt | High |
| Twin Spin | 96.60% | NetEnt | High |
| Legacy of Dead | 96.58% | Play ‘N Go | High |
| Book of 99 | 99.00% | Relax Gaming | Highest |
| Thrones of Persia | 98.83% | Tom Horn Gaming | Highest |
| Reel Million | 98.83% | GAMING1 | Highest |
| Gamba Mamba | 98.21% | Popiplay | Highest |
| Xperiment Gold | 98.21% | Popiplay | Highest |
| Sweet Punks | 98.20% | Popiplay | Highest |
| Marching Legions | 98.12% | Relax Gaming | Highest |
| Spooky 5000 | 98.03% | Fantasma Games | Highest |
| Madame Mystique Megaways | 98.03% | Pragmatic Play | Highest |
| Money Cart 2 | 98.00% | Relax Gaming | Highest |
Leverage Bonus Value to try Online Slots
Online casino sites are often keen to showcase their newest and top slot games, and to do this they offer players Free Spin offers on certain slots. To be alert to these online casino slot bonuses is a great way to test drive (or test spin) slots before playing them for real money.
Keep an eye out for No Deposit Bonus offers and Free Spin bonuses online.
Free Spin Bonuses
Free Spin bonuses are not necessarily free, as they may have deposit and wagering restrictions attached. Be sure to carefully read the terms and conditions to understand if the bonus offers real value.
The best online casino sites will do regular Free Spin giveaways, as a way to retain player loyalty and to let players get a taste of a slot game, essentially a try-before-you-buy tacit, which works in the player’s favor as much as the casinos.
FAQs:
Can I win real money on online slots?
Yes, online slots offer a wide range of payouts, from a few hundred to millions of dollars. Jackpot slots like Mega Moolah and WowPot games from Games Global have paid out record sums – most recently £30M+ – and these wins are well documented online. Non-jackpot slot games have fixed jackpot amounts, which can be found in the payables of each game.
What is a slot RTP?
Slot RTPs are the theoretical return a player can expect over the long term. The higher the RTP, the higher the chance a player has of hitting winning spins. For example, for every £1 wagered on a 94% RTP slot, a player should expect a theoretical long-term reward of £0,94.
Why do progressive jackpot slots have low RTPs?
Progressive jackpot slots have low RTPs because they also offer significantly higher jackpot payouts. So, while you will win less often if you do win on a progressive jackpot slot, you stand to win much bigger amounts.
What is slot volatility?
The volatility of a slot indicates how frequent payouts on the slot are. Low volatility slots have more frequent smaller payouts, while high volatility slots have less frequent, higher payouts.
Is it best to only play low volatility slots?
Low volatility slots are a favorite with players who prefer longer gaming sessions, as their slots bankroll will have more longevity. Players who prefer playing online slots for big wins but are able to withstand longer dry spells, opt for high-volatility online slot machines.
Can I win on slots in the long run?
How often you win online slots is down to luck, as slots are based on a random number generator system, which ensures fairness and randomness. There is no way to determine long-term success on slot games, regardless of strategy.
Conclusion
Going back to our original question: are online slots worth playing? The answer is entirely dependent upon what you as a player are looking for in an online slot. If you are seeking big wins, then you could go for long periods without hitting any winning spins, so it may not seem worthwhile playing slots for real money.
However, if you enjoy the entertainment value slot games offer today, and the potential of winning jackpots and hitting big wins is not the sole reason for playing, then finding the right combination of high-end entertainment and winning opportunities means that yes, playing slots is worth the real money investment.
Ask yourself: what kind of slot player am I? Then look for the perfect slot match on the casino market, because there are 1000’s of slots out there, designed to appeal to almost every online casino player.