A Guide to Online Slots

Slots are one of the most popular games you will find when you enter the lobby of an online casino in the US. They are fun and easy to play. In this comprehensive guide, we will talk about the best online slots you can play at US online casinos and how to enjoy a great experience playing them.

Before we dive right into the best online slots in the US, let's first explain what an online slot is. Simply put, they are digital online casino games that are based on luck and involve spinning reels to win money. 

Slots come in different types, but they share the same gameplay. Besides that, they have several in-game bonus features that you can trigger while playing them.

One of the perks of choosing one of our recommended US online casinos at CasinoTalk is that they offer free no-deposit bonuses so you can test games with real money without risking your own money.

Online gambling is legal according to US federal law. However, each state has the autonomy to decide whether to allow any form of gambling. States like New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia allow online casino gambling. However, you need to be physically present within the walls of the state to gamble online. 

Part of the games offered at casinos in these states is video slots. Thus, it means that it is legal to play according to their laws.

That said, be aware that some states do not allow online gambling while some are still trying to pass bills to legalize it. In such states, online slot games are considered illegal.

Why Play Slots at Legal & Licensed Online Casinos?

For starters, you will have access to a wide array of slot titles. Being able to choose from many titles means that you can easily find the one that suits your taste and enjoy a great gaming experience. 

Besides that, these top casino sites offer different kinds of bonuses that you can use on slot games, such as free spins, reload bonuses, cashback bonuses, match bonuses, and many others.

When you play at a legal gambling site, you can also rest assured that you are in safe hands. This is because they offer fair games from top developers in the iGaming industry. 

You will also be able to play on your desktop computers and mobile devices without any complications. Not to mention the fact that they offer fast payouts and are legitimate.

Some of the key features that legal online casinos have in common when it comes to offering online slots:

• They tend to have a massive selection of slots available
• They often offer great bonuses that apply to slots
• They only partner with reliable and trusted developers to feature games

Choosing the best online slot games in the US can be a little tricky, especially if you don't know what to look for. However, that is why we are here for you at CasinoTalk. 

There are a couple of things that make a good online slot stand out, and they include:

• Return to Player (RTP) percentage
• Volatility
• Hit Frequency
• Payout

Every slot game has a structure, but they are similar to that of the others. The main playing grid features a number of rows and reels, and there is usually a pay line embedded that determines where the winning combination must be landed. 

For instance, classic slots often come with 3 rows and 5 reels. The symbols used in the game populate the reels, and their design is based on the slot's theme. For instance, fruit theme slot games often feature watermelon, oranges, melons, and so on as part of their symbols.

Online Slot Games and RNG

As we mentioned earlier, a slot is a game of luck. Thus, the outcome is completely random, and every player has the same chance to win. The game uses a Random Number Generator (RNG) for this randomization. This is a mathematical-based computer algorithm that generates random number sequences used to determine each spin's outcome. 

One unique feature of the RNG is that their outcomes do not rely on each other. This makes it pretty difficult to guess if the next spin will be the winning spin.

Return to Player Percentage

The Return to player percentage or RTP refers to the theoretical percentage of the entire bet placed on a game, which players will get back as winnings in the long run. For instance, if a slot has an RTP of 97% and the total bet placed on it in its entire lifetime is $100. Then, the theoretical amount it will pay as winnings to players will be $97. 

Thus, the higher the RTP of a slot, the better it is in the long run. The industry-standard value for a good online slot game is 95%. So you may want to avoid playing games below this value. But, surely, this is not the only factor that makes for the best slot.

Volatility

The volatility or variance of a slot is another essential factor that you need to consider before choosing it. The volatility of an online slot refers to the risk associated with the game. High volatility slots have higher risks but often pay high. This means that winning in these games may not be frequent, but it is usually significant when you do. 

As for low volatility games, they have much lower risks and offer frequent winnings. However, the winnings are not anywhere compared to the high-volatility games. Medium volatility slot games, on the other hand, have moderate risks and winnings.

Hit Frequency

Not many developers provide information about their hit frequency. But if you can get this information about a slot, it can help you decide whether it is a good choice for you or not. 

The hit frequency in online slots tells you how often you can expect to line up a win. For instance, a slot with a hit frequency of 30% means that of every 100 consecutive spins, you can expect to land a winning combination 30 times.

Payouts

This is another important factor to consider when choosing an online slot game to play. The online slot payout tells you how much the game is capable of offering as winnings. When you play the best slots at one of CasinoTalk's recommended casino sites, you can check the paytable information to know what each symbol pays. 

If the betting limit of a slot is high and the payout is low, it may not be the best slot for you to play.

There are several kinds of online slots that American players love to play. This includes classic three reels slot, progressive jackpot slots, video slots, and multi-pay line slots. Each of these types has several incredible features that make them fun to play.

Classic Three and Five Reels Slot

These old-school slot machines come with three reels, and they often have symbols like Aces, Wilds, Lucky Horseshoes, and Lucky 7. The goal is to line up the same symbols horizontally to win. 

However, with advancements in the gaming world, classic slot games now have more sophisticated layouts and features with more reels such as the 5 reel slot.

Progressive Jackpot Slot

These are slots that have progressive jackpot slots that players can win. Several progressive jackpot slot games like the Mega Fortune have paid millions as winnings to players when they hit the jackpot prize. The layout of these games can take any form, depending on the developer. Besides that, they may have multiple jackpots like Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand jackpots.

Video Slot

Video slot generally refers to computerized versions of slot machines that you can play on your desktop computers or mobile devices. They can come with varying themes, layouts, in-game bonus features, and so on. In most cases, they are used interchangeably with online slot games.

Multi-Payline Slot

A multi-payline slot gives you plenty of paylines to work with on the reels. Some come with thousands of paylines called mega ways. You can check the pay line configuration of a slot in its information menu. The regular paylines can be fixed or adjustable depending on the game.

When you play the best slots online, you will have a chance to trigger in-game bonus features. These features can help you enjoy more playing time and increase the size of your wallet. 

However, note that the bonus features available in a particular slot may not be present in others. Here are some of the popular in-game bonus features you will find in the best slot games that top American online casinos feature in their lobby.

Online video slots that you find in the lobby of the best casino sites are from different game developers. Each of these developers has special features that they are well-known for. However, they all design games that are fun to play and come with incredible features. Some of the popular developers that make online slot games for American casinos include:

• NetEnt
• DGC
• Everi
• IGT
• AGS Interactive
• Evolution Gaming

Although slots are luck-based, you can use a couple of betting strategies to improve your chances. But you should note that no strategy offers a 100% winning potential, so only bet what you can afford to lose when playing.

If you are just starting out, you may want to stick to only low volatility video slot games because they offer frequent small wins. However, do not forget to check the RTP and hit frequency if possible. If the RTP is low, below 90%, you should avoid the slot and find a different one to play.

Another strategy you can use to boost your odds of winning is claiming casino bonuses. When you play at the best online casinos in the US, such as those we recommend, you can claim different kinds of bonuses. With bonuses, you won't be risking too much of your money. 

Nevertheless, be aware that they have terms and conditions you need to fulfill you can win from them. So take your time to go through the bonus T&Cs and pay attention to the wagering requirement. Some online casinos even offer players no-wager bonuses, so you can watch out for this as well.

A mobile slot refers to any video slot that you can play right from your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet. The good thing about these online slot games is that you don't need to stay glued to your desktop computer screen before you can play them. In fact, you can be on a moving train or the elevator and spin the reels of the slot games.

When you play on mobile casino apps, you may notice a few differences in the games. For instance, some buttons may be collapsed together into a single menu to create space for the main playing grid. However, the overall gameplay and features are the same whether you play from your desktop computer or mobile device.

At CasinoTalk recommended casinos, almost all the slots are mobile-optimized and can be played on your smartphone without installing any special software.