After the coronavirus pandemic slowed the gambling industry to a standstill, 2021 is shaping up to be one of the best years ever for legal gambling. Online slot games in the USA contributed to a return to pre-pandemic growth.
Hundreds (if not thousands) of slot games can be played online at any time. Who can play online slots? So long as you’re in a legal jurisdiction for online gambling, almost anyone.
Let’s take a look at the most popular slot games.
How Do Online Slots Work?
You’re probably wondering: How do online slots work? Well, if you’ve ever visited a brick-and-mortar casino before, then you’ve seen the areas where slot machines are located.
Online slots work similarly with a random number generator (RNG). Each time a player presses Spin, a new sequence is created at random.
Using that basic formula, you can calculate your win percentage based on your own experience by practising with any game. Online slots offer a return-to-player rate (RTP).
The higher the RTP, the better your chances of winning. So, you’ll want to choose a game that offers you the best RTP.
Before picking an online casino, you’ll want to make sure it’s reputable. Read any reviews if possible, and make sure there’s reliable customer service available if you should have any questions or concerns.
Check out Safest Betting Sites for the best online slots in 2021.
Top 10 Slot Games in the USA
When getting started picking your slot games, it’s imperative that you find a legal online casino in your area. Online gambling in the U.S. has changed a lot over the last few years. So, there should be options for you in the coming years if there aren’t any already.
Here are some of the most popular online slots in the U.S.
Bonanza
Bonanza is an online slot game by Megaways with over 117,000 ways to win. You’ll need to match three or more symbols or gemstones on a payline. Top features include:
*96% RTP
*Free spins
*Autoplay
*$0.20 minimum bet / $20 max bet
*$200k jackpot
The game offers plenty of opportunities for Free Spins, including spelling out G-O-L-D or a plus-5 extra Scatter symbol. However, with medium volatility, you’d need to practice quite a bit to understand how often the slot pays out.
Mega Moolah
For simpler gameplay, Mega Moolah might be another great option for online slots. With five rows and three reels, the game’s theme comes from wild animals in Africa.
Here are some basic features:
*88.12% RTP
*Free spins
*Autoplay (with adjustable paylines)
*$0.25 minimum bet / $6.25 max bet
*$1 million jackpot
This is a perfect game for beginners at online slots. Symbols showing monkeys and antelope offer the lowest payouts, while elephants and lions pay out the best (anywhere from 5x – 15,000x).
With 25 paylines, this game is not only easy to follow but fun to play.
Aliens
From the online gaming provider NetEnt comes this Aliens slot based on the famous movie. The game offers players a unique chance to feel like they’re interacting with a video game rather than an online casino.
*97.5% RTP
*Bonus round
*Autoplay
*$0.15 minimum bet / $150 max bet
Three levels comprise the game (The Search, The Encounter, The Hive) leading up to the jackpot. Ten different alien symbols can be matched on three rows and five reels.
If you are a fan of the movie, then this slot might be a perfect option for you to try.
Family Guy
International Game Technology provides the next choice, a Family Guy online slot game. It’s a 5-reel, 30-payline game with a $15,000 jackpot.
Players can wager anywhere from 50-1,500 coins per spin. You’ll need at least three symbols per payline to win. The Peter Griffin symbol offers the best payouts for any character from 25-250x.
Bonuses payout every 20-30 spins, with the potential to win anywhere from 5-1000x of your coin (bet) value. The value of this online slot comes from how entertaining it is to play.
Gladiator
Playtech, a software company, based in the U.K., released their Gladiator online slot game based on the movie. The slot has three rows, five reels, and 25 paylines.
With low volatility, a 91.5% RPT, and a minimum bet of $0.25, it’s suggested that players use 150 spins as a way of getting acquainted with payouts.
Adjust your payouts manually, but be sure to keep your odds in mind for the $2 million jackpot. Five Commodus symbols on a payline award you 5000x. A 3x Scatter symbol gives you a Colosseum bonus for free spins, while a Gladiator bonus is linked to the jackpot.
Cash Wizard
Bally’s Cash Wizard offers five reels with 30 paylines and a 93.99% RTP. The main character is a young wizard, and symbols include 9, 10, J, Q, K, A, three different colours of gemstones, and a Wild symbol.
You can also be awarded potions and two options for free games. While there isn’t an autoplay feature, the minimum bet stands at $0.50 with a $400 max bet.
The highest payout is $250,000, with a jackpot of $40,000. So, for medium-to-high rollers, this might be a decent option. Mix up your bet amounts and practice before you play for real money.
Game of Thrones
If you’ve seen the popular HBO series, then you’re probably familiar with the Game of Thrones associated with this online slot. This game is available as an app for Apple and Android.
With over 100,000 reviews, this might be a great place to start as a beginner. New users get a 250,000 coin bonus.
Players navigate storylines based on different characters. Collect cards along the way to boost your bonus potential.
Here are some basic features:
*95.07% RTP
*Free spins
*Autoplay (quick spin available)
*$0.30 minimum bet / $6 max bet
*$121,500 jackpot
Jackpots include the Targaryen, Stark, and Lannister free spins worth 8,100x – 16,200x. These unique features determine your playing style depending on your patience and tolerance level.
Book of Dead
Developed by Play’n GO, Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead is a five-reel, three-row online slot with 10 paylines. With a minimum bet of $0.01, you could significantly increase your chances of total spins, albeit with smaller payouts.
The slot’s theme comes from an Egyptian treasure hunt from Rich Wilde, who acts as an Indiana Jones composite. High volatility drives these other features:
*96.21% RTP
*Free spins/bonus rounds
*Autoplay (adjustable paylines)
*$50 max bet
*$250,00 jackpot
Some symbols in the game require only two matches on a payline for a win: Phoenix, Anubis, Pharaoh, and Rich Wilde. Acquire three or more of them, and you’ll be able to win anywhere from 30-5000x.
Figure out how long it takes to get free spins, and that should show you whether or not this online slot game is valuable for your bet amounts.
Treasure Island
Quickspin made the following online slot, Treasure Island, which is based on the famous adventure novel. The game features five reels and 40 fixed paylines. At 97.07%, the RTP comes as slightly above average.
Bonus features include a Pirate Attack that offers Wild symbols to boost earnings, a Treasure Hunt (unveil two symbols for your payout), and a Pick and Click (free spins or extra Wild symbols that improve your chances to win).
The jackpot for Treasure Island comes fixed at 100x your total bet. (Minimum bet: approx $0.50 / max bet: approx. $100.)
Playboy
The final of the most fun online slots comes from Playboy by Microgaming. With medium volatility, a 96.57% RTP, 243 paylines, and a $6,000 jackpot, this makes for an impressive option for gamblers.
A minimum bet amount of $0.30 paired with a max bet of $30 offers low rollers a chance to amuse themselves in the Playboy brand.
Two Scatter symbols on a payline double your prize, providing you with 10 free spins and a 5x bet multiplier. If you get the bonus more than 15 times, you’ll be rewarded with 25 free spins.
Some of the girls are pretty nice, too.
Conclusion
As you can see, online slots in the USA offer gamblers quite a selection. There’s something for every taste and preference, from silly cartoon characters to fantasy worlds filled with treasure hunts, gemstones, and even a peek into the Playboy mansion.
A decent strategy for online slots comes from patience and your ability to understand how often each game pays out. Also, when you switch up your bets if you’re on a losing streak, that might help to change the odds in your favour.
Either way, you’ll have plenty of choices as the online gambling world soars to new heights.
Bryan Myers is a freelance writer from the U.S. In 2019, he travelled to 12 countries around the world. He also teaches English online. Currently, he’s living back in the U.S after being away for three years. He’s been writing for Safest Betting Sites since August 2019, covering the 2020 U.S. Election, entertainment, crypto, online casinos, and sports betting.