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Out of the wide range of online casino games, slots are by far the favorites of many — and it’s quite evident. In brick-and-mortars, slots take up to 70% of the gaming space. And when some of the best online casinos are concerned, the situation is not any different. If you log into an online casino, you will quickly realize that most of the website is dedicated to money casino slot games. By now, you’re probably asking yourself why this is the case.
Believe it or not, over 50% of gamblers prefer playing slots over other casino games. Additionally, over 30% of gamblers between the age of 25 and 35 also play slots the most. Although, this is only one of the reasons why even casinos favorize online slot games. Another is that slots don’t have such high RTP rates compared to other casino games. In land-based casinos, slots’ RTP rates are usually between 80%–85%. If you compare this to Blackjack, it’s outrageous. Why? Well, because the house edge on Blackjack is only 1%, and sometimes even lower than that.
Fortunately, this is not the case in online casinos. The best online casinos all over the world make sure that RTP rates on their online slot games is from 95% and up. So if you compare this to other online casino games, slots can pay off significantly for many players. But first, here’s a brief history lesson on the history of online slot machines and how they came to be.
The History of Slots
The first slot machine ever came into existence in 1887. This first version of a slot machine was completely different from the one we know today. For starters, it wasn’t electronic at all — it contained three reels with cards on them. These cards only had symbols on them, hence why people started to call them the liberty bell machines. Additionally, the first slots didn’t award money — the prizes were either candy or cigarettes. Also, you didn’t even have to go to a casino to play the slots — you could find them in a salon or a nearby bar.
The real money slots appeared in 1891, and they used to pay out automatically. In 1964, the first electromechanical real money slot emerged. Although it didn’t need a handle, the creators decided to keep it due for marketing reasons. After all, the gamblers got used to it after pulling it for so many years. And finally, first online slots appeared in 1996, and you can play them for real money even today, as they still exist in some casinos.
How to Recognize a Good Slot
Since you now know everything about the evolution of slots, another important thing is to understand how to recognize a good slot. Real money slots emerge every day — there are thousands of them all over the internet. But where do all these online slot games come from? Who makes them? Well, that’s the essential factor in this equation.
The reputation of online slot games depends on who produced them, and that goes for other online casino games as well. So before you start playing real money slots, make sure you check who created them. Here are some of the most popular software makers that guarantee amazing online slot games:
- Microgaming
- NetEnt
- RTG (RealTime Gaming)
- Rival
- Yggdrasil
- Play’n Go
- Quickspin
This is the list of some of the most popular ones, so if you encounter a name that you didn’t find here, don’t discard it immediately. You can always do some online research and find out if the provider is good or not.
The reason why you should make sure the maker of a specific slot is reputable is mostly because of the jackpot and the RNG. These two factors make a considerable difference when it comes to slots.
RTP and RNG
RTP (Return to Player) and RNG (Random Number Generator) are two main things that form the science behind slots.
RTP is how much a slot pays back to players in its lifetime. In land-based casinos, this is usually somewhere between 80% and 85% at best. However, online, it’s usually between 92% and 97%. Although, the modern standard is that a slot shouldn’t pay out less than 95%, and this is what most online casinos go by. Which means you shouldn’t settle for less. If a casino you’re playing at has slots that pay out less than 94%, you should simply find a new one. The competition is high, so there are plenty of them to pick from online.
The Random Number Generator is what guarantees the randomness behind a slot. This is an algorithm that was developed because machines could not truly randomize their outcomes. There was always some pattern that smart players could predict. With RNG, the outcome of a slot round is entirely random and truly unpredictable. Just make sure to watch out for casinos with a bad reputation, because they’re sometimes known to tamper with the RNG. They often curve it into their favor, which means more losing for you.
What Are the Best Slots This Year?
Even though we’re only in the first half of 2019, some online slot games already broke through the top. In an attempt to avoid top lists on many websites that promote one game or another, I decided to create my own list. My goal is to make sure you have the most genuine information on which slots are the best for now.
5. Temple of Treasure
This slot by Blueprint Gaming is ahead of its time. Next to the fantastic visuals and sound effects, it also has the RTP of 96%. Online, you can find plenty of videos and news of people who won the jackpot thanks to playing this slot.
4. Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe
The moment this Novomatic slot came out, the players grew to like it and favorize it. It gives frequent payouts, and a lot of renowned casinos purchased it.
3. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
This slot follows after a famous TV show from the UK. Fans from all over the world couldn’t hide their excitement once it came out. It pays out quite well, and most of the reviews online praise it. So feel free to give it a try.
2. Reactoonz
This slot from Play’n Go does not disappoint on any field. The visual effects are stunning, and you can play with weird, furry creatures of many sizes and shapes. Additionally, this slot offers tons of features that you can trigger if you fill up the meter. I can nearly guarantee that you will love this slot — especially because it came from Play’n Go.
1. Fish Catch Slot
RealTime Gaming takes the number one spot due to its creativity and innovation. This slot is completely different from what you’re probably used to. Instead of reels, you’ll find yourself under the sea while trying to shoot different species of fish. The game offers you a couple of guns, and the strength of the bullets depends on your deposit. The stronger the gun, the bigger the fish you get to catch. Either way, you can see for yourself why this game is so entertaining.
The Power of Research
I like to say better safe than sorry, and this applies to slots more than any other game. With so many rogue casinos always ready to tamper with the online casino games, you can never be too safe. However, if you thoroughly research a casino and the slots it offers, your losses can only be fair. So be careful, and good luck!