In 2021, casino fans increasingly move to play slots online, especially due to its ease of access since online casinos make it easy to play the games anywhere and whenever. Check out our list of most trusted slots platforms in Canada.
Modern gambling platforms offer a great variety of other games that draw the attention of many punters. Moreover, some of them seem to be even more exciting with more complicated gameplay, better return to player percentage, and higher odds. Nevertheless, slots still accumulate billions of dollars of profit for the internet casino industry. So, before diving into explaining how online slot machines work, let’s go over the major benefits of slot games as a casino activity.
Typical online slots are based on software that generates random numbers. The rest is the same as in real-life pokies – you have reels, paylines, and symbols. Symbols have different values and some of them even provide special bonuses. When symbols form a certain pattern on a payline across one or several reels, you win. While designing the majority of slots online, software developers clearly took inspiration and experience from creating the real fruit machines for land-based facilities.
“How do slots work?” is a reasonable question for a person that is only getting into online gambling and tries to figure out the theoretical part of it. Not surprising, as there’s much more to casino slots than the basic gameplay described above.
The main concept of a slot machine includes multiple reels that display different icons. The “Wild” icon is one of the symbols that you definitely want to see on the reels. Its main function is to replace any other icon to create better combinations. Therefore, it can become an icon of the slot, except for other “special symbols”.
Another symbol that multiplies the chances to win extra money. In fact, if you manage to get a Scatter sign, it will pay out an additional sum of money regardless of the conditions. It does not have to be in a particular place, or near certain symbols; you hit it, you get the money. The types of this icon differ only by the bonuses they grant in addition to bonus credits. Another common feature allows winning a jackpot if you get two or more of them in a row.
As it comes from its name, this type of special symbol allows multiplying the total winnings from the bets on the lines. A number from 2x to 20x usually represents them, where “x” stands for the original winning you would get without the bonus. Moreover, it is even possible to hit this symbol while playing a bonus game too.
Slot | Return to player % | Reels | Paylines | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Starburst | 96.10% | 5 | 20 | NetEnt |
Secrets of Atlantis | 97.00% | 5 | 40 | NetEnt |
Thunderstruck 2 | 97.10% | 5 | 243 | Microgaming |
Jurassic World | 97.75% | 5 | 243 | Microgaming |
Motorhead | 97.80% | 5 | 76 | NetEnt |
Bloopers | 98.00% | 5 | 243 | Elk Studios |
To make it easier to navigate through the variety of slots online in Canada, the websites usually divide them into different categories. This section of the article will provide useful and relevant information about the most common ones.
Brand new slots online often feature top-notch graphics and animation. This type of slot does not have anything special in terms of gameplay, but the availability of well-designed 3D models makes the visuals stunning. While it might seem like something not very important, you will definitely notice the difference with the higher resolution and top-notch quality of the sound effects of 3D slots online.
All of the innovative features add up to give the game an atmosphere and realistic look. If 3D slots are available, most players tend to choose them over ordinary ones, due to the improved visual qualities.
If you want to have a chance to win a “grand prize” while wagering at slots online, options from this category are for you. The sum of the jackpot is fixed and you can always check it in the description of the game. Moreover, if you think that it is impossible to win one, explore the payable of the activity to see if someone was lucky enough before.
Usually, to win a jackpot, you need to meet some conditions. For example, at some fruit machines, you need to hit at least 3 scatter symbols in a row to trigger a grand prize.
Classic online slots take a lot of characteristics from the fruit machines you can find in the land-based casino facilities. The number of reels is usually limited to 3 or 5, as well as the number of paylines. In a way, you can consider this type of slot as the basic version of the activity. Thus, it is best for the newcomers that are only starting to explore the world of internet gambling.
The interface and controls of such online slots are also made to comply with the looks of real fruit machines. Moreover, the gameplay is not complicated with bonuses and different types of symbols.
These internet slot machines feature a progressive jackpot bonus. You already know about regular grand prizes, so it will be easy to get a hang of this type of promotion. Basically, the value of the jackpot is not fixed here as it increases with every single losing bet from punters. When somebody wins the prize, its value resets to the base level and the process of increasing it starts over. It is important to note, that it is usually impossible to win the jackpot if it has not reached a particular threshold that is stated in the description.
There are even progressive jackpots that work for a slot from a particular operator regardless of the platform it played on. The value of this jackpot increases when the punters wager on it in different casinos, which is very impressive.
The most common type of slots you can find in any internet casino. The gameplay features are similar to classic slots, but the visuals and interface are much more modern. Another difference is in the wider variety of options in terms of the number of reels and paylines.
We recommend considering the following factors while making a choice. Of course, every gambler is looking for the best online slot games to win real money but it always takes some knowledge to be able to identify those.
In simple terms, the paylines are the lines that grant the player winnings if he or she bets on them. In fact, the amount of them varies greatly from game to game. For example, you can find casino slots with 10 paylines or with 200 paylines. You have to understand that the gameplay of the fruit machine depends directly on the number of these lines. The more of them are available the more options you have to bet on.
We recommend starting with lower numbers and progress to slots with more paylines afterward. Thus, you will get a hang of the basics of wagering and be able to place bets that are more complicated easily.
We have already briefly touched on the question of bonuses at slot games. The list of promotions you can expect to claim when playing slots online does not end on global offers like a sign-up bonus or cashback. Software providers include specific bonuses in their products too. For instance, hitting a certain combination at the slot may unlock free spins or a bonus game. Special symbols like multipliers, wilds and scatters can also be considered as in-game bonuses.
In general, slot-specific bonuses not only allow increasing your profits from it but also spice up the gambling experience. Always check the offers for a particular game before starting to wager.
Some of the branded slots usually include special features like additional bonus rounds or special symbols. Moreover, you can also find unusual configurations of paylines and reels. There are even so-called “Tetris slots”, which rethink the gameplay of conventional slot games completely.
The current market of casino games mostly contains the products for the leading software providers. The major share of the slots online you see at gambling platforms was developed by some of them. Trying out solutions from various developers will help to form your own tastes and preferences in terms of interface, visuals, and gameplay because providers have the same approach to making all of their games.
Stick around to find out about the leading companies in the modern internet casino industry.
Playing slots online for real money is unavoidably connected with money transfer operations. Being able to deposit and withdraw credits flawlessly makes gambling so much easier. While looking for the games to stick with, make sure they provide a decent range of payment methods.
Last but not least important is the specific gameplay you are looking for. Even if you do not know about your personal preferences yet, think of the most interesting parts of gambling at slots and seek them while choosing the game. Of course, basic rules and mechanics are similar in all of the games from the category, but you will be surprised by how many differences they have.
We’ve summarized the main tips on how to choose and play slots online for real money and free below. Do not avoid putting some time into the process, because your future experience directly depends on your current choices.
The good news is that all the best sites to play slots online are similar in terms of the features and quality of the services, which makes it easier to choose from the wide range of options the current market offers.
The newcomers might be unaware of the demo mode that allows playing slots online without actually betting any real money. In fact, some software developers include the option to try out every single game from their portfolio on the official website. It is undoubtedly a great opportunity to check the most interesting slots and get a hang of their gameplay before starting a serious game.
The next essential step is creating an account at the casino of your choice. The process usually does not take too long and all the steps are intuitive and simple. All you have to do is to fill in the blank spaces with valid personal information. It is crucial to use your own name and data because you will be banned for using invalid information.
This stage also includes a verification process. Major gambling platforms require providing scans or photocopies of some documents to confirm that you are the real person and make your account using valid information. It usually takes up to 48 hours to get permission to start gambling at the casino.
That’s it! Now you are ready to get into the game and start winning valuable prizes. Remember that the main purpose f gambling is getting fun and entertainment, so do not be too disappointed if luck is not on your side sometimes. Always try to implement strategies and acquire knowledge to boost your chances of overcoming the house edge and increase your profits.
NetEnt | Founded back in 1996, the company has 24 years of experience in creating some of the best online casino slot machines for internet casino activities. The portfolio includes almost 300 games that have generated over 58 billion dollars internationally in 2019. The company is truly global cooperating with 200 websites on providing desktop and mobile slots. |
Microgaming | The company was established in 1994 and literally pioneered the market of technologies for online gambling. Famous for its high-quality software and multiple branded games like Terminator 2, Game of Thrones, and Jurassic Park, the company cooperates with all the major casinos on the market. The professional team of developers is responsible for every step of creating the games, so you can be sure of the consistency of the quality throughout the portfolio. |
Novomatic | The rich history of the company takes its beginning back in 1980 when it started to produce fruit machines for land-based casino facilities. Currently, the provider uses the experience it has accumulated over the years to improve the selection of the online slots. 21 000 employees all over the world work together to supply their solutions to 1900 facilities internationally. The products of Novomatic brought over 1.7 billion Euros in 2020. |
IGT | International Game Technology focuses on providing gambling activities of the highest quality to casinos of different countries. Its headquarters are located in London, England. In fact, IGT’s products can be found in 100 countries worldwide, which definitely proves the name of the company. |
Yggdrasil Gaming | A fairly young company that was created in 2013 has already managed to conquer the hearts of many gamblers. It strives to create products that exceed the expectations of the customers regularly, with the list of new 2021 games including dozens of interesting games. With modern looks and an innovative approach to designing every slot, the company has an immense potential of growing even more. |
“Are slots rigged?” is a question that bothers the majority of newcomers. In order to get rid of biases and false assumptions, you should know about the way the payouts of casino games work.
A percentage that shows the ratio between the amount of money players spend to wager on slots and the amount of payouts is called an RTP rate (return to player). For instance, if the game has an RTP rate of 95%, it means that for every 100 USD spent on it players get back 95% on average. Therefore, the higher this number is, the better it is for the gambler.
However, you should also understand that the effect of the higher RTP rate of the slot machine is only visible on a higher scale, after a certain amount of games. In addition, it does not guarantee that you will return 95% of your money.
Major software providers usually provide technical information about their online slot machines. You can find it either on the platform you gamble on or on the specialized websites that review different games. You should not face any difficulties while looking for the RTP rate of the slots, because this information is always in open access on the internet.
You might have noticed that the RTPs of the slots usually do not go higher than 98%. You may be lucky to find something close to 99%, but definitely not higher. The thing is that there is always a house edge in any casino facility. Essentially, the casino has to earn money for providing its services to be able to improve and pay for maintenance of the server and software support.
Nevertheless, the availability of bonuses and promotions allows making gambling profitable for those who know how to use them properly.
To make the experience of getting into online slot gambling, we suggest a list of some interesting game options to check out. After the table, you will find a short description of the slots with some technical information about them.
Slots online | Type | Developer | Volatility | Reels | Paylines | RTP |
Wheel of Fortune | Video slot | IGT | high | 5 | 5 | 96% |
Gonzo’s Quest | Video slot | NetEnt | medium | 5 | 20 | 96% |
Book of Ra | Video slot | Novomatic | high | 5 | 9 | 96% |
Immortal Romance | Video slot | Microgaming | high | 5 | 243 | 96.8% |
A classic video slot with five reels and five paylines uses the theme of a popular TV show with the same name. The distinctive feature is an availability of a triple-action bonus symbol that triggers a special puzzle bonus round. Great RTP and convenient gameplay have made the slot very popular among all types of gamblers.
The design of the slot is based on the adventures of a well-known Spanish conquistador. The visuals of the game with the short movie at the beginning create an unmatched atmosphere that complements the existing gameplay. The array of symbols includes Free Fall, Wilds, and Scatters. The slot also allows using free spins to wager.
Everything from the design of symbols to the theme of the background of the slot takes inspiration from ancient Egyptian culture. The jackpot value is 25,000 credits, which combined with high volatility almost grant-winning staggering sums of money you’ll hardly see in other slot games.
Immortal Romance is one of the top-paying online slot machines in Canada. Ability to choose from 243 paylines to bet on spices up the gameplay and increases your chances to win. The overall visuals of the game are based on fiction and books about vampires. The slot also features an autoplay function that gives an opportunity to play faster.
Mobile slots have become more popular with the development of optimization technologies and the improvement of the hardware of mobile devices. To compete for the audience that started to use smartphones and tablets to access online gambling activities the developers had to step up their optimization game. Therefore, currently, almost every casino activity, let alone slots, can work on mobile devices.
Moreover, the option of getting access to the games does not end on using the browser version of the casino. Some platforms offer dedicated applications you can download from the official source.
Speaking of bonuses, the best way to play slots online and get a hang of their features and usability are through promotions. Claiming them significantly improves the gambling experience you get from the platform.
This promotion is only available for new accounts, so if you are a newcomer, you should take advantage of it. The sign-up bonus acts as a multiplier of the first deposit and usually represented like this: “100% back plus 15 free spins”. This means that if you choose to accrue 100 CAD to your account, you will get 200 CAD as a bonus. The value of the offer usually differs for the platforms but its general idea stays the same.
To promote some new slots online, the websites usually give out free spins to their customers. You can use them to play specific slot machines without wagering real money and risking losing them. In fact, you can even withdraw the winnings you got using bonus spins after you meet wagering requirements. Simply, you have to wager bonus credits from 35 to 50 times before you can withdraw them.
Similar to the previous promotion, you get the chance to gamble without any risk. As silly as it sounds, this promotion actually exists on some websites. We recommend using it to improve your skill and get some knowledge of the mechanics of the online slots. However, to activate the bonus you still have to create an account, but you do not need to accrue any money to it.
The VIP program is created to appreciate the most loyal clients of the platform. There are usually several levels of the VIP status you can get for the account. Obtaining the better stage of it allows getting better awards and unlocks special events only for the members of the program.
The reliable banking system of the platform is crucial for real money gambling. Even if the website has some of the best paying online casino slots, but you are not able to deposit or, what is even worse, to withdraw money properly, there is no value in it. Always check if the list of payment methods of the casino contains your preferred options before trying to deposit any money.
Another debatable topic that is worth attention is best slots online type. Here we will take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of the two main categories of the online slots to find out which one is better for you.
Real money slots | Free game slots |
|---|---|
Required to sign up & verify ID | No sign up required, play straight away |
The thrill of winning a progressive jackpot | Unlimited amount of spins to hit the jackpot |
Money payouts may take a few days to process | Fun / mock money is credited to your account straight away |
Higher quality slots (3D) available | Primarily 2D slots which may be outdated |
Many opportunities to enter slot tournaments | Limited amount of free slot tournaments |
Play to win money | Play for fun |
– Wider selection of options that you can find at any internet casino;
– Wagering real money allows winning staggering sums of credits and jackpots;
– All the bonuses are available only for real money gambling;
– Playing slots for money allows participating in the loyalty program and improving the VIP status;
– Real money wagering always includes the risk of losing credits;
– Not all the slots have an affordably low threshold for the minimal deposit;
– Available at social websites or as demos at the official pages of the developers;
– Allow risk-free gambling;
– Can be used to train and gain experience that players can transfer to real-money gambling later on;
– The gameplay is similar to the ordinary casino slots
– The selection of free games is much more limited and poor;
– No bonuses.
Even though gambling mainly serves entertainment purposes, every player wants to know how to play slots in the most efficient way. We provide some relevant tips on stepping up your wagering game.
As we have already mentioned, you should take advantage of the availability of free games to gain skills. The thing is that the basic mechanics and even the RTP rates are similar to all types of slots to the point where you will not be able to tell the difference. Of course, there are some nuances you can experience only by playing the specific slot, but even then, you can find its demo version to practice.
Now that you know the importance of the return to player rate of casino games, you should always check this characteristic when playing slots online. Use the tables and online reviews to compare different solutions from software providers and go for the most favorable one.
Never abandon available promotions to get the most out of your wagering. Only after claiming several bonuses, you will see the huge difference in payouts you get. Do not forget to check the “Promotions” tab of your platform next time you visit it.
To wrap up the article, we will go over the benefits and drawbacks of slots online as one of the casino activities with the widest audience.
Now you know the main features of slot pokies and how to win money playing slots online. The status of the most popular casino activity of slots online is for sure deserved. The unique signature gameplay that is very simple yet has room for long-term gambling and the availability of thousands of options from the leading software providers make it impossible to overestimate the game.
Online gambling is legal for Canadians that are 19 or older.
The best decision is to choose from the options from the leading software providers.
Of course, if it is available on the official website of the developer.
Every slot where you bet real money allows winning real credits.
You definitely should use bonuses to boost the experience and profits.
Depends on your preferences and the choice of the software provider.
