Betting on slots is an entertaining way to pass the time and if you get lucky can result in a massive payday. At online casinos the progressive jackpots on various slots games can get to be upwards of a million dollars so one pull of the slot machine lever could make you a very rich gambler.
Online casinos offer a huge variety of slots games, from classic three-reel machines to video slots and progressive jackpots.
Where Can Americans Play Slots Online?
Online casino gambling is regulated state by state in the US, so your options for playing slots online depend on where you live.
Licensed Online Casinos
A handful of states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia, have legalized real money online casinos. Licensed operators in these states must verify that you are 21 or older and physically located in the state, and their games are tested and overseen by the state regulator.
Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos use a virtual currency model and are available in many states that do not have licensed online casinos. A growing number of states have moved to restrict or ban them, so availability depends on where you live. Check the rules in your state before signing up.
Offshore Online Casinos
Offshore online casinos are licensed outside the United States and accept players from across the country. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means Americans who use them have no state regulator to turn to if there is a dispute over a game or a withdrawal.
Land-Based Casinos
Commercial and tribal casinos in many states offer slots in person, which is still the most common way Americans play.
Outside the US
In Canada, Ontario has a regulated market of licensed online casinos, and the other provinces offer online casino games through their provincial lottery sites. In the UK, use operators licensed by the Gambling Commission. Elsewhere, check the rules in your country before signing up with any online casino.
How To Play Slots Online – Step By Step
Whichever option you choose, the process of getting started online is similar. Here’s a general guide.
Step 1. Choose Your Option
Decide which type of site fits where you live. Licensed online casinos are the regulated option in the states that allow them, while sweepstakes casinos are an alternative in many other states. Review the options above before signing up.
Step 2. Check The Age and Location Rules
Licensed online casinos require you to be 21 or older and physically located in the state where they are licensed. Sweepstakes casinos typically require you to be at least 18 or 21, depending on the site and state.
Step 3. Create and Verify Your Account
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Regulated sites are required to verify your identity, so you may be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a photo of your ID.
Step 4. Fund Your Account
Deposit using one of the site’s payment methods, which commonly include debit cards and bank transfers. Check how withdrawals work, and how long they take, before you deposit.
Step 5. Find The Slots Games
Browse the slots lobby and choose a game. Check the game’s paytable and return to player (RTP) percentage, which most regulated sites display, before you start spinning.
Step 6. Set Limits
Decide on a budget before you start playing and stick to it. Most regulated sites let you set deposit, loss and time limits in your account settings. If gambling stops being fun, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
Slots Betting Tips
- Read promotion terms – Slots generally have a high house edge, and casinos often run promotions aimed at slots players. Read the terms carefully so you understand any playthrough requirements before opting in.
- Bet max on progressive slots – On progressive slots that require a max bet to win the top jackpot, betting less means you are contributing to the jackpot without giving yourself a chance to win it.
Slots House Edge
Slots is the easiest game to understand at an online casino and like most easy games to play the house edge is very high. Unlike table games, the house edge on a slot depends on how that particular game was designed. Many regulated online casinos display each game’s return to player (RTP) percentage, and an RTP of 96% works out to a house edge of about 4%. Online slots commonly fall in the range of about 2% to 10%.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
The progressive jackpot slots are where you can win the life changing money. At these slots part of your bet goes towards the jackpot so if you are just playing to try to make a bit of money for the day these are not the slots for you. If what really gets you going is the excitement of possibly winning a massive amount of money then the progressives are where you should be.
Many progressives only pay out the top jackpot if the max amount is bet, so check the paytable before you play and bet the max on those games if you are chasing the jackpot. The other thing to keep in mind is that every spin at the slots machine is independent of the last. This means that the slot machine isn’t more likely to pay out the jackpot when it is higher or lower. That being said, given this information, there will be a point when betting the max on a progressive jackpot slot machine will be positive expected value for the player. The jackpot would have to be massive, and a large jackpot does not make a win any more likely on the next spin, but it does raise the value of each max bet.