Top 10 Best Online Slots For Beginners
If you’re wondering what are the best slot machines to play are, we’ve rounded up the ten most beginner-friendly and most-recognized options for you below.
1. Starburst
Coming in first for what's the best slot machines to play is Starburst, a legendary NetEnt slot with five reels, three rows, and ten paylines that pay both ways with a maximum win of 500x your bet. The game features expanding wilds and respins, combined with low volatility and an RTP of 96.09%.
Simple game mechanics
Paylines that pay both ways
Limited maximum winning potential
2. Book of Dead
Book of Dead is also one of the best slot machines to play online. The game features scatter symbols and free spins. It has 96.21% RTP and a maximum win of 5,000x.
Free spins are offered
Ancient Egypt theme
Highly volatile
Play Book of Dead slot for free
3. Gonzo’s Quest
Gonzo’s Quest by NetEnt features 5 reels and 3 rows with 20 fixed paylines that pay up to 2,500x. Its medium volatility and an RTP of 95.97% make it one of the best online slot games for beginners.
Multipliers on consecutive wins
Fun storyline
Slightly more complex
Play Gonzo's Quest slot for free
4. Big Bass Bonanza
Pragmatic Play’s Big Bass Bonanza is a 5-reel, 3-row slot with 10 fixed paylines, medium volatility, and an RTP of 96.71%. With up to 20 free spins for 3-5 scatters and 10x multipliers, this slot is perfect for beginners.
Simple features
High 2,100x max win
No bonus buy feature
Play Big Bass Bonanza slot for free
5. Thunderstruck 2
Thunderstruck 2 by Microgaming is a 5-reel, 3-row slot with 243 paylines, medium volatility, and an RTP of 96.65%. In addition to the free spins and wildstorm feature, its 8,000x max win potential makes it as one of the slots that beginners should definitely try.
Multiple bonus features
Straightforward controls
Can feel complex
Play Thunderstruck 2 slot for free
6. Cleopatra
Cleopatra features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines. It ranks as one of the best slot machines to play in casino sites, thanks to its medium volatility and an RTP of 95.02% offering a 10,000x max win.
Simple gameplay
Regular free spins
Lower RTP
7. Immortal Romance
Immortal Romance features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 243 paylines with a max win of 12,150x. The game has an RTP of 96.86%, free spins, and random multipliers, making it perfect for new players.
High max win
Free spin rounds
Rare wins
Play Immortal Romance slot for free
8. Gates of Olympus
Gates of Olympus features 6 reels, 5 rows, and an RTP of 96.5%. The game is highly volatile and has a max win of 5,000x. The advantages of the slot are the cascading reels mechanic and random multipliers of up to 500x. It is also one of the best slots to play online for real money, thanks to bonus rounds.
Multipliers up to 500x
Greek mythology theme
Highly volatile
Play Gates of Olympus slot for free
9. Mega Joker
Mega Joker by NetEnt is one of the easiest and best slots to play online to win real money. This classic 3-reel fruit slot features high volatility, an RTP of 99%, and a Supermeter mode with a maximum win of up to 2,000x. This is a simple classic that is suitable for players taking their first steps in online casino games. Without a doubt, Mega Joker is one of the best video slots to play.
Simple to learn
Progressive jackpot potential
Stale graphics
10. Fruit Shop
Last on the list of best slot games for beginners is Fruit Shop, with wild symbols that give a 2x multiplier in the base game. This 5-reel, 3-row slot has 15 fixed paylines that offer up to 2,000x, low-to-medium volatility, and an RTP of 96.7%.
Easy to understand
Free spins trigger often
Limited bonus features
Types of Best Online Slots for Beginners
Some categories of slots are better suited for beginners. Below are the main types of best slot machines to play at a casino, with examples.
Classic Slots. Classic slots usually have three reels and fewer paylines. Mega Joker is a perfect example of classic slots with a high RTP of up to 99% making it one of the best slot games online.
Highest RTP Slots. Slots with an RTP of 96% or higher are considered priority games for beginners to choose. Blood Suckers, with an RTP of 98%, ranks as one of the best highest RTP Slots to Play.
Megaways Slots. Megaways slots use a variety of reels, offering players up to 1,000,000 ways to win. This attracts new players and increases interest in these games. For example, Bonanza Megaways offers 117,649 winning ways and 26,000x max win, ranking as one of the best slot machines to play at casinos.
Progressive Jackpot Slots. Progressive jackpot slots link multiple games like Medusa Megaways and Rakin Bacon to create bigger winning possibilities. Consider Mega Moolah, one of the best online real money slots, with a record winning sum of £19,430,723 in April 2021.
Mobile Slots. Mobile slots are the same casino games optimized for portable devices. For example, Starburst, with its RTP of 95% and low volatility, is available on casino apps and is among the best slot machines for beginners.
Bonus Features in the Best Casino Games
It is important to understand the bonus features of the best online casino slots. For beginners, knowing these features makes the game more understandable and, in the long run, can increase the likelihood of successful play.
🎁 Bonus Symbols
These are special icons, such as wilds and scatters, that unlock features. They are part of modern 3D slots that offer additional bonus rounds.
For example, in Lost Relics slot, the sticky wilds make it easy to land winnings.
🆓 Free Spins
Free spins are rounds that allow you to play by spinning the reels without spending money. Usually, free spins are awarded as a separate round in which the player can get a chance to win big. In some slots, free spins can be restarted.
Power of Thor Megaways is an excellent example of a slot with a free spins round.
🚀 Multipliers
Multipliers are special features in slots that increase the value of your wins by a set factor. In Gates of Olympus, multipliers can reach as high as 500×.
💡 Quick Tip: Focus on slots with multipliers during bonus rounds, such as Raging Rex, and look for games where they can stack.
🎰 Cascading Reels
Cascading reels are symbols that disappear after a win, allowing new ones to fall and create additional chances to win. Gonzo’s Quest uses this mechanic.
✅ Interesting Fact: Best online slots for real money, like Bonanza Megaways, can trigger multiple consecutive wins from a single spin, sometimes awarding 10 or more cascades in a row.
🎮 Avalanche Play
Avalanche play is similar to cascading reels but often comes with multipliers, creating a chain of wins.
You can find this feature in Reactoonz slot by Play'n Go.
Tips for Beginners on Choosing the Best Casino Slots
Now that you know what slot machines are the best to play, let’s proceed to select those that match your gaming style. When making your selection, consider the following tips:
👉 Tip 1: Check RTP and Volatility
If you prefer small and regular wins, opt for slots with a low RTP between 88% and 90%, such as Mega Moolah. However, players who prefer less frequent but bigger payouts should choose titles with high RTP above 97% including Jazz Spins and Woodland Savages.
👉 Tip 2: Choose Slots with Simple Mechanics
Slots with straightforward rules are easier for beginners to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed. Think of games like Fruit Shop.
👉 Tip 3: Learn Bonus Features
It's essential to understand bonus features such as wilds, bonus rounds, scatters, and multipliers. They unlock the biggest wins and most exciting moments in the game.
💡 Editor’s Advice: Before betting with real money, play the demo version of the slot first. This lets you explore the bonus features risk-free.
👉 Tip 4: Check the Bet Size Range
Choose slots that suit your bankroll. If you are a newbie, consider Mega Joker, which offers low bet options of $0.10.
✅ Interesting Fact: If you play low bets at Mega Joker, you will receive the base rate (85.28%). However, engaging in Supermeter mode (max bet) pushes the RTP to 99%.
👉 Tip 5: Choose Slots with Themes That Interest You
Slots are more enjoyable when they align with your interests.
For example, Mythology-themed titles often rank as some of the best online slots games. Thunderstruck II, Zeus 2, and Disc of Athena are some of the top picks in the category.