In today’s day and age, free online slots are all the rage. There are many reasons for this, including but not limited to:
- Real money online slot machines are not legal in all parts of the world.
- A large number of people are on a tight budget, however, they still want to experience the excitement and thrill of casino games.
- Free games are packed with more features and benefits than ever before.
Since no two slot games are the same, it’s important to have a process in place for comparing your thousands of options.
In this guide, we’re going to discuss the details of comparing free online slot games. In the end, it’s our hope that you’ll better understand what to look for and how to get started.
Three Steps for Getting Started
Just the same as playing slots in person, there are steps you can follow online to ensure that you spend your time with the right games.
It’s easier than you may think to get started, especially if you follow these three steps:
- Find a casino that offers free slot games. While most online establishments offer both free and real money games, you don’t want to assume that this holds true. Be sure to check on this before signing up for an account.
- Create an account. The nice thing about playing for free is that you can breeze through the signup process. Since there is no real money changing hands, it only takes a few minutes to create and verify an account.
- Browse the selection. Now that you have an account, it’s time for the real fun to begin. Review the many games you can choose from, paying close attention to those with a free version.
Along with the above, there’s one other thing worth nothing: you may decide to play real money slots in the future, so make sure you choose a casino that offers both types of games.
When you take these three steps in order, you’ll be amazed at how soon you’re spinning the reels.
Top Reasons to Play Free Slot Machines
On the surface, free games may sound like a waste of time. But before you pass judgment, let’s examine some of the top reasons to consider this idea:
- It’s illegal to play real money games in your state or country. In this case, you only have two options: visit a land based casino or play online for free. Since you won’t always have the time to visit a local establishment, playing via the internet is all you are left with.
- You’re looking for nothing more than a good time. Sometimes you don’t care about the chance to win a big jackpot. Instead, the only thing that matters to you is an enjoyable experience. With free online slots, it’s all about having a good time. There is no risk involved, so you can sit back, spin the reels, and keep a big smile on your face.
- To learn something valuable. Since free and real money online games are the same, outside the betting requirement, you are in a unique position to devise a strategy for future use. As you play for free, chart your experience so you can use it to your advantage down the road.
These aren’t the only reasons to play free slot machine games, but they are definitely among the best. If one or more of these points intrigue you, it’s probably time to follow the steps above for getting started.
Does the Theme Excite You?
When comparing real money slot machines, there are many details that deserve your attention. In addition to the theme, you want to pay attention to:
- The developer of the game.
- The number of reels and paylines.
- The minimum and maximum wager.
- The top payout.
- Extra features, such as free spin bonus rounds, wild symbols, and scatter symbols.
But things are a bit different when you’re comparing free games. Here’s why: you don’t have any real money on the line. For this reason, the thing that matters most is that you have a good time. And as you know, this often starts with the theme.
Generally speaking, every slot game has a different theme. There are those based on famous movies, such as Ghostbusters slots. There are also those based on animals, ranging from cats to dolphins among others.
Ask yourself this question: since winning real money isn’t an option, which theme will allow you to have the best possible experience? If you know the answer to this question, you can quickly cut through the list of available games to find the best one.
As a general rule of thumb, when you enjoy the theme of a free slot machine you’re more likely to enjoy the time you spend with the game.
Extra Features Add Excitement
In the section above, we discussed how important it is to choose a game with the right theme. This is the first step in having a good time, however, there’s something else to think about: the extra features.
These include but are not limited to:
- Free spin bonus games. It doesn’t matter if you are playing for free or with real money, entering a free spin round always takes the action to the next level.
- Wild symbols. With this feature activated, a wild symbol is able to substitute for almost any other on the reels. And when it does, you know your chance of winning goes through the roof.
- Scatter symbols. Just the same as wilds, these are meant to add excitement to the game. With these able to pop up at any time, you should always be on your toes.
A good example of a game with extra features is South Park by Net Entertainment. In addition to base gameplay, there are bonus games such as:
- Cartman’s bonus
- Hankey mini feature
Even if you’re playing this online slot for free, you still have the ability to access these bonus games. And when you do, there are more thrills than you ever imagined possible.
For many, it’s these extra features that make a free game worth their time.
What can You Learn Playing Free Online Slot Games?
From the outside looking in, one free slot machine game is the same as the next. In short, two things hold true:
- You aren’t required to wager any money.
- You don’t have the opportunity to win real money.
Even though all free games share these traits, don’t overlook the fact that every spin of the reels can be a good learning experience.
Take for instance Tiki Torch online slots. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing this game for free or real money, everything about both versions is identical. From the reel symbols to the bonus features, from the configuration to the ways you win, everything is the same.
This gives you the opportunity to improve you knowledge base as you play for free. Your goal may be to have fun – and there’s nothing wrong with that – but keep in mind that you can learn something now that can be used during real money play in the future.
Playing free slots for fun can put a smile on your face, but that’s not the only benefit. When free and real money versions are identical, you can formulate a winning strategy with no financial risk.
Step Up to a Real Money Game
Even if you’re in the habit of playing free slot machine games, there may come a point when you itch for the “real thing.” This is why you need to look into the future before you sit down to spin the reels.
As you compare free online slots, ask yourself this question: can the game also be played for real money if the time comes?
If the answer is no, it doesn’t mean you should avoid the game. It simply means you won’t be able to play with real money in the future.
If the answer is yes, however, you know you’re in position to make an immediate change down the road.
Red Baron is a good example of a game that can be played for free and real money online. Once you’ve had your fill of playing for free, you can take things up a notch and chase after bonus round winnings and a jackpot of nearly $40,000.
Overall, here’s what you need to remember: some free online slot games can also be played with real money at the same casino. Others, however, don’t offer this experience.
When comparing games, there are benefits of gravitating towards those that have both a free and real money option at the same casino. This allows you to jump back and forth between both versions, knowing that you’re always able to play the one that suits you best at any given time.
What are Others Saying?
As an online consumer, you often spend time reading reviews before making a final purchase. This gives you the opportunity to see what others think about a product or service, thus allowing you to make a more informed decision.
You can take the same approach with free slot games. Here are some of the benefits of reading reviews before deciding where to spend your time:
- An inside look at a game through the eyes of a player who is in the same position as you.
- The opportunity to learn more about the pros and cons of a machine, which could change your outlook and final decision.
- Uncover potential concerns that may steer you away from a machine, such as one with a lack of bonus games or a confusing theme.
Along with reading reviews, don’t hesitate to watch online videos of players winning at a particular machine.
For example, here’s a video of a player winning $1,475 at a Birds of Pay slot machine. By watching this brief video, you can pick up details such as:
- Highest paying reel symbols.
- Winning combinations.
- How to win free spins.
- A strategy for playing.
Best yet, you’ll see a player win a lot of money. This alone may give you the confidence needed to sit down and play for yourself (even if you’re only doing so for fun).
You can never go wrong when you research a game before getting involved.
Five Top Online Casinos for Free Slots
As interested as you may be in playing free slots online, you can’t actually do so until you find a casino that suits your every want and need.
Above, we discussed the many ways to compare free games to ensure that you spend your time wisely. Now, it’s time to review five of the top online casinos for players in your position.
1. Slots.lv
One of the best internet casinos for free and real money slots, you can’t go wrong when you choose to spend your time here.
Top benefits include:
- A 200% match on your first deposit (if you ever decide to play with real money).
- One of the largest selections of online slot games.
- The perfect solution for mobile players (learn more here).
As one of the most popular and fastest growing online casino properties, you’ll enjoy your experience at Slots.lv.
In the world of free online slots, there aren’t many casinos with more to offer than Silver Oak.
For free players, the primary benefit is access to more than 80 games. On this page, you can review all of the available games, including the latest releases.
If the time comes to play with real money, it’s easy to make a deposit and get started. But until then, all you have to do is choose the “Play for Fun” option and spin the reels.
3. Bovada
With one of the biggest names in the online gaming space, there’s no wondering why so many slots players gravitate towards Bovada.
This page outlines its many free online games, ranging from slot machines to table games among others.
If you’re interested solely in free online slots, here are a few reasons to give Bovada some of your time:
- Large selection of the most popular games.
- The use of 3D graphics for a more personal experience.
- Availability of download, browser, and mobile games.
As you can see, Bovada is more than just a popular name. It’s a go-to casino for slots players.
As you can tell by the name, this online casino is all about slots.
There are many reasons for its popularity, including five distinct categories of games:
- Progressive
- Bonus Rounds
- 3-reel
- 5-reel
- 6-reel
Even if you start out playing for free, Sloto Cash makes it easy to transition into real money games should this pique your interest.
It may not have the history of many other online casinos, but Ignition brings benefits to all types of players.
One of the primary advantages is the depth of information included with each game. The Golden Gorilla page, for example, provides an overview of the machine. You’ll learn things such as:
- How to play
- Top features
- Bonus rounds
With each game including this information, it’s easy to settle on the one that’s best for you at a particular time.
Conclusion
At this point, you know there are thousands of free slot machines to choose from. You also know there are many casinos that offer these games (including the five best detailed above).
Now, there’s only one thing left to do: compare free online slots and casinos with the idea that you’ll find the right combination. When this happens, you’re ready to have the time of your life!