Online slots vs real slots, which is the better option? I mean that is why you’re here anyways. And while this is my opinion, I also have a little bit of data to back up what can be more profitable for you.
Understand slot machines offer a fun and easy way for players to get the thrill of spinning reels for a chance at potentially winning big. This is why slots are always so popular in any casino.
Online casinos have continued to expand, too, and provide spaces for players to enjoy online slots wherever they are. Now, we have a variety of different kinds of online casinos that allow players to enjoy various games globally.
But with online slots rising in popularity in recent times, the question now is: are online slots better than real slots?
To answer the question, I first need to explore the differences between the two and their unique advantages. Let’s get started.
Online Slots
Online slots are slots casino enthusiasts can get access to online. They provide a convenient way for you to play slots, even offering players more diversity than traditional slots with thousands of slot games.
They also have more variety than the classic three-reel slot from one of the very first slot games ever. Types of online slots include multi-reel and multi-pay line, video style, and progressive jackpots.
Even though the numerous options for online slot games cover an unlimited number of styles and themes, the basic mechanics of the games are all the same.
The display presents a given number of symbols on fixed layouts. After a player places a wager, a random set of symbols will appear, and these symbols on your screen award payouts based on how rare they are.
Some of the features of online slots include reels, pay lines, auto-spin, free spins, wilds, and scatters.
- Reels. Some online slot casinos replace the conventional reels with columns where icons and symbols fall in a sequential order.
- Paylines. Pay lines are the lines that form winning combinations. The new pay lines available online include mega ways, cluster pay, and more.
- Auto-spin: For players who want to rebet, auto-spins offer the convenience of placing wagers automatically without manually initiating them.
- Free Spins: Free spins are a type of bonus that gives players spins where they don’t need to wager money but can win big.
- Wilds: Wilds are symbols that can trigger multipliers, respins, and other bonus features. These symbols usually substitute for other regular icons.
- Scatters: Scatters are typically related to free spins. Unlike Wilds, scatters will pay out no matter where they land on the grid. They also often trigger a bonus round.
I also need to point out that when playing online casinos use an algorithm. They also use the Random Number Generator (RNG) algorithm to ensure games remain fair. The software randomly decides the outcome (wins or losses) based on likelihood.
Pros Of Online Slots
Convenience
Online slots give players the chance to win money from the comfort of their couches if you have a stable internet connection. And even if you’re not at home, mobile-friendly online casinos have made it possible to enjoy slots anywhere at any time.
So, there is no need to worry about hurrying home from the casino. You can play online while getting ready for bed in your pajamas; there are no strict dress codes here, unlike with real slots casinos. I mean it’s awesome!
Wide Game Variety
With online slots, you get uninterrupted access to so many titles. This guarantees you a way to play your best types of slots. And you can combine pay lines, reels, and betting size options in unlimited ways.
So, with just the tap of a button, you can get the best games, whether you prefer the traditional 3-reel games with standard icons like fruits and regular pay lines or the new 5-reel. And if you like interactive video slots with animations and graphics, you can get that, too.
Welcome Bonus
Most online casinos that allow you to play games offer bonuses all the time to new and existing players. New players can get bonuses on their first deposit or a bonus just for signing up.
So, by looking around carefully to choose a casino, you can get as much as double of your first deposit back as a welcome bonus. It’s also easy to explore different slots options online by instantly switching between casinos.
Real Live Slots
Real live slots are available in land-based casinos and have a very long history—dating back over 50 years.
Like online slots, real live slots also use the RNG software to determine the result of a slot game randomly. Video slots can be played in real live slots casinos the same way they can be played online.
Pros of Real Live Slot
Real slots have the advantage of beautiful scenery since they are located within physical casinos. Some pros include:
Center of attraction
Real live slots are usually the most popular thing to do in casinos. This is why they’re almost always full of people having conversations while enjoying a round of spins.
Physical presence
Everything feels more realistic with real slots. This is where they shine differently than online casinos. You can have a slot machine right in front of you and press buttons, pull handles and levers, and be present in the moment.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is also unique; the sound of music, cheerful conversation, and the scent of drinks wafting through the air is something land-casino goers can’t do without for slot games.
Which is Best?
Okay, I get that I might still be a tough decision but hear me out. All things being considered, when we look at the areas where online slots and real live slots have an advantage over each other, it’s clear that online slots take the number one spot.
Although they both use Random Number Generators to ensure the slot games are fair and wholly randomized, that is the online similarity they share.
Apart from the convenience of being able to play anywhere, the freedom of not needing to follow any strict dress codes can give relief to players. Imagine going all the way to a casino just to be turned back for missing one or two items of clothing in their rules.
Not to mention, online slots casinos do everything to encourage players, like welcome bonuses and free money. Real live slots land-based casinos rarely do anything like that because there are no deposits to begin with.
You also have a more comprehensive selection of slot games online; the variety of combinations means you can start with what you feel comfortable with and progress smoothly through various slots bet options.
And even though the allure of having drinks in a real slot’s casino is tempting, this is one of the things that lead to impulsive gambling. So, it realistically becomes easier to control your play online.
Here are some more reasons why online slots are better than real slots:
Reasons Online Is Better
- No Crowds Means No Waiting
Online slot casinos let you play your choice of slots immediately. You don’t have to wait for anyone else because it’s just you and your device or gadget.
Even though real slots appeal to people because of the atmosphere as well as people you can get to meet and converse with, this doesn’t do well for playing the slots. The slot machines and tables in land-based casinos are always full of people.
Sometimes, people waiting in line are just hanging out, too, so it can get overcrowded and time-consuming very quickly.
- Higher Payouts and Lower Limits
Online slots typically give users the opportunity to win higher based on payout percentage. The payout percentage is the win rate you can anticipate with a particular game. In the long run, players can expect to win more with slot games that provide high payout percentages, so they make more money.
Since online casinos don’t have high overheads like property expenses, winnings are quickly passed on to the players—this is why online slots will have a higher payout percentage than land-based slots in most cases.
You can easily locate the payout percentages of the slot you play with online casinos as well. Online casinos also have lower betting limits than real slot casinos. They are making it easier to play more of your favorite slot selections at a lower wagering point.
- Free Slots Testing
You can also play online slot games for free. This benefit is something real slots can’t afford to give to players because people are waiting on the machines and for other reasons.
The gameplay between a free slots game and real money wagering is not different, so you can enjoy playing online slots just for the fun and thrill of it.
Where to Play Online Slots?
If you’ve made it this far it’s time to consider where to start playing. You can play online slots for real money or for free at online casinos. Almost every online casino will offer online slots since it’s arguably the most popular casino game there is.
So, tens, potentially hundreds, or even thousands of online casinos offer online slot games for players to enjoy. To get started with slots at an online casino, you’ll need to:
- Choose a casino: This takes a quick internet search to find one that’s right for you.
- Sign up: Look for the ‘register’ or ‘sign up’ button at the top of the page and fill out your details. Many internet casinos also offer welcome bonuses to motivate new players to dive right into wagering.
- Pick a slot game and play: Head over to the slots section of the online casino. There should be many slots’ games to choose from, with different themes and layouts. You can start off with a free demo to understand the rules, and then once you’re ready to bet—place your wager. Remember to bet what you can afford to lose and not more than that.
To help with step one, here are some online casino platforms I’ve put together for you:
1. Bovada Casino
Launched in 2011, Bovada Casino is an American casino platform that is among the most famous online casinos in the world. This online casino possesses a Curacao gaming license and has a minimum deposit of $10.
This site has over 130 real money slot titles, including 10 Times Vegas, A Night with Cleo, and 777 Deluxe. The software provider supporting these titles is Rival Gaming.
This gambling site is known best for its poker room and sports book. The online live dealer’s lobby is also one of the most robust ones you can find. There are also versions of popular games available, including baccarat, craps, and blackjack. In addition to provably fair games like Keno.
For payment options, this site allows credit cards, player transfers, digital wallets, Zelle, and popular cryptocurrencies like USD Tether and Bitcoin Cash. Cryptocurrency transactions don’t take more than an hour, but for other payment methods, it can take anywhere from an hour to 15 days.
Bovada also offers a welcome bonus for all its most famous attractions—this includes slot games. But the welcome bonus isn’t just limited to the casino area.
New players can use the welcome bonus in the race book and sports book as well. The bonus features a 50% match-up offer for a maximum of $250—with wagering requirements as low as 5x for horses, 5x for sports betting, and 30x for casino and slots. These enticing betting requirements prove an attractive offer for casual gamblers.
The casino site’s welcome bonus provides a 100% wagering bonus of up to $3,000 and 125% up to $3,750 casino betting bonus if you make the deposit in crypto.
Other bonuses and rewards are also available on this gambling website, like the loyalty program that awards points to players the more they wager in the casino, sports bets, race book betting, or participating in tournaments. As for tournaments, Bovada has $5 knockout tournaments, progressive tournaments, and knockout sit & go. You can get started on Bovada here.
Pros
- Over 470 online slots games.
- A comprehensive sports book.
- Progressive jackpots.
- Free withdrawals.
- Minimum deposit of $10.
- Quick live chat feature.
Cons
- Demo may not be available for every game.
- 90-day wait period for free withdrawals.
2. Ignition Casino
Ignition Casino was a hot young casino when it was founded back in 2016. Still, since then, the online casino platform has established itself as a reputable online casino. Ignition Casino is top-rated for its slot options, Live Dealers, and online poker.
The slots games available on Ignition Casino are 3-reel slots and 5-reel slots. The casino site is also easy to sign up to and offers new players a 100% welcome bonus of up to $1,000 on your first deposit for casino and poker.
This bonus goes up to 150% for a maximum of $1,500 for crypto gamblers who decide to deposit using digital assets. They offer crypto like Bitcoin and Litecoin—and if you’re confused about the ins and outs of digital tokens, Ignition Casino has a crypto guide to help.
Conversely, there isn’t any sportsbook on Ignition like there is on Bovada online casino. Other available games besides slots include roulette, video poker, and blackjack. The casino also has a Curacao gaming license to prove it’s a legitimate platform for gamers to enjoy themselves.
Still, on the topic of real money slots, the minimum deposit on Ignition casino is $10, and when you win something, the payout speed for withdrawal can be as fast as 15 minutes.
The games available at Ignition Casino are provided by established developers like Rival Gaming and RTG. Slot games like Dragon Siege give a return to player (RTP) of 98%.
The casino also offers a weekly crypto boost that is a reload bonus matching 100% of your digital currency deposits for a maximum of $1,000. There are also poker bonuses like the Texas hold’em royal flush bonus. This bonus has zero rollover requirements! The website is mobile-friendly and works just fine on iOS and Android. You can get started here.
Pros
- Rapid withdrawals
- Live chat.
- Multiple bonuses
- Secure and safe site.
- Hot Drop Jackpots for the USA.
Cons
- There’s no sports book on Ignition Casino.
- There is no demo mode for casino games.
3. Slots lv Casino
Slots LV lives up to its name as one of the best real money casino sites to play over 200 title slots games. Founded in 2013, this online casino specializes in slot titles and is supported by 14 reputable software providers like Betsoft Gaming and Woohoo Games to bring its users provably fair games.
Slots lv belongs to a long line of casinos under Lynton Limited. The site has a Curaçao Gaming License and a certificate from iTechLabs—further making it a safe platform for slots fans. It is also available on go, so mobile gamblers can play slots on their phones wherever they are.
The online gambling platform also has exclusive rewards programs for its loyal customers. This includes a VIP program that uses a points-based system to let you win more and more prizes the higher you wager.
Other reward packages come in the hot drop jackpots, which means they reward loyal gamers almost every hour. This is another reason I would recommend trying them out.
The payment methods available to casino users include fiat cash and cryptocurrency for funding gambling accounts and processing withdrawals. Speaking of withdrawals, Slots lv boasts a maximum 48-hour withdrawal window for crypto payments and 72 hours for fiat withdrawals.
There are also different kinds of bonuses on Slots lv, like the crypto welcome bonus, where you can get up to $7,500 for making your first deposit with crypto. Or the credit card welcome bonus that makes credit card new gamblers eligible for a bonus of up to $5,000. You can get started on Slots lv here.
Pros
- Round-the-clock customer service.
- Attractive welcome bonus.
- Engaging and robust games library.
- Security protocols to protect user privacy.
Cons
- There’s no sports wagering.
- Some of their games aren’t available online.
Final Thoughts
I hope you made it to the end because we had a lot to go over here. Just knowing the world of online slots games is full of excitement, giving players a chance to re-imagine the classic slots machines with a variety of options and unique slots.
After exploring the benefits of online slots and real live slots, it’s clear that online slots are more readily available and diverse for gamblers who want a chance at winning big. Even though land-based casinos offer the atmosphere and ambiance of physical connections, they are often overcrowded, unlike online casinos.
Apart from enjoying higher payouts and no queues to wait for, what’s lovely about online slots is the ability to play for free as much as you want. That feature may never come to land-based casinos.
I’ve also looked in-depth at the different online casinos for gamers to play slots games. Those are Bovada casino, Ignition casino, and Slot lv casino.
These casinos are some of the biggest online gambling websites in the United States. They have different perks like welcome bonuses, loyalty programs, and safety measures to make them more attractive to audiences.
Remember to do your homework before registering for any online casino, and wager responsibly as you enjoy the slots.
