Video slots are conceivably the most prevalent online casino games category in the iGaming industry. This is because they're easy to play, and there is a legion of online slots available, allowing gamblers worldwide to pick a video slot game that matches their preferences and tastes. Besides that, video slots feature simple-to-learn rules, offer players an engaging and exciting gambling experience, and accept favourable bet limits, ideally between $0.10 to $0.50 or more per spin, thus accommodating every type of gambler.

At www.toolbarcounter.com, players will find an encyclopaedic video slots review covering every nitty-gritty, from slot types and mechanics to the dos and don'ts, while playing video slots for real money and their pros and cons. In addition to that, on this page, players (seasoned and novices) will find discover valuable data related to slot video games, including

• The history and evolution of slot games
• How to play casino video slots for real money
• The best video slot providers globally
• Bonus features and symbols in the best video slots
• Winning tips and strategies applicable to video slots
• How to choose the best video slot casino sites online

Ultimately, www.toolbarcounter.com will help you enjoy a better and more personalised video slot gambling experience online. Also, you'll find a list of top video slots online casinos on this page, vetted and accredited by SlotsFish. Read on!

Evolution and history of slots

Have you ever wondered how slots came to be? Well, this section is for you. Like other online casino games, slot games have their genesis. The history of slots takes us on a journey back in time to 1891, when a NY-based company, Sittman and Pitt, engineered the first slot machine. This mechanical machine had 50 playing cards and 5 drums, and gamblers had to insert money and pull the lever to play. 

Winning players would then receive payouts for lining poker hands (Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Flush, etc.) on the five drums (today's reels). This is why sometimes slots can be confused with video poker slots, albeit entirely different. However, since these slot machines were popular in bars and the machine had no direct payout system, winners would get non-monetary payouts like cigars or free drinks from the bar.

Although the precise date/year details are debatable, the first slot machine that allowed automatic payouts was believed to have been invented between 1887 and 1895 by Charles Augustus Fey. The inventor achieved this in his efforts to reduce the sophistication of the machine to read wins by substituting the 5 drums with 3 reels and the 50 cards with 5 playing symbols (diamonds, horseshoes, spades, hearts, and liberty bells). This machine came to be known as the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell later incorporated fruit symbols, and in 1907, the BAR symbol was introduced in slot machines developed by a Chicago-based company- Herbert Mills.

The rise of online casino video slots

The slot machines remained mechanical until 1964 when the first electromechanical slot was released. Still, players had to pull the lever to play, but there was a massive leap in 1976 when Fortune Coin, a Las Vegas-based company, engineered the first genuine video slot. This company (Fortune Coin) was later acquired by IGT in 1978. In 1996 WMS Industries Inc. released Reel' Em, the first slot video game to include a bonus game on a second screen after triggering the feature. From there, video slots evolved with the rise of the Internet age in the 90s. With the bang of the internet, online casinos emerged, and online video slots along with it.

Initially, these video slots featured the same layouts as the old slot machines, with three reels (known today as classic video slots) and similar symbols (fruits, BARs, and cards). With technological shifts in computer programming powered by various software online video slot providers, video slots began incorporating new designs, layouts, themes, storylines, mechanics, and more. 

As of now, you'll find a smorgasbord of video slots online featuring five reels and other titles with unconventional layouts, diverse symbols, special symbols like wilds and scatters, innovative game mechanics and in-game bonus features. All these advancements only bolstered the popularity of online slots by offering a more immersive gambling adventure and more significant payouts than the old slot machines.

Traditional slot machines vs online video slots

Yes, slots evolved, but you'll still find mechanical slot machines in brick-and-mortar casinos today. Some people enjoy frequenting these physical destinations flooded with slot machines, while others don't. Below, we'll look at the differences between online video slots with no download and the old slot machines to help you choose the best one that suits your preference.

Traditional slot machines	Online video slots
Winnings in mechanical slot machines are not as profound due to the simple three-reel layout with only a few paylines.	Video slots offer more substantial payouts since they incorporate innovative and modern features, especially with progressive jackpot video slots.
Land-based slot machines offer players a social element and are livelier as they can interact with other players on the floor.	When you play video slots online, this social aspect is forfeited as you play alone.
You may lack a free slot machine since players usually hog them, and gameplay is generally slow-paced.	You can play video slots anytime at your convenience on any device without any delays.
They lack advanced symbols and bonus features and mostly have average graphics.	Video slots are more advanced, featuring acute graphics, crisp soundtracks, modern symbols and bonus elements that make gameplay more exciting.
With physical slot machines, players won't enjoy an excellent array of games. Their options might be limited to a few video slot machines.	There's a more sublime variety of video slots online, allowing players to diversify and try new titles occasionally.
You won't find any promotions and bonuses to boost your bankroll with physical video slot machines.	Online video slot players will enjoy various online casino bonuses and promotions that aid in extending their gambling sessions and bankroll lifetime.
You cannot play traditional slot machines for free without cutting into your bankroll. You must insert money to spin the reels.	You'll find free video slots with no download required online, enabling you to try different titles without spending a dime of your bankroll.

Clearly, online video slots come out on top as they offer numerous perks. Players don't need to pull a lever to play. A simple tap of a button starts the action, and you can play from anywhere in the world without the hassle of visiting a physical casino.

Typical video slot game interface

The best online video slot casino sites usually offer numerous slot titles from multiple providers. Therefore, with this diversity of providers, each with its unique game design and layout, it's hard to precisely describe a typical video slot interface. Nevertheless, some elements and features are standard across all video slots, and we'll examine them to help beginners learn what to expect when they launch a particular video slot online.

So, when you launch an online video slot, you'll first notice the various colourful symbols tailored to a particular theme. For example, classic three-reel slots mostly feature fruits, 7s, and BARs symbols. In contrast, other video slots will contain characters related to the title's theme, say an ancient Egypt-themed video slot will feature symbols like pyramids, scarabs, pharaohs, etc. Besides the symbols, you'll find the following buttons, usually found at the bottom of the video slot interface:

Spin

If you click this button, you start spinning the slot reels and, consequently, the game. In some video slots, clicking this button the second time will stop the reels, allowing for faster gameplay.

Auto spin

The auto-spin feature will come in handy for those who fancy quick gameplay without hitting the spin button every time. With this toggle, you can select how many spins you'd like to play with before the feature stops. You can select up to 100 spins in most video slots, but others offer more auto spins. In addition, you can further customise the auto spin feature by selecting when it stops. The available options include:

• At any win
• If a bonus game launches
• When a single win exceeds a certain set amount
• If your cash increases or decreases by a specific set amount

Bet limits

You can always increase or decrease the bet amount per spin with the (+, -) functions at the bottom of the game screen, next to your balance. The minimum and max bet limits vary depending on the video slot, but the least you spin the reels with at a video slot casino is $0.10 with a maximum of about $100 or more. Simply tap the "Max Bet" button to play with the maximum bet.

Game rules

In video slots, you can access your title's rules by tapping the "?" button. Clicking this icon will open a new window with rules, such as the video slots game's number of paylines (some video slots have adjustable paylines), number of reels (3x3, 5x3, etc.), special features, the maximum win amount, and more. This section will help you learn more about the game and how various bonus rounds work.

Paytable

The paytable icon is customarily denoted by (i). This button will help you learn how various symbols in your favourite video slot game pay. There are high-paying symbols and low-paying symbols. In the paytable, you'll see how the combination of these symbols pays when they appear on the reels. Also, you'll identify the special characters and how they trigger the title's bonus features. We'll learn more about these special symbols later in this video slots review.

Game settings

The settings button will assist you to customise your game preferences, like playing in full-screen mode and adjusting the sound effects and in-game music. Also, you can view your game history from the settings option.

Types of video slots online

With the popularity of online video slots comes a consistent supply of new video slots to match the demand. That's why video slots occupy the better percentage of any online casino game lobby. These video slots usually feature diverse theme adaptations and genres from animals, fantasy, heroes, holidays, books, vampires, and mythology to sports, history, space, mystery, films, adventure, water world, etc. This lets players pick the best video slots matching their moods and preferences. On top of that, online casino video slots are easy to play, requiring less skill and strategy but more good fortune to win.

Moreover, these online video slots feature superb visuals and graphics, ambient soundtracks, life-like animations, and various bonus features, thus offering players fantastic entertainment. However, there are various categories of video slots, and below we'll explain each one to help you select your favourite. On our website's side menu, you can search for your ideal video slots using filters like the number of reels, theme, paylines, and more.

Classic 3-reel video slots

Three-reel slots are also known as classic slots. Sometimes, they're referred to as fruit machines, a gambler-given name due to the prevalent fruit themes and symbols, such as cherries, liberty bells, lemons, oranges, BARs, watermelons, etc., common in three-reel video slots. These classic slots usually feature a 3x3 layout (three reels and rows) and are designed similarly to the vintage slot machines in land-based casinos.

They don't have acute graphics like other modern video slots, but this simplicity attracts many gamblers. In addition, classic video slot games feature a few paylines, usually between 1 and 5 and don't boast a plethora of special symbols like wilds and scatters and bonus games, where players typically have a better chance of acquiring increased payouts. If you're a beginner in the world of video slots, classic three-reel games are the best place to start since they're unsophisticated in design and gameplay rules.

5-reel video slots

This category of video slots is more sophisticated than three-reel slots in every aspect. For instance, 5-reel video slots feature a 5x3 layout (five reels and three rows) and feature may paylines, 10 or more. With many paylines, players have an increased chance of landing a win since these video slots offer more winning combinations. Usually, to form a winning combo, you must match three or more identical symbols on the reels. Also, 5-reel slots video games cover a wide range of theme adaptations like sports, films, pirates, or anything you can think about.

A good example is some of Playtech's online slots, which feature a superhero theme adapted from the DC Comics universe (Superman, Batman, etc.). Besides themes, 5-reel video slots games come with high-end graphics, orchestral and appealing soundtracks that match the game's theme, stunning algorithms and animations, nifty in-game features like scatter and wild special symbols and bonus features like multipliers, free spins, respins, etc. All these unique additions deliver a splendid and memorable video slot gaming adventure, regardless of the gaming device, mobile or desktop.

Video slots with unconventional layouts

If you think 5-reel video slots are devilishly sophisticated, you clearly haven't encountered online slots with 6, 7, 8, or up to 9 reels. Thanks to continuous innovations from top software vendors, players can now enjoy different reel formats, with 6-reel titles being the most popular. Are these video slots with 6+ reels any different? Regarding the betting procedure, no. You must still choose a bet amount and spin the reels to play. However, concerning mechanics and winning combinations, they're complex. Usually, players don't like getting into the details of how slots pay as long as they win while spinning the reels. After all, the video slot computer programming does all the hard work calculating the wins and displaying how much you've won.

In truth, these video slots with unusual layouts are different. The additional reels in this category of video slots online offer more complex gameplay due to a vast range of outcomes on each spin. While in 5-reel slots, you need to match at least three symbols, in 6-reel casino video slots, you must match six or more characters on a payline to form a winning combination. That makes wins harder to achieve, but payouts are much more significant since there are increased ways of creating wins. For instance, you can have video slots with 243, 1024, or 3125 ways to win based on all viable symbol combinations.

Video slots with a progressive jackpot

If you'd like to experience more bang and thrill in your online slot gambling adventure spiced with spectacular payouts, progressive jackpot slots offer the charm you want. This category of video slots customarily features a progressive jackpot mechanic, which provides a gradually-increasing prize pool. How does it work, you ask? It's simple. This mechanic takes a portion of each player's bet, sets it aside, and adds it to the total prize pool. Therefore, this prize pool will continuously rise as more players wager on the specific progressive jackpot title.

This could lead to marvellous jackpot prizes, even exceeding a million dollars. The highest jackpot prize ever won was $20,062,600 from Microgaming's Mega Moolah jackpot video slot. Notably, the progressive jackpot prize in the specific video slot will continue to soar until its won. After that, the prize resets and starts pooling again. Please note that you must bet real money for the opportunity to win the progressive jackpot prize. Playing free jackpot video slots without login won't grant your real money payouts. Besides, it's rare to find progressive jackpot titles offering play for fun.

Other video slot types

Besides these popular categories of video slots, others come with unique features that offer players a different level of excitement. For instance, with 3D video slots, players can enjoy slots with cutting-edge graphics, 3D animations, and captivating storylines and characters. In addition, you can find some video slots on live casino platforms. These video slots have been integrated into live shows to attract players who fancy a cocktail of online casino video slots and live casino gameplay. 

An impeccable example is Gonzo's Treasure Hunt from Evolution, adapted from NetEnt's Gonzo's Quest. Also, players can find the ever-intriguing i-Slots with captivating storylines and mini-games that offer superb winnings. Finally, although not fully realised, some video slots have virtual reality (VR) capabilities, allowing gamblers to immerse themselves in a dashing casino-like gameplay with realistic graphics. This is undoubtedly one for the future.

How to play online video slots

Now that you know what a typical video slot interface looks like and the different types of slots, you can quickly start playing your favourite titles. The good thing about video slots is that they're simple to play and don't require skill or strategy- just luck. Still, you must manage your bankroll amicably to avoid massive losses and use certain video slot-playing tips to get an edge over the casino. You can play video slots for real money or for free. Here's a laser-guiding procedure on getting started to play video slots online for real money.

1. Find the best video slot casino site.

This is the first step you must take if you want to play for real money. Later on this page, you'll find our criteria to rate the best video slot casinos. You can apply those criteria to find an ideal video slot online casino that suits you. Still, on our website, you'll find a list of the top video slot casinos our experts have vetted and tested.

2. Sign up for an account.

We recommend trying at least three video slot online casino sites from our cultivated list before choosing one. That way, you can test and determine which suits your preferences best. Afterwards, you can register for an account by providing details like date of birth, name, country, preferred currency, mobile number, address, zip code, email address, username, password, and more, depending on the video slot online casino. You may also need to verify your email address before signing into your new account.

3. Deposit funds.

You must deposit to your new gaming account to play for real money. Go to your selected casino's cashier/banking section and click "Deposit." Choose your ideal deposit method from the list of provided options, usually credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies. Minimum deposit video slot casinos will allow deposits of $10 or even lower. The top video slots online casinos usually offer bonuses to new players. If you want to play with a bonus, check the conditions, as some rewards may require the redemption of unique video slot bonus codes.

4. Visit the casino game lobby and explore the video slot library.

The top video slot casinos on this page usually offer thousands of video slot titles from some of the best game providers like Betsoft, NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, etc. So, comb through the slot library and find your ideal video slot. Afterwards, read through your title's game rules noting how various bonus features are activated (if any), the number of paylines, paytable, and other game features.

5. Select your ideal bet amount.

The max and min bet limits will vary depending on the video slot and the online casino. However, you should make bets for as low as $0.10 to maximums of over $50 per spin. To increase or decrease your bet size, use the (+, -) buttons. Please note that if you're playing a video slot with an adjustable payline, increasing the number of paylines will increase the bet size.

6. Spin the reels.

Finally, to start playing, click the "Spin" button. This will automatically rotate the reels of the video slot, and if you land the required number of matching symbols (three or more) on the reels on a payline, you'll receive a payout. Alternatively, as explained in this article, you can use the auto spin feature and customise it to spin the reels continuously and enjoy faster gameplay. Depending on the online video slot, landing some symbols will trigger bonus features like multipliers, free spins, bonus rounds, etc. (to be expounded later).

Pros and cons of playing online video slots

Pros

Cons

Online video slots accept low minimum bet limits ($0.10- $0.50), thus appealing to many gamblers.There's a broader range of online casino video slots with various themes, mechanics, bonuses, etc., thereby attracting players with diverse tastes and preferences.Video slots are rarely excluded from online casino bonuses.Online video slots feature diverse bonus games and features which make them overly exciting to play, and these bonus rounds may offer massive payouts.You can play video slots online from any desktop or mobile device at your comfort and pace.Slots video games usually have simple rules and are easy to learn, unlike table games, making them ideal for all players, even beginners.

Video slots can be addictive, leading to the development of compulsive gambling behaviour.It's impossible to employ betting strategies like Martingale on video slots.Video slots don't have preset odds and payout rates like in table games, where you know a particular hand will pay a specific amount. So, it's difficult to predict your potential wins with each spin.

Online video slot reel mechanics

Slot machines have incredibly evolved since their invention by Charles Augustus Fey. Over the years, they've moved from simple three-reel titles to video slots with six or more reels. This progress is attributed to the fame of video slots. And to deliver even more stunning and engaging experiences, premier video slot providers, driven by constant innovation and customer satisfaction, have developed nifty slot mechanics that make gameplay more exciting. 

These new mechanics no longer restrict you from forming winning combos by landing particular character combinations in specific patterns and positions. Instead, you'll experience more diverse ways of acquiring a win. Therefore, with a multitude of software vendors in the market, each competing to impress, numerous video slot mechanics exist, but below we'll cover some of the most popular mechanics you're likely to encounter.

Conventional paylines

To understand the various video slot mechanics, we must first learn what's a payline. As such, it's the pattern in which identical symbols must align on adjacent reels to form a winning combination. Traditionally, players needed to match two, three or more matching symbols to create a winning spin. These symbols needed to align from left to right on the payline for a win. This mechanic is common with video slots featuring only a few paylines up to 20 or 25. Over the years, excellent innovations have led to other video slot mechanics, as indicated below. It's important to note that there are two paylines: fixed and variable. With the latter, you can choose the number of paylines to play with, while with the former, the paylines are not adjustable.

Pays both ways

The group of video slots online with the Pays Both Ways mechanic are slightly different from those with the traditional paylines. So, with these video slots, as its name suggests, symbols not only need to form a pattern from left to right to generate a winning spin but also from right to left, commencing from the last reel on that same line. Pays Both Ways video slots are played like standard slots in every way, including the number of paylines, except that you'll enjoy an increased number of wins than in a classic video slot: two ways of winning are better than one, eh?

Cluster Pays

NetEnt developed the Cluster Pays video slot mechanic, which revolutionised slot gaming. This mechanic is popular in grid-style video slot games and doesn't embrace the 5x3 or 5x4 video slot layout, meaning it can accommodate more symbols. With Cluster Pays, video slots need not use paylines to form winning combos on adjacent reels. Instead, you receive a payout when a group (cluster) of matching characters appear anywhere on the reels. The number of cluster symbols needed to form a winning combination varies depending on the Cluster Pays video slots. Generally, you'll need between 4-6 matching symbols to get a win. One of the best examples of Cluster Pays video slots is Aloha! Cluster Pays from NetEnt. Notably, this video slot mechanic is often deployed in conjunction with the Cascading reels mechanic.

Cascading reels

This mechanic is also known as avalanches or collapsing/tumbling reels. So, with the cascading reels mechanic, when matching characters on the reels create winning combinations, they disappear, leaving space for the new symbols above them. These new symbols will then drop there to occupy the space. In some cases, the new dropping symbols may form other winning combinations, thus awarding increased or sequential payouts from the same spin.

Ways to Win

Microgaming is the brains behind this popular mechanic. Although you might not feel the difference between video slot titles with multiple ways to win and standard payline slots while playing, it doesn't mean that none exists. Yes, you still must match two, three, or more symbols to form a winning combination, but these symbols don't need to create a pattern on neighbouring reels. Instead, they can appear in any position on consecutive reels. Therefore, this mechanic offers players more paylines than standard payline video slots. Most online video slots with this mechanic feature a 5x3 or 5x4 layout. These are the popular variations of Ways to Win slots:

• 243-Ways video slots: With this division of video slots, you form winning combinations by landing the same symbols anywhere on consecutive reels. Since they don't feature traditional paylines, you'll have 243 possible ways to win with each spin while playing. So, with all these winning ways, you can enjoy exciting wins from one lucky spin.
• 1024-Ways video slots: 1024-Ways games follow the concept of Ways to Win titles where you need to match three or more symbols on consecutive reels from left to right to achieve a winning combination. However, in this 1024 variation, there are no paylines on the 5x4 layout. Instead, you receive payouts based on all potential combinations (left to right) despite where your matches appear on the reels. You don't need to increase your bet size, as it's the case with video slots with adjustable paylines. So, a minimum bet spin could yield eye-catching payouts.

Other titles in the Ways to Wins category include the 3125-Ways video slots, which are even more complex than 1024 or 720-Ways but offer numerous winning ways with a single spin.

Megaways

The Megaways is a trademarked mechanic from Big Time Gaming, but the software company leases it to other publishers. That's why you can find Megaways video slots from suppliers like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, etc. That aside, Megaways is a random reel modifier. That means the number of symbols on the reels changes with each spin. Usually, Megaways video slots have six reels and up to seven characters on each reel. However, with the Megaways mechanic, these symbols randomly change, thus creating thousands of winning ways on each spin.

So, Megaways video slots could offer up to 117,649 ways to win. If you're luck-struck and get a lucky spin, you could walk away with thousands of dollars. The best part is that you don't need to adjust your bet size to access the maximum ways to win. So, a winning minimum bet with, say, 100,000 winning ways could have the online casino looking at you jealously! To form a winning combo in Megaways video slots, you must land identical symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. The symbol's sizes and their position on the reels don't matter as long as they line up one after another. Megaways video slots can be a terrific alternative to progressive jackpot games.

Hold & Win

Relax Gaming was the first provider to engineer the Hold & Win mechanic in its Money Train video slot series. Now, many providers have incorporated the concept into their video slots. The big question is, how does it work? The Hold and Win mechanic is usually triggered when you land three or more bonus symbols on the reels. These bonus symbols will trigger a free spins bonus feature, and that's where the mechanic comes into play. 

Therefore, these symbols will remain on the reels during this bonus round, where low-paying symbols are removed, and high-paying characters remain. The special symbols can land again during the free spins feature and remain on the reels, thus offering players more winning combinations and payouts. The concept of Hold & Win video slots is that certain special symbols are held during gameplay, potentially boosting your winning chances.

Other than the above-covered mechanics, video slots feature others that may rev up your gambling experience, such as Infinity reels, Epicways, DoubleMax, etc.

Bonus features and symbols in video slots

Video slot bonus features are commonplace in modern slot games, and they offer an immersive and engaging experience during gameplay. Depending on the video slot, you can have various bonus features, ranging from multipliers, free spins, and bonus rounds to Gamble features, respins, and more. Generally, these bonus features are triggered in the base game by landing special symbols. Clearly, these in-game bonuses aren't the only addition to modern video slots. For that reason, below, we'll examine the popular special characters in video slots and some of the bonus features you can see while playing video slots for real money.

Wild symbols

A wild is one of the special symbols in online video slots. The symbol replaces all other regular paytable symbols on the reels to complete winning combinations. For instance, suppose you get four identical symbols on reels 1, 3, 4, and 5. In that case, if a wild symbol appears on reel 2, it can substitute other regular symbols to complete this combination, thus offering a payout. However, please note that wilds cannot replace scatter symbols or other special symbols during gameplay. Besides replacing other video slot characters, wilds may come with multipliers attached which may be used to boost your winnings if they complete a winning combination. Nevertheless, this will vary across online casino video slots as some don't have wilds with multipliers. This feature, like video slots, has evolved, and you can now find the following variations of wilds:

• Expanding Wilds: This wild symbol extends (expands) to fill a whole reel while replacing regular symbols to complete paylines.
• Sticky Wilds: These wilds get attached (stick) or remain on the reels after they appear to complete even more winning combinations.
• Walking Wilds: After this symbol has appeared on the reel, it'll start moving from one reel to another in one direction (left or right) until it disappears. This wild will award free spins until it disappears.
• Random Wilds: These are wilds that appear anywhere on the reels.

Scatter symbols

These special symbols usually activate various bonus features like free spins, bonus games, etc., when they appear anywhere on the reels. Besides that, scatters may be simply paytable symbols that offer payouts regardless of their reel positioning. The more scatter value symbols you land, the more significant your payouts. When triggering various bonus games or free spins during basic gameplay, you must land at least three or more scatters to launch the bonus features. Remember, scatter symbols cannot be replaced by wilds to complete paylines. These are the most popular bonus features in video slots online:

Free spins

Virtually all new slot games come with a video slot bonus, and free spins bonuses are the most prevalent in the slot industry. A free spin is an in-game bonus spin awarded for landing a certain number of special symbols, allowing you to spin the reels without cutting into your bankroll. There are several ways of triggering the free spins feature in video slots, such as:

• Getting three or more scatters anywhere on the reels. Usually, you'll receive 5, 10, 15, 20, or even up to 50 bonus spins, depending on the video slot. Also, some video slots offer a different number of spins depending on how many bonus symbols triggered the feature.
• Activating the feature randomly during basic gameplay.
• Collecting a particular number of special symbols that will, in turn, award you free spins.

Although wins aren't guaranteed during the free spins feature, players can enjoy great winnings without paying extra. It's almost impossible for a player to win nothing during the feature, as it was created to provide players with extra excitement and a fine escape from the somewhat mundane time spent spinning the reels. Please note that in some online casino video slots, the free spins feature can be retriggered if you land three or more scatter symbols during the feature. If you win some free spins, the game will play through them automatically until they're exhausted. Afterwards, you'll revert to normal video slot gameplay.

Respins

Video slot respins bonuses are similar to free spins regarding how they're triggered. You must land a specific number of bonus symbols or scatters on the reels to trigger the respins feature. For example, if you get three symbols that activate a respin, the reels containing these symbols remain intact while the rest rotate during the respins feature. This allows you to rake up more winnings if more of the bonus or special symbols stack up on the reels that spin. Please note that respins may also be triggered during the free spins feature.

Multipliers

With multipliers, players get to enjoy increased payouts than their regular wins. For example, if you attain a 3x multiplier, your overall payout will be multiplied by this coefficient. Depending on the online video slot, these multiplier coefficients could range from 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, or even more than 10x. Regarding multipliers, there are three types you can find while playing video slots for real money:

• Regular multipliers: These appear on the reels with various coefficients and multiply your winnings accordingly.
• Wild multipliers: These multipliers are usually attached to wild symbols. So, when a wild replaces a regular symbol to complete a payline, your winnings are multiplied by the attached coefficient.
• Progressive multipliers: With this kind, the multiplier coefficients increase, ideally from 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, etc., with each consecutive win.

Bonus games

This bonus feature is normally triggered by getting a specific number of scatter symbols. With bonus games, players will be taken to a new video slot screen where they'll complete an action to earn rewards or prizes. For example, a video slot may require you to choose mystery symbols or treasure chests from the provided collection to reveal spontaneous multipliers or cash prizes. Various video slots will offer different bonus games.

Gamble feature

Although not so popular with modern video slot releases, you can find video slots with the gamble feature. With this bonus feature, players are given a chance to double their winnings. If you choose to gamble, you'll be given an action to complete; it could be a Hi-Lo game, Heads or Tails, etc., depending on the video slot games. Therefore, if you predict correctly, you'll double your winnings. However, you lose your entire winnings if you make the wrong prediction.

Bonus Buy feature

There's a division of online casino video slots that allows players to purchase some of the bonus features covered herein. They're known as bonus buy video slots. Instead of triggering these in-game bonuses like free spins during basic video slot gameplay, you skip the formalities, purchase a certain number of spins with your bankroll, and jump straight to playing with these spins.

Most popular online video slot providers

The best video slots online casinos usually offer players thousands of high-quality titles. This is always possible by partnering with many top iGaming software providers with a track record of releasing entertaining and fair games. With casino video slots from time-honoured software publishers, you can expect impeccable mobile compatibility, outstanding graphics and visuals, impressive soundtracks, diverse theme adaptations, and more designed to attract and keep players entertained. Therefore, we'll review some of the most popular online video slot providers you can find in our top Bitcoin online casino recommendations below.

Microgaming

For seasoned gamblers, Microgaming's video slots are a no-brainer. That's because the software company has a reputation for developing remarkable video slots with striking visuals, themes, storylines, sound effects, bonus features, and more. So, its casino video slots are ever captivating. Microgaming is amongst the oldest game publishers in the gambling industry. It was founded in 1994, and since then, its portfolio of games has grown immensely. The provider offers over 600 online casino games, including three-reel and 5-reel video slots and first-class progressive jackpot slots like Mega Moolah, Treasure Nile, Major Millions, etc. The company is licenced by the MGA, among other authorities, and its games are fair as certified and audited by eCOGRA. In 2022, Microgaming traded its portfolio and distribution network to Games Global Limited, a proficient and innovative game supplier.

NetEnt

This Swedish game provider is one of the pioneers in the iGaming industry. It was founded in 1996 and is a leading online casino game and software supplier. NetEnt has over 200 titles, including classic, 5-reel, and progressive jackpot video slots. These casino video slots feature innovative mechanisms like Megaways, other exciting in-game bonus games, and features like free spins, respins, multipliers, etc. Besides online video slots, the company develops other titles like instant-win games, video poker slots, table games, and more. 

NetEnt's casino games are fair and offer cross-platform compatibility, allowing you to enjoy its top-level video slots from any device, including tablets and smartphones. The provider has multiple licences, allowing it to distribute its video slot games in many jurisdictions. Its best-selling video slots include Jumanji, Starburst, Dead or Alive (1 and 2), Gonzo's Quest, Hell's Kitchen, etc. Notably, NetEnt was acquired by Evolution in 2020.

Playtech

This is another top provider you'll find in our recommended video slot casinos on this page. Playtech has been in business since 1999 and has made considerable strides in the industry, from developing an iPoker poker network to becoming one of the most revered online casino video slot suppliers. The entity has diverse slot games, including classic, progressive jackpots, and video slots with over five reels. Its video slots feature unimaginable graphics, orchestral soundtracks, elegant animations and themes, and an array of in-game bonus features. Its most notable video slot series comes from its partnership with DC Comics, releasing fan-favourite superhero titles like Batman vs Superman, Justice League, etc. Other than video slots, Playtech supplies verticals like bingo, poker, and live casino games.

Betsoft Gaming

It's commonly known as Betsoft and abbreviated as BSG. The company's most notable trait is the development of eye-catching cinematic 3D online video slots. These 3D video slots offer in-depth graphics with film animations and innovative, screen-binding storylines that attract many online slot fanatics. Besides 3D slots, Betsoft's 180+ game portfolio features progressive jackpots and table games like blackjack. The provider's video slots offer various bonus features and symbols alongside bleeding-edge graphics, animations, and appealing soundtracks. Also, they're mobile-compatible, and you can find Bitcoin video slots in Betsoft's game collection due to active efforts in the cryptocurrency gambling market. Greedy Goblins, The Slot Father, Golden Dragon Inferno, Gypsy Rose, etc., are some of Betsoft's popular video slot games.

Pragmatic Play

Despite its somewhat recent inception (2015) into the gambling market, Pragmatic Play is an innovative and rapid-growing provider of online casino games. The company has received several accolades, including the EGR B2B Software Rising Star in 2017, just years after its establishment. Pragmatic Play's video slots have realistic graphics and animations, excellent designs, innovative features and mechanics, including Megaways, etc. 

In addition, its video slots are mobile-optimised, verified as fair by independent game-testing companies and support multiple currencies. Other than video slots, Pragmatic Play's 200+ game library features progressive jackpots, table games, bingo, virtual sports, live casino games and TV-style game shows. Some of the provider's world-class online casino video slots include The Dog House, Fire Archer, Fury of Odin, Sweet Bonanza, etc.

Yggdrasil

Have you ever wondered what Yggdrasil means or where the term originated? Well, this company is named after a giant mystical ash tree in Norse mythology that's believed to be the focal link among nine mythical realms. Unique and outstanding, huh? The same applies to Yggdrasil's video slots. They feature state-of-the-art animations and designs, acute graphics, superb mobile compatibility, and a broad range of themes, including Norse mythology. Its range of slot games includes progressive jackpots and video slots with five or 6+ reels. 

Most notably, its video slots feature additional proprietary Game Engagement Mechanics (GEMs), which deliver an extra shot of adrenaline to players, such as GigaRise, MultiMax, GigaBlox, and Splitz, among others. Some of its best-performing video slots online include Valley of the Gods, Vikings Go Wild, Ozwin's Jackpots, Jackpot Raider, Atlantean GigaRise, etc. In addition to video slots, the software vendor releases various table games like roulette and blackjack.

Realtime Gaming

Abbreviated as RTG, Realtime Gaming is one of the oldest and most famous online casino software providers in the industry. It was established in 1998 and has since partnered with numerous online casinos. Actually, you can find RTG online casinos exclusively powered by this provider. That means you'll only play Realtime Gaming's proprietary games at such gambling websites. The vendor's game portfolio features over 100 titles, including three-reel slots, 5-reels, and progressive jackpot video slots. 

Although some of its earlier games have started showing their longevity with not-so-stunning graphics and retro game architecture, its modern video slots are a gem. They feature amazing graphics, excellent mobile compatibility, and diverse themes, and come with various bonus features like scatters, wild, free spins, and more. Therefore, some of RTG's most famous video slots include Spirit of the Inca, Enchanted Garden, Megasaur, Asgard, Aztec's Millions, Alladin's Wishes, Bubble Bubble, etc.

Game fairness in online casino video slots

Every player has obviously come across speculations that video slot games are rigged. And while some of these rumours might be true, especially when playing at rogue online video slot casinos, you should expect fair and honest spin results while playing at our top video slot casinos. So, how are spin outcomes in video slots determined as fair? When playing at top casinos or crypto gambling sites, there are two software algorithms that help produce manipulation-free results with every spin. These include the RNG and provably fair algorithms. Here's a summary of how each works and their efficiency:

Random Number Generator (RNG) 

This is the most common software algorithm in video slot games. Slot games have this software in-built. So, each time you play the RNG algorithm (think of it as a microprocessor) will generate random numbers within milliseconds. This algorithm will then send this set of spontaneous numbers to the video slot game to be expressed in a conceivable format, in this case, slot symbols that either generate a loss or win outcome.

Simply put, the RNG software aims to create spontaneous and unpredictable spin outcomes each time you play. In reputable and licenced video slots online casinos that partner with top software providers, this RNG software is usually audited and tested by independent testing labs such as eCOGRA, TST, iTech Labs, etc. These independent companies ensure the RNG software stays unmanipulated and works efficiently to produce honest outcomes each time. As such, video slots with no download in top online casinos will offer you a safe and fair gambling experience.

Provably Fair 

Technological advancements are a mainstay in the iGaming industry, and the most recent development is the provably fair technology that cryptocurrencies dragged along. Provably fair is a blockchain-based technology that allows players to verify spin outcomes as honest or free from manipulation personally. This feature alone makes the algorithm more transparent than RNG and thus instilling confidence in players. However, all video slots have not fully incorporated provably fair technology. It's prevalent in Bitcoin video slots developed by software vendors that have embraced the cryptocurrency wave, like BGaming.

Payouts and variance in video slots

Video slot aficionados like employing slot-winning tips and tricks to gain an edge during real money gameplay. One of the crucial metrics slot enthusiasts considers is the video slot variance, as it helps them learn what each video slot can offer in a gaming session. So, what is slot variance? Also known as slot volatility, it's the risk element associated with video slots. Gamblers consider variance when playing slots to determine the average size of wins and the frequency with which they'll most likely get a winning combination. In that regard, there are three types of variance/volatility in video slots:

• High variance: Video slots with a high variance metric usually have a high-risk, high-reward system. That means these online casino video slots offer less frequent wins but can offer massive payouts when they hit. These slot video games are ideal for high rollers with substantial bankrolls since they can take many spins before getting a significant win.
• Low variance: This is essentially the opposite of high-variance video slots. With low variance slots, players can enjoy more frequent winning combinations, but the payouts are smaller. These video slots are considered a safe or less risky approach and are ideal for players with limited bankrolls.
• Medium variance: Medium-variance video slots strike an equilibrium between low and high-variance games. As such, the risk and reward are moderate. Sometimes you get bigger payouts and other moderate-size wins.

Regarding payouts, video slots don't have precise payout odds like in table and card casino games where you know a Straight Up bet in roulette pays 35:1, or a Blackjack hand pays 2:1. Instead of that, video slots have symbols with various payouts. There are high-paying symbols and low-paying symbols. With the latter, landing a specific number of them (between 3 and 5) on the reels won't pay much compared to the payouts the former offer when they appear. You can always check this information by reviewing the paytable of your favourite online casino video slot for the exact data.

Video slots RTP

Some players may confuse variance with RTP since they're closely related yet different. Return to player (RTP) is the average amount a player can expect to win while playing a particular video slot over an extended gambling session. It's usually represented as a percentage and helps inform players which video slots can pay out more often after a long session. For instance, a video slot with an RTP of 97% will be expected to return $97 if $100 is wagered. Nevertheless, this doesn't mean you'll get 97% of your total bets.

Video slots are games of chance; every spin is random and independent. So, within a long gaming session, you might end up losing your $100 bankroll, while another player can make twice that amount within a short gaming session. Still, RTP helps you determine the best video slots since higher RTPs will return substantial winnings optimally than slots with lower RTPs. So, it's essential to check a game's RTP. We recommend our readers choose video slots with RTPs of 95.5% or higher when playing for real money.

How we rate the best video slot casino sites

Finding the best video slots online casinos can be an uphill task for beginners since hundreds are in the gambling market. However, at SlotsFish, we've devised ranking criteria that help us sieve the middle-of-the-road platforms and remain with only the cream of the crop. So, all the video slot casino sites on this page are top-rated and will offer players a stunning gaming adventure. Here's what makes them stand out and the rating criteria we employed:

Licencing and security

The top-rated online video slot casinos on this page are all regulated and secure, one of the most important factors we consider. The video slot casino should have licences from reputable authorities like the UKGC, MGA, Curacao e-Gaming, etc. These authorities ensure players are protected, and online casinos provide fair games certified by independent organisations like eCOGRA or iTech Labs. Additionally, the video slot online casino should offer a safe gambling website secured by SSL or TLS encryption protocols to safeguard players' personal information during gameplay.

Excellent range of online video slots

Since we're all bout slots, our top online casino recommendations come with a massive array of video slots from classic, 5-reel, 6+ reel slots, and progressive jackpots featuring diverse themes, mechanics, superb RTPs, and various bonus features, including but not limited to free spins and multipliers. More importantly, to ensure quality slot gaming adventures, these video slot games are supplied by time-honoured software vendors such as RTG, Yggdrasil, NetEnt, Microgaming, Betsoft, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Wazdan, iSoftbet, etc.

Diverse bonus programs

Most slot lovers require some sort of incentive when playing their ideal titles or joining a new gambling website. Therefore, we choose platforms with an expansive bonus program to offer you more rewards and longer sessions when playing your best video slots. Some of the bonuses you can claim on our accredited sites include free spins, reload bonuses, welcome rewards, cashback, and enjoy diverse slot tournaments and a loyalty program. However, we advise players to review the specific bonus terms and conditions before using any. We'll expound on these bonuses later in this article.

Safe and secure payment methods

The online casino sites at SlotsFish offer secure, diverse, and globally-available payment methods. As such, players will easily withdraw and deposit funds into their gaming accounts. Besides that, these payment methods offer iron-clad security measures to safeguard your funds and financial information from unauthorised personnel. Therefore, some of the most globally-accepted payment methods you can use include credit/debit cards like Visa and Mastercard, vouchers like Paysafecard, AstroPay, and Flexepin, e-wallets like Neteller, Skrill, ecoPayz, and PayPal, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether.

Superb cross-platform compatibility

In addition to the above factors, you should enjoy your favourite video slot games on any device (desktop or mobile). So, we select online video slot casino operators that have designed their websites to function flawlessly on desktop as well as mobile devices to accommodate all players. More importantly, the mobile casino version or mobile app should feature a fine selection of mobile-customised slots and provide easy access to other services like video slot bonus offers, payment methods, customer support, etc.

Reliable customer support options

Ultimately, players should easily access customer support services in good time at top-rated platforms since problems can be encountered anytime. Our best-rated video slot casinos offer friendly and timely responses to customer queries via email, live chat, social media platforms, contact numbers, and online contact forms. Notably, online casinos that provide multilingual support services are more appealing.

Bonuses and promotions in video slot casinos

Video slots and casino bonuses are like two peas in a pod. This is because about 90% of bonuses and promotions in an online casino are usually targeted at slot enthusiasts. For example, a video slot casino operator may offer new players free chips or a welcome package after registration. However, in these rewards' bonus terms and conditions, you may find that wagering on table games or other titles doesn't count towards meeting the playthrough requirements, or their contribution rate is less, say 25%.

So, as a video slot lover, you'll always find various bonuses and promotions to enjoy. The challenge, however, is finding video slot casinos offering diverse bonuses with fair terms and conditions like reasonable rollover requirements, extended validity periods, higher maximum cashout limits on bonus winnings, etc. Fortunately, we've done the toiling and recommend top-rated online casinos offering the best bonus programs. Below is a review of some of the bonuses and promotions you can exploit as a video slot fan:

Welcome bonuses

Since no-deposit bonus free spins are rare nowadays, the next best thing is the welcome bonus. Players get this reward after registration and the first deposit. Usually, the minimum deposit to trigger the welcome bonus varies across online casinos, but in most, a $10 deposit ideally qualifies. So, depending on the online video slot casino site, you can claim a single or tiered welcome bonus. The former is usually offered once, for example, a 100% match bonus up to $1000.

On the other hand, a tiered signup bonus will be provided in stages with decreasing match percentages. As a welcome bonus, online casinos may offer a number of free spins, say 100, a deposit match percentage, or both. In the case of free spins, they'll be provided on specific video slot games as a lump sum or in clusters for several days. Notably, depending on the casino operator, you may receive the reward automatically or use a unique video slot bonus code to claim the bonus.

Free spin bonuses

As mentioned above, you can claim this reward in your signup bonus. However, the best video slot casino sites customarily provide more promotions like reload bonuses which may run daily or weekly. Depending on the casino's promotion rules, these reload bonuses may offer free spins rewards for depositing funds anytime during the week. In addition, you can claim free spins bonuses during the marketing of a newly launched video slot. Importantly, these free spins are slot-specific, and while wagering, you must wager the free spins winnings according to the attached playthrough to complete the requirement and withdraw your winnings. For instance, suppose you get 30 FS with a 35x playthrough requirement, and while wagering, you win $20. In that case, you must wager the winnings ($20) 35 times to meet the playthrough need.

Video slot tournaments

This is one of the most exciting promotions for slot lovers, as it brings a flair for competition during gameplay. Everyone likes competition, and top video slot casinos usually organise tournaments or partner with various premier software vendors to provide network-linked competitions. These contests are generally thrilling, as players need to spin the reels and accumulate points to help them rank higher in the respective leaderboards to win the related prize. Players in the topmost positions on the leaderboard usually receive the majority share of the award as a token of emerging victorious.

These rewards primarily include free spins and cash prizes. Nevertheless, these tournaments have specific participation rules you should review before joining a contest. Some of these rules may include the minimum bet requirement, participating games, how points are earned, wagering requirements on prizes and more. Some of the most popular video slot tournaments in the slots industry include Drops and Wins Slots tournament (Pragmatic Play), Wazdan Breaks the Rules, etc.

Mobile video slots casinos

Video slot mobile casinos offer an unmatched convenience that land-based gambling dens or desktop casinos cannot provide. These mobile casinos allow players to launch their favourite video slots from a range of mobile devices, Android or iOS, and play from anywhere, even on the go. This convenience and flexibility have attracted many players to the mobile slots industry. With that in mind, software providers are now releasing video slots with mobile gaming capabilities to exploit the growing market. 

As such, players will always find many mobile-optimised video slots at the top online slot casinos. So, how do these mobile video slots work? These video slots are engineered with the nifty HTML5 technology, which allows these slots to adapt and match any mobile device's graphics, screen resolution, size, and other specs.

Therefore, when you play a mobile-customised video slot, you'll enjoy superb graphics and sound without losing any game details, regardless of your mobile device. The best part is that you don't need to find dedicated mobile casinos. The best-rated video slot casinos at SlotsFish offer excellent mobile compatibility. So, it's just as easy as loading the game on your smartphone or tablet and playing for real money. Notably, apart from the instant-play mobile casino version offered by these online casinos, some may offer downloadable mobile apps. For the best experience, download these mobile apps from a casino's main page or opt for progressive web apps (PWAs).

Video slot winning strategies and tips

Gamblers have thought of ways of beating the casino and winning more while playing video slot games every time- that's only human. In this quest for magnifying your wins, you may encounter fraudsters trying to sell you software online, promising to help cheat the casino and win more- don't succumb to this hokum; they just want your money. In truth, no software can achieve this since video slots are games of pure chance. 

Still, you can use various video slot-playing tips to increase your winning chances. It's important to note that famous strategies like Martingale or D'Alembert, ideal for table games, don't really apply in slots. They only work best in online casino games with even money payouts. That said, below are some of the winning tips you can use while playing video slots for real money:

Play video slots with high RTPs 

Usually, slot video games with higher return-to-player percentages will get you more wins than titles with lower RTPs in the long run. Still, you should know that shorter sessions can bring considerable payouts. So, playing games with high RTPs (95% - 99%) boosts your winning chances mathematically.

Play for fun 

Think of this as a trial run. Playing demo versions of video slots risk-free allows you to learn the various features, symbols, in-game bonuses, mechanics, etc., before playing for real money. This is better than going in blind on a new video slot.

Use casino bonuses 

You'll find diverse bonus programs at the best video slot casinos. As such, use these rewards while playing to extend the lifetime of your bankroll and enjoy longer betting sessions. Usually, video slots pay out better over long gambling sessions.

Consider video slot variance 

Depending on your gaming budget, you can play medium, low, or high-variance slots. As explained herein, high-variance slots come with huge risks (less frequent wins) but incredible payouts, while low-variance titles have regular wins but small payouts. So, knowing which video slot game to play will boost your chances of success.

Play progressive jackpots 

Of course, everybody likes a big payday and jackpot slots can offer that. So, it's only logical to try these progressive jackpots often to stand a chance of winning huge cash prizes.

Select video slots with diverse bonus features 

Video slot aficionados know that the most lucrative payouts come during bonus games and rounds. Therefore, playing online casino video slots with these bonus features will increase your chances of landing big payouts.

The Dos and Don'ts while playing online video slots

If you're a novice in the video slots universe, there are things you should do and not do while playing for real money. The table list of dos and don'ts below will help you stay in control of your gambling while enjoying a superb slot gaming experience.

Do’s	Don'ts
Conduct extensive research on your ideal slot to learn its RTP, variance, type of slot, bonus features, etc.	Never try winning back your losses.
Learn the rules of the video slots, including paytable, symbol combinations, triggering bonuses, etc.	Don't wager more than you can afford.
Set limits while playing, including betting, loss, and session limits and stick to them.	Don't think there's software to help you cheat and win more when playing video slots online.
Take advantage of online casino bonuses for longer gaming sessions and to boost your bankroll.	Don't play online video slots with low RTPs.
Play free video slots online with no download required to explore several themes and titles and hone your skills risk-free before spinning the reels for real money.
Use several video slot betting tips to increase your winning chances.

Guide to online video slot terms

• Payline: This is the alignment or pattern that identical symbols must follow on the reels (right to left or vice versa) to form a winning combination that leads to a payout.
• Winning combination: A set of matching symbols on consecutive reels is a winning combination. You'll need to land three or more identical symbols on the reels to acquire this payout combination.
• Paytable: This is a payment structure that shows the value of each video slot symbol and how each pays out when you land a particular number of these symbols on the reels. Also, the paytable will indicate the structure of paylines, various bonus features and how they can be triggered.
• Bonus features: These are the various bonus symbols and rounds a specific video slot offers. It can include free spins, respins, multipliers, etc. These bonus elements can be triggered by landing three or more bonus symbols like scatters or wilds.
• Scatter: This symbol usually unlocks various bonus features like mini-games, free spins, etc., depending on the video slot game.
• Wild: Like the scatter, a wild is a bonus symbol that usually replaces other regular symbols on the reels to complete winning combos. Notably, wild symbols cannot substitute scatters or free spins symbols. In online casino video slots, you may have random, expanding, walking, or sticky wilds.
• Bonus buy: This is an additional mechanic in some video slots that lets you jump straight to bonus games by purchasing access, usually free spins.

Free spins: These are in-game bonus spins that win after landing several bonus symbols. You can also buy them in bonus buy video slots.