There are thousands of slot machines that start with 0.01 credits. But for a machine (or virtual machine) to be a real penny slot, you need more than the penny acceptance. If you know that you're sticking with minimum betting, you're going to need a few more thing.
The odds of winning that jackpot, as we determined earlier, is 1/1000. If we set the jackpot as $900, and charge $1 per bet, the payout percentage for that game will be 90%, or $900/$1000. Of course, no one would play a slots game which only paid out once in every 1000 spins, which is why there are various smaller payouts programmed in. Slot machine odds used to be easy to calculate. When you're dealing with three reels, ten symbols on each reel, and a limited pay table, then it's just a simple math problem. But the rise of electromechanical slot machines and (later) video slots. Progressive slot machines slowly accumulate money from players and display the total as a jackpot. When playing on these machines, there's a possibility that you may win millions of dollars! However, the odds are very, very slim. Slot machines pay out at different rates. By playing random jackpot slots you increase the odds of hitting a jackpot, even though that jackpot is smaller. Think about it, progressive slots have to be set in a way to reach those mega jackpots, which obviously means they pay out substantially less over time that your average random jackpot.
Slot machines are the most popular game in any casino. Sure, people bet more on the lottery, and the worldwide sports betting market is huge. But slot machines are the game du jour in most casinos, especially in the United States.
Sadly, slot machines games also offer the worst odds in the casino except maybe for keno. The compounding effect of making hundreds of bets per hour at the slots make these games a bigger moneymaker for the casino than keno.
There's no science to playing slots. You put your money in, spin the reels, and hope for the best. The only decisions you make are which game to play and how much to bet.
Penny Slot Machines With Best Odds
This post covers how much you should bet. You'll often hear so-called gambling experts say you should always place the maximum bet on slot machines.
This isn't true for most games.
There Are Two Kinds of Max Bets on Slot Games
You'll only find one 'Max Bet' button on a slot machine game, but some games allow you to adjust the number of paylines you bet on. These are older games. They preceded the guaranteed '243 ways to win' games.
The first time I saw one of these games, a friend of mine called them 'penny slots.'
The minimum bet was 10 cents per payline and the game had 25 paylines. The minimum bet was, to my way of thinking, $2.50. You could never bet just a penny on that 'penny slot' game.
The maximum bet was $1 per payline. This was a sneaky way of getting the players to lay down more money. If you hit 'Max Bet' on that machine, it took $25 in credits from your balance.
The More Complicated the Slot Game, the Less Likely You'll Win
If you don't understand how much you're betting when you push a button on a slot game, there's something wrong with the game. Perhaps the gaming industry just went through a phase of bad design.
But just because a slot machine game has multiple paylines, you shouldn't assume that you'll lose money if you bet on fewer paylines. Each bet on each payline is a separate bet, so playing all the paylines at once might make you more likely to see a winner. But you'll also see more losing spins on the other paylines to compensate (in the long run, anyway).
The game is still programmed to spin as if all the paylines are active. I watched in horror, as that $25 bet spun the reels. I got lucky and the machine paid a low prize. I didn't lose $25.
You can save money on a slot machine like this in two ways.
- You can bet on fewer paylines.
- You can lower the size of your bet.
My buddy disabled all the paylines and played $1. We saw a big prize combination come up but it didn't pay anything. It was on a deactivated payline. There was no pattern on the one active payline.
A Few Older Games Increased Your Probability With Your Bet Size
This kind of game worked in the opposite way. You didn't disable or enable paylines. The game's help screen said some features were only enabled for the max bet.
We deduced that meant the theoretical return to player was calculated only for the max bet. And if the game wasn't allowing you to use all the features with lesser bets then it must have had a lower RTP.
I went back to play some blackjack that night but my friend stayed and played that game. He did okay, not great. He said it made a big difference to play the max bet.
A Basic Slot Game Doesn't Change the Probabilities
Whether it's a 3D video slot with monsters running around the screen or just a classic three-reel game, if the slot game doesn't disable paylines or require max bets, then the probabilities don't change.
You can bet the minimum or maximum credits, and it won't affect the outcome of the game. You simply change the number of guaranteed spins you can play.
If you have $300 and a game has a $1 minimum, you can play that game 300 times. If you make a maximum bet of $5 on every spin, then you can only play the game a maximum of 60 times (if you lose every time).
This makes a difference to some players. Other players say you're not going to lose 60 times in a row, so why worry about that? Bet the max and get the most from your prize.
Most Progressive Slot Games Only Pay on Max Bets
If you're playing a progressive slot game, then you need to make a maximum bet. I've seen a few games with multiple progressive jackpots where you only needed a max bet for the biggest jackpot.
If you have two versions of the same slot game, one is progressive and the other is not, you might as well play the max bet on the progressive version of the game.
Progressive slot games have a mixed reputation. I've talked to people who refuse to play them. They're convinced the payouts are less on progressive games.
And I know people who almost exclusively play progressive slot games. They would rather win a big prize beyond whatever the machine itself pays. They don't have to win $1 million if they can come away with a few thousand.
I've seen it play out both ways. I've never been in a casino where someone won more than $10,000.
The Math Says Max Bets Put You Ahead Faster
Assuming you find a slot machine that pays reasonably well, maybe it's on a 'hot' streak despite its regular RTP, why not play only max bets?
If the maximum payout is 1000x your bet, you'll make $999 on a $1 bet or $4995 on a $5 bet. That's a really simple equation, so why doesn't everyone bet that way?
Best Penny Slots To Play
If you're down to your last $20, you may decide to 'roll it up. ' But what's the difference between rolling up $20 and rolling up $200?
It comes down to how many spins you can guarantee yourself. This is a psychological game we play with ourselves. The odds of winning on the next spin are the same regardless of how much you bet.
There Is Another Advantage to Not Making Max Bets
If you want to play a lot of different games and you don't have an unlimited bankroll, then playing minimum bets allows you to spread your time around.
Some players like to test the games when they visit a casino for the first time. They make a decision based on luck.
I remember watching a man approach a slot machine late one night. I was getting ready to leave. He put a dollar in the machine and spun the wheels.
He went down the line of machines until one of them paid. There, he stopped and began playing.
Conclusion
Slot game designs have become more polished, but their rules are less confusing. People want to push a button and win some money.
I think caution is only warranted if you're unfamiliar with the games and you don't know immediately if they have any special rules. It's always a good idea to read the pay tables first.
And if you're a little confused by the game rules, then only play minimum bets until you understand what the game is doing.
There's no need to rush into max bets if you're not ready to take that chance.
Close your eyes and imagine that blissful moment of entering a casino for the very first time. A mix of bright artificial lights, loud noises and vivid colors. Surely, one of the very first things you must have noticed were the casino penny slots. Yeah, you remember those, don't you?!
Wager just a nickel for a chance to go home with the grand prize and a new life – sounds like a dream. Nowadays, we can enjoy gambling from the comfort of our own homes. To help you find the best penny slot machines to play online, we have prepared our 2020 ranking. Check the penny slot machines with best odds in the table below:
| Slot Name | RTP | Paylines | Rows | Reels | Secure Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirate's Charm | 96.49% | 243 | 3 | 5 | Play Here! |
| Blaze of Ra | 96.4% | 40 | 4 | 5 | Play Here! |
| Book of Dead | 94.25% | 10 | 3 | 5 | Play Here! |
| Golden Colts | 94.57% | 40 | 4 | 5 | Play Here! |
| Valley of the Gods | 96.20% | 3125 | 3 | 5 | Play Here! |
| Divine Fortune | 96.59% | 20 | 3 | 5 | Play Here! |
| Gold King | 94.54% | 20 | 3 | 5 | Play Here! |
| Joker Pro | 96.8% | 10 | 3 | 4 | Play Here! |
| 4 Seasons | 95.30% | 30 | 3 | 5 | Play Here! |
| Wild Wheel | 96.98% | 20 | 3 | 5 | Play Here! |
The Top 10 Online Penny Slot Machines with Best Odds
- Pirate's Charm (Best Penny Slot Game for 2020)
- Blaze of Ra (Top Ancient Egypt-Themed Game)
- Book of Dead (Great Low Stakes Betting Options)
- Golden Colts (Great Western-Themed Penny Slot)
- Valley of the Gods (Highest Number of Fixed Paylines)
- Divine Fortune (Top NetEnt Penny Slot)
- Gold King (The Game with the Most Golden Animations)
- Joker Pro (Top Spinoff of a Classic Game)
- 4 Seasons (The Slot with the Cutest Characters)
- Wild Wheel (Highest RTP of a Penny Slot)
1. Pirate's Charm
Get aboard on a thrilling voyage with the #1 penny slot for 2020 – Pirate's Charm! The Swedish studio, Quickspin, is behind this pirate-themed game. The developers included a special feature, Mystery Charm, and additional surprises that only scatters, and wild symbols can unlock. Surely, the game will keep you on your toes.
Pirate's Charm has 3 rows, 5 reels, 243 paylines and a medium to high variance. Brace yourself and enter high seas with this game's amazing 3D graphics and epic pirate tunes. Oh, and the backdrop changes in response to what is happening in the game. All in favour of Pirate's Charm say: Aye!
2. Blaze of Ra
At number two, we have Blaze of Ra, inspired by the ancient Egyptian civilization. As you have probably guessed, the penny slot created by Push Gaming has an Egyptian theme. The main character and wild symbol of the game is God Ra – ruler of the sun, order, kings, and sky.
Blaze of Ra is played on 5 reels and 4 rows. The slot machine has 40 paylines and high variance. The software provider has included special features such as free spins, wilds and scatter symbols. You will fully immerse into the mystical world of ancient Egypt because of the HD animations and graphics, as well as the Egyptian soundtrack.
3. Book of Dead
Moving forward in our penny slots online chart, we have the world-known penny slot – Book of Dead. One of the leading game developers in the world, Play'n GO, built this Egyptian-themed online slot. Playing this game, you will stumble upon God Ra, God Anubis, and pharaoh Tutankhamun, but the main character is the explorer, Rich Wilde.
Book of Dead has 3 rows, 5 reels, 10 paylines, RTP of 96.21% and medium-high variance. Moreover, you can enjoy two different special features, namely gamble and free spin rounds. Of course, that is not all, Play'n GO has put hard work into the graphics and soundtrack, so you can feel like you are on a mystical journey with Rich Wilde.
4. Golden Colts
Golden Colts is another of the best penny slot machines to play by Play'n GO. This Wild West-themed game, tells the story of the bounty hunters who must take away the cursed golden colts that have possessed the loose but very dead sheriff. Beware of the special Golden Colts Bonus Game, where one out of the seven features activates randomly.
Golden Colts has 4 rows, 5 reels, 40 fixed paylines, RTP of 96% and medium volatility. Without a doubt, you will fully immerse into the western story with the HD graphics and animations from Play'n GO. Of course, the developers added realistic sound effects to make you feel you are in the middle of the shootings, next to the bounty hunters.
5. Valley of the Gods
We are halfway through our Top 10 Online Penny Slot Machines for 2020, and at number five, we got Valley of the Gods. The experts at Yggdrasil have outdone themselves creating the game. Embark on an adventure inside a pyramid hidden deep in the Sahara Desert with this Egyptian-themed game. If you would like to try the game for free, check out our Valley of the Gods slot review.
Valley of the Gods is played on a 5×5 grid but is far away from what you would expect. The developers added a feature that blocks specific parts of the reels during the game. Plus, there are 3125 fixed paylines, an RTP of 96.20% and medium variance. To top everything up, the slot uses iSENSE 2.0+ technology so that you can play in Ultra HD.
6. Divine Fortune
Ancient empires sure do make a great theme of a slot machine. No wonder, NetEnt got inspired by ancient Greece to create the popular penny slot, Divine Fortune. On your heroic journey, you will stumble upon mythical beings like Medusa, Minotaur, and Phoenix. However, the main wild symbol of the game is Pegasus.
This NetEnt game is played on 5 reels and 3 rows, plus it is a progressive jackpot slot. Divine Fortune has 20 paylines, 96.59% RTP and medium variance. Playing the game, you will find 4 bonus features giving you extra payouts and multipliers. Just as you would suspect, the graphics, animations and soundtrack align perfectly with the theme.
7. Gold King
Here, at lucky number seven, sits Gold King. This is one more of the best penny slot machines to play created by Play'n GO. The theme of the game is Greek mythology. In particular, it was inspired by the classic tale of King Midas, who turned everything he touched into gold, hence the name.
Best Penny Slots In Casino
Gold King slot has 5 reels, 3 rows, 20 paylines, RTP of 95.53% and very high variance. This Play'n GO game is packed with special features such as Super Stack and Super Spins. The concept is well put together, and of course, the amazing HD graphics and soundtrack match the theme perfectly.
8. Joker Pro
NetEnt brought back to life the classic penny slot, Joker Pro. This game will surely take you on a trip down Memory lane. The software provider incorporated traditional symbols like diamonds, bells, sevens, lucky clovers, and horseshoes. Of course, they made the Joker Hat the scatter symbol, and the wild card says Wild.
NetEnt's slot, Joker Pro is played on a 5×3 grid, plus it has 10 paylines, RTP of 96.8%, and high volatility. The developers added more special features, such as Joker Pro Re-Spins and Hot Spot Win. While this is a modern take on a classic game, the design and soundtrack have been updated to match today's likes.
9. 4 Seasons
The next penny slot in our 2020 list is 4 Seasons by Betsoft. This game is based on the Chinese zodiac, and each of the 12 animals is represented. Also, there are a few more special symbols like the Golden Cat and Yin Yang. The developers really took their time animating the slot in the cutest way possible.
4 Seasons has 5 reels, 3 rows, 30 fixed paylines, an RTP of 95.30% and medium variance. Unlike most slots, this one offers the same payout for all symbols. However, the special features – Seasonal Wheel and Block Wins – could increase your winnings up to 10x or give you extra spins. This slot has fantastic graphics and great background music.
10. Wild Wheel
Last at our penny slots online ranking, we have another game by Push Gaming – Wild Wheel. The developers behind the game created it with a modern and intuitive design. The theme of this penny slot is Classic & Retro and has a range of old school features like Stacked Wilds, Nudging Wilds, and Wild Wheel, among others.
Wild Wheel is played on a 5×3 grid, and it has 20 paylines, 96.98% RTP and medium to high variance. We can all agree that the graphics are not the most impressive thing about this game. That might be because the developers focused on building in great payouts (up to 1500x the initial bonus).
How to Win at Penny Slots?
Penny slots earned that name due to the low cost to play when they first appeared in casinos. This type of games is still loved by many today, as it offers a chance for getting big bucks. You could earn hundreds of dollars, even thousands. While there is not a certain strategy that guarantees winnings, we have prepared our top 3 tips on how to win at penny slots.
First, always do your homework. Once you have decided your game of choice, research which casinos have the highest payout for that slot. If you would like to test your skills first without spending a single cent, then we suggest you look at our Top Social Casinos for Free US Online Slot Games.
Second, we suggest you bet the maximum amount each time for a chance of winning the most. This is the only way to make sure that if you win at a penny slot, it would be the highest possible jackpot. Following this thought, we have previously prepared a detailed ranking of the best slot sites in the USA for 2020, feel free to check it out.
Our final tip is to make sure to match the deposit bonus offered by the provider. Such promotions are most frequently used for penny slots online. However, these deals gain more popularity among land-based operators. Wherever you choose to play, take advantage of the welcome offer and get the most of your experience with casino penny slots.
Popular Penny Slot Questions
Who does not like the idea of winning a jackpot by betting just some change?! We sure do! No wonder that their popularity only grows among players. With that in mind, we want to make sure you know everything there is for penny slots. So, we prepared this FAQ section.
🏆 How to win at penny slots?
No matter how much we wished, there is a hack on how to win at penny slots machines, we can only give you our advice. Previously in this post, we mentioned our top 3 tips that could increase your chances of winning. Make sure to check those out!
🥇 What are the best penny slot machines to play?
We explored what are the best penny slot machines to play in 2020. To make sure we have something for everyone, you will find a wide range of slots in this list. Among the popular themes are ancient Egypt and Greece. However, you will also find games based on mythology or spinoffs of old school classics.
🎲 What are the penny slot machines with best odds?
We took our time evaluating a number of games and put together this list. At the beginning of this post, you will find a table with the penny slot machines with best odds that we found. We highly recommend you check it out when choosing which one to play.
🎰 Which is the best penny slot for 2020?
Today, we looked at 10 different games and the best penny slot for 2020 is Pirate's Charm. The game has it all, from exciting storyline to surprise special features. Without a doubt, you will feel like your next to your sailing mate with the amazing graphics and pirate music.
- Huge Welcome Offer for UK Players
- Award-Winning Live Casino
- Multiple Software Providers
NetEnt brought back to life the classic penny slot, Joker Pro. This game will surely take you on a trip down Memory lane. The software provider incorporated traditional symbols like diamonds, bells, sevens, lucky clovers, and horseshoes. Of course, they made the Joker Hat the scatter symbol, and the wild card says Wild.
NetEnt's slot, Joker Pro is played on a 5×3 grid, plus it has 10 paylines, RTP of 96.8%, and high volatility. The developers added more special features, such as Joker Pro Re-Spins and Hot Spot Win. While this is a modern take on a classic game, the design and soundtrack have been updated to match today's likes.
9. 4 Seasons
The next penny slot in our 2020 list is 4 Seasons by Betsoft. This game is based on the Chinese zodiac, and each of the 12 animals is represented. Also, there are a few more special symbols like the Golden Cat and Yin Yang. The developers really took their time animating the slot in the cutest way possible.
4 Seasons has 5 reels, 3 rows, 30 fixed paylines, an RTP of 95.30% and medium variance. Unlike most slots, this one offers the same payout for all symbols. However, the special features – Seasonal Wheel and Block Wins – could increase your winnings up to 10x or give you extra spins. This slot has fantastic graphics and great background music.
10. Wild Wheel
Last at our penny slots online ranking, we have another game by Push Gaming – Wild Wheel. The developers behind the game created it with a modern and intuitive design. The theme of this penny slot is Classic & Retro and has a range of old school features like Stacked Wilds, Nudging Wilds, and Wild Wheel, among others.
Wild Wheel is played on a 5×3 grid, and it has 20 paylines, 96.98% RTP and medium to high variance. We can all agree that the graphics are not the most impressive thing about this game. That might be because the developers focused on building in great payouts (up to 1500x the initial bonus).
How to Win at Penny Slots?
Penny slots earned that name due to the low cost to play when they first appeared in casinos. This type of games is still loved by many today, as it offers a chance for getting big bucks. You could earn hundreds of dollars, even thousands. While there is not a certain strategy that guarantees winnings, we have prepared our top 3 tips on how to win at penny slots.
First, always do your homework. Once you have decided your game of choice, research which casinos have the highest payout for that slot. If you would like to test your skills first without spending a single cent, then we suggest you look at our Top Social Casinos for Free US Online Slot Games.
Second, we suggest you bet the maximum amount each time for a chance of winning the most. This is the only way to make sure that if you win at a penny slot, it would be the highest possible jackpot. Following this thought, we have previously prepared a detailed ranking of the best slot sites in the USA for 2020, feel free to check it out.
Our final tip is to make sure to match the deposit bonus offered by the provider. Such promotions are most frequently used for penny slots online. However, these deals gain more popularity among land-based operators. Wherever you choose to play, take advantage of the welcome offer and get the most of your experience with casino penny slots.
Popular Penny Slot Questions
Who does not like the idea of winning a jackpot by betting just some change?! We sure do! No wonder that their popularity only grows among players. With that in mind, we want to make sure you know everything there is for penny slots. So, we prepared this FAQ section.
🏆 How to win at penny slots?
No matter how much we wished, there is a hack on how to win at penny slots machines, we can only give you our advice. Previously in this post, we mentioned our top 3 tips that could increase your chances of winning. Make sure to check those out!
🥇 What are the best penny slot machines to play?
We explored what are the best penny slot machines to play in 2020. To make sure we have something for everyone, you will find a wide range of slots in this list. Among the popular themes are ancient Egypt and Greece. However, you will also find games based on mythology or spinoffs of old school classics.
🎲 What are the penny slot machines with best odds?
We took our time evaluating a number of games and put together this list. At the beginning of this post, you will find a table with the penny slot machines with best odds that we found. We highly recommend you check it out when choosing which one to play.
🎰 Which is the best penny slot for 2020?
Today, we looked at 10 different games and the best penny slot for 2020 is Pirate's Charm. The game has it all, from exciting storyline to surprise special features. Without a doubt, you will feel like your next to your sailing mate with the amazing graphics and pirate music.
- Huge Welcome Offer for UK Players
- Award-Winning Live Casino
- Multiple Software Providers
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