Best Real Money Slots Online (Updated for April 2025)

Play sweepstakes slots online and win cash prizes

If you don't live in a state with legal real money online casinos, you can access real casino slots at sweepstakes casinos. 

That includes hundreds of the exact same slots you find at real money casinos, like Big Bass Bonanza, Sugar Rush, Gods of Olympus, and Great Rhino Megaways. The major difference is sweepstakes slots don't take cash bets — you spin the reels with virtual currencies.

You can then tackle leaderboard challenges, play in slots tournaments, unlock premium slots and redeem your winnings from Sweeps Coins slots for cash prizes.

Here are our top 10 U.S. sweepstakes slots casinos plus their casino bonuses to get started:

Covers Expert Analysis

"If you're expecting a lesser slots product at sweepstakes casinos you'll be impressed by the breadth and depth of their slots menus. Many of them are on par with a real money online casino, and they can offer a wider range of styles and themes from lesser-known slots providers. Cascading reels, megaways, 5-reel classics, Hollywood Hits ... you can find all of them. As an added bonus beyond winning a jackpot with your Sweeps Coins, you can unlock premium slots and play in slots tournaments and leaderboard challenges."

Ben Pringle, Casino Editor

Which online slots can I play at sweepstakes casinos?

You can find many of the major slots titles you've tried and enjoyed at a live or online casino at sweepstakes casinos. A few of the most popular slots titles you can play include:

• Sugar Rush (play at Mega Bonanza Casino)
• Gates of Olympus (play at RealPrize Casino)
• Sweet Bonanza (play at Stake.us Casino)
• Big Bass Bonanza (play at WOW Vegas Casino)
• Great Rhino Megaways (play at Mega Bonanza Casino)

Most sweeps casinos have hundreds of slots divided up into recognizable sections including:

• New
• Exclusives
• Jackpots & MegaJackpots
• Hold and Win
• Cascades
• Megaways
• High Volatility

The stakes are different, obviously. On sweeps casinos you play with virtual currencies — either Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins. Gold Coin games are entirely for free.

With Sweeps Coins games, though, you can redeem some winnings for cash prizes. See more on some of the best real money slots online and sample a few slots below.

Covers Expert Analysis

"If you haven't checked in on your favorite sweepstakes casino lately, log in. For one, you'll likely get a bonus just to log in. For two, you'll likely see a vastly expanded slots menu. With sweepstakes casinos booming across the U.S., software providers are lining up to offer their best games to sweeps casino brands - their top real-money online casino hits included. Sweeps casinos also offer more regular slots tournaments and let you unlock premium slots via leaderboard challenges."

Ben Pringle, Casino Editor

Top 10 online slots trending for April 2025

Online casinos launch new slot games all the time. Cascading or Tumbling reel slots are all the rage, but new slots styles and themes emerge quickly.

Expect to see live slots with hosts and multi-player slots take off in popularity this year.

See below for some of the most popular or trending slots this month and which online casinos (sweeps or real money) you can play them at:

Top 6 real money online slots

All legal U.S. online casinos have huge selections of slots for real money. We've spotlighted titles with excellent bonus rounds, fun gameplay, great graphics, high Return to Player (RTP) rates, and unique online casino bonus features.

Covers Tip: Return to Player (RTP) is the percentage of wagers a game pays back in winnings over time. It is calculated by dividing the win amount by the total turnover of a game across a designated period.

A game's volatility impacts RTP accuracy, but generally players look for games with the highest RTP. A game with 97% RTP will theoretically return $97 for every $100 wagered.

Here are six of the best online slots for real money in 2025:

1. Sweet Bonanza - 96.5% RTP, Max. Win 21,000x

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Bright, colorful, and vibrant, Pragmatic Play’s Sweet Bonanza is a candy-themed slot that has earned legendary status in the iGaming world. 

Sweet Bonanza's scatter pays mechanism allows players to win big without paylines, as unique symbols pay out winnings when they appear scattered across the reels a specified number of times. Free spins bonus rounds come with multipliers to boost the value of all wins. 

⭐ Sweet Bonanza at a glance:

🤩 RTP: 96.49%

📊 Volatility: Medium-high

⬆️ Maximum payout: 21,100x bet 

🤯 Paylines: Scatter pays  

⬇️ Minimum bet: $0.20

📶 No. of Reels: Six

🎉 Jackpot / Max Win: 21,000x

🕹️ Software Provider: Pragmatic Play

🕹️ Play at: Mega Bonanza Casino, FanDuel Casino, BetMGM Casino

Sweet Bonanza slot Pros and Cons

High max win potential

Chances for free spin round purchases

Tumble Feature creates new win potential

Outdated theme

Higher-than-average minimum bet

2. Cash Eruption - 96% RTP, Max. Win 1,000x

  

Play Cash Eruption at BetMGM Casino

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Cash Eruption is an Aztec-themed slot taking the U.S. by storm. The fruit-based symbols may seem slightly out of place in the midst of fireballs and lava, but online slots players obviously don't mind with IGT's popular 20-payline title bringing in 2.7% of all Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in September 2024.

The Cash Eruption slot game tops out at an RTP of 96%, with the five-reel game featuring Scatters, Expanding Wild, Free Spins, a Cash Eruption Bonus, and four Jackpot prizes. You can stake between $0.20 and $40 per spin, with the Red 7 and Fire Goddess symbols potentially landing you 1,000x your stake.

⭐ Cash Eruption at a glance:

🤩 RTP: 96.00%

📊 Volatility: High

⬆️ Maximum payout: $10,000

🤯 Paylines: 20  

⬇️ Minimum bet: $0.20

📶 No. of Reels: Five

🎉 Jackpot / Max Win: 1,000x

🕹️ Software Provider: IGT

🕹️ Play at: BetMGM Casino

Cash Eruption slot Pros and Cons

Classic fruit machine icons

Linked reels during Free Spins feature

Cash Eruption and Expanding Wilds features

Infrequent wins due to volatility

Slightly lower RTP than rival titles 

3. Big Bamboo - 96.13% RTP, Max. Win 50,000x

$55 Stake Cash, 550,000 GC + 5% Rakeback

Terms & conditions apply

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Hit the jungle and join forces with a giant panda in the ultra-popular animal-themed slot, Big Bamboo. Mystery prize symbols can land on the reels, while the golden bamboo feature offers an instant prize or a multiplier symbol to boost wins. 

With a 50,000x max win up for grabs, Big Bamboo is a game you can’t ignore if you’re looking for big wins while playing online slots for real money.

⭐ Big Bamboo at a glance:

🤩 RTP: 96.13%

📊 Volatility: High

⬆️ Maximum payout: 50,000x bet

🤯 Paylines: 50

⬇️ Minimum bet: $0.10

📶 No. of Reels: Five

🎉 Jackpot / Max Win: 50,000x

🕹️ Software Provider: Push Gaming

🕹️ Play at: Stake.us Casino

Big Bamboo slot Pros and Cons

Instant-prize potential

Multiple bonus buy options

Mystery free spin feature

Possible win cap

Limited reels

4. Cursed Seas - 96.22% RTP, Max. Win 12,500x

$55 Stake Cash, 550,000 GC + 5% Rakeback

Terms & conditions apply

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This horror-themed pirate adventure is not for the faint of heart, but it’s one of Hacksaw Gaming’s most popular online slots in 2025.

Played on a 5x4 grid, 26 paylines, and two bonus games offer a great chance to unlock the game’s 12,500x max win. 

If you’re intrigued by the legend of Blackbeard and other notorious pirates of the Golden Age, Hacksaw’s Cursed Seas slot is the game for you.

⭐ Cursed Seas at a glance:

🤩 RTP: 96.22%

📊 Volatility: High

⬆️ Maximum payout: 12,500x bet

🤯 Paylines: 26

⬇️ Minimum bet: $0.10

📶 No. of Reels: Five

🎉 Jackpot / Max Win: 12,500x

🕹️ Software Provider: Hacksaw Gaming

🕹️ Play at: Stake.us Casino

Cursed Seas slot Pros and Cons

Bonus games

26 winning reel combinations

Special feature purchases available

Relatively low max win potential

Dull graphic display

5. Ankh of Anubis - 96.20% RTP, Max Win 15,000x

  

Play Ankh of Anubis at BetMGM Casino

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Play’n GO’s Ankh of Anubis is one of the best Egyptian slots ever made with a 576 win-all-ways mechanism in play. 

Though set in the ancient past, this slot features a futuristic and unconventional 3-4-4-4-3 setup. The bonus round offers up to 20 free spins to use to land the game’s max prize of 15,000x the bet.

For ancient Egyptian gameplay with a twist, check out Play’n GO’s Ankh of Anubis at your chosen online casino.

⭐ Ankh of Anubis at a glance:

🤩 RTP: 96.20%

📊 Volatility: High

⬆️ Maximum payout: 15,000x bet

🤯 Paylines: 576

⬇️ Minimum bet: $0.10

📶 No. of Reels: Five

🎉 Jackpot / Max Win: 15,000x

🕹️ Software Provider: Play'n Go

🕹️ Play at: BetMGM Casino

Ankh of Anubis slot Pros and Cons

Random additional wild symbols

Possible indefinite free spins

Nearly 600 ways to win

Uneven reels create unusual gameplay

Limited bonus opportunities

6. Gonzo's Quest Megaways - 96% RTP, Max. Win 21,000x

  

Play Gonzo’s Quest Megaways at FanDuel Casino

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The Megaways version of Gonzo’s Quest takes this legendary slot game to a different level. 

Avalanches occur after winning combos to provide additional winning opportunities, while unbreakable wilds and free spins can lead you to the 21,000x max win. 

With a respectable RTP and awesome gameplay, Gonzo’s Quest Megaways is another excellent slot game that pays real money.

⭐ Gonzo's Quest Megaways at a glance:

🤩 RTP: 96%

📊 Volatility: Medium-high

⬆️ Maximum payout: 21,000x bet

🤯 Paylines: 117,649

⬇️ Minimum bet: $0.20

📶 No. of Reels: Six

🎉 Jackpot / Max Win: 20,000x

🕹️ Software Provider: NetEnt via Red Tiger

🕹️ Play at: FanDuel Casino

Gonzo’s Quest Megaways slot Pros and Cons

Wide range of Wilds and Multipliers

Vibrant graphics

Replaceable game symbols

Only one game playable at a time

Low maximum stake

Real money slots quick facts

Top 5 real money online slots casinos

If you live in a state with legal online casinos, here are five of the best real money slots casinos. See here for online casinos with free spins offers. See here for the best online slots sites in NJ, specifically.

Online casino	Claim welcome bonus	States available
	100% Match up to $1,000 + $25 No-Deposit Bonus	PA, NJ, MI
	100% Match up to $2,500, $50 No-Deposit Bonus + 50 Bonus Spins	WV
	Deposit $10, Get 350 Bonus Spins + $40 in Casino Bonus	PA, NJ, MI, WV, CT
	100% match up to $2,500 + 2,500 Reward Credits	PA, NJ, MI, WV
	$500 Second Chance Bonus	PA, NJ, MI, WV
	500 Spins + Up to $1,000 Back in Casino Credits	PA, NJ, MI, WV, CT

Covers Expert Analysis

"For our money it's tough to beat the massive 1,500+ slots library at MGM, but the exclusives you can spin at FanDuel, DraftKings and BetRivers can be really fun. The progressive jackpot network of over 60 slots at Jackpot City and Spin Palace are also worth some spins. By the looks of things, bonus spins attached to your sign-up bonus are on the way back at many casinos, which is a nice trend."

Ben Pringle, Casino Editor

Highest RTP (Return-to-Player) Slots

The return-to-player percentage (RTP) of a slot means the percentage of total money played that is ultimately paid back out in winnings.

The highest RTP slots online, such as Mega Joker, pay out a full 99% of the wagers taken in. That said, it is a cumulative total programmed in over the life of the slot.

That means you are NOT guaranteed to win 99% of the money you put in to a slot back in any one session. See below for the list of the highest RTP slots online and which online casinos you can play them at.

Covers Expert Analysis

"To find the RTP rate of any online slot, open the 'information' or 'i' button within the slot game's frame. This will show you the paytable (which symbols and combos will payout and how much according to your bet size), any rules of the slot and the Return-to-Player rate, listed as a percentage of the total bets that will be paid out over time."

Ben Pringle, Casino Editor

What are the best high & low volatility slots online?

Slot volatility means how often and how much you can expect to win (or lose) on any slot machine. The three levels are:

• Low volatility: Pays out more often but smaller amounts
• Medium volatility: More balance between frequency and size of payouts
• High volatility: Wins are less frequent but payouts are much higher

To see the volatility level of any slot, check the info button or paytable. If it's not listed, you can likely tell by the game features.

• Slots with max paylines and cluster pays are typically low volatility.
• Slots with big bonus rounds and progressive jackpots are typically high volatility.

Some of the most popular online slots of each type include:

• Low volatility: Jumanji, Panda's Fortune, Starburst, Blood Suckers, Aloha! Cluster Pays
• Medium volatility: Gonzo's Quest, Reactoonz, Thunderstruck II, Vikings Go Berzerk, Legacy of Egypt
• High volatility: Dead or Alive II, Mega Moolah, Book of Dead, Bonanza, Razor Shark, Helldivers

Covers Expert Analysis

"If you want to play long sessions with steady payouts, pick low volatility slots. If you don't mind longer dry spells between wins but want to win big when you hit, pick high volatility slots. If your primary purpose when playing slots is to maximize your entertainment time and minimize your losses, low volatility slots are the way to go — and there's still plenty of opportunity to hit a nice score."

Ben Pringle, Casino Editor

What are the most popular kinds of online slots?

• Megaways Slots

  Megaways slots were developed in 2016 by Australian company Big Time Gaming. What makes them unique is the dynamic reel setup, which generates 117,649 ways to win on each spin. 

  The original Megaways slot is Bonanza Megaways, which has since been released in multiple forms. The Megaways format has also been licensed to other slots providers, so you'll see it under many more themes and brands, and you'll see new Megaways Cluster Pays.

  Most popular Megaways slots: Bonanza Megaways, Extra Chilli Megaways, White Rabbit Megaways. Gonzo's Quest Megaways, The Dog House Megaways, Dragon Born Megaway, Rick and Morty Megaways

• Cluster Pays Slots

  A cluster pay slot is different from a traditional slot machine, which uses "paylines" (specific lines which require matching symbols to win). A winning "cluster" is a group of symbols (typically 5), that are grouped together in any direction (diagonally, vertically, horizontally) rather than a straight line.

  The Cluster Pays mechanic is also typically combined with cascading or tumbling reels. So when your cluster hits, the symbols drop out and are replaced with new ones, giving you even more wins to win or earn bonus rounds/spins.

  Most popular Cluster Pays slots: Reactoonz, Vikings Unleashed Megaways, Jammin' Jars, Honey Rush, Gold Digger Megaways

• Hold & Win Slots

  As the name implies, these are slot machines where key symbols can trigger a "hold," while the reels spin again and the winning symbols are held in place. This gives you a chance to stack even more symbols together and hit big.

  Most popular Hold & Win slots: John Hunter and the Aztec Treasure, Book of Ra Hold and Win, Fire Strike Hold and Win, Diamond Strike Hold and Win, Gems Bonanza Hold and Win

• Bonus Buy Slots

  Want to skip the waiting for a bonus round or free spins to be triggered naturally? Some new slots let you buy right into the bonus rounds and see if you can hit big from there.

  Most popular Bonus Buy slots: Sweet Bonanza, Wanted Dead or a Wild, Big Bass Bonanza, Book of Dead, Money Train 2, Fruit Party 2

• Progressive Jackpot Slots

  A progressive jackpot slot has a jackpot that increases with each bet made. A percentage of each bet (typically under 5%) is added to the jackpot, which grows from a set seed amount.

  The jackpot can be Standalone (from bets on one slot only), Local (combined from a group of slots at one casino) or Networked (combined from a group of slots across multiple casinos).

  Daily or weekly progressive jackpots are reset according to a set timeline. Once a jackpot is won (triggered by a specific set of symbols, special jackpot symbol, or bonus round), it's reset to the seed amount. The progressive jackpot can only be hit with a max bet spin.

  Most popular Progressive Jackpot slots: Mega Moolah, Divine Fortune, Hall of God, Major Millions, Mega Fortune, Mega Joker

Covers Expert Analysis

"Most of the slots on the most popular list fall into the 'high volatility' category, which is not surprising - they offer the best shots at hitting very big jackpots. The trade-off, of course, is smaller wins come by less frequently. The mechanics of new slots keep things really tense and exciting, though. For our betting dollar, we find cluster pays and cascading reels to be the most fun - especially given the multiple ways to win and the frequency of hitting bonus rounds."

Ben Pringle, Casino Editor

Best online slots strategies

Online slots are more than just pick and click. Here are some key tips for online slots strategy.

How to pick a good online slot

Due to the sheer number of slot games available at real money online casinos, and how often new slots are released, it can be hard to always know which slots are "the best," or which ones you'd enjoy most.

As a general rule, most online casinos with have a "most popular" slots tab or category where you can see what other players are gravitating towards. You'll also find tabs for Cascades, Megaways, Hold and Wins, etc., which will organize all the slots of that particular type of play.

Once you've found a type of slot you enjoy, follow these helpful tips when choosing your game: 

Payouts

How much does the game in question pay out? If you’re looking for big wins, check for games with max wins over 5,000x your bet. You should also look at a game’s paylines and pay table for more details about how to win. 

RTP and volatility

The industry average RTP for slots is 96%, so always try to play games with an RTP of 96% or higher. These are actually fairly common. This figure represents the percentage of wagers returned to players over time. You should also consider whether a game has high, medium, or low volatility to understand how often it pays out.

Graphics and theme

Slot games that pay real money all vary in graphics and theme. From ancient Mayan temples to the high seas, you can find games with multiple themes and excellent graphics. If theme and style are more important to you than RTP or volatility, just pick a slot that aligns with your interests for peak entertainment value. 

Security

It’s important to always play at an online casino that is licensed to operate in the U.S - and that includes both real money online casinos and sweepstakes casinos. You should always look for an online casino's state licensing information before depositing funds to play real money slots. Most of them should be obvious, especially with the big brands like BetMGM or Caesars Palace, but there are still offshore, illegal online casino who will try to solicit your business.

Playing slots on casino apps

The best slot games are optimized for mobile gaming. If you plan to play slots on your smartphone or tablet, double check your casino app offers optimized gameplay and provides the full menu of their slots games on the app itself. All sweepstakes casino slots are optimized for playing on the smaller screen, even if they don't have a dedicated downloadable app for the casino itself.

Pick the best slot software developers

Choose slots from specific developers once you’ve become familiar with what each provider offers. Leading casino game studios include developers like Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, and NetEnt. Our online casino reviews will tell you exactly which slot developers each online casino uses for their games.

Types of slots bonuses

The best way to boost your bankroll before playing real money slots is to take advantage of casino bonuses. From online casino no-deposit bonuses to free spins and reload offers, you'll have plenty of options:

Welcome bonus

• Offered to new customers only.
• Usually awarded after registering and making a first deposit.
• Must satisfy wagering requirements before withdrawing.

Free spins

• Exclusive to slots.
• Players receive a specific number of spins.
• Typically limited to select games.

No-deposit bonus

• Most sought-after online casino bonus.
• Play with house money — no deposit required.
• Meet wagering requirements before accessing winnings.

Reload bonus

• Rewards active players for their loyalty.
• Awarded after an additional deposit is made.
• Usually available on specific days of the week.

Referral bonus

• For users who invite friends or family to play.
• Involves a unique link or code.
• Bonus awarded after a friend or family member makes their first deposit.

Real money online slots vs free slots

While free online slots are a great way to test games and learn the characteristics of a slot before risking your bankroll, nothing quite compares to the thrill of playing online slots for real money. We break down the pros and cons of free games and real money slots in the table below: 

Real money slots

Chance to win real money

Access to bonuses, free spins and loyalty rewards 

Opportunity to win progressive jackpots 

Could lose real money 

Payouts are not instant 

Free slots

Free to play 

No account registration  

Not necessary to divulge personal information

No bonuses or casino incentives 

Can't cashout any real money 

How to play online slots

Playing online slots for real money is easy. Our guide walks you through all you need to play in just a matter of minutes.

How do online slots work?

Although slot games are easy to play, understanding how they work takes a little time — especially if you’re new to online casinos. We recommend carefully reading the game rules and considering the following before playing online slots for real money:

Types of slots

Identify the type of slot that best suits your needs. You'll find video slots, classic slots, progressive slots, and jackpot slots at legal online casinos.

Betting limits

Consider betting limits before playing a slot game that pays real money. Betting limits vary significantly from slot to slot, ranging from $0.01 to $500 per spin, ensuring that there’s a game for everyone.

Game overview

Read through the game’s rules to learn about its payouts, maximum win, RTP, and volatility. Consider bonus features like free spins, wilds, multipliers, and cascading wins. Some games let you buy access to specific bonus features, which is a fast track to some of the biggest wins in the game.

Covers Tip: Online slots are powered by Random Number Generators (RNGs), meaning that the outcome of every spin in the game is random. You can win or lose each time you spin the reels.

Best real money slot developers

There are many slot game developers in the casino industry, and some are certainly better than others. Below are a few of our favorite real money slots developers in 2025:

• Pragmatic Play: One of the industry leaders, with a vast library of games spanning myriad themes and styles.
• Microgaming: An award-winning software platform responsible for arguably the most popular slot in the world, Mega Moolah.
• NetEnt: A studio known for its high RTP slot games, offering great value for players.
• Big Time Gaming: The studio responsible for the Megaways mechanic, an increasingly popular and engaging slot experience.

Other studios worthy of a mention include Hacksaw Gaming, Play’n GO, Nolimit City, and Push Gaming, as they all offer excellent slot games that pay real money at various online casinos in the U.S.

Which states have real money online slots?

As of April 2025, playing at commercial real money online casinos is legal and available in seven U.S. states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.

Rhode Island is the most recent state to launch online casino gambling, with Bally debuting simulcast live dealer games from its Twin River Casino on March 5, 2024.  It remains to be seen whether real money online casino gambling will be rolled out in further states in the near future.

Anyone in states without legal gambling can enjoy U.S sweepstakes casino sites, which are legal in most U.S. states. 

For online slot players who are also hoping to wager of sports in the U.S., visit our legal tracker to pinpoint states with legal sports betting before reviewing our guide to the best sports betting sites.

Interested in daily fantasy sports? Some states that don't offer traditional online casinos or sports betting have options for DFS players. Claim exclusive promo codes for StatHero and ParlayPlay today.

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