Every month, the Mississippi Gaming Commission publishes statistical reports that tell us, among other things, how much slot machines are paying back to players. In March, for example, non-progressive slots payed 91.16 percent in penny denominations, 93.72 on nickels, 92.41 percent on quarters and 96.81 percent on dollars.
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! |
According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), casinos in the Silver State won $6.3 billion from slot players during 2017. Of that amount, $3.17 percent – or a hair more than half – was claimed by the penny slots, while multi-denominational machines took in $3.13 billion. In addition to penny slot jackpots, many penny slot machines offer a variety of bonus games that are built into the theme. To win penny slots, look for bonuses that include features such as free spins, bonus levels, and payout multipliers.
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. Youtube casino slot games.
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.
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.
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View all postsCasino floors used to be filled with nickel and quarter slot machines. And casinos made healthy slots profits with these coin denominations for decades.
But nowadays, penny slot machines are the dominant game. These slot machines are enticing because they only require players to bet one cent on each payline.
Some might think of these games as mindless entertainment due to how you’re merely spinning the reels over and over. But I’ve actually learned some important lessons from playing penny slots.
Here are the 5 biggest lessons I learned from penny slot machines, including things I’ve applied to both gambling and real-life situations.
1. Always Understand What You’re Getting Into – Especially With Penny Slots
The name alone is what draws many players to penny slot machines. The term penny slots creates the idea that you can play for as little as one cent per spin.
But this isn’t the case at all, because most penny slots force you to play a fixed number of paylines. If you’re on a 50-line penny slot machine, then you’ll need to wager a minimum of $0.50 per turn.
This isn’t exactly what beginning gamblers have in mind when they sit down to a penny slots game. The same players are often shocked when their money quickly vanishes.
I myself fell for this the first time I played a penny slot machine. I automatically assumed that the game was going to be really cheap, but it drained my funds faster than a nickel or quarter machine.
I’m not saying that casinos are evil for putting these games on their floors. But you need to be aware of what you’re getting into with these games, just like anything else in life.
Here’s a dramatic comparison. You should always read through a contract before signing it, because failing to read a contract before signing could loop you into a bad deal. Likewise, you shouldn’t play a penny slot machine without first reading the help screen.
I realize that there’s more at stake when you sign a bad contract without reading through. But I want to stress that some penny slot machines are like bad contracts of the gambling world.
The first thing you should do when sitting down to one of these games is look at the help screen.
This explains how many lines you need to play along with minimum bets for specific bonus features and the jackpot.
For example, Aristocrat’s Game of Thrones slot machine requires that you make a 100-credit wager to active the Fire & Blood Bonus.
You can risk less than this on Game of Thrones. But most slots players don’t want to play a game where they don’t qualify for the best bonus features.
Some slot machines require that you play up to 300 credits, or $3 per spin for certain bonuses and/or the progressive jackpot, and $3 is hardly what players expect to wager on a penny slot machine.
Again, read the help screen to find out how much you need to bet to be eligible for every feature. This prevents you from being shocked when having to risk $1-$3 per spin to play.
The good news is that you can find cheaper penny slot machines in land-based casinos. Some of these games only require that you play 20 lines or less to qualify for everything.
2. Prepare Your Bankroll for the Worst
Continuing off the last point, many penny slots can be expensive. And this taught me both a life and gambling lesson in that you should always prepare for the worst.
Sometimes unexpected things happen that can rock you financially.
Nobody expects their heater to go out. But when it does, and the heater needs replaced, you’re staring at a $1,200 bill.
Hopefully no slot machine ever becomes this expensive for you. But on a smaller scale, you should always plan for the worst with slots.
This is especially the case with penny games that require playing 100-300 credits to unlock every feature. You’re risking between $1 and $3 per spin in this case.
Slot machines are already volatile, meaning they produce very unpredictable short-term results. Adding expensive bets on top of this volatility can create a bankroll nightmare.
How do you avoid this nightmare and plan for the worst? The best way is to do some simple bankroll calculations.
Here’s an example for a land-based penny slot machine.
- The average land-based penny slots player loses 350 bets (units) per hour
- You have a $500 bankroll
- You choose a penny slot with 50 lines ($0.50 minimum bet)
- 500 / 0.5 = 1,000 units
- 1,000 / 350 = 2.86
- You can expect your bankroll to last for 2.86 hours on this 50-line game
Keep in mind that this is only an average estimate, and you should have enough money to cover an even-worse scenario. As long as you only bring money to the casino that you’re fine with losing, then this won’t bother you.
3. Don’t Let Colorful Themes and Small Payouts Trick You
We all know that companies use clever marketing campaigns to get us to buy the products.
I accept this fact because businesses are out to increase their profit margins. And marketing is one of the best tools to make this happen.
But on the same note, I don’t want to be a slave to clever marketing and buy a bunch of things I don’t need.
Slot machines are similar in that gaming companies use colorful themes, 3D graphics, music, bonuses, and more to attract your attention. Slots makers know that their products will be placed in more casinos if they draw a large share of players.
I have no problem with people choosing slot machines based on the themes and surrounding entertainment. After all, the point of playing slots is to have fun.
But don’t get so sucked into the theme, graphics, and alluring music that you lose all sense of time and money. Instead, realize that these elements are designed to keep you playing longer than you initially planned for.
Another trick to avoid involves the numerous small payouts that modern slot machines offer.
Multiple studies have shown that a psychological effect kicks in when players receive small rewards after each spin. These frequent payouts convince players that they’re winning, even when they’re losing money overall.
Here’s an example to illustrate this phenomenon.
![Penny Slot Payouts Penny Slot Payouts](https://playslots4realmoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bowled-Over-Slot-400x300.png)
Penny Slot Payouts Racing
- You’re playing 100 lines on a penny slot ($1 bet)
- You win a $0.20 payout on one line
- While the win is nice, you’ve technically lost $0.80 overall
Stepping back, anybody can logically see that this is a losing long-term proposition. And $0.20 payouts don’t make up for the loss of $0.80.
But it’s tougher to think in these terms when you’re engrossed in a game while making span after spin. This is another area where you need to be consciously aware of what game manufacturers are doing.
While it’s great to net lots of wins in each session, you also need to keep your overall winnings and bankroll in mind.
4. Playing Lots of Lines Is Entertaining
I’ve already discussed how expensive penny slot machines can be. But one of the greatest benefits is that you can also win lots of payouts thanks to the numerous lines.
Every payline that’s in play gives you a chance to win. And while the odds of winning with each line aren’t great, it’s still fun knowing that you have 50 or more chances to win on each turn.
The same lesson can be applied to life in that people are sometimes willing to pay more for certain forms of entertainment.
One example is how you can race Ferraris and Lamborghinis around the SPEEDVEGAS track for anywhere between $50 and $80 per lap.
Driving go-karts is cheaper and also entertaining. But go-karts don’t give adults the same thrills as driving a Ferrari around a race track.
Playing penny slot machines with lots of lines doesn’t have to comparatively be so expensive either.
Instead, you can choose games with lower volatility that increase your hit frequency, or the odds of winning with each individual payline. Doing so boosts the chances that you’ll net frequent wins and better sustain your bankroll.
A small number of slot machines actually offer a volatility rating in the help screen. For example, you might see between 1 and 5 lightning bolts to indicate how much variance is involved.
Unfortunately, most penny slots don’t have volatility ratings. You have to look for specific factors in this case to determine the game’s volatility.
Here are 3 factors that can help you out. Newest slot machine games.
- Jackpot size
- Number of large payouts
- Number of small payouts
Low-volatility penny slots feature a smaller jackpot, fewer large payouts, and more small prizes than the average game.
A smaller jackpot combined with fewer large prizes means that a slot machine doesn’t need to make up for the top-heavy payout structure. In turn, the game can offer more small payouts on a frequent basis.
Of course, some players are only interested in playing for big jackpots and other prizes. This is perfectly fine if you don’t mind dealing with the chance that your bankroll will quickly disappear.
But if you want to extend your entertainment on a penny slot with 100 or more lines, then look for signs of low volatility.
5. Cheaper Penny Slots Alternatives Exist
Many of the lessons that I’ve learned regarding penny slots came in land-based casinos. But one more lesson I learned comes from the world of online penny slots.
When people can’t afford a specific item or form of entertainment, they seek out companies that can provide them for a cheaper rate.
Not everybody can purchase expensive Gucci or Chanel clothing. But almost everybody can afford clothes at Walmart or on Amazon.com.
And you can look at online penny slots as the Amazon or Walmart of the gambling world.
I’m not saying that the value from online penny slot machines comes entirely from how cheap they are. In fact, a great deal of people play these games just because they’re more convenient than going to the casino.
But it should also be noted that internet penny slots are perfect for anybody who finds land-based slot machines to be too expensive.
Some online penny slots truly embody the name, because the minimum bet is $0.01 (one cent on a single line). This is what many gamblers have in mind when they first hear the words penny slots.
Other games require you to play between 20-50 fixed paylines. While this is expensive for some players, it’s still cheaper than what’s seen in land-based casinos.
I personally like playing online slots that allow you to adjust both the number of lines and coin size.
On these games, I usually play anywhere from 20-30 lines at a penny apiece.
Also note that many online penny slot machines see you qualify for bonuses and the jackpot no matter how much you wager. This is good for anybody who cringes at being forced to play 100-300 lines for the features.
That said, check out online casinos if you don’t like the prospect of spending $0.50 or more on the average penny slot machine.
Conclusion
The main lesson worth noting about penny slot machines is that they’re not what the name implies. As long as you understand this fact going in, you’ll be perfectly fine with these games.
You should note that penny slots in land-based casinos have fixed payline amounts.
Brick-and-mortar casinos have more expenses to pay than online casinos. Therefore, they need to win back a greater rate from slot machine players.
Remember that casinos are businesses like anything else. And their goal is to earn enough money to make profits. That said, requiring 50+ pay lines and using entertaining themes to keep people playing doesn’t make them corrupt.
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On the other hand, you want to know this all right away. By knowing this info, you’ll avoid having to learn the same lessons that I did through penny slot machines.