With an array of slot sites to choose from and many immersive online slots to play, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Online slot sites are more accessible than ever before, and this means that you can jump in and go for the big win when you’re at home or even on a smartphone when you’re out and about. Choosing where to place your bets doesn’t need to be a complicated process, but there are a few things you should understand before you sign up and make a deposit.
The best online slot sites have a range of slots to try. Players in South Africa have access to the best titles in the world. We are going to take a look at some of the ones you really should try. We’re also going to look at what makes a great slot bonus and explain how return to player (RTP) and variance affect your chances of a win. If you’re looking to understand more about slots, read on.
Top slot titles
The top online slots collection includes a range of games to choose from. There are traditional slots which mimic the slots we all knew and loved in land-based casinos. Then there are video slots which give us better graphics and many more chances to win. There are then also progressive jackpot slots. Wins on progressives can literally change your life. Let’s take a look at some of the top slots to try in South Africa:
Dead or Alive
This slot may be getting on in age, but it is still one of the most fun to play. Set in the Wild West, Dead or Alive features characters such as Jesse James and Billy the Kid. As you play, you see symbols such as guns and cowboy boots. Matching three symbols leads to a win. There are some great chances to win free spins while playing too.
Immortal Romance
If vampires are your thing, this online slot will be perfect. A story of supernatural love sees 800-year-old vampires appearing, as well as scientists trying to make sense of it all. This Microgaming slot appears at the best online slot sites.
The Dark Knight
If you are on the hunt for some big wins, The Dark Knight online slot has four progressive jackpots to play for. Based on the film of the same name, Batman and the Joker appear as you spin to win.
What Makes a Top Slot Site?
Some people can feel overwhelmed when choosing slot sites because they’re spoilt for choice. However, although there are lots of sites to choose from, they’re not all built to the same high standards. Top slot sites will provide several of the following features that make them stand out from the crowd and worthy of your custom:
- Popular deposit methods
- No deposit or withdrawal fees
- A large number of games
- Various game providers
- Mobile optimisation
- Slot bonuses
- Reasonable terms and conditions
- Customer support
- Positive user reviews
Once you’ve signed up for an account and deposited your money, it’s time to play. Although the best online slots often have bonus features, most of them follow a similar model:
- Choose your slot and open the game.
- Read any information provided. This will usually tell you how much each symbol is worth and about any special bonus features to look out for.
- Set your stake to your preferred amount.
- Press spin and see if you’ve won anything.
- Repeat as many times as you like. Many of the best online slots have an ‘autoplay’ setting that will automatically continue to spin a set number of times.
Types of Slot
Slot sites understand that players have their own opinion on what the best online slots are. For that reason, you’ll find a variety of online slots with different characteristics at most slot sites:
- Classic 3-Reel Slots – These are simple to play and replicate traditional machines that you’d find in a brick-built casino. Although there are exceptions, classic online slots often have 3 reels and up to 5 pay lines. Match the symbols along these lines to win.
- 5-Reel Slots – The addition of extra reels increases the number of possible pay lines. However, these online slots are just as easy to play and may contain bonus rounds, free spins, and other features that provide extra entertainment.
- Progressive Jackpot Slots – A small amount of money is added to a jackpot every time a player makes a bet and doesn’t win it. Once the jackpot has been won, it resets and starts to accumulate again.
- Megaways Slots – These slots contain a random reel modifier that adds an increased number of symbols to a reel when it appears. When this happens, the amount of ways a player can win is also increased for that spin.
- Mobile Slots – Designed to be played on smartphones or tablets, these online slots provide an immersive experience without the need for a larger screen and are becoming a big part of many slot sites.
Real Money vs Free Play
Some slot sites allow players to put a slot intro Free Play mode. This means that the player is using valueless virtual coins to play the slot and does not need to deposit any money. The great thing about playing in Free Play mode is that players can try out many slots without spending any money to learn the ins and outs but also to find out which slots they enjoy the most. Of course, any winnings cannot be withdrawn as they are not real money.
To play with real money, a player will need to sign up for an account and make a deposit. The benefit here is that any winnings are also paid out as real money that can be withdrawn.
Slot sites are always looking to keep their players entertained and realise that adding the best online slots as often as possible is a great way to do that. New online slots tend to come with immersive features that increase the levels of entertainment.
There is a big difference between a classic 3 reel slot with simple pay lines and a new slot with more reels, more pay lines, free spin rounds, bonus rounds, and immersive features that can pop up randomly to provide exciting wins.
Playing Slots on Mobile
Smartphone and tablet advances have paved the way for mobile slots to become just as entertaining as those found on desktop sites. No longer reserved to basic games, mobile online slots now include:
- Classic 3-reel slots
- 5-reel slots
- Progressive Jackpots
- Megaways Slots
Although many of the best online slots are optimised for mobile, some slot sites have dedicated mobile games to play that are designed with mobile gaming in mind.
Players in South Africa have access to some of the very best in bonuses at the best online slot sites. Given the range of bonuses on offer, there is never a need to play at a casino where you will not be rewarded. Playing online slots is a little different to playing other casino games. With these, you can snap up bonuses from the online casino, and there are also bonuses within the games themselves. Here’s a look at what you could be claiming:
Casino Bonuses
There is a huge selection of online slot sites in South Africa and they’re all keen to have you playing with them. That is why there are so many great sign-up bonuses available. There are also some great offers for loyal players too. Bonuses may be subjected to wagering requirements. Some of the best of these have low, or even no wagering requirements attached. These are the kinds of bonuses you can expect to see:
- First deposit matched
- Free spins
- Cashback
- No deposit bonuses
In-game bonuses
The best online slots have their own bonus features built-in. This means you can be rewarded while playing and increase your chances of winning. Some of the things you should expect to see are:
- Bonus rounds
- Free spins
- Multipliers to increase your wins
- Wilds and scatters
- Bonus wheels
New slot sites
South African players are lucky to have so many established gambling sites to play at. That doesn’t mean new sites are not worthy of your attention, though. Some of the best online slot sites we have played at have been newer ones. There are a few advantages of playing at new slot sites. These include:
Range of games
New slot sites will have the top online slots collection. Not only will they have access to classic slot titles, but they will also be up to date with all of the new releases.
Security
New online slot sites are built in line with the most up-to-date security measures in place. While established sites are constantly adapting and upgrading, new sites are often best positioned to keep your playing environment secure.
Mobile casinos
Online slots are great to experience on mobile devices. Having the freedom to play on the go is something players in South Africa love. New online slot sites ensure they are up to date with mobile technology and can provide the best mobile casino experience.
Bonuses
New online slot sites need a way to persuade you to give them a try. That’s why they offer some of the very best in welcome bonuses. This reason alone is a great one to give a new site a go.
RTP and variance explained
When looking at playing online slots, you will hear the terms RTP and variance mentioned. These are both ways of looking at a slot and evaluating your chances of a win. Let’s have a look at these in turn:
RTP
This stands for return to player and refers to the amount of money a slot game gives back to those playing. You will see RTP referred to as a percentage. The higher the number, the more is returned. For example, if a slot has an RTP of 90%, for every R100 bet, 90 is paid out and 10 is retained by the casino. The RTP does not mean if you gamble that amount you will get that payout. It looks at an online slot and how it performs over time in terms of the average paid out.
Variance
This is also referred to as volatility and is another indication of how often an online slot is likely to payout. You will see this referred to as low, medium and high. Low volatility slots see frequent wins, but the wins are usually small amounts. High volatility slots see less frequent wins, but they tend to be bigger in value.
