Guide to the Best Online Slots in Canada – July 2024

This article was curated by editors from the Free Press advertising department. If you click a link and make a purchase, the Free Press may receive a commission, which helps support our operations. 19+ to wager, 18+ (AB, MB, QC). Please gamble responsibly. Info on this page Not Valid for Ontario.

---

Discover the best online slots at top Canadian online casinos with guidance from our gaming experts. Slots are among the most popular casino games globally, whether that’s traditional lever-operated machines or the latest online slots. Players are drawn to these reel games thanks to their playability and endless choice of themes.

In today’s online gaming scene, nearly every online casino offers a wide selection of slots. With so many options, it’s crucial to know what to look for to identify the best choices. Your gaming experience can significantly differ depending on the online casino and the slots you select. That’s why we’re here to provide expert advice to help you choose the best online slots tailored to your preferences.

Our team, with years of experience in the online casino industry, evaluates key factors when recommending the best slots. We consider the Return to Player (RTP) value, the quality of the game providers, the range of bets allowed, and specific game characteristics, such as the number of paylines and special features like Megaways options.

How We Determine the Best Online Casinos for Slots

Our experts leverage years of experience in the online casino industry to identify the best online casinos for slot enthusiasts. We consider several key features to ensure players get the best experience. Here are the main characteristics we look for:

Security

The safety of both financial and personal data is paramount for online casino users. When playing online slots or any other casino game, players must trust that their information is secure. We ensure that the casinos we recommend employ advanced security measures, such as SSL encryption, to protect user data. Additionally, we only endorse casinos that are licensed and regulated by reputable authorities. This guarantees that the casino operates within legal frameworks and adheres to strict standards for fair play and player protection. Our commitment to safety means you can enjoy your gaming experience with peace of mind, knowing that your personal and financial information is in good hands.

Slot Developers

The quality of online slots is heavily influenced by their developers. Top-tier developers like NetEnt, Microgaming, and Playtech are renowned for producing high-quality, engaging, and innovative slot games. Casinos that feature games from these leading developers are likely to offer an exceptional selection of slots. These developers are known for their cutting-edge graphics, immersive themes, and exciting bonus features. Additionally, they ensure fair play and reliability, which enhances the overall gaming experience. By choosing casinos that partner with these reputable developers, you can expect a diverse and entertaining selection of online slots.

Reviews

Customer reviews provide valuable insights into the quality and trustworthiness of an online casino, particularly in the context of slot games. These reviews reflect the experiences of other players, focusing on aspects such as game variety, payout efficiency, and overall user experience. While it’s important to approach individual reviews with caution, as not all feedback may be entirely accurate or unbiased, the overall sentiment can be very telling. For Canadian players, consistently positive reviews often indicate a reliable and enjoyable gaming experience tailored to their needs. By considering these reviews, we can better assess how a casino performs in offering top-notch slots and meeting the expectations of Canadian players.

Terms & Conditions

The terms and conditions of an online casino, including wagering requirements and maximum win limits, significantly impact the player experience. These rules determine how easy it is to withdraw winnings and what players must do to meet bonus requirements. Casinos with player-friendly terms often offer the best slots, as they provide a more enjoyable and fair gaming experience. For Canadian players, it’s essential to find casinos that have clear, reasonable, and transparent terms. Favorable conditions ensure that players can maximize their enjoyment and potential returns from playing slots without encountering overly restrictive or confusing rules.

RTP (Return to Player)

The RTP, or Return to Player, is a crucial indicator of a slot game’s profitability. It represents the percentage of staked money that is returned to players over the lifetime of the slot. For example, a slot with an RTP of 96% will return 96% of the money wagered on it, over the long-term average, to players. Higher RTP percentages generally mean more profitable games for players. We prioritize recommending casinos that offer a wide variety of high RTP slot games, ensuring that Canadian players have access to slots that provide better chances of winning and more rewarding gameplay experiences.

Payment Methods

Convenient and secure payment options are essential features of top online casinos. The best casinos offer a variety of methods for deposits and withdrawals, ensuring that players can manage their funds easily and safely. For Canadian players, this means having access to options like Interac, bank transfers, e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill, and debit and credit cards. Recently, some casinos have started supporting cryptocurrency transactions for those who prefer using digital currencies but they are still rare. Fast processing times, low or no fees, and robust security measures are also crucial factors we consider. By choosing casinos with diverse and reliable payment methods, Canadian players can enjoy a seamless and worry-free banking experience while playing their favorite slots.

Variety of Slots

A diverse selection of slots is crucial for an engaging gaming experience. The best online casinos offer a wide range of slot games that cater to different preferences. This includes variations in the number of reels, paylines, themes, and bonus features.

For Canadian players, popular games like “Book of Dead” with its Egyptian theme, “Starburst” with vibrant space graphics, “Gonzo’s Quest” with its avalanche reels, and “Mega Moolah” with massive progressive jackpots are must-haves. Themes can range from ancient civilizations to modern pop culture, ensuring something for everyone. Additionally, diverse bonus features such as free spins, multipliers, and wild symbols enhance the excitement and potential rewards.

By offering a broad spectrum of slots, casinos provide a satisfying gaming experience, allowing Canadian players to explore and enjoy a variety of games tailored to their tastes.

Jackpots and Promotions

Most slots offer jackpots, with some featuring progressive jackpots that accumulate across multiple games, creating the potential for substantial winnings. Additionally, many casinos provide attractive promotions related to their best slots, such as free spins, bonus rounds, and deposit matches. For Canadian players, these promotions can enhance the gaming experience and increase chances of winning. Progressive jackpots, like those found in games such as “Mega Moolah” and “Divine Fortune,” offer the thrill of chasing life-changing prizes. By taking advantage of these promotions, players can enjoy extended playtime and more opportunities to win.

Customer Service

Reliable customer support is vital for a seamless gaming experience. The best online casinos offer 24/7 customer service through live chat, email, and telephone, ensuring that queries are addressed promptly and efficiently. For Canadian players, having access to responsive and knowledgeable support is crucial for resolving any issues that may arise during gameplay.

By focusing on these criteria, we ensure that our recommendations provide the best online slot experiences for players in Canada. This commitment to quality and customer satisfaction helps players enjoy their favorite games with confidence and peace of mind.

BEST CANADIAN CASINOS FOR SLOTS BY CATEGORY

Each online casino has its own unique strengths, so our experts weigh up the pros and cons in order to ensure players can easily find what they want. Whether you’re looking for the best online slots, a variety of deposit methods, or regular promotions and offers, we’ve got you covered. There are various features of online slots that help us compile our list of the best casinos.

Slots Casinos with best choice of payment methods

Having a wide range of payment methods gives players the flexibility to choose how and when they deposit and withdraw their money. Slots players value the ability to deposit quickly and withdraw their winnings promptly once they hit their account. Therefore, diverse and efficient payment options are a key feature of the best casinos for slots. For Canadian players, this includes methods such as Interac, e-wallets, bank transfers, and credit/debit cards, ensuring convenience and security in every transaction.

Explore the variety of payment options and seamless gaming experience at TonyBet, where flexibility and security are prioritized for your convenience.

Best variety of online slots

Avid slots players often have their favorite games, but as the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. Having a wide selection of slots to choose from means dedicated players can explore new and popular games or enjoy a refreshing change from their regular choices. This variety allows players to discover different themes, features, and gameplay styles, keeping the gaming experience exciting and engaging. For Canadian players, a diverse range of slots ensures there’s always something new to enjoy, enhancing their overall enjoyment and satisfaction.

Highest RTP Casino

Experienced slots players always check the RTP (Return to Player) of the slot they’re playing. This figure indicates the percentage of money staked that is returned to players over the lifetime of the game. While not a guarantee of winning, a higher RTP suggests a greater likelihood of payouts over time. For example, Jackpot City offers slots with an impressive RTP of 97%, making it an attractive option for Canadian players looking for favorable odds and a better chance of returns on their wagers.

Best Casino app for slots

Some casinos are optimized to run on apps rather than websites, providing a superior experience for mobile players. For those who prefer gaming on their mobile devices, the best casino apps for slots offer the most convenient and enjoyable option. These apps are designed to deliver smooth gameplay, easy navigation, and quick access to a wide variety of slots, ensuring that Canadian players can enjoy their favorite games anytime, anywhere. Popular casino apps often feature top-notch graphics and user-friendly interfaces, making them the preferred choice for mobile slot enthusiasts.

Best casino for Megaways

Megaways slots are among the most popular online slots globally, known for their dynamic reel structures and thousands of ways to win. Many players prefer to play at casinos that specialize in Megaways slots or at least offer a good selection. These casinos provide a variety of Megaways games, ensuring that players can enjoy the unique and exciting gameplay that this format offers. Popular titles like “Bonanza” and “Extra Chilli” showcase the innovative features and thrilling experiences that have made Megaways slots a favorite among Canadian players.

Best progressive jackpot slots casino

Progressive jackpot slots have surged in popularity due to their potential for massive winnings. These slots offer a jackpot that continuously grows as players make bets, with a portion of each wager contributing to the total. Often, multiple slots are linked, all feeding into the same progressive jackpot. At some point, the jackpot will drop, awarding one lucky winner a substantial prize. Popular progressive slots, such as “Mega Moolah” and “Hall of Gods,” attract players with the allure of life-changing payouts, making them a favorite choice for many Canadian gamers.

HISTORY OF SLOTS

The first slot machine ever invented was the Liberty Bell, created by Charles Fey in San Francisco in 1894. The Liberty Bell slot featured three reels with symbols such as horseshoes, hearts, diamonds, spades, and liberty bells. An original Liberty Bell slot machine is on display at the Liberty Bell Saloon in Reno, Nevada, as a historic artifact.

Since its invention, the legality of slot machines and gambling, in general, has fluctuated. Slots grew in popularity during the Prohibition era. With the advent of online casinos in the mid-90s, there was another wave of legislation and regulation, eventually leading to the establishment of the current rules.

HOW ONLINE SLOTS WORK

Although the principle behind online slots is the same as the physical slot machines, there are several key features of online slots that are important to be aware of.

The reels

The rotating mechanism of slot machines, whether online slots or not, are known as reels. The reels rotate when activated and each reel features a set of symbols. The symbols form random combinations once they stop spinning, showing the result of the spin. Physical slots most often feature a total of three reels, while online slots usually have 5 or more reels.

Paylines

Paylines are the lines on which a payout will be awarded based on winning combinations of symbols. Each slot game has its unique set of paylines, which can run horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or even in zigzag patterns across the reels.

Here’s a simple way to understand how paylines work:

1. Definition: A payline is a line that determines winning combinations. When you spin the reels and symbols line up on these lines, you win a payout according to the slot’s paytable.
2. Variety: The number of paylines varies from game to game. Classic slots may have a single payline, while modern video slots can have multiple paylines, sometimes even hundreds or thousands.
3. Checking Paylines: Before you start playing, it’s a good idea to check the payline patterns of the slot game. This information is usually available in the game’s help section or paytable.
4. Winning Combinations: After you spin the reels, the game will automatically check the symbols that land on the paylines. If they match a winning combination, you’ll receive a payout based on the value of the symbols and your bet.
5. Active Paylines: Some games allow you to choose the number of paylines you want to activate. The more paylines you activate, the higher your chances of hitting a winning combination, but it will also increase your total bet amount.

For example, in a game with 20 paylines, you might see lines running straight across the reels, as well as lines that zigzag in various patterns. If a game’s payline includes a winning combination of symbols, you’ll receive a payout. Always check the game’s paytable to understand the potential payouts and how different symbol combinations affect your winnings.

Understanding paylines can enhance your enjoyment and strategy when playing online slots. It helps you make informed decisions about your bets and maximizes your chances of hitting winning combinations.

Symbols

Symbols are the images that appear on the reels. Slots feature different symbols that repeat in order to create winning combinations. Some of the classic slot symbols include fruits, diamonds, and stars, but online slots feature a wide range of colourful and interesting symbols across their reels. These symbols are usually determined by the theme of the online slot, or they may have different functions (such as awarding free spins) that trigger in certain circumstances.

• Standard symbols are the basic designs featured on the reels.
• Multipliers do exactly what they say on the tin – they multiply possible wins. Each multiplier can augment a win by a different multiple, with x2 and x3 being the most common multipliers.
• Wilds are like the blank piece in scrabble, their function is to replace a missing symbol to create a potential winning combination.
• Scatter Symbols appear anywhere on the game screen, not just within the reels, and provide extra profits for the player.
• Bonus symbols activate minigames within the online slot game. The games are activated by specific symbol combinations. The type of game will also depend on the theme of the slot.

WHAT IS RTP?

RTP stands for Return to Player. It is a percentage that shows how much an online slot pays back to players compared to the amount wagered. Here’s a simpler way to understand it:

• What it Means: RTP is a number that tells you what percentage of all the money bet on a slot game will be paid back to players over time.
• How It Works: If a slot has an RTP of 95%, it means that, on average, the game will pay out $95 for every $100 bet.
• Long-Term Average: This percentage is calculated over a long period and many plays. It doesn’t mean that you will get back 95% of your money every time you play. Some players might win big, while others might lose, but over time, the payouts average out to the RTP.

Understanding RTP helps you know how much you might expect to win from a slot game over time. It’s a useful number to look at when choosing which slots to play.

Online slots usually have high RTP values compared to other casino games. The house edge is what the casino keeps, calculated by subtracting the RTP from 100%. For example, if a slot has an RTP of 96%, the house edge is 4%. This allows casinos to profit over time, while some players win and others lose. Experienced slots players prefer games with a high RTP because it means they are more likely to get a better return on their bets.

It’s important to understand that RTP doesn’t tell you how often you will win, but rather the potential return if you do win. Winning combinations are determined by random number generators (RNGs), ensuring that neither players nor operators can predict the outcome. These RNGs are regulated by authorities to ensure that the probability of winning is always the same.

ONLINE SLOTS SOFTWARE PROVIDERS

Online slot games at casinos are created by external companies that specialize in developing advanced games with engaging gameplay, stunning graphics, and entertaining soundtracks. These developers constantly produce new and improved slots, often based on popular themes or featuring sequels. This allows players to choose their favorite types of games from their preferred developers, offering a wide variety even if the games share similar themes or mechanics.

Some of the most popular online slot developers include:

• Playtech
• NetEnt
• Yggdrasil
• MGA
• Microgaming

Many casinos also offer exclusive games that are not available anywhere else in an attempt to help them stand out from the crowd. Because of this, some players may sign up to more than one casino to increase their choice of games.

TYPES OF ONLINE SLOTS

Online casinos usually offer a wide variety of slot machines, regarding both themes and types of games available to their players.

Online slots can differ in many ways, most commonly in the number of reels. They can also be presented in video slot format, or jackpot slots. These three modalities are the most common variety of online slots.

Classic three reel slots

The online version of the classic slot game is basically a digital version of the traditional “one-armed bandit” games. Following the classic playing method, this type of slot has fewer paylines and lacks special features such as bonus rounds or cumulative jackpots.

Despite the popular opinion being that these slots are unprofitable or less fun, the truth is that many casino customers look for the classic variant to escape the typical flourishes of online slots. Classic slots allow slot lovers to enjoy a simple game, usually with a higher RTP.

Video Slot Machine

Video slots have increased in popularity in recent years, and are now a popular slot played at the best online casinos. This variant is a clear example of the advantages of online casinos, with them being able to take advantage of the latest technology to create advanced and entertaining games for users.

Featuring a greater number of reels and pay lines, they also often include bonus rounds, secondary games within the same slot game (commonly called “minigames”), high quality images, special effects and related soundtracks.

Jackpot Slots

Jackpot slots are incredibly popular because they offer the chance to win big. A single lucky spin can win you a huge prize, sometimes even a four-figure jackpot. The size of the jackpot can vary depending on the casino and the specific slot game.

There are two main types of jackpot slots: regular jackpots and progressive jackpots.

Regular Jackpots:

• The jackpot amount is set by the casino or game provider.
• The jackpot is specific to one game or a set of games.
• You win by getting a specific combination of symbols.

Progressive Jackpots:

• The jackpot increases as players place bets.
• The amount keeps growing until someone wins.
• Often, multiple machines are connected to create a larger progressive jackpot. This jackpot grows faster because it accumulates from all the bets made on these linked machines.
• After a win, the jackpot resets to a base amount and starts growing again.

Understanding these differences can help you choose the right jackpot slot for you.

ONLINE SLOTS TIPS

While online slots are based on chance, there are strategies that players use to help manage their gameplay and potentially improve their outcomes. Here are some useful tips:

• Check the RTP: Look for the Return to Player (RTP) value in the slot’s information. A higher RTP means the slot is likely to pay out more over time.
• Understand the Paytable: Each slot game has specific paylines and winning symbol combinations. Familiarize yourself with these to understand how you can win.
• Check Recent Payouts: Some online casinos provide information on recent payouts. This can help you see which slots have been paying out the most.
• Use Automatic Mode Wisely: Auto-play can be convenient, but it can also drain your balance quickly if you’re not careful. Always keep an eye on your game.
• Set a Budget: Always set a budget for your play and stick to it. Even if you win, it’s important to know when to stop and withdraw your winnings.

These tips can help you enjoy your online slot experience while managing your risks.

ONLINE SLOTS FAQS

What is the minimum online slot bet?

Both the minimum and maximum bet will depend on the online casino and the slot you’re playing. This information will be shown in the terms and conditions of the slot you choose to play.

What are free spins?

Free spins are offered by casinos to encourage their players to play their slots. As the name suggests, they give you the opportunity to spin the reels for free. Availability of free spins will depend on the online casino that you’re registered at.

What is the house margin?

The house margin is the percentage of each bet that the casino keeps as a long-term profit.

Should I always accept free spins?

The decision is ultimately up to you but it’s wise to read the terms and conditions related to any winnings made from free spins. Free spins may not be as profitable as they seem due to unattainable wagering requirements.

Can I play slots from my mobile?

Yes, the vast majority of online casinos allow you to play slots on mobile phones and tablets as long as you have a good internet connection.

What payment method can I use?

Accepted payment methods depend on the casino in question. Most have transfer options, credit and debit cards, and e-wallets.