Online casinos are not complete without the presence of slot games. These games are widely available, and often dominate the portfolios of top gambling platforms. Some operators even use online slots as part of their marketing efforts to attract players to register and play. For example, you’ll find welcome bonuses that are bundled with free spins playable on popular casino slots.

So, what makes online slots popular and why should you play these for free and in real money mode?

There are several reasons why online slots are well-loved. For one, it boasts colorful graphics and available in different themes. You’ll find slot games inspired by the Oriental culture, by Egyptology, and based on movies. Also, these games are easy to play. Just set the wager, click ‘Spin’ and when you land at least 3 symbols, you earn a payout. Furthermore, these games can serve as your ticket to life-changing jackpots. When you play the progressive slot games, you can collect jackpots up more than $1 million! With these features, it’s easy to understand why online slots are popular at the best slot sites.

Is It Legal to Play Online Slots Today?

In the United States, gambling is a state subject. This means that the legality of playing the best slots to play depends on specific state laws. Today, several states have taken steps to regulate online casinos like West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The licensing and registration for online casinos are facilitated through established physical casinos. And as part of the practice, many operators partner with leading global brands like 888 to develop apps and websites that allow players to play slots for fun or real money.

You will also find offshore licensed online casinos that allow you to play the best slots online. However, these are covered by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006. Under the law, banks and other financial institutions are not allowed to take payments to and from casinos. For this reason, we only recommend that you best the best casino slots in legal and registered online casinos for US players.

States that Allow Online Casinos

When playing online slots, it’s always best to sign up with legal online casinos with a solid reputation. In licensed casinos, you’re not just assured of safety and privacy, you can also explore the best real money and free slots from top software vendors. As of this writing, these are the states that allow legal online gambling.

• New Jersey. This is the biggest market in legal online gambling and the first state to do so. Online gaming is allowed under Bill A2578 which was passed on February 26, 2013. Today, there are more than 21 online casinos that accept real money bets from US players. The biggest online casino in New Jersey boasts more than 600 online slot games.
• West Virginia. Its the most recent state that passed laws to regulate online gambling. There are now websites that allow sports betting and online casinos will soon follow this 2020.
• Pennsylvania. The state is a another new player in the growing online gambling industry. It passed bill H271 which sets up the rules for licensing for online casinos. With the approval of the law, it’s expected that more casinos and sportsbooks will join and offer their gambling services to US players.

With these three states taking the lead in providing legal online gambling services, it’s only a matter of time before other states will follow suit.

How Online Slots Work- Features and Symbols You Need to Know

As mentioned, online slot games are easy to play and available in various themes and payline configurations.

To play the game, you need to set first the wager and click ‘Spin’. If you land at least 3 identical symbols, you score a payout. In this casino game, there are different ways to win (the payline) and there are different types of symbols that can awarded prizes and jackpot. Your win depends on the symbols matched on the reels, so it’s important to read first the game’s paytable.

To fully understand and enjoy the game, it’s best that you know the features and symbols used.

What are Paylines

This refers to the order in which a set of symbols will fall on the screen to pay out a winning combo. The most common mechanic is to land at least 3 identical symbols, from left to right. Classic slots or fruit machines are the easiest games to play and understand because they offer a single payline- it runs across the middle reels. In short, if the reels show 3 identical symbols, you collect a win.

In some of the best online slots sites, the games feature at least 20 paylines. This means that the paylines (or winning opportunities) in modern online slots don’t just run in a straight line from left to right. Your wins in these online slots can run in any direction. For example, it can run diagonally or in a ‘V’ shape. You can even play free slots that offer more than 1,000 paylines! So, when choosing your next game to play, pay attention to the number of paylines. Understanding these may be complicated at first, but it can help you fully maximize the gaming experience.

Scatters and Wild Symbols

At the core of these games are the different symbols that can deliver instant wins. Just match at least 3 identical symbols to start your winning adventure. However, not all symbols on the screen are created the same. There are symbols that are more important and lucrative compared to others. Two of the most important symbols that you’ll need to follow are the scatters and the wilds.

These are special symbols because they have roles to play and can activate bigger payouts. The wilds are designed to substitute for other symbols to create more winning combinations. Your scatters, on the other hand, can reward you with free spins. Scatters can land anywhere on the reels to deliver bigger payouts or to activate the free spins mode.

Slots Bonus Rounds

Collecting instant wins is fun, but it gets even better when you unlock the slot machine bonus rounds. In the bonus rounds offered by the best slots, you can play for bigger cash prizes or the game’s jackpot.

The feature round may take different forms depending on the game or the software vendor. Described below are the most popular features you will encounter when you play slots online:

• Free Spins. This is often activated by at least 3 scatter symbols and will reward you with free spins. Check out the game’s paytable to learn more about the number of spins you can collect.
• Pick and Win. The screen will present you with choices and you need to pick several items to reveal your rewards. The prizes vary with some slot games offering coin wins, free spins, or multipliers.
• Re-Spin. Here, you are given another try to spin the reels for prizes or even the jackpots.
• Mini Game. You will play an interactive game to collect prizes. Some of these mini games require some skills or some, just by random.

In most feature rounds of online slots, you will find extra incentives that can boost your winnings. For example, some of the best casino slots may throw in extra wilds on the reels or multipliers which can increase your payouts.

What to Remember When Playing Online Slots?

Online slots are colorful casino games to play, and we all have our preferences in themes. However, there are a few things that you can use and check when looking for the best slots to play online.

1. Play for the games in free demo. Before you proceed with real money play, we recommend that you play for fun free slots games offered by casinos. With free online slots, you can explore its gameplay and features without worrying about your bankroll. Also, slots casino gratis games let you test some strategies before you use your budget.
2. Read the paytable. As mentioned, the game’s paytable is an important resource for all types of players. The paytable explains the symbols used and the expected payouts that you will receive in case you land a certain number of symbols. Also, the paytable will tell you how to play the game’s features and jackpots.
3. Take advantage of casino bonuses and free spins. Casinos today offer lucrative bonuses and promotions to attract players to register and play. When comparing casinos, pay attention to the quality of bonuses available. Look for online casinos that offer slots free play opportunities or deliver new customer bonuses with free spins to play the qualifying slots. It also helps if the casino offers cashback and reload bonuses that can sustain your gaming experience.
4. Play a variety of slot games. Don’t just limit yourself to a specific set of slot machines. To fully enjoy the gambling experience, check out a variety of slot machines and free mobile slots. If you’re a beginner, you can start with classic slots and with experience, you can move up to 5-reel and modern slots like Batman slots, Monty’s Millions, Spartacus online slot, and Black Diamond slots. If you’re looking for massive jackpots, you can’t go wrong with Mega Moolah and Mega Moolah Isis from Microgaming. And if you can’t decide on what games to play, simply check the top 10 slots of a specific casino. Most casinos today displays a separate section for the best online slots or the newest titles that players can check and enjoy.

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