Slots are Safe, Fun, and Exciting
Online slots offer an incredible amount of variety. Because they are all powered by random number generators (more on this later), they are even safer than the ones you’ll find in the average casino.
So if you’re in the mood for fast-paced action with lots of chances to win big, slots are the way to go!
Top Rated Video Slot Games in Canada
- Starburst (Netent)
- Age of the Gods: Ruler of Dead (Playtech Vikings)
- Age of the Gods: King of Olympus (Playtech)
- Age of the Gods (Playtech)
- Age of Gods Norse Book of Dwarves (Playtech Origins)
- Age of the Gods: God od Storm (Playtech Vikings)
- Book of Dead (Play’n Go)
- Wolf God (Pragmatic Play)
- Kingdoms Rise: Scorching Clouds (Sunfox games)
- Wild Lava (Playtech Origins)
Is it Legal to Play Online Slots in Canada?
Currently, it’s perfectly legal to gamble online in Canada, and that includes online slots.
Thanks to regulators like the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission, slots are not only safe but must meet rigid standards of quality as well.
Each slot game (and most digital casino games) is powered by a Random Number Generator (RNG), which produces fair results every time.
This is essentially a software program that features a complicated algorithm designed to produce a completely random result for each spin.
The only parameters included are volatility and return-to-player, which is part of the way fairness is guaranteed.
Can a casino platform alter the RNG?
Every single online slot available here in Canada has been carefully examined by a third-party auditing company.
Examples include iTech Labs and eCogra.
It’s the job of these companies to ensure the RNG is operating as intended, and monitor it to make sure it stays that way.
Fortunately, without a certificate of fairness from one of the aforementioned companies, no casino can be licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, or other legitimate licensing body.
How Slots Work (and Why You Should Play Them)
Online slots started off as just digital versions of the mechanical slot machines you find in casinos all over the world.
But before you think that online slots are the modern siblings of fruit machines, you need to understand that “going digital” has allowed these games to be enhanced in countless ways. With tons of add-ons, and effects.
Slots For Every Style of Player
Visit any of the top-rated casinos listed on this site, and you’ll find hundreds of different online slots to try.
In fact, though each site may have its own assortment, you should expect to find from 300 to 1500+ online slots at any one.
With so many options, it makes it easy to find a game that fits your particular style of play. Of course, it always helps to know what you’re looking for ahead of time.
Bonus Buy Slots
Before we get into all the best features of different slot games, we need to spend a few minutes talking about bonus buy slots. These games are games that allow you to pay a fee for access to a special bonus round.
The cost depends on the amount you’re currently wagering, but you’re still guaranteed to get a bonus. This can be a big benefit to players looking to maximize their wins.
Things to Look for When Choosing an Online Slot
If you don’t know what you should look for in a slot game, it will take you a long time (and cost you a lot of money) to find the right game for you.
To help you be more prepared when you do log on, we’ve put together a guide explaining exactly what you should look for in a great slot game.
1. Theme
Normally, the very first thing that stands out to a player is the slot’s theme. These vary widely and can include movies, TV shows, bands, and more.
Some are simple (and have little effect on the game), while others directly impact how you play.
Just remember that there are themes for everyone, so you can be as selective as you wish.
2. Payouts
Slots are meant to be played for entertainment, but it’s nice to win cash too!
People take home millions of dollars from slot machines every year, and if you want to have a good chance at being one of them, you need to pay attention to the slot’s payout potential.
3. Risk
As with all forms of gambling, playing an online slot game comes with a fair amount of risk.
After all, no slot would ever payout 100%, as it simply wouldn’t be worth it to run such a game.
Just remember to find out your win potential by checking the volatility and Return To Player (RTP) associated with each game.
4. Volatility
We’ve already mentioned that online slots are powered by a Random Number Generator – a computer that guarantees fair results at all times.
However, it’s important to remember that this computer is also programmed with two specific variables that can impact payout. These are Volatility and RTP.
Basically, in a long-term scenario, how much and how often you win should reflect the pre-programmed RTP and volatility.
Just remember, by “long term,” we’re talking about tens of thousands or millions of rounds, not just an afternoon.
Low Volatility Slots – These slots offer frequent wins, but mostly in small amounts.
Medium Volatility Slots – Medium slots offer a nice mix of win frequency and size.
High Volatility Slots – These slots don’t pay out very often. But when they do, it’s normally with a very big prize.
5. Return-To-Player
We’ve already mentioned that RTP represents the percentage of wagers a given slot will give back as winnings.
For instance, a game with an RTP of 97% will provide players with $97 to every $100 wagered.
Of course, this isn’t a guarantee that you’ll be the one to get any of that 97%. This percentage only applies to the long-term performance of the slot.
Remember, before you choose a slot, you should give careful consideration to its volatility and RTP.
6. Your Budget
The rules of responsible gambling are simple: if you can’t afford to play – you shouldn’t play! Indeed, you should never invest or gamble funds that you don’t have to lose.
We always recommend that you keep 500 bets on hand. So, if you have a budget of C$1000, you should only be betting C$2 a spin.
If you’re new to casinos, you might want to try some free online slots before you deposit any money.
Most sites are happy to provide a cost-free way for you to play. This same idea works when you want to try new online slots that you aren’t familiar with.
How to Evaluate Online Casino Slots
Just like each slot machine has its own theme, digital games also have their own structure.
By structure, we mean the number of reels in the setup and the various different ways you can win.
Most modern slots normally have at least five reels, but you can stumble across slots with six, seven, or more reels at both in-person and online casinos.
In this section, we’ll discuss what all this means for your chances of winning it big.
1. Number of Reels
The original mechanical slot machines all had three reels, but modern slots can have more than twice that amount. While you might think that more reels mean more ways to win, that isn’t always the case. In fact, some people find multi-reel slots far too confusing.
3-Reel Slots
These classic-style slots are just like the mechanical “fruit machines” mentioned above. They usually have between one and five different pay lines depending on the setup.
5-Reel Slots
On average, 90% of all online slots have 5 reels. This allows the game manufacturer to add more pay lines and gives the players more chances to win.
6-Reel and 7-Reel Slots
New innovations, such as the Megaways mechanic, have turned slots into wild games of incredible chance. Lots of players love trying their luck at these exciting, flashy multi-reel slots.
2. Game Type
At the end of the day, the goal will always be to line up the appropriate icons along the pay line.
However, as you’ll see, every game has its own twist on how you make this happen.
Classic Slots and Fruit Machines
Classic slots are often called fruit machines because they would use symbols like cherries, grapes, and lemons as reel incomes.
There were also bars, numbers, and other symbols, each with its own meanings. You would have anywhere from 1 to 5 pay lines per game, and each bet would be accompanied by a big turn of the reel. For nostalgia’s sake, some digital games recreate this classic look.
Video Slots
This category is usually home to the best online slots. They are completely digital and come in a wide variety of themes, styles, and types.
They typically include fully animated action with five or more reels and unique bonus rounds that help enhance the fun.
3D Slots
3D slots are more of a visual treat to showcase the inner workings of the game. Here you don’t just see the reels, but the entire machine in all its glory. They are super fun and often add their own little twist on classic gameplay.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
Progressive jackpot slots are usually more rewarding than fixed pay line games because they add a small portion of every single bet to a communal pot.
This is often shared between multiple casinos, so it can quickly reach the multi-millions. As soon as a lucky player hits the right combo, they get it all.
Megaways Slots
Megaways slots are an innovation from Big Time Gaming. These games are easy to identify based on their multiple pay lines that often change from round to round.
With six reels, you could have up to 117,000 pay line combinations.
Cluster Slots
Cluster slots take the typical pay lines and change them up.
Instead of aiming for “three across” or diagonal, symbols need to arrange themselves into specific clusters for you to win.
Multi-Pay Line Slots
This is sort of an umbrella term, as many of the game types we’ve already mentioned have multiple pay lines.
The nice thing about these games is that you have tons of different ways to win, which can add a little bit more thrill to your experience.
Did You Know?
Slots account for 69% of all remote gambling in the UK?
Increasing Your Odds of Winning
Unlike Blackjack or Poker, you don’t need skill in order to win at slots. Because of the random number generators that power each game, whether you win or not is always completely up to chance.
However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t certain things you can do to increase your chances of winning. Below, we’ll list some of our very best slot advice.
1. Read Our Reviews
Not to toot our own horn, but we’ve already reviewed thousands of slots for you. From classics to the most recently launched themed games, you can find all the information you need from our experts here at CanadaCasinoNews.
2. Spend Time Watching Slot Streamers
If you want to get some tips from top experts in the field, you should consider watching casino streamers on a platform like Twitch.
They won’t show you how to beat an RNG (because that’s impossible), but they can give you some strategies for identifying hot slots and making the most of them.
3. Develop a “Slot Strategy”
It seems counterproductive to try to develop a strategy for something that is, by definition, random.
However, there are ways to optimize your bets (and chances of winning) when you’re playing online slots.
One of the most obvious is for you to learn to manage your money. We already discussed how to ensure you get 500 bets out of each deposit. It’s important that you wager accordingly and stick to the plan.
You also need to consider each slot’s Volatility and RTP. Is the game the sort that offers lots of small winnings or very rarely gives up a jackpot?
You need to know your potential to win before you go spending your hard-earned money on a game that won’t pay out as you expect.
4. Practice When You Can (For Free)
We’ve already mentioned how loads of online casinos are more than happy to let you play for free for as long as you wish.
In some cases, you don’t even need to set up an account to get started.
This is a great way to learn the mechanics of a new slot and have some fun while you’re doing it.
Our Favorite Online Slot Providers
Each online casino game developer has their own way of approaching the slots they design.
For instance, where some are more committed to entertainment, others like to attract players with big, enticing jackpots.
Since it’s rare that a casino will offer games from only one provider, we’re sure you can find some of the developers outlined below at your favorite sites.
Yggdrasil Slots
If you’re familiar with Norse mythology, you might already know what Yggdrasil has up its sleeve.
Named for the fabled “world tree,” this developer is committed to providing rich storylines, animations, and cool little features like levels. Of all the developers out there, these are the ones whose slots most resemble actual video games.
Some of their biggest titles include Vikings Go Berzerk, Jackpot Raiders, and Champions of Rome.
NetEnt Slots
NetEnt is considered by most casino experts to be the top developer of online slots in the world.
Their games are a great balance of payouts, style, theme, and substance. They also have lots of sponsored games with tie-ins to movies, TV shows, etc.
Some of their top titles include Guns n’ Roses, Starburst, and Gonzo’s Quest.
Big Time Gaming
Big Time Gaming is the company that came up with the Megaways Mechanic we mentioned above.
This revolutionary game feature activates a completely random number of pay lines with every spin. This gives you anywhere from 1 to 117,000+ ways to win.
You can find this feature on such blockbuster games as Vikings Unleashed Megaways, Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, and Bonanza Megaways.
Features | Important Casino Terms to Know |
---|---|
Reels | Rows or columns with symbols on them. They spin every time you start a new game. |
Pay Line | The line on the reels across which symbols or icons need to form a specific combination. |
Multiplier | A feature where your winnings might be multiplied by a specific number. |
Scatter | Scatters are usually the symbol that contributes the largest payouts and are usually represented by a specific symbol that matches the game's theme. As in the Book of Dead, for example, where the Scatter symbol comes in the form of a book. |
Wild Symbols | Symbols that can substitute for any other symbols, numbers, or icons. |
Base Game | The main part of the game (not a bonus round). |
Bonus Round | A separate, special part of the game that might unlock unique features or free spins. |
Free Spins | Spins awarded by the game or casino where you do not need bet money to play. |
Jackpot | The top prize of any casino game. |
Auto Play | A feature that allows the game to continue playing automatically. |
Volatility | This determines how often a game will pay out and how big those payouts will be. |
RTP | The Return To Player percentage of a given slot. This indicates how much of the wagers will be paid back out in the long term. |
Conclusion
Online slots players in Canada have a plethora of games and casinos to choose from, many of which have exciting features that are sure to enhance any gambling experience.
Of course, if you follow our recommendations on the very best online casinos, you’ll find tons of free spins and bonuses waiting for you as well.
So get out there and start playing! You never know when a jackpot might be waiting to be won.