If you've ever played a slot machine, you know they are a ton of fun even if you don't consider yourself much of a gambler. With thousands of online slots to choose from, players are spoiled for choice on the web: no matter what kinds of machines you enjoy best, there are probably hundreds of titles that you'll love that have been created by reputable software providers like Microgaming.

Penny slots are simply defined as slot machines that can be played at 1 cent per line although have evolved to often require a minimum number of lines that must be played per spin. Instead of costing the minimum you’d expect, as we would have seen in the past, players will be wagering 25c, 40c or 50c per spin.

How do penny slots work?

Penny slots work almost exactly as you’d imagine – you pop a penny into the slot, pull the lever (or press the button) and the reels will spin. Make the correct combination of symbols and you’ll win a prize – simple right?

But go into any casino or play any online slot and it won’t take long to realize that it’s far from the truth. In the majority of casinos, you’ll find that you can’t get away with 1c in the penny slot section, shocking, I know.

Instead, you’ll find yourself having to wager 50 or 100 credits on the pennies so you’re still betting a dollar a spin. Sneaky.

The payline problem

The confusion with penny slots comes with the paylines and how they have evolved from the very first slots.

Where once there would be a single payline in which three matching symbols across the reels would allow for a prize, we now see several different paylines available in the slot.

From zigzags to trapeziums, there’s plenty of different paylines that you’ll be able to win with, all of which can be found in the paytable alongside how much you’ll win by bagging them.

So instead of a single simple play, you’ll be offered to wager on all available paylines, often with multiple credits on each line. A typical slot machine nowadays will include between 25 and 30 paylines per slot and if you’re wanting to win the biggest jackpots, you’re going to have to wager on the lot of them.

The paylines dictate the different prizes, bonuses, free spins and multipliers and must span the length of the reels so it’s vital to the game that they’re up to scratch, so it’s one of the first areas that designers consider when building a new game.

Depending on where you’re playing and what the machine allows, you might be able to choose the number of paylines that you’re wagering per spin (free slots) or be confined to the predefined setting on the machine (fixed). Regardless, it’s important to go ahead and check what you’re actually betting…

What you’re actually betting

So we now know that you’re not actually going to be betting 1c at a time, but really, why would you?

For a casino, taking 1c bets is a terrible business model and for a player, that’s not exactly going to be super stimulating. It might be a blessing in disguise that the limits for the penny slots are a little higher – although a name change wouldn’t go amiss.

Typically, you’ll be betting on every line for at least a single credit, instead of a single payline for a dollar like you may expect. For example, if you’re betting 5 credits a line on 20 lines in a 5 reel slot you’ll be wagering 100 credits (or $1.00) per spin.

You’re not betting a penny, but it’s much more interesting.

Not all slots require to you bet the maximum. Brick and mortar casinos might be difficult when it comes to finding cheaper slots, but head online and you’ll see plenty of minimum spins sitting at 25 (for 5 cents) so you can pop a penny on each payline without worry.

Shop around and you’ll have no problem finding slots with low minimum wagers.

Differences between penny slots and free slots

When it comes to defining free slot machines, you’ll get mixed messages depending on who you ask, simply because it can mean one of two things.

Free to play slots

The first definition is the one that most of us think of when something’s free – as in they’re free to play slot machines. That means that there’s no real money on the line and, more than likely, no real money to win.

Granted there’s the odd exception to the rule with free slot spins available when playing penny stocks as well as being available in several new player bonuses – but you’ll rarely get something for nothing.

You can play free slots all over the web and with a variety of applications for mobile and tablet.

Free vs. fixed slots

Not the free slot you were thinking? The other form can be identified with its ability to choose the number of paylines that you’d like to run with during a game – the number of paylines chosen is ‘free’.

The opposite of this is where the number of paylines is fixed, meaning that you can’t change the number and must play the listed paylines.

When playing in most brick-and-mortar casinos, you’ll find the majority of penny slots take the fixed approach, letting you wager $1, $2 or $3 etc. at a time, depending on the machine.

However, when playing online you’re often free to set the exact number of paylines that you’d like for the spins that follow.

Unfortunately, you do have to pay for these though, although you’ll be getting much more control over your wagering.

Penny slots mistakes

Penny slots may seem pretty simple to understand and play, it’s one of the biggest reasons that they’re so popular, but that doesn’t mean that the machines don’t see their fair share of mistakes each and every day.

By making sure that you’re on top of the information, familiar with the terms and conditions and informed on strategy, you can make sure you’re not making any rookie mistakes when playing penny slots.

Ignoring bankroll management

By far the biggest mistake that we see with players on the penny slots is the total neglect of bankroll management during play.

They’re called ‘penny’ slots for a reason and it’s not because of their low-cost, low-risk nature, but as a marketing technique to make players think that they’re barely wagering.

If you’re going to fall for it and keep on putting pennies into the machine, that’s mistake number 1.

Instead of ignoring how much you’re putting into the machines you should manage your bankroll to know when enough is enough.

By taking out and setting aside a certain amount of money purely for gambling you can be sure that you’re not delving into your funds that are needed for more important things.

You can use your gambling money on rent, but don’t use your rent money for gambling.

Failing to find the slots’ return to player (RTP)

The slots return to player (RTP) is the figure telling you, the player, how much of a percentage you should expect back in the long run for each wager.

Of course, the figure you’ll find is an average so you won’t be bang on the money each time, but it’s a good ballpark figure to know before taking a seat at the slots.

You should look for those with the highest RTP (100% is the maximum, but you’ll never find one with the value) for the best returns whilst you’re playing.

If you’re going to gamble, you might as well do it with the best odds, right?

Only playing the big-time progressive jackpots

With the big-time progressive jackpots showing the biggest rewards, it’s no surprise that it’s always tempting to get involved with the progressive jackpots.

Only play these though and that’s another big mistake of the penny slots if you’re in it for the long run that is anyway. The jackpot that you’re eyeing up to win comes from the players, just like you, that are chasing big money.

The more that play, the more money that goes in, the more players lose for just one lucky player to win big.

If you’re playing for the smaller jackpots you’ll be in a much better standing at the end of the day, providing that nobody wins the big one at the end.

Not betting the maximum

If you’re not checking out the terms and conditions before playing, you might stand to be leaving money on the table if you’re lucky enough to bag a jackpot.

Some casinos, both brick-and-mortar and online, have requirements making grand prizes unavailable unless you’re betting the maximum on the spin you win with, so it’s important to always bet the maximum when chasing the big prizes.

There’s nothing worse than thinking you’ve bagged a big pot of cash only to have your success pulled away from the limit you’ve set yourself.

It may sound backward, but the odds of winning stay the same, it’s just the numbers that sit a little bigger.

Failing to know when enough is enough

Perhaps the biggest problem that comes with playing penny stocks is their addictive nature that prevents players from being able to stop and recognize when enough is enough.

It’s hardly a surprise that so many struggle to put the pennies down, especially once you consider the amount of time and effort that goes into developing the slot machine to have that exact effect.

Everything from the way it feels, the way it looks and the way it sounds is not an accident, it’s all precisely engineered to keep the mind focused on spinning the reels.

It’s more vital than ever with the popularity in online slots to know when enough is enough and when to head home or turn off your smartphone for the night. There’s no reason not to stop before your bankroll does – just make sure that you’re keeping it in mind when playing.

Can you win a lot of money on penny slots

One of the questions we hear all the time when it comes to penny slots is whether or not you can win a lot of money with them and the simple answer? Yes.

Plenty of people have won big when playing penny slots with countless stories from friends, family and around the web (including numerous on Reddit) all telling tales of big wins from minimal bets in the casino.

Some penny slots are linked to the huge progressive jackpots that often get the better of our temptations (and our bankroll) that boast truly lucrative prizes for those willing to play and to win.

With grand prizes in tens or hundreds of thousands, it’s easy to understand why people love to play to the penny slots.

But don’t let this give you tunnel vision, as previously mentioned these jackpots are usually restricted to those wagering the maximum amount on each spin so it’s important to check out the rules before pulling the lever. You don’t want to miss out on a life-changing prize because you jumped the gun.

Does Vegas have penny slots?

If you’re looking to play penny slots in a brick-and-mortar casino you won’t find anywhere better than the fabulous Las Vegas strip to hedge your bets.

Every single casino throughout vegas has penny slots, in fact, you’ll probably have a harder time avoiding them than you would be finding a place to play.

In a typical casino, the idea is to build a gaming floor that draws as much revenue from players as possible with the use of games, entertainment, and hospitality and there’s nothing quite like the penny slot for maximizing revenue.

The average spin of the reels on the penny slots takes as little as 6 seconds, meaning that each player is running through 10 spins per minute. If we say that each wager is a respectable 50c, you’re looking at $300 per hour that players are sinking into the machine.

Granted that there are wins to be taken into account throughout the game, perhaps at 95% payout, but when you consider that there are 1000+ slots available to run 24 hours per day in most casinos, it soon adds up. There’s no wonder that there are so many slots throughout Vegas…

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:

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.

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

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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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