The term “penny slots” may immediately conjure up visions of buckets of copper to feed one-armed bandits for hours. But penny slots have come a long way over the years.
Best Penny Slot for Beginners: Miss Kitty The first slot on the list is not only a player favorite but an ideal place to start for anyone who is brand new to online gaming. Miss Kitty is fun and straightforward, with simple betting that lets you play one line at 0.01. That’s just the beginning, though.
In reality, the advent of payline-based slot gameplay ensures you’ll almost always be playing for more than a penny per spin. That’s because you need to pay one penny for each payline in play, so a standard 30-payline machine would charge $0.30 each time you let the reels fly. You can never be careful when gambling online and this is especially true with penny slots. Although the starting penny slots coins are very small, it is easy to start betting big without even realizing it. Always make sure to check your exact bet size before you start spinning. They're not all free spins!
When you first hear the words “penny slots”, you immediately think of classic slots and penny slot machines in land-based casinos. Online penny slots got their name because players could bet as low as one penny per spin. This way you could play for a long time without investing a big chunk of money in the slot. Play all the best Las Vegas casino slots and games for fun, on any device, including phones, tablets and desktops. Our online slot machines are 100% safe, with no spam, no pop-ups and no email requests.
You don’t need to be a higher roller to take advantage of modern video slot gaming with bonus rounds and 3D features, as many of today’s titles let you pick your preferred investment. So, instead of risking 0.01 every game, you can opt for more paylines or increase your credit value if you’re winning.
While you now have the flexibility to jump all over the place with your wagering, it’s nice to know that you’ve got some fun online slots at your disposal that will accept 0.01 at a time. Locating those particular games can be tricky, though. It’s not like walking into a casino and seeing the big flashing sign that reads “penny slots.”
I’m here to help! I’ve got some tips for finding the top penny slots at online casinos, and I’ve also listed the best online penny slots for 2020.
There are thousands of slot machines that start with 0.01 credits. But for a machine (or virtual machine) to be a real penny slot, you need more than the penny acceptance. If you know that you’re sticking with minimum betting, you’re going to need a few more things.
- Variable paylines
- Jackpots without maximum betting requirements
Variable Versus Fixed Paylines
Actual penny slots can have more than one payline, as long as you have the option to choose how many you want to play. Variable paylines are the ones that give you the flexibility that you’re seeking. So, even if it’s a 50-line slot, you can stake 1, 2, 5, 10, all 50 lines, or anything in between.
The opposite of the variable payline setup is a fixed version. If you run across a fixed payline title, then you’re committed to the staking all possible winning ways. Or, in the case of a slot like a “243 ways to win” game, you may have a 25 or 50 credit minimum.
Another thing you’ll want to keep an eye out for is the jackpot games and their stipulations. While some machines will pay regardless of how much you’re investing, others have different requirements.
You may need to bet all paylines, or there could be other requirements. Most of today’s games give you a variety of credits from which to select. While there are slots that pay according to how much you’ve wagered, others could attach the big prizes to more valuable coins.
For example, if you’re playing a slot that gives you a range of 0.01 to 0.25 per line, you’ll want to double-check to make sure that you don’t need to be playing 0.25 to be in jackpot contention.
Top Penny Slots
With all of these hoops to jump through, it can be challenging to find the best games that fit your criteria. But you’re in luck here, as I’ve compiled a list of the top five all-around best online penny slots as well as another five that also merit a few spins.
These are slots that allow for 0.01 per game. So, whether you’re looking to get your feet wet as a new slot player or you want just a tiny bit of cash in the game, as opposed to playing for free, then any of these ten picks should fit the bill.
The first slot on the list is not only a player favorite but an ideal place to start for anyone who is brand new to online gaming.
Miss Kitty is fun and straightforward, with simple betting that lets you play one line at 0.01. That’s just the beginning, though. You can pick a coin value from 0.01 to 0.25 and then select from one to 50, as this is a 50-line slot.
Regular game spins are enhanced by the Wild Cat that can show up on reels two through five. It takes three moons to get into the bonus round. Bonuses start with ten free games. Additionally, though, the Wild Cats become sticky, and a moon that shows up under a cat will get you a prize.
However, keep in mind that if you’re betting just 0.01 per spin, you can only win on the first top line (of four). That means it’s tougher to get the three moons for the bonus round, and you won’t be eligible for the new bonus moon-cat combination.
Best Three-Reel Game: Lucky Stripes
For the next game on my list of top online penny slots, I’m going retro with a three-reel slot by iSoftbet. It’s called Lucky Stripes, and not only is it whittled down to three reels, but just one payline.
If you’re like me, you may jump to the conclusion that the premise could get old and quickly. But that’s not the case. This game has some new integrations that give you multipliers in the main game and a “Rockin’ Re-spins” bonus with unlimited free games potential.
Lucky Stripes is ideal for penny slot players because you’re only betting one payline. Wagering can be as little as 0.01 or as much as 1.00, and no one is missing out on anything.
There are only a few colored stripes, but each pays at different levels. That’s because the middle reel is a prize multiplier. So, for example, three gold stripes could be worth X30, X50, or the top prize of X100, depending on the center symbol.
In the Rockin’ Re-spins bonus, you’ll spin for free until you get a collect symbol.
My next pick takes the excitement of a video slot to a whole new level. The game, 300 Shields, is based on the movie 300, starring Gerard Butler.
You can get in on the high-intensity gaming for just 0.01 if you’re okay playing the middle line and nothing else. However, in this case, you may want to consider raising the stakes, as there’s an X300 top-value multiplier, as well as a 1,000-credit prize for five wilds. As it’s a 25-line slot, you can cover every which way for 0.25.
Every spin is a thrill ride in 300 Shields, but the Battle Feature amps up the action even more. So, this title is a perfect example of how you can get the best of all worlds and stick to an authentic penny slot experience.
Best Retro Penny Slot: Rubik’s Riches
Rubik’s Riches expands a typical slot game into a 3D puzzle experience.
Yes, the Rubik’s in Rubik’s Riches is based on the 1974 phenomenon, the Rubik’s cube. Matching up colors back then gave you bragging rights. But in the slot version, it’ll convert to cash rewards.
You’re not going to get rich playing Rubik’s Riches, but again, we’re talking penny slots here, and this is an ideal one for recreational players. You can stick with 0.01 per game, but you can’t go higher than 0.05. There are only three possible wagers (0.01, 0.02, and 0.05).
Prizes are paid based on lines of matching colors, either horizontally or vertically. If you complete an entire face, you receive even more. Plus, there’s a “sticker peel-off” bonus round that’s randomly activated. When you see “RUBIK’S” entirely illuminated, it’s time to start pulling stickers off of the cube.
Merlin has a few tricks up his sleeve in Play ‘n Go’s 2019 game release, Rise of Merlin.
This particular slot features impressive design elements, but there’s also substance to the setup. As it’s a ten-payline slot, you’re not missing out on as much if you decide to stick with one line at a time for the actual penny experience.
However, with not just one but two high-value five-of-a-kinds, each worth 5,000 credits, you may want to cover all ten lines for 0.10.
A magical orb acts as both the wild and scatter, also providing scatter pays. Another benefit of this particular game is that it has a slightly higher RTP (96%) than the other online penny slots on this list.
Five Penny Slots for US Players
I think that the entertainment value of the top five slot games is excellent. However, there are plenty of other penny slots in the virtual casino world that are also worthwhile.
So, I’ve put together a list of five more games that are also worth checking out if you’re looking to build an entire collection of go-to titles.
In addition to having some fun features, each of these slots are in US friendly online casinos.
The Mariachi band keeps you entertained as you move from day to night mode in Popping Pinatas by Rival Gaming.
It’s a 50-line slot with variable paylines. So, if you’re intent on sticking to 0.01 per game, you can stake the middle line exclusively. The Senorita is worth 2,500 credits for a five-of-a-kind in the night round but sleeps during the day. You’ll whack pinatas and then swap wild symbols as the evening rolls around in this unusual slot experience.
Ancient Gods
RealTime Gaming has quite a few slots that feature 0.01 credits. However, when it comes to variable paylines, the options narrow.
Ancient Gods is an RTG slot that allows for penny play, though. It’s a 25-line game on a 5 x 3 board, so the middle line is in play with a 0.01 bet. Gameplay features multipliers and free spins. If you head into the bonus round based on four or five scatters, then your winnings will be doubled or tripled, respectively.
You’ll go old school with this Rival Gaming three-reel slot. It’s got one payline and very few symbols. The beauty of it is that you won’t be missing out on anything if you opt to play 0.01 per spin. You’re staking the only action in the game.
After you select a coin value, you’ll decide whether you want one, two, or three credits per spin. That’s where the prize differences come into play. For example, the top three-symbol combination pays 750 credits for one coin. If you increase your risk to 0.02, you’re eligible for 1,500, and three credits will reward you with 2,500, the all-around best in 7s and Bars.
The Tipsy Tourist
Betsoft takes you on holiday with Gary in a 20-payline game that has variable paylines, so it’s perfectly suited for penny players.
The Tipsy Tourist takes place on a 5 x 3 screen, so a 0.01 wager gets you action on the middle line. This particular slot features an unusual bonus round that’s a virtual drinking game. If you play well, your credit balance will rise significantly. Of course, it’s all relative, as you’ll reap more significant benefits if you opt for more paylines or more valuable credits.
My final pick is similar to Miss Kitty in its simplicity, although the themes are quite different.
Day at the Derby is another Rival Powered slot. While it’s a 20-line game, you can play anywhere from one to all of the winning ways. The top five-of-a-kind is worth 2,500 credits. But the best part of the gameplay revolves around the horse. Not only is it wild, but more than one horse on a payline will create a multiplier. There’s also a 20-game bonus with triple payouts.
Where to Find More Penny Action
My shortlist of top online penny slots in 2020 should give you a head start in finding a favorite low-limit game. But we stay up to date with new recommendations that come out.
Whether you’re looking for a penny game, a new release, or just some overall recommendations, you’ll want to check out our collection of slots posts, as well as the list of all-around best casinos for slot gaming.
Ask any retiree who visits Las Vegas regularly about their favorite casino game, and you’ll invariably hear about the fabled penny slots.
These slot machines take their name from their low coin denomination, ditching the nickels and quarters typically wagered on each spin for a single penny. Or so the story goes anyhow…
In reality, the advent of payline-based slot gameplay ensures you’ll almost always be playing for more than a penny per spin. That’s because you need to pay one penny for each payline in play, so a standard 30-payline machine would charge $0.30 each time you let the reels fly. Despite this deceptive misnomer, however, the penny slots reign supreme in Sin City.
And that discrepancy occurred even though Nevada is home to far less penny slots (54,754 machines) than multi-denominational games (70,658 machines).
Indeed, just like your grandparents have reported, the penny slots are by far the most popular game on any casino floor. A major casino might spread a dozen blackjack tables in the pit, but the penny slot parlor will be chocked full with hundreds of machines from dozens of manufacturers. And when you run the numbers, it’s easy to see why.
Slot machine players can expect to put in between 300 and 800 spins per hour, depending on their dexterity and willingness to spin at a faster pace. At that rate, the penny slot player will deposit between $3 and $8 into their favorite machine, and using the average payback percentage of 90 percent, they’d being back between $2.64 and $7.04 per hour.
That equates to an average expected loss of between $0.36 and $0.96 per hour, amounts which won’t threaten to bust your bankroll anytime soon. But when you up the stakes to $1 per spin, those 300 to 800 spins per hour can cost between $24 and $64 every 60 minutes.
With these figures fresh in your mind, it’s easy to see why so many players are flocking to the penny slots – especially folks working with a limited bankroll. When you only have a small stake to gamble with, the ability to play – and hopefully win – for a few pennies at a time is invaluable.
Nobody likes to lose, but there’s something about blowing through a few hundred bucks in a matter of minutes that stings just a little bit more. By sticking to the penny slots, casual players can limit their losses, all while chasing that elusive jackpot dream.
The casinos bank on casual players ignoring this fact while focusing on the inexpensive cost of entry. And sure enough, as the NGCB data mentioned earlier makes clear, most players don’t bother thinking about the nuances of penny slot play.
If you’re a slot player nursing a smaller-sized bankroll who is searching for ways to improve their penny ante action, look no further. The guide below will cover four essential tips and tricks for successfully navigating the world of penny slots.
You’ll learn why the old maxim about always betting the max doesn’t apply, the value to be gained by leaving tourist hotspots behind, the modern systems casinos use to deploy their machines, the importance of payback and hold percentages, and how to avoid the most common myths and misconceptions about slot gameplay. When its all said and done, this page should leave you better prepared to maximize your limited bankroll while minimizing your liabilities and losses.
Penny Gambling Online
The first strategy tip most slot players learn offers the following advice – always bet the maximum number of paylines and coins.
On a typical quarter slot, the machine offers anywhere between 1 and 5 coins per spin. That equates to $0.25 for minimum bettors, and $1.25 for folks playing the maximum.
And on a quarter machine which includes bonus rounds, free spin rewards, and a progressive jackpot, that strategy makes perfect sense. After all, most games are designed to provide those perks only if the player has bet the max, so playing for anything less removes much of the game’s inherent value.
As the old saying goes, “why play for a progressive jackpot you can’t even win?” But for penny slot enthusiasts, that bit of wisdom can be tossed out the window.
For one thing, these games usually ditch the massive progressive jackpots for fixed awards – and these can be won at any wagering level.
Secondly, even the more modern penny slots usually eschew in-game bonuses and side games for standard spinning. That is to say, you’ll be competing for the game’s primary pay table prizes, rather than a chance to spin the wheel, play memory games, or earn free spins.
Jean Scott – a veteran casino player and author of the popular “Frugal Gambler” series of strategy books – captured this sentiment perfectly in a blog post for the Las Vegas Advisor:
“Now I well know the problem with slots. The negative EV (the house edge) will eventually put players in the loser category and sometimes very quickly. The fun factor can disappear very quickly if you are losing more money than you can afford.
Players with small bankrolls know that they need to play minimum bets so they can extend their fun time.
Hit those buttons with higher level bets and, yes, your bonuses may be more frequent and jackpots bigger, but you will very likely go broke before you can gain this advantage!”
And using a simple table devised by John Grochowski – a longtime professional gambler and strategy writer – you can see exactly how upping the ante increases your bankroll requirements:
| Slot Type | Bankroll Needed for 3 Hours of Play |
|---|---|
| 50 lines, 1 penny per line | $125 |
| 50 lines, 5 pennies per line | $625 |
| 30 lines, 1 penny per line | $75 |
| 30 lines, 5 pennies per line | $375 |
| 20 lines, 1 penny per line | $50 |
| 20 lines, 5 pennies per line | $250 |
| 10 lines, 1 penny per line | $25 |
| 10 lines, 5 pennies per line | $125 |
This table is especially informative, because it shows just how differently maximum stake players must approach penny slots. When you’re working with a smaller bankroll than most, $125 is probably a sensible amount at which to limit your losses. Thankfully, that’s the exact amount you’d need to play a 50 payline game for one penny per line. But if you found the same machine and decide to bet the max with five pennies per line, you’d need to bring a whopping $625 with you to survive three hours of action.
Unless you’re stuck on the idea of playing for progressive jackpots, the penny slots simply don’t require a maximum bet to have fun – and hopefully, collect a steady stream of smaller payouts while you do.
This piece of advice is counterintuitive to most recreational players, especially those who haven’t yet experienced the sights and sounds of famous Las Vegas Strip.
But while The Strip can be quite the entertaining experience for tourists, gamblers are preyed upon like sheep by the wolf-like casinos.
Take a look at the data below, which was compiled by the NGCB as part of the regulator’s annual statewide slot machine survey:
Las Vegas Slot Machine Payback Percentages by Location
1¢ Slot Machines
- The Strip – 88.45 percent
- Downtown – 88.66 percent
- Boulder Strip – 90.42 percent
- N. Las Vegas – 90.71 percent
5¢ Slot Machines
- The Strip – 91.84 percent
- Downtown – 92.08 percent
- Boulder Strip – 95.73 percent
- N. Las Vegas – 95.38 percent
25¢ Slot Machines
- The Strip – 90.59 percent
- Downtown – 94.48 percent
- Boulder Strip – 96.39 percent
- N. Las Vegas – 96.58 percent
No matter which slot games you prefer, playing on The Strip inherently increases the odds against you. The percentage figure listed next to each location reflects the average payback rate – also known as the return to player (RTP) rate – offered on average by all slot machines in that area.
And as you can see, playing on The Strip always provides players with the worst possible payback rates. As a penny slot specialist, you’ll be up against an 88.45 percent payback rate while playing on The Strip. That equates to a house edge of 11.55 percent, making penny machines in the heart of Sin City a moneymaking monster for the casinos.
But take your action to the Boulder Strip or North Las Vegas, and that payback rate bumps up all the way over 90 percent. That may not seem like all that much of an improvement, but when you factor in the rapid pace of play found on slot games, padding your expected return by a full 2 percentage points is a massive improvement.
And it doesn’t matter if you’re playing true penny slots, or the nickel and quarter variety, as the pattern holds true across the board.
Another benefit of playing off the beaten path is the discounts and perks off-Strip casinos tend to lavish on their players. For the big boys like MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment – two casino conglomerates that control almost all properties on The Strip – enormous profits are practically ensured. They have a steady stream of tourists walking in the doors, so these venues can offer lower paying games and skimp out on the comps and perks.
But as Lucas Peterson – author of the “Frugal Traveler” column in the New York Times – recently discovered, venturing outside of the tourist traps offers a vastly different experience. Peterson visited the tiny Ellis Island Casino, located just east of Las Vegas Boulevard on Flamingo Road.
While the Ellis Island may lack the amenities and ambiance of a Strip establishment, this joint sure does know how to treat its customers.
Here’s how Peterson described his experience playing penny slots at Ellis Island:
“All casinos have rewards programs. You sign up, get a little card with a magnetic strip, and as you spend money you collect coupons for freebies and discounts.
At Ellis Island, they’ll give you that cheap steak dinner (normally $12.99) if you play just $5 worth of slots. But isn’t that just breaking even?
Well, in addition to it just being a little mindless Vegas fun, you can push it further: If you play $10 worth of slots instead of $5, not only do you get that discount on the steak dinner, Ellis Island also rewards you with bonus play money – a random amount between $10 and $500.”
In his case, Peterson’s initial $10 play on the penny machines produced a $66 free-play reward. He used that to play for a little while longer, cashed out for $30 profit, all while enjoying a free steak dinner on the side.
In his words, the casino paid him to play (and win), while throwing in a comped meal to boot.
You just won’t find customer appreciation like that on The Strip, which is why penny slot players on a lower bankroll should always get out of dodge to explore Las Vegas’ outlying areas.
Spend enough time around the slot parlor and you’ll inevitably hear players whispering about “loose” machines.
While the concept has faded into the realm of myth in the modern age, the notion that some slots are programmed to be loose – paying out more winners more often than the baseline – used to be based somewhat in reality.
Back in the day, when the average casino only carried a few hundred slot machines rather than a few thousand, casino managers could carefully tailor the arrangement of their games. No, they couldn’t control the actual outcomes (more on this to come in the Myths and Misconceptions section), but they could purchase a certain selection of higher paying machines before placing them in choice locations on the floor.
At the time, the idea was to get people standing in the lobby or by the buffet interested in playing slots because they kept hearing jackpot payouts and celebrations.
Today, however, the big casinos have thousands of slot machines under a single roof, making this level of management impractical. Rather than place certain games known to pay more often in select locations, casino managers simply stock their entire venue with games offering varied payback rates.
Here’s how John Robison, author of“The Slot Expert’s Guide to Playing Slots,” summed the placement situation up in a post for the American Casino Guide:
“The last change in the slot floor that I want to mention is perhaps the biggest change of all.
Hollywood Casino Pa
Casinos used to have hundreds of slot machines. Now they have thousands. One slot director in Las Vegas said in an interview a few years ago that with so many machines on his floor, he didn’t have time to micro-manage them.
He and his management decided the hold percentage they wanted for each denomination and he ordered payback programs close to that percentage for his machines. Furthermore, he said this was the common practice in Las Vegas.”
I’ve made mention of payback percentages many times now, and for good reason.
What the house edge metric is for table game players, payback percentage – and its inverse, the casino’s hold percentage – means for slot enthusiasts. Manufacturers and designers like International Game Technology (IGT), Scientific Games, Konami Gaming, Bally, and Aristocrat are all bound by strict gaming regulations which require games to have predetermined payback rates.
A popular themed game like The Walking Dead by IGT, for example, offers a generous 96 percent payback rate – good for a 4 percent house edge. But when you bring your bankroll to an older game like Mr. Cashman by Aristocrat, the payback percentage falls to 91 percent.
As it turns out, casinos rely on players not knowing their way around payback rates, as Steve Walther – senior director of marketing & product management for Konami Gaming – wrote in a 2017 column for the Las Vegas Sun:
“There are multiple schools of thought with regard to hold percentage and players’ ability to determine the hold in an individual session.
As games become more complex, the types of winning combinations have grown exponentially. When old games only had a certain number of slots on a wheel, maybe it was easier. Now, being able to feel the hold in a single session could be very difficult.
However, other schools of thought are different for repeat gamblers and those schools say maybe they can notice.”
Fortunately, these companies are bound by law to publish their payback percentages, so you can run a quick Google search for your favorite games to check up. If the game is offering anything less than 90 percent, you should avoid it like the plague. Low to mid 90s are the norm for penny slots, while anything higher is a gift from the heavens.
On a final note, of all the gambling games under the sun, slots seem to give rise to mistaken beliefs more than most.
Maybe it’s because players can’t make decisions to influence the outcome, but superstition runs rampant in the slot world.
Olaf Vancura- who serves as vice president of game development for slot maker Mikohn Gaming, a subsidiary of IGT – offered his take on the most pervasive slot myths during an interview with the Las Vegas Sun:
“I guess the No. 1 myth is that slot machines keep track of wins and losses and will compensate to get to a win.
Online Casinos For Us Players
But in the U.S., this is is illegal. Slots aren’t allowed to make adjustments.
They cannot and do not. Each win is a separate event.”
And Konami Gaming’s higher-up Walther echoed those sentiments, warning players to steer clear of fallacies and misinformation about the casino’s ability to control payouts from on high:
“There is all sorts of lore out there.
If you push buttons in a certain combination, if animals look at you funny, there are all sorts of myths.
And one is that there is a magical control center that can update games at a touch of a button.”
As the major myth associated with slots, many people will swear up and down that the casino’s “control room” has direct access to the reels spinning on their screen. Fortunately for players who enjoy fair play, Vancura clarified that this is simply an impossibility:
“Some people believe a slot director off in a back room somewhere is sitting at a computer and can change the machine right out from under you.
So if you are playing a good machine that you were doing well at, someone can tighten it down and you will run into a cold streak.
It’s not possible for the casino to pull the rug out from under you.”
And according to Vancura, another commonly heard myth – that players can “vulture” jackpots by waiting for a machine to be primed by previous play – just doesn’t hold up to technological scrutiny:
“Today’s slot machines don’t work that way. They are based on RNGs or random number generators.
Different manufacturers have different rates. But a good rule of thumb is that the RNGs are running hundreds of times per second.
So unless you had initiated that same spin at precisely the same instant, you would not have won the jackpot. If you’re even a tenth of a second off, you will get a completely different outcome.”
Penny slots can be a great way to enjoy the casino experience on the cheap, but only when you know how the game is really played. Using these five tips, you should be able to get your coins behind the best bets only, while avoiding the pitfalls that ensnare uninformed players.