Guide to Playing the Best Slots Games in 2023
At SlotSource we strive to bring you as much information about online slots and online slots sites as we can. We’ve set up a team that is dedicated to this and it’s for this reason that we are often referred to as one of the go-to resources for online slots.
There are now thousands of games to choose from and if we’re being honest, the whole sector can get a little intimidating if you are new. It’s tough to know where to start and what games are going to be right for you.
That’s why we’ve done all the hard work for you. We’ve created a guide for pretty much any and every online slot that you can imagine. From that, we’ve then created several options that you can explore as a player, getting maximum value from your hard-earned cash.
Throughout this page, we cover a wide range of topics. These include talking about the best slots for 2023, different types of slots, most popular games, branded games, progressive jackpots, mobile slots and bonuses you can get that are linked with these games.
We also focus on how the games work and we explain this in a way that is easy to digest. If you know how an online slot works, then you’re going to be able to make the best possible decision for your game type, saving time and money.
This page is going to be constantly updated as it expands, and games are added. Slots are released weekly, so it’s a fast-moving marketplace, meaning that you should bookmaker the page to keep checking back for the latest and best online slots.
How SlotSource Testers Review Casino Slots
The review process at SlotSource HQ is one that is best described as comprehensive. We look at every single aspect of the game to see how it works, what value it offers the player and how the game compares to others at that casino. We check licensing information of the sites as well as the quality and credentials of the software providers. We also compare the slot game selections across casinos to give you access to the widest range of the best slot games possible.
Choosing the Best Casino Slots Online
Most casinos are going to have an extensive range of online slots to choose from. To sit and scroll through each one is going to be almost impossible with some sites.
There are ways that you can narrow your search down and make these sections a lot more manageable. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using a filter. A filter allows you to include and exclude attributes that are linked to each game. The range that you get to choose from will vary with each casino, but they might include things like old to new, alphabetically, by theme, slot feature, game developer, RTP and volatility, to name just a few. This is the process that most players will use to narrow the search down and it’s a feature that we use a lot at SlotSource.
If you know the exact game that you’re looking for then you might be able to access a search function as well. Here you will be able to type in the name or sometimes the theme of the game you want to play before the casino will drag up the results from this.
Aside from actually playing the slot, a great way to find what might be a good fit is by reading slot reviews. We include hundreds here at SlotSource and within each, we are looking to highlight what we think works and what doesn’t work. It’s not just a straightforward process to say that one slot is better than another. Some slots may look very similar but in reality, they can be very different. A small tweak such as the paylines on offer or the free spins within a bonus round can dramatically change how these games work. You need to be aware that what works for one player, might not for another.
Here is our step-by-step guide on how to choose the best casino slots online:
- Research – Read reviews on the slots that you want to play and see if they fit the style of game that will excite you.
- Locate a casino – Check to see which casinos are offering these games. They likely have a range that will offer good alternatives to specific games you are looking for, creating a larger net.
- Find a bonus – Try and get a bonus or welcome offer that ties in with the game that you want to play.
- Pick the casino – Choose the casino that not only stocks the games that you want to play, but also the best slots bonuses to give you extra funds to play the games you like.
Here are some of our recommendations for casinos with the best slot selections in Canada (excluding Ontario):
| Brand | Slots | Mobile Slot Providers | Total Slot Providers | Mobile Slot Games X | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | 19 | 19 | 1924 | Play Now | New customers outside of Ontario only. 100% Deposit Bonus up to $500 min dep. $10, 30x wag. req. Deposit + Bonus + 115 Free Spins on 9 Masks of Fire Hyperspins: 15 on reg and 100 split over first 5 days after 1st dep. 30x wagering requirement on bonus winnings. Game weighting applies on wagering. Max bet applies. 19+. T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. BeGambleAware. This offer is not available for players residing in Ontario. |
| 1421 | 107 | 112 | 1421 | Play Now | 18+ T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. Full Terms Apply. This offer is not available for players residing in Ontario. |
| 1386 | 106 | 106 | 1386 | Play Now | 19+ T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. Full Terms Apply. This offer is not available for players residing in Ontario. |
The Best Slot Games in Canada 2023
One of the most exciting things about the slots section is that the game range keeps changing and improving as new online slots are released. Software providers are constantly vying to outdo each other, and new and exciting slot themes, functionality and features are just some of the benefits to players.
As we explore all the new slot games, we create a list of the games that our slot testers believe are the best slot games in Canada for 2023. Bear in mind that the list keeps changing and evolving, as it should.
In our list below, you’re going to see a wide range of games for various themes and backgrounds. They each work a little differently than the next, but with one thing in common; they rock!
There are no set criteria when it comes to our testing. For example, just because a game has a high RTP (Return to Player) doesn’t mean that it’s going rank highly on our list. We take all features and components of each game to create a package.
Below we have listed some of the best slots games in Canada 2023:
- Peaky Blinders
- Octopus Treasure
- Jammin Jars
- Wolf Gold
- Piggy Riches Megaways
- Book of Dead
- Bonanza
- Starburst
- Gonzo’s Quest
Types of Slots Games Online
From the outside, it would be easy to assume that all slots are made equal in terms of the platform they work on. This is not the case and in fact, there are numerous different types of slots that you can access online.
The games are still “slots” but they each work in different ways. It’s not uncommon to find games that are similar in terms of theme, but work very differently based on the type of game they are designed around.
Below we’ve broken down some of the different types of games available at online slots sites.
Video Slots
Video slots are the most popular and most readily available of any game that you’ll find within an online casino. We would go as far as to say that they have revolutionised the way that online casinos operate, and the quality of the games is simply incredible, compared to when they first came out.
The game is fundamentally just an online version that was used to describe physical slots, such as fruit machines. The term has stuck and today they are still commonly known by them.
They are best known for utilising technology and this has allowed slots to include things like themes, bonus rounds, free spins, multiple paylines and countless features, such as wilds, scatters and soundtracks. They are the reason that branded slots exist and are also the reason why the online casino sector is as successful as it is.
Games come in all shapes and sizes, but generally, there is a core range of features. These include a theme, paylines, bonus/feature rounds, winning combinations and game symbols. The cumulation of all of these will fluctuate from game to game, but the process and the design will remain throughout.
Some of the best in the business right now include Gonzo’s Quest, Peaky Blinders and Starburst. Not only are these games the best, but they are accessible in more casinos than just about any game in the industry, such is their popularity.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
The jackpot games are the titles that will win you the most money. They can offer huge sums up top and are designed for players looking to go big or go home.
They differ from your standard jackpot game in that the amount of money will continue to rise with each hand that is played. The pot grows by taking a small rake from each hand and then with the more people that play the game, the higher the jackpot becomes.
One of the easiest ways of explaining these games is by comparing them to the lottery. Everyone pays their money to enter (rake taken from each spin) and then the winner is the player who matches all their numbers, except with the progressive slot, this is matching up a certain combination of symbols.
It’s not uncommon for some of the biggest jackpots from these games surpass the seven-figure mark. In fact, the biggest ever jackpot win is over $20 million, which was won on the game, Mega Moolah Mega.
Progressive jackpot slots are not hosted by the casino and instead run by the game developer. This means that the game can run across multiple online casinos and players from each will contribute to the same pot.
For example, Mega Moolah Mega is hosted by Microgaming. Both Mr Green and Betsson Casino have this game within their catalogue. Players from both casinos are essentially playing the same game and going for the same jackpot.
This cross-platform process is the reason that the jackpots are as big as they are. If you think about it, the number of players across multiple casinos is going to be much bigger than a single casino, regardless of how big that casino might be.
Other notable progressive jackpot games include Jackpot Giant, Arabian Nights, Hall of Gods, Jokers Millions and Beach Life.
3D Slots
3D slots are starting to become a lot more popular within the industry as the technology for the games continues to rise. The games are not only visually better but offer a more interactive experience and one that many players are now starting to hunt out.
For the most part, the biggest improvement in 3D slots over video slots is that of the gameplay. They have a good range of graphics and it’s as close to a computer game as you’re going to get within the sector.
You will also find that things like bonus rounds and feature rounds are much improved as well. You get immersed in a world with the game and you could argue that it’s this sort of depth that many of the video slots lack.
The downside to all this is that the games are still quite rare. Branded games from Marvel trialled a number of their newer titles on this platform but reverted to video slots for many of them due to the platform not being as stable as they would like.
Fruit Machines
Fruit machines are sometimes referred to as classic slots. They are essentially a throwback to the setup and layout of classic fruit machines that you would find in your local casino, except you now get access to this online.
The games are basic at best, often running just three reels and single payline for many of them. Graphics are low-key and not only do they run like an old fruit machine, but they also look like one too.
However, there is a saving grace to these games and that comes from the RTP (Return to Player). This is the amount of money on average you win per spin from that game. The higher the number the better.
The lack of graphics is often made up for in terms of the RTP on offer. Mega Joker from NetEnt is a great example of this, coming in with an RTP of 99% on one of the most basic fruit machine setups you will find.
Slot Games with the Highest Payout Percentages or RTP
We’ve spoken a little bit throughout this article about RTP and we wanted to use this section to talk more about how it works.
Each slot comes with an RTP (Return to Player) percentage. This is the average amount of money won per spin. For example, if a slot has an RTP of 97% then you would on average get 97c back for every $1 that you stake.
Obviously, this is not the case for every spin, as if it were, the casino would win every hand and there would be no point playing. This is where variance comes into play and essentially, a bit of luck.
Generally, games that have higher RTP are ones that are more popular amongst players. The idea is that they pay out more than games with a lower rate, and this would be true mathematically speaking.
However, these numbers are taken over huge samples and often millions of spins of a slot machine. Most players will never get near that amount to level out the numbers, so you need to take RTP with a degree of caution in terms of the money you might win.
The variance in the games means that it’s possible to walk away with wins that are big multiples of your original bets. The more spins you make on the machine the nearer to the true RTP you will get.
That being said, there are plenty of games with high RTP and if you are a high-volume player then you should likely be looking to get involved with some of these. Here is a list of slots with high RTPs:
- Goblin's Cave = 99.3% RTP
- Ugga Bugga = 99.07% RTP
- Nemo's Voyage = 99% RTP
- Mega Joker Jackpot = 99% RTP
- Ooh Aah Dracula = 99% RTP
- Jackpot 6000 = 98.86% RTP
- Uncharted Seas = 98.6%
- Cinerama = 98.4% RTP
- Rainbow Riches = 98% RTP
- Blood Suckers = 97.6% RTP
The Most Popular Branded Slots
Branded slots are some of the most popular games in the industry. The games are often a step up from your standard video slot given that they come with larger budgets from each of the brands.
The range of brands will differ from each casino, but generally, they include TV Shows, movies, music bands and game shows. We’ve broken the categories down to highlight what we think are some of the best in the business right now.
Top TV Slots of All Time
TV shows are slots that have worked really well as side games in the online bingo sector and have now made their way over to online slots as well. Lots of these games come with clips from the show, the theme tune and even characters voices running throughout.
Below we have listed what we think are some of the best-branded TV slots on the market right now.
- Game of Thrones
- Battlestar Galactica
- Deal or No Deal
- Wheel of Fortune
- Family Guy
- Peaky Blinders
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
- Narcos
- The Simpsons
Top Movie Slots of All Time
As a step up from the TV shows, we bring you the movies. These are what kicked off the branded games section and are probably the best range of branded games that you can get.
Over the years there have been a plethora of movies take on the sector, but the adaption of movies franchises like Marvel and DC comics has been the icing on the cake for branded slots.
- Terminator 2
- Gladiator
- Aliens
- Basic Instinct
- Jurassic Park
- Anchorman
- Ghost Busters
- Green Lantern
- Ted
- Top Gun
Top Popular Music Slots of All Time
Music slots are some of the latest games to come within the branded sector. For the most part, these are of bands and musicians from past and present.
What’s great about all of these games are the soundtracks, playing some of the most iconic songs ever created such as Knocking on Heavens Door by Guns and Roses, 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton and Foxy Lady by Jimmy Hendrix.
- Guns N' Roses Slot
- Dolly Parton Slot
- Kiss Slot
- Megadeath Slot
- Jimi Hendrix Slot
- Michael Jackson: King of Pop
- The Rat Pack
- DJ Wild
- The Phantom of the Opera
Understanding Slot Bonus Games and Features: Wilds, Scatters and Multipliers
Some of the most exciting and lucrative sections of any slot are the additional features that it hosts. These include things like wilds, scatters, multipliers, free spins and many more features.
We wanted to spend a little time explaining how they work and what you need to look out for with each feature.
Wilds
- These are your most common features and they work as substitutes to create and increase a winning payline. The wild symbol basically represents whichever symbol you need to win the most money from the other symbols on the board.
- For example, if you have a single payline game and you have 4 cherries from 5 reels and a wild in between, then this wild will represent a cherry and create your winning line.
Scatters
- Scatters are some of the most lucrative features of any game as this is usually your route into the bonus round for the slot. The number of scatters you will need on each board will vary, but usually the more that you get, the more spins you get within the bonus round.
Multipliers
- Multipliers are where your winnings will get multiplied by a set amount. Again, they range for each slot, but are can be anywhere from 2x to 100x and even more than that with some slots. These are most common within bonus rounds and provide great value for the player.
Megaways slots
- Megaways are a leap into the unknown for the most part. They are games where you never know many paylines and ways to win each spin will have.
- The combinations are huge and can rack up over 100,000 ways to win from a single spin. They are generally highly volatile, but if it’s the action you are after, then these will be great games to trial.
243 Payline
- These slots are pretty self-explanatory in that they have 243 paylines within the game. As you can imagine, this means that they can provide some huge payouts and lots of ways to win. However, they are actually low volatile games for the most part, with the majority of wins being little and often. The lure is those big paydays, which are multiplied still by the increased paylines.
Free spins
- These rounds are generally triggered by either free spin symbols or they are a part of the bonus round section. The number of free spins that you get will range, but they are just that, totally free. The game will switch into the free spins round and you just sit back and let the slot do the work for you. All winnings from these rounds are paid in cash.
Cluster Pays
- Cluster pays do away with paylines altogether and instead work on the game creating clusters of the same symbol. It’s a little bit like Tetris, with most comes coming in a 5x6 box and then winnings from the symbols within these boxes.
What is Slot Variance and Volatility?
Variance and volatility are two essential parts to any slot game. However, they are different from each other and many people often get confused as to how they work.
Variance is where a result that is meant to happen does not happen, even though the odds were against that outcome. For example, the odds of hitting heads or tails when you flip a coin is even money or a 50/50 chance. However, it is possible to flip 10 heads in a row, even though it’s unlikely.
When something that this happens, this is known as variance. To tie that into online slots, each game comes with an RTP that is in the casino's favour, but if the casino won every spin or hand, no one would ever play. You are expected to lose every time given the odds, but variance means that the player has a chance of winning with each spin, going against the RTP for that game.
Volatility is the rate in which variance occurs. Slots can come as high, medium or low volatility. A low volatility game is one that will pay a little and often. You won’t have big wins very often, but you’ll make enough to keep ticking over. If you’re looking for value for money from your slots, these games are for you.
High volatility games are ones that are unpredictable but pay out big amounts. You might go 30 spins without winning anything at all, but then you will land a huge jackpot win to cover your losses and make you a nice profit. The wins are bigger but less frequent.
Progressive Jackpot Casino Slot Games
Progressive jackpot games are where the big money is won. These are games where players will contribute to the pot with each bet that they make. It’s only small amounts but the numbers soon start to add up.
These games are run across networks rather than a single casino. This creates a huge player pool for the games and jackpots that can run well into the millions.
Some of the most popular games include names like Mega Moolah, Hall of Gods, Arabian Nights, Major Millions and Mega Fortune. Each of these will frequently pay out seven figures for their jackpot wins.
If you'd like to play progressive jackpots, have a look at some of the top jackpot slots sites listed below:
| Brand | Slot Providers | Jackpot Slots | Total Slots | Mobile Slot Providers X | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| 106 | 81 | 1386 | 106 | Play Now | 19+ T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. Full Terms Apply. This offer is not available for players residing in Ontario. |
| 45 | 172 | 945 | 18 | Play Now | 19+. T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. |
| 9 | 116 | 1358 | 9 | Play Now | This offer is not available for players residing in Ontario. |
Mobile Slot Games – Playing on the Go!
The majority of new games that are created are actually done so with a mobile-first intent. By this, we mean that they are created specifically for mobile devices and then converted for use online as well. In years gone by, the reverse process was more common.
Mobile-first games have comer on the back of the popularity of mobile casinos. We are almost at a point now where more people play casino games on mobile and tablet devices than they do online.
As a result of this and the development of design platforms such as HTML 5, the standard of mobile slots has increased tenfold. Gone are the days of pixelated slots that never used to properly fit the screen and in are stunning mobile-ready slots that work seamlessly on all mobile devices.
Free Slots in Online Casinos
Some casinos will allow you to access their range of slots for free before you play for real money. These are often called demo games and they work by the casino giving you “play money” to test the games out before playing for real money.
Play Casino Slots with No Deposit
When you register with a new casino you should immediately be looking to claim their welcome bonuses. If they don’t have one or at least don’t have some sort of promotion that will entice you there, move on and find somewhere that will.
Welcome offers come in a wide range of formats. The most common is that of a deposit bonus where the casino will match your first deposit up to a certain amount of money. You then need to clear the bonus by playing real money slots at the casino.
However, the most lucrative is that of no deposit bonuses. This is where the casino will offer you free spins or bonus funds to come in and use their games without having to make a cash deposit. They are rare in the industry, but they provide the most value, so if you manage to come across one, grab it with both hands.
New Slots Online – Constant Entertainment
New slots come to market weekly, adding to the thousands of games that are already live. It’s the biggest and fastest-growing sector within the online casino industry and the games are only getting better.
As games are released, we look to test as many of them as we can. You’re able to sort these slots by the date in which they were released using the sort function at the top of this page. This allows you to see the latest and greatest games on the scene.
It’s worth noting that to keep up to date you should bookmaker this page. We change it as often as new games are released and reviewed, so it’s constantly moving.
Online Slot Games vs Land-Based Slot Machines
Online slot games have developed dramatically since the days of the simple fruit machine. Here are a few reasons why we prefer online games:
The main one is the huge range of choices available across hundreds of online casinos. You have thousands of games to choose from compared to a land-based casino that might have a dozen or so at best.
Games are constantly changing and improving. Technology plays a huge role in this and not only are the games better than they’ve ever been, but they also are now starting to be built with a mobile-first intent, meaning they are accessible on more devices.
This brings us nicely to our next advantage and that is that you can play online slot games on the go. Most mobile casinos have a huge percentage of their games catalogue now accessible on mobile devices.
Finally, online games generally have a higher RTP than land-based ones. This is because online you can get through a greater volume of spins compared to in a casino. The machine can then make smaller margins but more money down to volume, providing a better experience for the player and more money for the casino.
