Slot machines that pay the best payouts have great odds and a high RTP (return to player) percentage. Slots with a wide range of special features like Free Spins, Bonus Games, Re-Spins, and stacked Wilds also set you up for big payouts.
Slot machines are ever-evolving, often undergoing a constant barrage of changes year and year, but they remain some of the most popular casino games in the gambling scene. Whether you plan to play at an online casino or try your luck at a land-based gambling establishment, it pays to choose slot machines with favorable odds for the player.
Considering the slots are widely available and incredibly popular, there are so many options to choose from, you’ll certainly be spoilt for choice. Off the back of this information, you might wonder which slot machines pay the best.
This explainer article will highlight some of the best high-RTP slot games that give you the best winning odds. We shall also cover a few of the luckiest slot machines and tips for finding and choosing the best titles for your play.
The Best Payout Slot Machines You Can Play Right Now
RTP is a good indicator when looking for great slot machines that pay the best. That being said, here are the best online slots for payouts and RTP:
Starburst XXXtreme by NetEnt
The original version of Starburst launched more than a decade ago, is hands down still an all-time bellowed slot title. In mid-2021, NetEnt released a highly anticipated sequel, which has already gained vast traction with slot players.
Starburst XXXtreme might not have the highest payback percentage of the bunch, but it packs a punch inside out. The video slot offers the familiar sci/fi outer space theme we have come to love and cherish. Nine pay lines appear across the standard five reels and three rows.
This is a highly volatile NetEnt slot game that will appeal to high-rollers and patient slot players who are after the big wins. Talking about payouts, you can expect to win up to 200,000 x your bet amount per spin. That means it delivers one of the highest payouts out there. There’s no shortage of bonus features, too.
The main focus here is the Starburst Wild feature, which consists of expanding wilds that bless you with many re-spins and sticky symbols. You can re-trigger free spins up to a staggering three times with this feature.
It also comes with plenty of multipliers, up to 150x your stake. If you land three Wilds, the multipliers can be combined to deliver a payout of up to 450x your bet amount.
Ugga Bugga by Playtech
Unlike Starburst XXXtreme, Ugga Bugga is a slot veteran that has made players happy since its launch in 2006. And, of course, its continued popularity is not by accident. It looks more like a video poker title but offers HD graphics and stunning animation. The real treat is the game’s humongous RTP of 99.07%, making it one of the best slots for payout.
The ten pay lines provide multiple ways to hold down symbols and create winning combinations. The fantastic payout percentage means you will not run out of your bankroll any time soon.
Bonanza Megaways by Big Time Gaming
BTG’s mechanic has been the crown jewel of the online slot scene for quite a while. With an industry-average RTP of around 96%, Bonanza Megaways is one of the few Megaways slot machines that pay the best payouts. The aim here is to mine for treasure reels in which the symbol numbers change after every spin.
Filling all six reels with the max number of symbols means that you’ll have a whopping 117649 ways to generate a winning combo. Even better, symbols that form a winning combination are replaced by a new one so you can get another shot at the top prize.
The primary unique feature here is the free spins bonus game. Every time you get a reaction win during the free spins game, the multiplier is increased by a unit. The max payout of 26,000x your bet amount a spin is not too shabby, especially given this is a medium to a high volatility slot game.
Mega Joker by NetEnt
A strong competitor for Ugga Bugga in terms of RTP, Mega Joker boasts a payback percentage of 99%, meaning you won’t go broke chasing the big wins. This NetEnt evergreen is loved by slot enthusiasts the world over. The RTP is unrivaled when you cover all the pay lines with a minimum bet per line.
Mega Joker’s base game consists of classic three reels and a retro soundtrack, which makes it resemble vintage slot machines of the ’60s. When you win on the base game, you can collect your payouts or go up against the Supermeter bonus game. Jackpot seekers will be happy to know that a progressive jackpot is on board.
Ooh, Aah, Dracula by Barcrest
Not many players outside of the US are familiar with Barcrest’s Ooh Aah Dracula. It is an adaptation of a land-based casino version that has been beloved by slot fans for decades. With a very noteworthy RTP of around 99%, this slot game has a gothic theme and scary symbols to match the spooky vibe.
There’s a set of bonus features, including the Super Graveyard Bonus and the Graveyard Bonus, not to forget about the Heart Attack Bonus. This is a medium-variance slot machine with 10 fixed pay lines and three rows, so there are plenty of reasonably frequent payouts to look forward to.
The Catfather by Pragmatic Play
It’s a shame that Pragmatic Play has recently focused more of its creative resources on the live dealer gaming section, leaving virtual slot games to suffer on the back burner. We’re glad to have witnessed the launch and the rise of Catfather. Expect to see lots of cuddly and cute pussy cats in this 5-reel video slot with a solid RTP of 98.10%.
This is payout galore, dotted with multipliers and free spins. When you spin across the 5 reels, the kitties will start creating winning combinations in practically all directions. The maximum payout of 2,251x your stake aligns well with its medium variance.
Book of 99 by Relax Gaming
Let’s admit it; Relax Gaming is not the first game developer that first comes to mind when you think about best-paying slot machines. And yet Book of 99 has only a few titles with a higher payout percentage than this stylish beauty. If you’re looking for the highest RTP coupled with a decent max win and special features, you won’t go wrong with Book of 99.
The slot game boasts a payout percentage of 99% with a 10-payline by a 5-reel betting grid. It features expanding wilds and a maximum win of 5,000 x your stake.
Land scatters or a collection of wilds and triggers the bonus game. Get this: only 1% of all your bets wagered over a long period go to the house.
Marching Legions by Relax Gaming
Here is another slot game from Relaxing Gaming with an RTP in the upper tenth percentile. If the 98.12% RTP isn’t convincing enough, Marching Legions offers immense value in terms of 243 ways to bet, along with expanding legionnaire nudges and stacks.
The icing on the cake is the multiple re-spins features. If you can cover the entire screen with expanding stacks of symbols, you can win up to 10000 x your bet amount.
Dead or Alive II by NetEnt
If you have received free spins as part of a welcome bonus, the odds are good that you got them on NetEnt’s Starburst or Dead or Alive II. If high reward, high-risk slot action is your thing, look no further than this highly volatile slot machine with a Wild West theme and a gigantic max payout of up to 111,111 x your bet amount.
This slot comes with the traditional NetEnt design and gameplay of the original Dead or Alive. It uses the standard five-reel grid to accommodate nine pay lines. It sports Wild West outlaws Billy the Kid, Bell Star, Jesse James, Della Rose, and Apache, the Kid on the reels. Perhaps the highlight of the gameplay is the trio of Free Spins bonus rounds.
The Old Saloon Free Spins feature is the star of the extras, bringing sticky wilds and doubling all prizes. But that isn’t all; the second free spins feature— the High Noon— combines multipliers and delivers outstanding sticky wilds. For instance, if you have garnered 3x and 4x multiple wilds, they’ll combine for a huge 12x bonus! In the third free spins feature (dubbed Train Heist), the wilds are not consistent but boost the multipliers by a unit when they appear on reels.
Dead or Alive 2 has become a cult classic thanks to its insanely high volatility. Given the potentially huge prizes on offer, it’s easy to understand why.
What are the luckiest slot machines?
It is tough to pinpoint which slot machines are the luckiest. That is because slots, like all casino games, are influenced by the effect of randomness. The random number generators ensure all slot machine outcomes are unpredictable and random.
But, for some reason, a few slot games seem lucky and often hit the largest payouts, while the rest haven’t paid a jackpot in years. Even if a slot machine appears to be lucky, you must rely on your skills, knowledge, and intuition to win big.
Here are the five luckiest slot machines of all time:
(1) Blood Suckers
NetEnt usually swears by its flagship slots, Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest. But we think Blood Suckers is the provider’s luckiest slot game. The vampire-themed slot has 25 adjustable pay lines spread across over five reels. You can start spinning the reels with just 10 cents, and the slot machine is playable on iPad, Android tablets, and smartphones.
The stand-out thing about this game is the Vampire Slaying bonus feature. In this bonus round, you can pick from coffins and stand a chance of winning lucrative cash prizes. A Free Spins feature is also available, allowing players to benefit from a triple multiplier. With an RTP rate of roughly 98%, you can expect payouts of up to 1,014.6 x your bet amount.
(2) Kings of Chicago
Kings of Chicago ushers you into the world of underground poker, speakeasy bars, and mobsters. NetEnt also powers this vintage mob-inspired, speakeasy-themed slot game. Is there a better and luckier ingredient than this?
This Prohibition-era-themed slot title has just five paylines and traditional five reels. It has a Free Spins feature, jokers that serve as payouts, and a stunning design. A 2x multiplier boost is applied to all your wins during the free spins game. You can play this masterpiece on desktop or mobile from just 5 cents up to $50 a spin.
Kings of Chicago will appeal the most to card game enthusiasts. It comes with a reasonably impressive RTP of 97.8%. If the lucky lady dances on your side, as it always does with Kings of Chicago, your knowledge and skills might land you a max win of 13,000x your stake.
(3) Devil’s Delight
When NetEnt launched Devil’s Delight around a decade ago, it took over the online slot scene by storm and hasn’t slowed down ever since. A high RTP of 97.6%, outstanding graphics, and beautiful animations with a generous sprinkling of luck have made it one of the most popular online slots in recent years.
You will thoroughly enjoy exploring the 20 adjustable pay lines spread over 4 rows and 5 reels. The Zombie theme has a reasonably ghoulish yet spooky ambiance to it. The beautiful background certainly sets the right mood and setting for the Free Spins and Bonus games.
(4) Mega Moolah
Mega Moolah is the luckiest progressive jackpot slot with an enchanting Africa Safari theme. This Microgaming masterpiece has five reels and 25 paylines spread over the grid. The slot has scatters, a Free Spins feature with a 3x multiplier and 30 free spins, and wilds serve as payouts.
Special features aside, Mega Moolah is all about the four massive progressive jackpots. It was then a record-breaker. The biggest of the jackpots, dubbed the mega jackpot, currently stands a well over $5.3 million. In 2015, the progressive slot paid out a whopping €13.2 million to Jonathan Heywood of the UK.
(5) Ugga Bugga
There is something about Ugga Bugga that appeals to beginner and seasoned slot players year after year. Perhaps it is the enormous payout percentage of 99.07%. Or, maybe the video poker-like mechanic makes it easy to land winning combinations on the reels. No matter the reason, the 10-payline slot machine is one of the luckiest out there.
Choosing Slot Machines – How do you pick a winning slot machine?
Choosing a winning slot machine is easy.
Step #1 – Find and sign-up with a reputable online casino
The first step toward picking a winner is to sign up with a legit, trustworthy, and high-payout online casino. If you’re in the US, top licensed casinos include Caesars Casino, FanDuel Casino, Ocean Casino, BetMGM Casino, and Hard Rock Casino. Ensure the casino is regulated and licensed by a well-respected authority.
Step #2 – Claim bonuses and promotions
The best online casinos welcome you with a bevy of free spins, a first deposit bonus, a no deposit bonus, and much more. You can use these freebies to build out your bankroll. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could squeeze in a few wins on the house?
Step #3 – Browse online slots by RTP
Most reputable online casinos allow you to browse their catalog of slot machine games alphabetically or by name, provider, and payout percentage. The higher the payback (RTP) percentage, the more likely that the slot machine is a winner.
Step #4 – Consider casino variations
There are many different types of online slot machines to choose from …
- Progressive jackpot slots
- Penny slots
- 3D video slots
- Three-reel classic
- Five-, seven-, or nine-reel slot games
- Branded slots
Consider your play style, budget, and preferences when choosing between these slots.
Step #5 – Find loose slot machines
Hearsay can go a very long way. You can check online gambling forums, social media, and other online spaces where slot players meet. You will easily get the word on the loosest slots in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and even online.
Step #6 – Practice with free games
Practice always makes perfect. Start your journey to find the best slot machine by playing them online in demo mode.
Step #6 – Study the paytable
Every slot game has its own pay table. It details all the symbols found in the game, their value, and their role in gameplay. It also shows you whether the slot machine has scatters and wild symbols.
Step #7- Choose a slot machine with the best odds
Determine which slot has the best odds based on the RTP, variance, extra features, and player reviews/ratings.
How can you tell if a slot machine is about to hit?
Using the zig-zag strategy, you can tell if a slot machine is about to hit. You must locate a slot game that is not active, but the outcome of the last winning combination appears on the machine’s screen. If they form a zig-zag payline, it means the slot machine is about to hit.