The Best Free Slot Casinos

Why Play Free Slot Games?

Imagine playing your favourite online slots any time you like, without ever losing real money. How about having the chance to play new slot games the moment they launch, completely risk-free? Enter, free slots games. Whether you’re a newbie looking to learn how to play online slot games, a veteran player curious to check out a title you haven’t played before, or are just looking for a bit of online entertainment, free slot games fit the bill.

This guide tells you what you need to know about free online slot games. From the pros and cons of free slots versus real money games to exactly how you can access free online slot machines, we’ve got all the info right here.

How to Play Free Slot Machines

Although you’re not placing any real money stakes, the gameplay in free casino slot games otherwise works in the exact same way as real money slots. Here’s how to play online slots:

How do Free Play Slot Titles Compare with Real Money Games?

Whether you play slots for free or wager your hard-earned cash on real money games, there are pros and cons to each. Let’s look closer at the advantages and disadvantages of playing free and real money slot games.

How to Pick which Free Online Slots to Play

With thousands of free online slots available, where do you start? Here are some of the factors you might consider.

Software and Graphics

Software and graphics can have a significant impact on your playing experience. Do you like classic slots that evoke pub fruit machines, complete with classic fruit and bar symbols, or do you prefer dynamic video slots with arcade-style graphics, animations, and even clips from films and TV shows? Some of the best in the business come courtesy of developers such as NetEnt, Novomatic and Play’n Go.

Bonus Features

Bonus features like cascading reels, expanding wilds, scatter symbols and multipliers can make video slots even more exciting, so you may want to look out for free slots which are packed with these kinds of perks. Hitting the reels without putting your cash on the line will allow you to relax and focus purely on getting plenty of practice with the various bonus features available.

Mobile Compatibility 

Some players either don’t use a desktop computer or just prefer to hit the reels on their mobile phone or tablet. If you’re in that category, you’ll want to look for free slots that, thanks to HTML5 technology, can easily be played on the move. Fortunately, this won’t force you to narrow your options too much, as most online casinos have adopted HTML5. 

Five of the Best Free Online Slots

While there are heaps of free slots out there, there are some particularly popular slots that are well worth trying out in free play mode. Here’s our pick of some of the best. 

Starburst 

Introduced in 2012, NetEnt’s Starburst slot is a bona fide casino classic. This intergalactic-themed slot has five reels, three rows and ten paylines, which pay out in either direction thanks to the game’s Win Both Ways feature. Other exciting features include wilds and re-spins, while the simple gameplay makes it ideal for newbies. Starburst is a low variance slot with a return to player value (RTP) of 96.09%.

Cleopatra 

Another 2012 release, the Cleopatra online slot from IGT is an Egyptian-themed slot with an RTP of just over 95% and medium volatility. This 5-reel slot has three rows, 20 paylines and plenty of thrilling bonus features. Watch out for Cleopatra wilds, which can double any payouts, and Sphinx scatters, which can activate a free spins bonus with the chance to win 180 spins. 

Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead 

A 2016 release from Sweden-based company Play’n Go, Book of Dead also looks to Ancient Egypt for inspiration. This 5-reel, ten payline slot is an engrossing romp which features Rich Wilde, a famous Egyptologist, adventurer and hero. Matching five Rich Wilde symbols on a single line to win up to 5,000 your line bet. Book of Dead is a high volatility slot with an RTP of 96.21%

Gonzo’s Quest

Based on the story of a real Spanish conquistador, 2013’s Gonzo’s Quest transports you to an ancient Mayan civilization where you must help Gonzo search for a lost city of gold. Five bet levels, free spins bonuses, wild substitutions, and a jackpot of 25,000 coins will surely inspire you along the way. Gonzo’s Quest is a NetEnt slot with medium volatility and 96% RTP.

Da Vinci Diamonds

Launched in 2012, IGT’s Da Vinci Diamonds quickly became one of the most popular Las Vegas slots. It was one of the first slots to introduce tumbling reels, and this 5-reel video slot with 20 paylines and an immersive Renaissance theme has remained popular ever since. Da Vinci Diamonds is a low to medium volatility slot with an RTP of a little under 95%. 

Top Free Slots Software Providers

Wondering who makes the most popular slots? There’s an exhaustive list of software providers out there to discover. In the meantime, here are five of the best: 

Bally

An old school developer of slot machine games, Bally was founded back in 1968, and is the name behind Betty Boop’s Firehouse and other popular Vegas slots. Scientific Games purchased Bally for $5.1 billion in 2014.

EGT Interactive

Based in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, EGT Interactive produces online slots such as Retro Cabinet, Knight’s Heart and Ice Valley. Not to be confused with the multinational games developer IGT.

Konami

Konami is one of the most renowned names in software development, having been around since 1969. Its games library features popular slots like Fortune Stacks, Roman Tribune and China Shores. 

Playtech

Founded in Estonia in 1999 and now headquartered in the Isle of Man, Playtech is an A-list name in the world of casino games, offering an impressive portfolio of slots. Top Playtech slots include Age of the Gods and Green Lantern. 

WMS

Though it’s now a subsidiary of SG, WMS has been around for generations, making its name with land-based slots in Las Vegas and beyond. Its responsible for top slot machine games like Jackpot Party and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Types of Free Slots to Play

If you’re hoping to play free online slot games, there’s no shortage of options. From simple, retro-style reels to online slots with more than 200,000 ways to win, here’s a quick guide to what to expect. 

Classic Slots

Inspired by the one-armed bandits of old, classic 3-reel slots like Microgaming’s Couch Potato and IGT’s Double Diamond keep things simple with a single payline and a single wild. Others add simple bonus rounds and re-spin features, while most feature retro symbols like cherries and lucky 7s. The simplicity of classic slots makes them the perfect pick for newbies.

5-Reel Slots

5-reel video slots stand apart from the classics thanks to their unique themes, stunning graphics, catchy soundtracks and multiple paylines. Extras like avalanche reels, sticky wild symbols and immersive multi-level bonus rounds add to the excitement. It can take a while to get used to 5-reel slots, but they’re the ideal choice when you’re ready to play games with more depth. 

Megaways

Featuring groundbreaking technology first developed by Big Time Gaming, Megaways slots include NetEnt’s Divine Fortunes Megaways and Pragmatic Play’s Great Rhino Megaways. They feature reels which alter with each spin, so different numbers of symbols come up each time. This boosts your chances of winning, and also makes for a fun, unpredictable playing experience.

Progressive Slots

Some of the biggest cash prizes at online casinos come from progressive jackpot slots like Microgaming’s Jungle Mega Moolah and NetEnt’s Arabian Nights. With these games, the prize pot gets bigger and bigger as more people play. You can potentially play progressive jackpots for free using no deposit bonuses. 

Playing Free Slots on Your Mobile

Whether you play free slots at dedicated free slots sites or hit the free demo games at your preferred online casino, pretty much all operators will also provide a mobile-optimised website. These mobile sites work perfectly well on the browsers of most mobile devices, but some casinos go the extra mile by offering a native mobile app you can download for Android and iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads. You’ll find no shortage of standalone free slots apps, either. Just head to the App Store or Google Play Store to see what’s available for your device.

Can I Play Real Money Slots for Free?

Occasionally, yes. While many online casinos require new players to make a deposit to claim to any welcome bonus, others offer free spins and free bonus credits just for signing up for a new account. It’s important to realise that not only are free online slots no deposit offers quite rare, the number of spins you’ll get from these free casino bonuses is probably going to be on the small side. 

Such offers also generally come with wagering requirements. So, even if there is a bonus that lets you play real money slots for free, you may have to then bet a great number of times – potentially with your own money – in order to cash out any winnings.

Understanding Age Restrictions

Even though there’s no real money gambling involved in free online slots, the UK Gambling Commission still requires players to be at least 18 years old. Accessing free demo versions of slots at casino sites will require signing up as a member, while stand-alone free slots sites will ask you to verify your age before allowing you to access their free slot games. You’ll need to enter some personal details, but this is not the same as signing up for an account. Free slots sites don’t save the data you enter as part of the age verification process and use it only to ensure you are old enough to play.  

Are You Ready to Play Slots for Free?

Free slots are a great way for you to try out a new game without spending any of your own money. That way, when you do some to invest in the real-money counterpart, you will be more prepared and have a stronger idea about successful strategies. So without further ado, compare our collection of free slot sites and find the one for you.