I. Introduction
When it comes to playing casino games, especially at slot machines, the primary goal for most players is to win money. However, not all slot machines are created equal in terms of payout rates and odds of winning. Therefore, it’s important to know which casino slot machines pay the best in 2022, so that you can maximize your chances of winning and avoid wasting your time and money on low-paying or rigged games.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 slot machines with high payouts, compare their pay rates, frequency of payouts, special features, and bonuses, as well as delve into the differences among classic slots, video slots, and progressive jackpot slots. We’ll also hear from expert gamblers and casino employees on their recommendations for the best slot machines to play, as well as explain how RNGs work and dispel common myths about programmed payouts. Moreover, we’ll showcase real-life jackpot winners and their tips and strategies, as well as highlight innovative and unique slot machines that stand out from the crowd. Finally, we’ll provide personalized game recommendations based on your betting amount, desired RTP rate, and personal preferences in game themes and features.
II. Top 10 Slot Machines with High Payouts
Before diving into the analysis of each slot machine’s pay rate, let’s present the top 10 slot machines with high payouts in no particular order:
- Cleopatra
- Gonzo’s Quest
- Mega Moolah
- Hall of Gods
- Starburst
- Book of Ra
- Thunderstruck II
- Dead or Alive
- Immortal Romance
- Deal or No Deal
Of course, these rankings can vary depending on the casino, the country, and the time of the year, as some games may be more popular or lucrative than others due to marketing campaigns, jackpots, or seasonal events. However, these games have established themselves as reliable and rewarding choices for slot machine enthusiasts.
Let’s now analyze each slot machine’s pay rate, frequency of payouts, special features, and bonuses.
A. Cleopatra
Cleopatra is a classic slot machine developed by IGT and released in 2005. Its RTP rate is around 95.02%, which means that it pays out on average $95.02 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate can vary depending on the casino, the denomination, and the betting range.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines, as well as Egyptian symbols such as scarabs, hieroglyphs, Sphinxes, and, of course, Cleopatra herself. The wild symbol is Cleopatra, which doubles the payout if it’s part of a winning combination. The scatter symbol is the Sphinx, which triggers 15 free spins with tripled payouts if you land at least 3 on the reels. You can re-trigger the free spins up to 180 times, which can result in massive payouts.
B. Gonzo’s Quest
Gonzo’s Quest is a video slot machine developed by NetEnt and released in 2011. Its RTP rate is slightly higher than Cleopatra’s, around 96%, which means that it pays out on average $96 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate can also vary depending on the casino, the denomination, and the betting range.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines, as well as a unique mechanism called Avalanche. This means that instead of spinning the reels, the symbols fall down from the top of the screen and land on top of each other. If you hit a winning combination, the symbols explode and disappear, and new symbols fall in their place, potentially creating more winning combinations. The wild symbol is a golden question mark, which substitutes for any other symbol. The scatter symbol is a Free Fall icon, which triggers 10 free spins with an increasing multiplier if you land at least 3 on the reels. The maximum multiplier is x15, which can lead to huge payouts.
C. Mega Moolah
Mega Moolah is a progressive jackpot slot machine developed by Microgaming and released in 2006. Its RTP rate is lower than the previous two games, around 88.12%, which means that it pays out on average $88.12 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate doesn’t tell the whole story, as the main attraction of Mega Moolah is its four-tiered progressive jackpot system, which can award millions of dollars to lucky winners.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 25 paylines, as well as African symbols such as lions, elephants, giraffes, and monkeys. The wild symbol is the Lion, which doubles the payout if it’s part of a winning combination. The scatter symbol is the Monkey, which triggers 15 free spins with tripled payouts if you land at least 3 on the reels. However, the main feature of Mega Moolah is the Jackpot Bonus Game, which is triggered randomly during any spin. In this game, you’ll spin a wheel of fortune divided into 4 sections, each corresponding to a different jackpot tier: Mini (starts at $10), Minor (starts at $100), Major (starts at $10,000), and Mega (starts at $1,000,000). If you’re lucky enough to land on the Mega section, you’ll become an instant millionaire.
D. Hall of Gods
Hall of Gods is another progressive jackpot slot machine developed by NetEnt and released in 2010. Its RTP rate is higher than Mega Moolah’s, around 95.7%, which means that it pays out on average $95.7 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate can also vary depending on the casino, the denomination, and the betting range.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines, as well as Norse symbols such as Thor, Odin, Loki, and Idun. The wild symbol is the Midgard Serpent, which expands to cover the entire reel if it’s part of a winning combination. The scatter symbol is the Raven, which triggers 10 free spins with tripled payouts if you land at least 3 on the reels. However, the main feature of Hall of Gods is the Bonus Game, which is triggered by landing 3 Bonus symbols on the reels. In this game, you’ll smash shields with Thor’s hammer to reveal hidden prizes or jackpot symbols. If you collect 3 matching jackpot symbols, you’ll win the corresponding jackpot, which can reach millions of dollars.
E. Starburst
Starburst is a video slot machine developed by NetEnt and released in 2012. Its RTP rate is higher than Cleopatra’s, around 96.09%, which means that it pays out on average $96.09 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate can also vary depending on the casino, the denomination, and the betting range.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 10 paylines, as well as colorful gem symbols such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. The wild symbol is the Star, which appears only on reels 2, 3, and 4, and expands to cover the entire reel if it’s part of a winning combination. The wild symbol also triggers a free re-spin, during which the wild reel stays in place. If you hit another wild symbol during the re-spin, you’ll get another re-spin, up to a maximum of 3. The advantage of Starburst is its simplicity and fast-paced action, which makes it ideal for both beginners and experienced players who prefer shorter sessions and lower risk.
F. Book of Ra
Book of Ra is a classic slot machine developed by Novomatic and released in 2004. Its RTP rate is lower than Starburst’s, around 94.26%, which means that it pays out on average $94.26 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate can also vary depending on the casino, the denomination, and the betting range.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 9 paylines, as well as Egyptian symbols such as pharaohs, scarabs, and the Book of Ra itself. The Book of Ra is both the wild symbol and the scatter symbol, which means that it substitutes for any other symbol and triggers the free spins round. If you land at least 3 Books of Ra, you’ll get 10 free spins with a randomly chosen expanding symbol, which can lead to big payouts if you hit multiple winning combinations with it. The attraction of Book of Ra is its cultural and historical theme, as well as its relative simplicity and low volatility.
G. Thunderstruck II
Thunderstruck II is a video slot machine developed by Microgaming and released in 2010. Its RTP rate is similar to Hall of Gods’, around 96.65%, which means that it pays out on average $96.65 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate can also vary depending on the casino, the denomination, and the betting range.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 243 ways to win, which means that you can hit a winning combination with any matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. The game is based on Norse mythology and features characters such as Odin, Valkyrie, Loki, and Thor. The wild symbol is the Thunderstruck II logo, which doubles the payout if it’s part of a winning combination. The scatter symbol is Thor’s hammer, which triggers the Great Hall of Spins feature if you land at least 3 on the reels. There are 4 levels of the feature, each corresponding to a different character and offering a different number of free spins and special features. The more times you trigger the feature, the higher your chances of hitting big payouts and unlocking all the characters’ stories. The advantage of Thunderstruck II is its high replay value and immersive gameplay, as well as its multiple bonuses and features.
H. Dead or Alive
Dead or Alive is a video slot machine developed by NetEnt and released in 2009. Its RTP rate is similar to Starburst’s, around 96.8%, which means that it pays out on average $96.8 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate can also vary depending on the casino, the denomination, and the betting range.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 9 paylines, as well as Wild West symbols such as guns, hats, boots, and whisky bottles. The wild symbol is a Wanted Poster, which doubles the payout if it’s part of a winning combination. The scatter symbol is a Pair of Pistols, which triggers 12 free spins with a x2 multiplier if you land at least 3 on the reels. During the free spins, any wild symbols that appear on the reels will be sticky, which means that they will stay in place for the remaining spins. If you manage to land all 5 wild symbols during the free spins, you’ll win the maximum payout of 1,500 times your bet. The attraction of Dead or Alive is its Western theme and its high volatility, which means that you can win big or lose big quickly.
I. Immortal Romance
Immortal Romance is a video slot machine developed by Microgaming and released in 2011. Its RTP rate is similar to Thunderstruck II’s, around 96.86%, which means that it pays out on average $96.86 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate can also vary depending on the casino, the denomination, and the betting range.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 243 ways to win, as well as a supernatural and romantic story that unfolds as you play. The main characters are Sarah, Michael, Amber, and Troy, each with their own backstory and special features. The wild symbol is the Immortal Romance logo, which doubles the payout if it’s part of a winning combination. The scatter symbol is the Lion’s Door Knocker, which triggers the Chamber of Spins feature if you land at least 3 on the reels. There are 4 levels of the feature, each corresponding to a different character and offering a different number of free spins and multipliers. The more times you trigger the feature, the richer the story becomes and the higher your chances of hitting big payouts. The advantage of Immortal Romance is its cinematic and interactive gameplay, as well as its customizable autoplay feature and its ability to save your progress.
J. Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal is a video slot machine developed by Playtech and released in 2018. Its RTP rate is similar to Dead or Alive’s, around 96.52%, which means that it pays out on average $96.52 for every $100 wagered. However, this rate can also vary depending on the casino, the denomination, and the betting range.
The game features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines, as well as the famous TV show of the same name. The main feature of the game is the Reel Banker Bonus, which is triggered by landing 3 or more Bonus symbols on the reels. In this feature, you’ll open briefcases with cash prizes and negotiate with the banker to either keep your briefcase or exchange it for his offer. You can also trigger the Deal or No Deal Bonus, which is based on the TV show and offers a chance to win one of the progressive jackpots. The attraction of Deal or No Deal is its familiarity and excitement, as well as its progressive jackpots and bonus features.