Best Penny slots to play in 2025

Written by Vule Petrović
Checked by Dasha G.

Penny slots are popular today for representing an easy way to enter online gaming with minimum financial risks, while still chasing real money wins.

Keep reading to find out where and how to play smarter and longer, from as little as one cent per spin.

Top penny slots online

While the best penny slot for you will be the one you’re most comfortable with, we can give you a starting point. Here’s the recommended top five penny slots, based on theme, and online casino to play it at.

Penny slotThemePenny slot casino
StarburstSpaceBetMGM
Book of deadAdventureBorgata
Mega MoolahSafariHard Rock Bet
Gonzo’s QuestAdventureHorseshoe
BonanzaMiningSugarHouse

Starburst penny slot Dazzling gems, explosive wins

Starburst is a classic slot, beloved worldwide, thanks to its cosmic-space theme and simple gameplay. Shiny gems that explode in bursts of color make for the symbols and winning mechanics, as you play on 10 paylines starting at $0.01 per line.

Slot highlights

  • Minimum bet per line and spin: $0.01 per line, $0.10 per spin.
  • RTP and volatility: 96.1% and low-minimum volatility.
  • Special features: Expanding wilds on reels 2, 3 and 4 that trigger re-spins.
  • Bonus buy: Not available.
  • Maximum win: Up to 500x the bet.
  • Where to play: BetMGM Casino

Book of dead penny slot Egyptian adventure with high-volatility thrills

Book of Dead is one of the best penny slots you can play at online casinos in USA if you are type who can handle some thrills in their gameplay. Thanks to its catchy Egyptian theme and high volatility, you can enjoy extended spin sessions at lower wagers, with the potential to some pretty payouts.

Slot highlights

  • Minimum bet per line and spin: $0.1 per line and $0.10 per spin
  • RTP and volatility: 96.21% with high volatility.
  • Special features: Expanding symbols during the bonus round.
  • Bonus buy: Available.
  • Maximum win: Up to 5,000x the stake.
  • Where to play: Borgata casino

Mega Moolah penny slot Massive progressive jackpots

Mega Moolah is one of the top upmost penny slots you can play if you’re into progressive jackpots. Play it with lower stakes starting at $0.25 per bet, and you still have a chance at one of their mini, minor, major and mega jackpots.

Slot highlights

  • Minimum bet per line and spin: $0.01 per line and $0.25 per bet.
  • RTP and volatility: 88.12% and a high volatility.
  • Special features: Massive progressive jackpots.
  • Bonus buy: Not available.
  • Maximum win: Progressive jackpots reaching millions.
  • Where to play: Hard Rock Bet

Gonzo’s Quest penny slot Cascading reels and engaging mechanics

Gonzo’s Quest is a legendary penny slot, making history since 20211 with an engaging adventure storyline and perfect mechanics. the longer sessions offered by lower bets per spin will give you the chance to enjoy cascading reels and increasing multipliers on a medium-high volatility.

Slot highlights

  • Minimum bet per line and spin: $0.02 per line and $0.20 per spin.
  • RTP and volatility: 95.97% with a medium-high volatility
  • Special features: Cascading reels and increasing multipliers during bonus rounds
  • Bonus buy: Not available
  • Maximum win: Up to 37,500x the stake
  • Where to play: HorseShoe casino

Bonanza penny slot Over 117,000 ways to win with Megaways

Bonanza is the ultimate penny slot with the Megaways mechanics that you want to play first and foremost. Besides the 117,649 ways to win, the slot brings cascading reels and bonus free spins rounds with increasing multipliers. Perfect for an easy-going, low wager betting session and your favorite casino.

Slot highlights

  • Minimum bet per line and spin: $0.01 per line and $0.20 per spin
  • RTP and volatility: 96% with a very high volatility
  • Special features: Megaways mechanics
  • Bonus buy: Available
  • Maximum win: Up to 26,000x the bet
  • Where to play: SugarHouse casino

What are online penny slots?

The name says it all — these are slots that require as little as one cent per payline to spin. In every other way, penny slots work the same as regular slots, so there’s no learning curve. But while these allow you to play at a very low minimum wager, it doesn’t mean a penny is all you’ll spend.

You see, modern slots don’t have just one payline. Instead, you’ll find the majority of slots have 20–50 paylines per spin, meaning you’ll need to wager anywhere from 20 to 50 cents to spin them. This is still a very low minimum wager compared to regular slots with a much higher entry barrier.

Pros and cons of penny slot machines

Penny slot machines are generally a positive choice if you like playing for longer periods of time. On the negative, you will see a slow balance growth with smaller payouts, unless you choose to play penny slots with progressive jackpots.

Pros

  • Accessible to a wide range of players
  • More spins in extended sessions
  • Bonus features like free spins and multipliers
  • Good for casual players
  • Large variety of fun themes

Cons

  • Typically offer smaller payouts
  • Slow balance growth

How to play Penny slots

Assuming you are on this page because you are a complete beginner who understands that it’s also important to handle their budget responsibly, let me please make a simple summary on how to play penny slot machines online:

Start by choosing your slot. You can easily choose from one of my suggestions above. I made it convenient for you, with a suggested online casino where you can also find it available to plat immediately.

If you go with other options, make sure you check the denomination in the settings, and understand what denomination is equal to one payline. The thing you need to pay attention to here is if the slot allows you to decrease the number of paylines to the number you want, or if it forces you to play with pre-defined minimums.

  • Remember that the cost per spin increases with the number of paylines.

The last thing that’s left to do is proceed with spinning the reels of your set up penny slot, and watch out for any potential wins to collect.

Where to play penny slots online

Many online casinos offer free play or demo versions of their slot games, so there are plenty of options for dipping your toes into penny slots before placing a bet. Here’s my selection of the best real-money casinos where you can play penny slots.

Casino Logo Rating Bonus Go-to-casino button Show more T&C
1
Horseshoe casino review
91/100 Expert rating by Denise M. Logo Icon 84% Playscore based on 100% bonus back up to $1,000
Play now
2
Sugar House
SugarHouse review
89/100 Expert rating by Paul P. Logo Icon 92% Playscore based on 100% match bonus up to $250
Play now
3
BetMGM casino review
89/100 Expert rating by Paul P. Logo Icon 91% Playscore based on 100% up to $1,000 + $25 On The House
Play now
Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. MI, NJ, PA or WV only. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable site credit, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Terms. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling Problem? 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA & WV).
4
Borgata
Borgata review
88/100 Expert rating by Paul P. Logo Icon 92% Playscore based on $20 Bonus Dollars + 100% up to $1,000
Play now
Visit Borgata.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. NJ only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable site credit, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Terms. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER.
5
Betrivers
BetRivers casino review
86/100 Expert rating by Vule P. Logo Icon 85% Playscore based on Bonus Money reload up to $500
Play now
6
Caesars
Caesars review
85/100 Expert rating by Dasha G. Logo Icon 86% Playscore based on 100% up to $1,000 and 2,500 Reward Credits on a $25+ wager
Play now
7
Stardust
Stardust review
85/100 Expert rating by Paul P. Logo Icon 86% Playscore based on $25 bonus bet + up to $500 in deposit bonuses
Play now
8
Party Casino
PartyCasino review
81/100 Expert rating by Jack B. Logo Icon 86% Playscore based on 200% up to $100 + 25 free spins
Play now
9
Harrahs
Harrahs review
73/100 Expert rating by Dasha G. Logo Icon 80% Playscore based on 100% up to $100 + 100 free spins
Play now

How to win Penny slots

Many real money and social casinos offer the chance to spin penny slots. Now you know how to find and play them. Read through these bonus tips to make the most out of your penny slots adventure.

Slot machine giving out cash, with more cash being locked at the back

Choose slots with adjustable paylines

Activating all available paylines increases your chances of landing winning combinations for more frequent wins. On the other hand, reducing the number of active paylines can lower your total bet per spin, allowing you to play more spins within your budget.

Bar chart showing growth with cash and gold coins

Closely monitor your spending

Because you can place small bets on penny slots, it’s easy to lose track of your total payments. Monitoring your spending helps you stay within budget and play responsibly. It’s best to set a specific budget for each session and stick to it.

A brown bag with gold coins and a present next to it

Pick slots with low to medium volatility

Since penny slots are often some of the most volatile games, it’s a good idea to research the volatility in advance. If you’re looking to play with a lower amount of risk, pick a slot with low or medium volatility like Starburst. This way you’ll stretch your bankroll without risking too much.

Slot machine showing 7s surrounded by cash

Consider progressive jackpots

Progressive jackpot slots work by taking a portion of every bet per spin and putting it into a jackpot prize. This is a shared jackpot that keeps growing until one player is lucky enough to get the winning combination. This is why a slot like Mega Moolah is so popular, despite having a low RTP.

A present with arrows showing returns and gold coins surrounding it

Look out for bonus features

Penny slots often come with various bonus features like free spins, multipliers, and mini-games. These can significantly boost your winnings at no additional cost. Games like Starburst (re-spins and Expanding Wilds) and Buffalo Gold (frequent free spins) provide regular bonus rounds.

A hand using a calculator with money and chips in the background

Calculate your bet

It’s a good idea to calculate your total bet in order to optimize your betting strategy. You can use the following formula:

Total bet = Coin value × Number of paylines × Bet per line.

Penny slot FAQs

Are there penny slots online?

Yes, there are many penny slots online, available at legal and reputable casinos. When you play these slots, you can wager as little at $0.01 per payline, allowing you to play with minimum risks. Some examples of online casinos where you can play penny slots are Hard Rock Bet or BetMGM.

What is the best penny slot to play?

The best penny slot to play depends on your personal preferences. Based on a research done over 10 online sources, I found that Book of Dead from Play’n Go is the best overall, with a high volatility, a 96.21% RTP and features including a bonus buy and expanding symbols.

Are penny slots worth it?

Yes. Penny slots are worth it for any player who is mindful about their spendings, and who wants to simply enjoy the thrill of casino play for a longer period of time.

Which penny slot has the best payout?

Penny slots with progressive jackpots have the best payouts. I recommend Mega Moolah on this page, buy you can also look at Dead of Alive 2 from NetEnt of Jammin’ Jars from Push Gaming.

Do casinos have penny slots?

Yes. Most major casinos in US include penny slots in their arsenal. Some of the best options are available in my list of recommendations: Borgata, SugarHouse and HorseShoe to name a few.

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Vule Petrović
Vule Petrović Content Team Leader
Education
Education M.A. in Molecular Biology
Specialization
Specialization Team management, slots, and casino coverage
Experience
Experience Six years of writing, editing, and managing Content and Content teams

Having worked as a research scientist and content manager, Vule brings critical thinking and a data-driven approach to content production. With over five years of experience writing and leading content teams, he decided to enter the online gambling world in 2024.

Vule leads a team of reporters at Time2play, helping our American readers get accurate and up-to-date information on US gambling operations.

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