Penny slots — play for free or real money in 2025
Find the best penny slots to play in 2025, and have fun without breaking the bank. You can play them for as low as a penny, with a chance to win some real money.
On this page, I’ll explain what penny slots are, how they work, and where to find the best deals.
What are 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.
- Accessible to a wide range of players
- Bonus features like free spins and multipliers
- Good for casual players
- Often have lower RTPs
- Low stakes can lead to reckless spending
- Typically offer smaller payouts
Top penny slot games
By now, you must be ready to put your new knowledge into practice. 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 a list of top penny slots, based on gameplay, production quality, and unique features for different kinds of players.
Sugar Rush was launched in 2022 which makes it fairly new to the scene. Regardless, it's available to play the slot at some of the biggest online casinos and sweepstakes casinos in the US. Take a look at some of the best casinos where you can play Sugar Rush.
While it's definitely not as popular as some of IGT's other slot games like Cleopatra or Wheel of Fortune, Regal Riches holds a stable presence in the market, with several big names offering it on their casino sites. Here are the top online casinos you can try if you want to play this slot.
While the Gates of Olympus slot didn't necessarily reinvent the wheel, and it's highly similar to Sweet Bonanza, this is still a slot that does a lot of things well.
How to win at penny slots
I have to disappoint you — there’s no tried-and-true strategy you can follow to win at penny slots. However, you can take some steps to maximize your chances.
You can always check out the RTP of the game you’re interested in, which will give you a good idea of the percentage of all the wagered money a slot machine will pay back to players over time. However, these percentages are based on returns over a large number of spins, so take them with a grain of salt and treat each spin as a completely separate event.
You can also sometimes see the volatility of your game and decide what kind of risk you want to take. Low volatility signifies more frequent, but smaller wins, for example, Starburst. On the other hand, high volatility means the slot offers larger payouts, but at a much smaller rate. An example of a high-volatility penny slot is Bonanza. Some slots even let you set your own volatility.
RTP and volatility of penny slots
Simply put, RTP is the percentage of all the wagered money a slot machine will pay back to players over time. There are laws on how low the RTP can be, and in some jurisdictions, this goes as low as 75%.
For most modern slots, casinos normally set the RTP at 95% or higher, but this may not be the case for penny slots, as they often have a much lower RTP. So for example, playing Gonzo’s Quest you’ll be working with a 96.21% RTP, while a game like Mega Moolah has a much lower RTP at 88.12%.
But Mega Moolah is a progressive jackpot slot with low volatility, meaning you can still win big — hence why it’s so popular. So while the RTP of a slot is an important piece of the puzzle, take into account other important information, like in the table below.
| Game | Reels | Paylines | RTP | Volatility | Minimum wager per spin | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starburst | 5 | 10 (both ways) | 96.09% | Low | $0.10 | Space |
| Book of Dead | 5 | 10 | 96.21% | High | $0.10 | Adventure |
| Gonzo’s Quest | 5 | 20 | 95.97% | Medium | $0.20 | Adventure |
| Mega Moolah | 5 | 25 | 88.12% | Low | $0.25 | Safari |
| Bonanza | 6 | 117,649 (Megaways) | 96.00% | High | $0.20 | Mining |
Top online casinos to play penny slots in Jan 2025
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 | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to casino Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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89/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 92% Playscore based on |
100% match bonus up to $250
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
11 payment methods 
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2
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88/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 92% Playscore based on |
$20 Bonus Dollars + 100% up to $1,000
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
13 payment methods
|
|
3
|
87/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 91% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free Play
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
14 payment methods
|
|
4
|
86/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
Bonus Money reload up to $500
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
|
|
5
|
85/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on |
100% up to $2,500 and 2,500 Reward Credits on a $25+ wager
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
11 payment methods
|
|
6
|
85/100 Expert rating by Lorella F. 85% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
|
|
7
|
85/100 Expert rating by Lorella F. 84% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
|
|
8
|
85/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 86% Playscore based on |
$25 free + up to $500 in deposit bonuses
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
|
|
9
|
81/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
200% up to $100 + 25 free spins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
14 payment methods
|
|
10
|
73/100 Expert rating by Sarah C. 80% Playscore based on |
100% up to $100 + 100 free spins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
|
|
1
|
94/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 92% Playscore based on |
1.5 million WOW Coins + 35 free Sweepstakes Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods
|
|
2
|
91/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 82% Playscore based on |
200,000 Gold Coins + 3 Sweepstakes Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
15 payment methods
|
|
3
|
89/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 83% Playscore based on |
500 Gold Coins + 3 FREE Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods
|
|
4
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89/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 92% Playscore based on |
Up to 650,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
5
|
89/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 87% Playscore based on |
Up to 120,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
3 payment methods
|
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6
|
89/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 79% Playscore based on |
1,000,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 Spree Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
|
|
7
|
88/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 87% Playscore based on |
2,000,000 Gold Coins and 2 FREE Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
|
|
8
|
88/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 90% Playscore based on |
57,000 Gold Coins + 27.5 free Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
4 payment methods
|
|
9
|
88/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 96% Playscore based on |
250,000 Gold Coins and $25 Stake Cash
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
10 payment methods
|
|
10
|
87/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 86% Playscore based on |
150,000 Gold Coins for $10 + 30 FREE Sweeps Coins — over 65% off
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
11
|
87/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 91% Playscore based on |
100,000 Crown Coins + 2 FREE Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
7 payment methods
|
|
12
|
87/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 80% Playscore based on |
7,500 Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods
|
|
13
|
87/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 84% Playscore based on |
100,000 Gold Coins + 2 FREE Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
14
|
87/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 free Sweepstakes Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods
|
|
15
|
87/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 85% Playscore based on |
7,000 Gold Coins and 10 FREE Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
|
|
16
|
86/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 90% Playscore based on |
Up to 200,000 Gold Coins + 9 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
17
|
85/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
100,000 Gold Coins + 200 free spins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
18
|
85/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 89% Playscore based on |
30,000 Lucky Coins + 4 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
|
|
19
|
84/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 87% Playscore based on |
Up to 1,000 Gems + 50% extra Gems on first purchase
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
|
|
20
|
84/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 86% Playscore based on |
2,000,000 Gold Coins + 250 free Sweeps Tokens
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
21
|
84/100 Expert rating by Vule P. 80% Playscore based on |
35,000 Gold Coins + 5 Sweepstakes Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
22
|
83/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 85% Playscore based on |
15,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
4 payment methods
|
|
23
|
83/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 85% Playscore based on |
50,000 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
10 payment methods
|
|
24
|
82/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 87% Playscore based on |
250,000 Tao Coins + up to 3,000 FREE Secret Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
25
|
82/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 86% Playscore based on |
Up to 5000 Gold Coins + 0.6 Sweepstake Cash and 3 Treasure Chests
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
10 payment methods
|
|
26
|
82/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 78% Playscore based on |
7,500 Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
|
|
27
|
80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
Daily Free Spins and Credit Bonus
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
28
|
80/100 Expert rating by Vule P. 77% Playscore based on |
100,000 Gold Coins + 1 FREE Sweepstakes Coin
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
4 payment methods
|
|
29
|
80/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 85% Playscore based on |
125,000 Fun Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
|
|
30
|
80/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 89% Playscore based on |
250 Game Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
|
31
|
78/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 86% Playscore based on |
100,000 Gold Coins + 50% Super Coins Match Bonus
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
|
|
32
|
78/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 88% Playscore based on |
200% match up to $500
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
|
|
33
|
77/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 79% Playscore based on |
Up to 125,000 Tournament Coins and 300 Promotional Entries
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
|
|
34
|
75/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 77% Playscore based on |
250,000 Gold Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
7 payment methods
|
Tips and tricks for playing 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remember to play responsibly. In my experience, playing penny slots can quickly become a slippery slope. Because the stakes are lower than regular slots, I sometimes don’t really feel like I’m spending much.
This can be dangerous, as the losses will compound over time, and you can end up spending a lot more than initially planned.
My advice? Pay careful attention to your payline, coin, and coin value settings, and take advantage of the casino’s account limits on wagers to ensure you don’t end up with a higher-than-expected minimum bet.
