The incredible expansion of online casinos over the past decade has dramatically changed player behavior. From myriad physical casinos located across the USA to countless online casinos accessible from mobile devices, gamblers can scratch their gambling itch however they please.

Adding to this change is the historic 2018 court ruling that allows states to set their own laws regarding gambling. As more states opt to allow online gambling, more and more players are moving online to try their luck.

However, amongst these players are those that still enjoy the experience and atmosphere of visiting a physical casino. Some of these holdouts even question the legitimacy and practicality of online casinos. One of the most commonly asked questions is whether online slots are worth playing.

The resounding answer to this question is YES—they are absolutely worth playing! But don’t just take our word for it. Read on to see exactly why we think online slots are not only worth playing but, in many ways, are preferable to the slots found in brick-and-mortar casinos.

RTP Rate

One of the main reasons online slots are worth playing is their generous RTP (return to player) rate. The RTP rate of a slot dictates what percentage of revenue the game receives is paid out to players as winners. Therefore, a higher RTP rate means that more money is paid out.

On average, physical slot machines have an RTP rate between 70% and 74%. Online slots, however, average an RTP between 94% and 98%—with some even having an RTP as high as 99.9%.

The chief explanation for this is that online casinos don’t have the overhead costs that physical ones do. Without buildings to maintain and with smaller staff compliments, online casinos can reduce the house edge without drastically cutting into their operational costs and profits.

Variety

Another benefit of online slots is the incredible variety available online. Whether you’re a new or experienced slot player, the sheer number of slots on online casinos is thrilling in and of itself.

Physical casinos, on the other hand, are often restricted to the space they have to fit slot machines into. Because these machines contain hardware that isn’t exactly compact, fitting many devices into an area can be challenging.

Added to the struggle is that many people enjoy playing a particular game. Therefore, a casino needs to ensure that they have enough machines offering a specific game to meet the demand for it.

Online casinos can store all their slots on a server—taking up no space. Therefore, they can expand their slot libraries as much as required. This results in some online casinos offering more than 2,000 different types of slot games.

While numbers like this may seem extensive, it offers a spectacular choice of games for players to enjoy—featuring everything from the African-themed Mega Moolah to the more sinister Blood Suckers.

Accessibility

Another critical factor that makes online slots worth playing is their accessibility. Unlike physical slots, which require you to travel to a casino to play, online slots can be accessed using almost any modern device and an internet connection.

Aside from making these slots incredibly more convenient to play, this also makes finding time to play easier—especially considering players no longer need to factor in travel time to get to their destination before they play.

Despite this accessibility, many states still have yet to legalize online casinos. As of May 2023, only seven states (Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia) have legalized real money casinos, including online slots.

However, several states have made the move to legalize sports betting online. Many consider this the first step toward legalizing all forms of online gambling. Therefore, it may not be long before online slots can be legally enjoyed in more states.

Accountability

While accountability may seem like a lesser advantage of online slots, it is among the most important. Players being held accountable by online casinos for their spending and play times helps negate gambling addiction and financial ruin.

Although physical casinos do put effort into mitigating these risks, many players can sit at a machine for extended hours without questions. With online casinos, players have more difficulty overspending or playing too long.

Deposit and withdrawal limits keep players in check and help to ensure that players gamble responsibly. All online casinos also offer links directly to websites where players can immediately seek help if they feel like they have a problem gambling. More than this, all online casinos allow self-exclusion, where players can purposefully block themselves from playing.

Bonuses and Promotions

The final reason online slots are worth playing is the many bonuses and promotions offered to those who enjoy them. These occur throughout the year in most cases and even include seasonal bonuses that celebrate specific holidays.

While physical casinos are also known to offer great promotions, these are usually limited and require players to travel to the casino to benefit from them. Because casinos must be mindful of their expenses, these bonuses also generally pale compared to those offered by online casinos.

Online slots, in contrast, are often accompanied by generous bonuses and promotions. Chief amongst these is the welcome bonus almost all online casinos offer to incentivize new players to register an account.

These types of bonuses generally offer a deposit match bonus that can be used to increase the funds that you can use to play your favorite slot. Another standard bonus is free spins, which lets you play a set number of spins on a specific slot without paying.