Penny Slots: What are They all About?

One of the best thing about an online casino is that whether you are an experienced player or are completely new to it, there are games for every type of person to enjoy. 

For beginners, one of the best ways to learn about how casinos work is through penny slots.

For years, the heart of the majority of online casinos has been online slots. The very best online casinos often offer hundreds if not thousands of games that can be played and when it comes to choice, sometimes it can be overwhelming.

However, in a bid to ensure that the online casino is catering for everyone, there should be the option to play and choose penny slots. Penny slots do what they say in the description, in that they allow for players to bet and spin for as little as 1p or 1 cent. 

Whilst fortunes and lives won’t change through penny slots, the role they play in helping people learn about different slots and igaming in general is often invaluable.

Let’s break it down penny slots in a little more detail.

Volatility will help determine the game you play

If you have spent some time reading slot reviews or you have a basic understanding of how slot machines payout, then you will know that volatility and RTP (returns to player) rates help determine how likely a slot machine is to pay out.

Low volatility slot machines often see payouts made to players on a much more frequent basis than high volatility slots, the catch however is that if you are seeking bigger wins or to land the jackpot, that is harder to achieve with low volatility games.

The role of RTP

There are two ways that you can look at this. Playing low volatility games is a good way to learn the basics of slot games, but statistically unlocking the jackpot or bigger wins, the odds will always be slightly against you.

If you want to know whether your favourite slot game has a high or low volatility rate – then check the RTP rate. Penny slot games that have an RTP rate which is closer to 100% will suggest that the game is a high volatility game. Those with lower RTP rates such as 80%, will suggest a much lower volatility game.

It’s essential to remember that low volatility games might not provide jackpot success, but the increased likelihood of frequent and smaller successes.

High volatility penny slot games offer the reverse.

High volatility games can see larger amounts won, but the rate that a player can win can often be less frequent than lower volatility games. 

Penny slot choice can be limited

As we have mentioned above, penny slots play a vital role in helping people take their first steps into the world of igaming.

Online casinos are in the business of making money and not much of that can be done via penny slots as the stakes are often at a micro level.

Slot machines often have varied themes – some are based on top movie and TV shows, others take you back in time, but with penny slot games being more limited, the selection that awaits you could be much more restricted. 

Whilst that isn’t a game changer for those starting out, your favourite type of slot game might not be available in a penny slot variety.

Are Penny slots actually a penny – watch out for the paylines and the lowest rates

You would think that a penny slot would mean that when you spin the wheel, the minimum bet would be a penny, but that isn’t always the case.

Over the last few years there have been a multitude of slot games that have been developed. Some slots offer cascading wins, some slot machines offer payouts that roll over from spin to spin, however the most common penny slots often allow bettors to bet on multiple lines. Some slots could have anywhere between twenty and fifty paylines and if you wanted to bet on multiple paylines you would need to bet on every line.

For some, the additional paylines make the game more fun, but for others the fact that multiple paylines could be in play could make players feel uncomfortable that they are betting more than they would like. 

How much you are willing to bet per spin very much comes down to your preference, you just need to remember that if you are planning on playing penny slots for the bargains they provide, those bargains won’t be so evident if you are betting across multiple lines.

Information if you want to bet multiple paylines

If you want to bet on multiple paylines, it might be worth asking yourself the question if penny slots are worth playing. Remember penny slots are based on low stakes and also low returns.

Some penny slots may not be worth a penny

Whilst penny slots are usually a penny, some casinos may not offer games with a staking requirement that low and some of the lowest slots may start at 2p, 5p or even 10p.

These stakes are still great for learning but are obviously more expensive than the standard penny that penny slots were founded upon.

Before you play, make sure you check out the limits to ensure that when playing you are staying on budget and playing at a level you are comfortable at.

Bonus rounds may not be available in penny slots

Depending on the level of knowledge and experience you have when it comes to playing slot games, you may know that some slot games have bonus games that can be unlocked. Often in these bonus games, multipliers can be won, however if that is your expectation with penny slots, you might have to readjust your expectations.

Penny slots are often quite basic and are quite traditional, it is highly unlikely that they will offer bonus rounds, this is because the stakes are often too low.

If you want a slot game that offers plenty of great value for money as well as fun and interacting bonus games, a player should check whether the penny slot that they want to play offers the level of functionality that they want to experience.