A Guide to the Best Payout Slots

  By Ben Boland – Last updated 1 Sep 2025

Whilst playing online slots is supposed to be a thrilling experience, ultimately, the reason we play is to hit those huge payouts that make us take a step back and think “wow, that just happened”. The problem is though, finding the right game can be tough. There are thousands of titles to choose from, each with varying prizes, features and payout percentages.

That’s why, here at Slotsia, we decided to create a guide to the best payout slots. Throughout this page, we discuss the key terminology surrounding these online casino games, along with the top 10 best paying slot games and all of the other important information you’ll need to know to maximise your chances of winning.

So, if you’re looking to gain that extra edge over your online casino, continue reading to find out more!

Best Payout Online Slots

We all understand online slots are meant to be fun, but the fact is some are designed to be more generous with their payouts than others. As such, we want to offer a helping hand so that you can choose the best slot machine to play, thus increasing your chances of walking away with a sizeable cash prize. Read on to discover all of our insights and tips!

What Are Slot Payout Percentages?

payout generic

Before we dive into our list of highest paying online slots, we wanted to clarify what’s meant by a slot’s payout percentage. Essentially, it’s a broad term that incorporates several key elements that derive from a game’s mathematical model.

You’re likely aware each slot lists a Return to Player (RTP) percentage, which is something you can use to gauge your estimated returns when playing – more on this later. However, it’s not the only factor in play. If you want to delve further, you also need to consider each game’s hit frequency and variance.

Hit frequency refers to your chances of a particular outcome occurring. Whilst you rarely see this information within the game’s information panel, developers often reveal how often a win should theoretically occur, along with its size, as well as the likelihood of a bonus triggering. For example, a big win may drop in once every 300 or so spins, whilst a feature trigger once in every 200 – these are only hypothetical numbers though.

Variance, or volatility, however, refers to the overall gameplay. As you progress along the scale, from low to high variance slots, payouts often become less frequent but much more valuable. It’s a case of risk versus reward. If you prefer to keep your bankroll steady, low variance is the way to go; if you’d rather gamble for much larger payouts, high variance is the better option.

Ultimately then, there’s more than initially meets the eye when talking about slot payout percentages. As long as you consider the aforementioned factors though, and use them to make an informed decision, you can narrow down your search when looking for the best slot machine to play!

Best Payout Online Slot Machines

Now we’ve covered some key terms, it’s time to introduce our top 10 best-paying slots. 

This is based on the highest Return to Player rates, so it’s not necessarily a list of games that offer the greatest payouts, more so slots that award wins more frequently than others. That being said, there are still some fantastic cash prizes up for grabs!

RankSlot NameRTPJackpot Value
#1Ugga Bugga99.07%1,000x stake
#2Book of 9999%12,075x stake
#3Mega Joker99%2,000x stake
#4Jackpot 6000Up to 98.90%6,000x stake
#51429 Uncharted Seas98.6%670x stake
#6The Catfather98.10%2,251x stake
#7Blood Suckers98%1014.6x stake
#8Jokerizer98%600x stake
#9Money Cart 2 Bonus Reels98%5,000x stake
#10White Rabbit Megaways97.77%13,000x+ stake

We always recommend that you play a full demo version of a slot before you gamble real money. Thankfully we include this in all our slot reviews so that you can try all of the features with virtual funds. When gambling for real, be sure to do so responsibly, and this includes sticking to a strict budget.

Best Payout Slots: A Closer Look

The list above is a pretty comprehensive list of games to try, but we thought it would be a good idea to highlight the absolute best payout online slots. In our opinion, these are the three that should not be missed.

Mega Joker

mega joker jackpot slot game
by NetEnt
RTP
99%
Type
Video Slot
Volatility
High
Highest Jackpot
2.000x

One of the simplest yet effective NetEnt slots is Mega Joker. Despite being released in 2011, this is a classic slot that has stood the test of time to still offer one of the best potential slot payouts.

The 99% RTP is the highest possible in any game and means that regular wins are likely over across your play session. The mechanics and graphics may be simple, but this is an iconic slot that must be tried.

Book of 99

Book of 99 thumbnail
by Relax Gaming
RTP
99,00%
Type
Video Slot
Volatility
High
Highest Jackpot
12.075x

Book of 99 is another remarkable slot. Created by Relax Gaming, it combines a memorable Ancient Greek theme with a monstrous 12.075x maximum payout. The titular 99% RTP is the main attraction, though, which is why we consider it one of the best payout online slots.

Crucially, it is also available at all major online casinos and you can try the demo for free by clicking the button below.

Mental

mental featured image
by Nolimit City
RTP
96,06%
Type
Video Slot
Volatility
High
Highest Jackpot
66.666x

Mental makes the list for a very different reason to the previous two. The RTP is around average at 96.06%, but it is the extremely high volatility – a common feature of NoLimit City slots – and the 66,666x maximum win that make this hugely popular with players.

The game also has a highly successful sequel in Mental 2, but it is the original that stands out for its originality: the slot is set in an institution and has a unique horror theme and plenty of free spins.

How To Find The Payout Percentage For Online Slots

It’s all well and good for us to list our top 10 slots, but when you’re in the middle of a session you may suddenly decide to change games. Unfortunately, very few online casinos list their slot RTPs from within the lobby. So, the question that we’re faced with is how do you find out the payout percentage for any given online slot game?

Well, there are essentially three surefire methods to figure this out quickly:

  • Read our online slot reviews: Our primary concern is to deliver the most relevant information you’ll need. That’s why all of our reviews contain the RTP for each slot. Simply check in with us to discover any game’s payout percentage.
  • Check the in-game information panel: if you’ve already fired up your chosen slot, you can click the information panel to find the RTP. There may be several pages to scroll through, however, so be sure to read the text carefully.
  • Play in demo mode: If you’re more inclined to take a hands-on approach, many top online casinos allow you to test out slots in demo mode before you risk real money. Like we mentioned before though, remember to only use your findings as a guide. As soon as you switch to real play, the outcome could be completely different.

Return To Player (RTP) Explained

So, what is RTP in slots? The Return to Player rate is the percentage of all money wagered on an online slot that’s estimated to be paid back out. As a rule of thumb, the higher the RTP, the more often the slot is likely to pay out on average.

However, this is entirely theoretical and a slot’s actual RTP is rarely reflected during a typical session. The percentage is actually worked out over the course of millions, if not billions, of spins so you will see deviations during the short term. Of course, this can work in your favour; you can hit a huge payout within several spins and beat the odds. Always remember though that the opposite is also true; you can easily win less than you may expect.

For this reason, it’s always best to use a slot’s RTP as a rough indicator rather than a guarantee. You shouldn’t be surprised if your returns are some way off – at the end of the day if winning a set amount was a certainty, there’d be no excitement left. If you are fortunate enough to earn a profit then it is always recommended to play at fast payout casinos in order to get a hand on your cash ASAP.

The House Edge Explained

You’ve most likely figured out that if you flip the RTP percentage, you end up with the house edge. Although you’ll come across this term more often when playing popular table games such as blackjack and roulette, it does play a role in online slot games.

For example, let’s say you chose to play our #1 pick, Ugga Bugga. The listed RTP is 99.07%, which means there’s a 0.93% house edge. Now, this refers to the mathematical advantage the house has over you whenever you choose to play. So you’re ideally looking for slots with the highest RTP rates so that the house has less of an upper hand.

What Is Slot Variance / Volatility?

Although we touched upon this earlier, we can go into greater depth to outline how variance/volatility impacts slot gameplay. Think of it as a scale. At the one end, you’ve got low volatility slots and at the other, very high – extreme volatility slots.

Essentially, volatility gives an indication as to how the gameplay favours delivering payouts. Low volatility slots, like Starburst, traditionally generate wins relatively frequently. However, these payouts are often quite small in relation to your stake. So, if you’re looking to maintain your bankroll at a steady level, choosing slots at the lower end of the scale is a wise option.

On the other hand, high volatility slots favour infrequent payouts that hold a much greater value. Whilst cold streaks can occur on any game, there’s a greater likelihood of it happening here. There is a tradeoff, however. When the wins roll in, they’re typically much more valuable and there’s often a much greater maximum win up for grabs.

How To Find Loose Online Slot Machines

Before we go on to explain how to find loose online slot machines, it’s important to know what this term means. For starters, it isn’t an indication of an inherent flaw within a game that causes you to win more frequently. The terminology actually relates to slots that have mathematical models that are favourable to you, the player.

To put that into context, we’re talking about online slots with a high RTP rate, low volatility and a high hit frequency – a combination that results in regular rewarding payouts. Although a game’s RTP is easy enough to find, not all providers list a slot’s volatility and even fewer reveal their hit frequencies – some do, but not all. 

Unfortunately, there’s no master list of loose online slots. Ultimately, it’s a matter of doing a bit of research and forming a conclusion.

Progressive Jackpots

If we’re talking about the best slot games to win on, it’d be remiss of us not to mention progressive jackpot slots. These offer some of the largest potential payouts around, with some reaching into the millions.

Each time any player places a bet on a progressive slot, the jackpot increases by a portion of that wager. As you can imagine, with so many players trying to land a potentially life-changing win, prizes can grow very quickly. At the end of the day, it only takes one lucky spin for the jackpot to trigger, though we must say the chances of it doing so are minimal at best.

Nevertheless, if you want to put your luck to the test, check out our best progressives to see what you could win!

Try Your Luck at Betway

If you are looking to try the best payout slots from the list that we have made on this page, then you will want to do so at a reliable and safe platform. Betway certainly fits the bill with its multiple industry licenses and vast selection of different slots – from those with high RTP to progressive jackpot titles.

What’s more, Betway has a wonderful mobile site with mobile apps for Apple and Android devices and a solid welcome bonus that will boost your first deposit.

Betway Casino
Welcome Bonus 100% up to €150 + 100 bonus spins

18+. New customers only. Opt-in required. 100% Match Bonus up to €50 on your first, second and third deposit of €10+. 100 Bonus Spins will be credited on first qualifying deposit. Bonus Spins awarded on Cash ‘N Riches, 10 000 Wishes, Western Gold 2 and 777 Surge at €0.10 per spin. Bonus Spins are valid for 7 days and subject to wagering of 30x. Bonus Credit is subject to wagering of 50x. Debit Card deposits only. Irregular gameplay may invalidate your bonus. Terms apply.