Slots are some of the most popular online casino games offered today. There are thousands of online slots available to play, many of which offer huge jackpots to lucky winners.
Some of the top online casinos allow you to play some or all of their slots in free “demo versions,” which function exactly like the real thing.
Here‘s a look at how to find and play these free slots. We provide information on their average RTP, game developers, and more.
Here’s a snapshot of our top choices for free slots with no download required, including some of the most popular titles in online slot history:
| Slot Game | Year Launched | Game Developer | Average RTP | Where to Play? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 Fortunes | 2016 | Light & Wonder | 96% | FanDuel Casino |
| Cleopatra | 2002 | IGT | 95.02% | DraftKings Casino |
| Divine Fortune | 2017 | NetEnt | 96.59% | BetMGM Casino |
| Gonzo’s Quest | 2011 | NetEnt | 95.97% | Caesars Palace Online Casino |
| Starburst | 2012 | NetEnt | 96.09% | Fanatics Casino |
Here is a closer look at some top free online slots players love. None of these require a download to play the free demo versions:
A screenshot of the 88 Fortunes slot game.DraftKings Casino
88 Fortunes from Light & Wonder is one of the most popular online slots at the best US online casinos today.
The game looks fantastic, boasting an attractive theme replete with colorful East Asian coins and symbols. Don’t let the standard five-reel, three-row look fool you, as the game features 243 paylines available every time you spin.
If you’re playing 88 Fortunes as a real money slots game, it has a maximum payout of $200,000 (if you bet the $88 max). The game’s features include wilds, free spins, and four instant jackpots of varying sizes.
See more: Fast payout casinos
Cleopatra online slot screenshotCleopatra
Cleopatra from IGT is another hugely popular game known for its collection of Egyptian symbols, such as the Eye of Ra, the Crook and Flail, the Cartouche, the Lotus, the Scarab, the Sphinx and Cleopatra herself among the letters and numbers all presented within a frame patterned after the Ark of the Covenant.
The five-reel, three-row slot has 20 paylines and a ton of fun features. That includes scatters and the ability to trigger a bonus game, which has its own multiplier potentially yielding free spins at a high clip. Depending on the casino, in the real money version, the maximum payout can reach $2 million (if the max bet is $200).
A screenshot of the Divine Fortune slot game.NetEnt
With a theme based on Greek mythology, Divine Fortune from NetEnt also has stood the test of time as a top online slot. The game sports a sleek, stately look that deliberately differs from more flashy slots.
The game features regular and wild symbols evoking the theme (e.g., the Minotaur, Medusa, Pegasus), plus bonus features such as free spins, falling wild respins and a jackpot bonus game affording the chance at three different jackpots (Minor, Major, Mega).
The Mega Jackpot can grow quite large. If you play for real money, the maximum payout can surpass $300,000.
A screenshot of the Gonzo’s Quest slot game.NetEnt
Gonzo’s Quest from NetEnt is another beloved slot. It stars the humorous Gonzo, a Spanish explorer seeking treasure in the ancient Mayan city of El Dorado.
There are five reels, three rows and 20 paylines, with certain symbols triggering multipliers, wilds and scatters. Instead of reels spinning, blocks fall into place with “avalanches,” increasing your chances of winning.
“Free falls” give you free spins and respins. If playing for real money, you can win as much as $300,000 (depending on the casino).
A screenshot of the Starburst Slot Game.NetEnt
Starburst is a classic slot and proven favorite in retail and online casinos. Yet another winner from slot developer NetEnt, Starburst, its outer space theme and sparkling gems are familiar to many slot players, as is the cool cosmic soundtrack.
The game features a relatively simple five-reel, three-row layout with 10 paylines and a maximum payout of $100,000 if you play for real money. The low volatility enables players to stretch their bankroll over long sessions. The game features wild symbols, stacked and expanding wilds, respins and more.
Free slots work very much like real money slots. In fact, when you play the demo versions of free slots at NJ online casinos, the games play identically, only you don’t use real money when playing the free versions, and you can’t win any real money either.
Online casinos offer free slots with no download required as one of several strategies to attract players to create accounts and play real money games on the sites.
The ability to try games for free is beneficial to the players. They can decide how they like particular games and the site without risking any money.
Many who enjoy playing the best RTP slots find the chance to win real money a significant part of the appeal. Slots can be fun and entertaining for other reasons, too.
When you play a free demo version of a game, you can experience all of the literal “bells and whistles” and other elements that can make slots enjoyable.
If you do like the games and the site, those in states like New Jersey that have real money online casinos can create accounts, deposit funds, claim your new-player casino deposit bonuses and start playing real money slots.
There are essentially two ways to play free online slots at online casinos:
With most sites that offer demo slots, you can visit the online casino, select the game you want to play, choose demo mode, and start playing. You generally don’t need to sign up for an account, although you will likely be asked to confirm that you are at least 21.
Online casinos that let you play demo versions of free online slots without signing up for an account include:
For example, if you visit DraftKings Casino, you’ll see all games displayed in categories in the lobby. You can search games by title, too.
Select “Slots” and then choose your game. When you hover your cursor over the game icon, you’ll see “Play” (with a money bag indicating real money play) and “Demo.”
If you click “Play,” you’ll be prompted to log into your account. But if you click “Demo,” you’ll see a prompt asking you to confirm “I Am 21 Or Over” before proceeding. Once you do, wait just a moment and the game will launch.
Your other option is to create an account at the site and then similarly find your chosen game and play it in demo mode.
Online casinos offer a nice variety of slots, and you can generally find your favorites among the many types.
Free online slots use “play money” or coins, not real cash, and only pay out winnings with that same virtual currency. You can’t win real money playing the free demo versions at online casinos. You can only play for fun and entertainment.
That said, if you like the slots after trying them, you can sign up for an account and play for real money. When you do, you’ll find most sites have welcome offers, including a no deposit casino bonus that gives you site credit to play the games for free. Some sites offer free spins on online slots as part of their welcome offers.
In other words, once you register at an online casino, there are often ways you can still play the games for free and have a chance to win cash when you do.
Be aware, though, that winnings earned from free play are usually subject to playthrough requirements.
This means you have to wager a certain amount to collect your winnings. Be sure to read all the terms and conditions of any welcome offers when you first create an account, so you know exactly what they entail.
We mentioned above how real money online casinos often have welcome offers, so new users can play games for free right away. The sites also can have ongoing promotions that involve free play, including free slot play. Let’s break down some types.
See more: Minimum deposit online casinos
As we’ve discussed, playing these demo versions of slots at online casinos is almost the same as playing their real money equivalents.
The key difference is using “play money” and not real money. Of course, for many people having a chance to win actual cash is a primary reason for playing slots, thus making the distinction between free slots and real money slots a lot more significant.
That said, we can identify some positives for both free online slots and real money slots:
✅ Chance to try out games without risk
✅ No need to navigate banking methods to deposit funds, nor any need to do the same when trying to withdraw winnings
✅ If you bust, no worry … just reload the game and start with a new stack of (play) coins
✅ Can still enjoy features of game play (entertainment value)
✅ Provide opportunity to learn more about how a particular slot works as well as about slots, generally speaking (educational value)
✅ Chance to win cash prizes
✅ Progressive jackpot slots always available (not always the case with free slots)
✅ Freedom to choose between every slot an online casino has available, as sometimes not all games are available for free demo play
✅ Real money slots not only award cash prizes, but also free spins which also have value as potentially resulting in cash winnings
✅ Provide additional means to earn wagering-related bonuses and/or take advantage of site promotions
We’ve covered many reasons why playing free slots can be not only fun and entertaining, but also a great way to learn about both individual games and slots in general.
We’ve mentioned how, for new players especially, playing free slots is a great idea. You can try out games for free, decide which ones you like best and learn about the symbols, paylines and pay tables. Then when it comes time to play real money slots, you can do so in an informed way which is always important whenever you gamble.
You may also decide when playing free slots that you don’t like a particular game and won’t be trying it for real money.
Playing free online slots also gives you a chance to get a feel for a particular online casino’s platform and how the software looks and functions. There are many sites with fantastic designs, but your preferences may lead you to one online casino over another, yet another reason to try out the free games first.
Again, even though you might be playing free slots, you always want to remain mindful of responsible gambling. If you do decide to play slots for real money, always plan ahead and never wager with money you cannot afford to lose.
For information about responsible gambling in New Jersey, visit the National Council on Problem Gambling NJ page. For help with problem gambling or connecting to resources for prevention and treatment options, visit the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.
Always prioritize safety when visiting an online casino, even if you only play free online slot games. The sites we recommend below are all licensed and regulated in the jurisdictions where they operate. That means you can regard them as safe and trustworthy sites with fair games and measures to protect their players.
Always be aware and vigilant even when playing demo games. You especially should be aware of unlicensed, unregulated sites offering free-to-play slots and other casino games.
Such sites generally don’t have the same selection and variety of free slot games online that legal platforms do.
In many cases, they will eagerly seek personal information and/or money from those who visit them. Because of the risks that unregulated, “offshore” sites pose, we strongly recommend avoiding them.
See more: Best online gambling sites
The easiest way to play free online slots is by visiting an online casino that offers demo versions of slots. Once you’ve chosen the slot you wish to play, click “demo” or perhaps the information link (often a lowercase “i”) and then choose demo mode.
You likely will have to confirm you are at least 21 years old to play the demo slot. Once you do, the game will launch and you can begin playing.
The following platforms allow players to try out demo versions of free slot games online without needing to create an account: DraftKings Casino and Golden Nugget Online Casino.
Several other online casinos allow for demo play of slots, but only after registering an account.
Many of the top online casinos, including Caesars Online Casino, BetMGM Casino and Hard Rock Online Casino, require players to sign up before playing demo slots for free. DraftKings Casino and Golden Nugget Online Casino allow for demo play of online slots before registering.
Yes, the demo versions of free slots online play exactly the same as their real money counterparts. You even can play progressive slots with large jackpots, although, of course, the prizes are all in play money.
When you play a demo version of an online slot game for free, you are typically given a certain number of non-cash value coins to start. If you happen to run out of coins, you can simply reload the game and get a fresh stack of coins.
Yes, all of the online casinos with demo slots are available both on a computer or via mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. For the latter, you can usually either play the free slots on your device via a web browser or download the online casino app.
If you stick with licensed and regulated online casinos where you can play the demo versions of slots for free, then the answer is, “Yes, free slots are safe to play.” If you happen across unlicensed, unregulated sites offering the games, you potentially open yourself up to risks, including the loss of personal information and even money.
