Are Online Casinos Legal in the US?
While some form of sports betting is now legal in most US states, the availability of online casinos is more limited. Currently, there are six US states that officially license online casinos:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Each state has its own regulator, such as the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board or the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. These agencies ensure licensed casinos meet certain legal requirements to keep players safe.
Players also have the option to gamble at online casinos licensed in offshore locations by foreign regulators. Although this is a legal and well-known practise among US players, the jurisdictions of international regulators like the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority doesn’t necessarily extend to US borders, so your online protection is less certain when playing at these sites. We therefore recommend that you only gamble at state-licensed online casinos.
Pros and Cons of Playing at the Best Payout Online Casinos
Here are some points to consider before you sign up to a high payout casino.
Pros
- Value for money – While the impact of RTP is limited over the short term, many players still prefer to play slots with statistically better payout rates
- Great range of games – Some sites don’t offer high RTP games, so you’re more likely to enjoy lots of variety at a high payout online casino
- Easier to profit from bonuses – Converting bonus winnings into withdrawable cash can be tricky with wagering requirements to navigate, but playing high RTP games can give you a better chance of a return
- Entertaining experience – Although it’s important not to treat gambling as a way to make money, landing more wins on the reels can add to the fun of playing
- More choice than a land-based casino – It’s easier to pick out the best paying games at an online casino compared to a land-based setting with limited range
Cons
- Losing sight of volatility – RTP is calculated over the lifetime of a slot, so it won’t influence individual gaming sessions. Volatility is much more significant in the short term
- Lower game weightings – Wagers on high RTP games sometimes don’t count in full towards playthrough requirements.
How We Review the Best Payout Online Casinos
When we review a real money casino, we consider a range of important criteria before recommending it to our readers. Take a look at some of the main features we look at below.
- Licensing – The first thing we do when reviewing a best payout online casino is ensure it holds a valid license. US online casinos are licensed at state level, but you can also play at offshore sites as long as they’re licensed by a trusted regulator
- High RTP Games Selection – The RTP rate is one way in which we judge the payout rate of a slot game. A solid collection of high RTP slots is therefore a big plus
- Bonuses and Promotions – The best online casinos offer a wide range of promotions for new and existing customers. We assess the rewards up for grabs in the welcome bonus along with the availability of ongoing promotions
- Bonus Terms and Conditions – Some bonuses have more player-friendly terms and conditions than others. It’s no use offering big rewards if the wagering requirements prevent players from withdrawing any winnings from the bonus
- Banking Options – Players have different preferences when it comes to making casino deposits and withdrawals, so it’s important to have a decent range of banking options to choose from
- Mobile – The best high paying casino games are just as smooth to play on mobile as on a laptop. While you can happily spin the reels from a mobile browser, the best sites offer dedicated apps available to download on iOS and Android
- Site Design and UX – It’s important to be able to easily navigate a site so you can find your favorite games and new ones that suit your interests. We look out for helpful filtering options like a software provider search, along with clear category headings and fast loading times
- Customer Support – It’s unlikely you’ll encounter any problems while playing online casino games, but it’s important to have help on hand should you need it. The best sites offer a 24/7 live chat service, along with email and phone support
What Makes the Best Payout Slots?
Payout rates vary considerably between different slots. Of course, there are lots of other reasons players favor certain games — such as the theme, mini-games, and number of free spins up for grabs — but it’s beneficial to understand how payout rates work in order to help you choose games that offer decent value for money.
RTP Rates
The RTP percentage refers to the amount of money returned to players compared to the amount paid in. The average is about 96%, which would mean $96 is paid back out for every $100 wagered. However, this average is calculated over millions of spins, so it doesn’t have any real bearing on individual playing sessions. Nevertheless, it’s a useful guideline for filtering through different slot games.
Slot Volatility
Volatility, also known as variance, is much more influential to individual playing sessions. It’s essentially a measure of risk: high volatility slots offer larger potential wins but can also bring long winless runs; low volatility slots, on the other hand, typically bring smaller, more frequent wins. Low volatility slots are therefore better suited to smaller budgets. With a high volatility slot, you could burn through your budget if you go on a winless run. Of course, you can also stick to slots in the medium variance category, which offer a more balanced range of payouts.
Payout Rates for Other Casino Games
Table games can offer high RTP rates, although in this case we typically refer to the house edge. The house edge is the reverse of RTP — 96% RTP equals 4% house edge. Payout rates vary depending on the game and/or variant that you’re playing, so it’s worth checking before you buy your chips.
Blackjack
The house edge in blackjack is generally considered to be around 2%, equating to 98% RTP. However, the house edge is less fixed in blackjack due to the importance of strategy — it’s commonly believed that the house edge can be reduced as low as 0.5% if you play the game right. It’s for this reason that wagers on table games like blackjack usually don’t count very much towards playthrough requirements.
Roulette
The house edge in American roulette is 5.26%. This is higher than the house edge in the European variant, 2.7%, which is explained by the additional double zero space on the American wheel.
Baccarat
Baccarat is another online casino game with a low house edge. In this game, players can either bet on the banker’s hand or the player’s hand. The house edge for betting on the banker’s hand is 1.06%, while it’s 1.24% for the player’s hand.
Craps
The house edge in craps varies considerably depending on the different bets players can make. However, the best option is to stick to the pass bet, which has a house edge of 1.41%, equivalent to a very high RTP of 98.59%.
High vs. Best Payout Slots
High Payout Slots vs. Best Payout Slots
One way of differentiating types of slots is to think about high payout vs best payout games. Progressive jackpot and high volatility slots may offer the highest payouts, but wins are often hard to come by. The RTP rates of progressive jackpot slots can be notoriously low, but players still enjoy trying them out as the jackpots often reach into the millions.
The best payout slots, meanwhile, feature high RTP rates. A percentage point here or there won’t be noticeable in an individual playing session, but in the long run more cash will be returned to players. If you prefer a slow and steady experience, picking a low volatility game with a high RTP percentage is a lower-risk way to go.
Best Payout Slot Terms
It’s a good idea to learn the relevant terminology associated with best payout slots, to help you choose which games to play.
- Reels and Rows – Reels are the vertical spinning sections of a slot, while rows are horizontal. A 5×3 slot is a classic format and refers to five reels and three rows
- Paylines – Matching symbols must land along a payline in order to secure a payout. Slots can have different numbers of paylines and they may be fixed or variable
- Multipliers – Players can often gain multipliers during the bonus rounds of a slot game. If one is currently active, any winnings will be multiplied by the stated number
- Bonus Rounds – The main phase of a slot game is known as the base game. During this phase, players can activate bonus rounds that offer mini-games and big jackpots
- Wild Symbols – Wild symbols can generally substitute for any other symbols on the reels bar the scatter, making it easier to land winning combinations
- Scatter Symbols – Scatter symbols offer instant payouts, but are best known for triggering bonus rounds if you land three or more along a payline
Claim Bonuses at the Best Payout Online Casinos
Online casino bonuses offer great opportunities to land real money prizes with less risk involved. Here are some of the most popular offers available at top online casinos.
Free Spins
Free spins are the holy grail for slot fans. Regularly available in welcome bonuses and ongoing promos, free spins give players the chance to spin the slot reels without any financial risk. The best part is you’ll still be in with a shout of winning real money prizes.
Matched Deposit Bonus
A matched deposit bonus sees the casino ‘match’ your deposit with a percentage of bonus credit. For example, if you claim a 100% match and deposit $20, you’ll receive $20 extra to play with.
No Deposit Bonus
Most real money casino bonuses require players to make a qualifying deposit. With a no deposit bonus, all you need to do is sign up to claim rewards like free spins and bonus credit. That said, because you’re not putting any of your own cash forward, the rewards tend to be more modest.
Low Wagering Bonus
Wagering requirements can be a real pain for casino players, making it difficult to withdraw any winnings from bonuses. Bonuses with low wagering requirements — often considered to be 25x and under — make it a whole lot easier to turn your winnings into withdrawable cash
Bonus Terms and Conditions
Every casino bonus comes with a range of terms and conditions, which can often restrict your ability to land a profit. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the most common stipulations so you know what to look out for when claiming a casino bonus.
- Minimum Deposit – When claiming a deposit bonus, there’ll be a minimum amount required to qualify, usually $10 or $20
- Playthrough Requirements – Before you can withdraw any winnings you’ve picked up from a bonus, you’ll often need to wager a certain amount of your own cash. These are also known as wagering requirements
- Time Limits – There is typically a limited amount of time to claim a bonus, use it, and fulfill any associated playthrough requirements. If you run out of time, the bonus and any associated winnings are automatically forfeited
- Game Restrictions – Free spins bonuses generally only include one or two eligible games, so be sure to check if the specific slots have high RTPs
- Game Weighting – Playing 100% weighted games with high RTP is the best way to clear playthrough requirements. Table games like blackjack and roulette typically only count 10% (and sometimes even lower) but high RTP slots can be given lower weightings too
- Payment Restrictions – Be sure to check the eligible payment methods before attempting to claim a deposit bonus. e-Wallets like PayPal are often excluded
- Winnings Caps – There may be a cap on how much you can win from a bonus. The amount varies considerably between different sites and offers, so be sure to check the T&Cs before you get started
The Best Payout Slot Games
Now you know a bit more about how the best payout online casino games are calculated, let’s take a look at some of the most popular high RTP slots on the market.
Ooh Aah Dracula — 99%
Barcrest’s Ooh Aah Dracula offers an eye-watering 99% RTP. Released back in 2015, this slot has proven tough to beat when it comes to its payout rate. The medium volatility offers some balance to the gameplay, while the bonus rounds bring plenty of excitement — there’s a free spins bonus and a pick me round with cash prizes up for grabs.
Mega Joker – 99%
NetEnt’s Mega Joker also hits the 99% mark in this high volatility game. Although this slot was released in 2011, it still packs a punch and remains popular among slots fans. The retro fruit and 7 symbols will appeal to the celebrants of old-school fruit machines.
Basketball Star – 98.70%
Basketball Star is developed by Microgaming, another seasoned software provider in the slot game industry. There are a whopping 243 ways to win in this 98.7% RTP, basketball-themed title. Complete with other exciting features like rolling reels, free spins and multipliers up to 10x, Basketball Star is definitely worth a spin.
Blood Suckers – 98%
The ultimate vampire slot, the RTP rate of Blood Suckers hits just as hard as its gruesome theme. This classic NetEnt title has a free spins bonus you can unlock by landing the vampire bride scatter symbols. There’s also the vampire slaying mode, triggered by three stake and hammer symbols, transporting players to a creepy coffin-filled room to try and win prizes.
White Rabbit Megaways – 97.24%
This Alice in Wonderland-themed slot from Big Time Gaming offers a solid 97.24% RTP. The main draw is the incorporation of the Megaways mechanic, which offers up to 248,832 ways to win. If you want to do away with the limited number of paylines included in most slots, be sure to give this game a try.
Ready to Play at the Best Payout Online Casinos?
Do you fancy giving some of these high RTP slot games a try? Check out our list of the best payout online casino sites and pick one that ticks your boxes. Then, click through to sign up, claim a welcome bonus, and hit the slot reels.
FAQs
Barcrest’s Ooh Aah Dracula and NetEnt’s Mega Joker both have an impressive RTP rate of 99%.
The average RTP rate is around 96%, so anything above this would be considered good.
Volatility measures the frequency and size of slot payouts. High volatility games are riskier as they typically offer large but infrequent payouts; low volatility games, conversely, offer small but frequent wins.
This depends on the payment method you use and the casino’s internal processing speeds. e-Wallets like PayPal generally deliver payouts in 1–2 days.
Absolutely — many sites offer demo versions of slot games you can try for free, while there are also free to play slots available on the Apple and Google Play app stores.
