On this page you’ll find everything you want to know about classic slots – what they are, the best titles and where to play them. You’ll find out what makes classic slots special and why they stand out from other genres. Many players search for classic slots specifically – maybe that is you, or it will be you after you read this page!
Some of the key things you’ll find on this page are:
First and foremost, we must say that when we’re talking about classic slots, we are always referring to slot games that you can play online at online casinos. These slot games come in many themes and genres, and ‘classic’ is one of them.
The definition of a classic slot may be difficult to word correctly, but you’ll recognize all classic slots by the symbols they use. Classic slots are designed to resemble the mechanical slot machines of old, that all used the same familiar symbols such as fruit symbols, Bell, Seven, and the famous BAR symbol.
This is far from being the only criterion, it’s just appearance and nothing more, but you can use this as a tell-tale sign that you are, in fact, playing a classic slot. If the reels are designed to look like they’re mechanical, if you get that feeling as if you’re pulling a large lever on the right and hear mechanical sounds, that’s it – you’re playing a classic slot.
These games usually also have very straightforward paytables that simply pay coins when you form a winning payline. There are rarely any extra features here, this game type is somewhat naked compared to other slot game genres – and that’s exactly what the players want.
Sometimes you’ll get a Wild symbol or some special Jackpot symbol that represents the largest prize you can get in the game. The whole point of classic slots is to play a tight game that has a single best combination – such as five Diamond symbols on a winning payline – that pays really well.
In other words, almost all classic slots have high variance. These are tight games that don’t pay often but can pay a mega win if the reels align correctly. This type of a slot game isn’t meant to be played by a casual player, as it takes quite a bit of grit to make the game pay.
There is a sub-genre of classic slots that don’t have five reels but instead have three. These are known as 3-reel slots, and whenever you see a slot game that has three reels, it will almost certainly be a classic slot with the classic symbols we described earlier. Some people even think classic slots are synonymous with three-reel slots and don’t accept the five-reel games into the genre.
Anyway, you’ll find the best 3-reel and 5-reel classic slots on this page, and we are also listing several quality casinos where you can go play them right away.
If you want to try out how the classic slots feel like before you commit to them with real money, visit one of the casinos we’re listing on this page. You’ll find lots of classic slots in the lobby of each of the casinos, and you can play them in real money mode or in demo mode.
The game is the same in both modes, so even if you play for free, you’ll be getting the same wins you’d be getting if you had money invested. This lets you get a good feel of the game before you start playing it with real money.
As you’ll soon find out, classic slots aren’t easy to play at all, but all you need is one lucky spin and the mega win is yours. Hopefully, it won’t land during demo play but during real money play!
Double Diamond (IGT) – Almost a perfect classic slot game, the Double Diamond was released in 2005. The game has three reels with a single payline, and all you need is one spin to get the maximum 1,000x win if you’re lucky. The game has an RTP of 95.44%.
Triple Diamond (IGT) – This is also a 3-reel slot but it has 9 paylines and a maximum win of 1,200x. The RTP is a bit lower at 95.06% but it is essentially a very similar game to the original. It was launched in 2015 to great critical acclaim, and the Double Diamond players now play both games.
Winsanity (Rival) – This 3-reel classic slot has only one active payline – note the trend – but it features multiplying Wilds. The combination of the three multiplying Wilds will give you the largest prize of 3,000x your bet. The game has an RTP of 94.24%.
Mega Money Mine (WGS) – Few games do a better job of imitating the classic mechanical slot machine feel. Mega Money Mine has three reels and a gold mining theme, which changes the standard symbols a bit, and crucially, it’s a progressive jackpot slot. The game can be played for $1.50, $3.00 or $4.50 a spin so it isn’t cheap to play at all.
7 Fortune Frenzy (Betsoft) – This is a classic fruit machine with modern production quality, courtesy of Betsoft. The game is played on a 4×3 grid with a single payline. The wins are formed on the first three reels, and the last one can boost your wins. The maximum possible win is 2,368x your bet as the maximum win multiplier on the 4th reel is x8. In this game you can also get respins. The game has an RTP of 96.00%.
777 (RTG) – While predominantly in business of fun modern slots, Realtime Gaming also has some notable classic slots, such as 777, a single-payline three-reel fruit machine. The game has Wilds, and if you land two on a winning payline you’ll get a x9 multiplier on your win. RTG doesn’t release RTP of their slots, so we can assume you’ll get 95% at most casinos where you find the game.
Fruit Zen (Betsoft) – Another Betsoft entry on this list, and a common sight on all lists of best classic slots. This one is a bit different as it’s a 5-reel slot with 10 paylines and 3D graphics. You also get Wilds and free spins, so this is a game that is the middle ground between a classic slot and a modern slot. Fruit Zen has an RTP of 95.96%.
Now that you know what classic slots are, and what the best games in the genre are and where to find them, all that’s left to do is to actually go play these games.
When you’re ready to play these excellent classic slots for real money, you can do so at any of the casinos we list on this page. You can also play these games there in demo mode first if you need to, there’s no hurry. Simply register a free account and you can start playing right away. For real money play you will obviously have to make a deposit first.
Our reviewers actually deposit money to casinos we list on this site, and if a casino appears on this page it means everything is ok regarding withdrawals, so you can deposit real money with confidence.
You’ll find classic slots in land-based casinos, of course, as that’s where the whole thing originated, and that’s what the online slots are trying to imitate in the first place.
However, you’d be better off playing the online games as these are independently audited, usually with a known RTP, and you can also tell which games are the most popular – which means that hundreds of thousands of players have basically reviewed the game for you. These players know what a good game is, so the best game ends up being popular while some poor games don’t see much playing time after people try them out and see they’re no good. With land-based classic slot machines you get none of that and you don’t know how is the game set up. You basically sit there and put your money into the machine, not knowing the RTP, not knowing if the game is good or not, and you most certainly can’t play it in demo mode for free!
So, if you want to play classic slots, do so online, at one of the casinos we recommend on this page. Claim the bonuses, too. It’s simply the best way to go. You’ll end up with more money than if you walked into a tribal casino and played a land-based classic slot machine instead.
If you’re about to play classic slots, why not do it with an exclusive bonus? It is certainly easier to chase that big win when you have more cash at your disposal, that came from the welcome bonus. On this page you’ll find some exclusive deals that you won’t find elsewhere, so follow our links, register an account with the casino you like, make a deposit and claim the bonus.
Classic slots are a genre of online slots that aims to resemble a traditional, mechanical slot machine of old that can still be seen at many land-based casinos across USA. These slots commonly have three reels, though many five-reel games exist as well.
If you visit any of the casinos we recommend on this page, you can play the best classic slots in demo mode for free without making a deposit. Later, when you decide to play for real money, you can do that as well.
This is subjective, but the popularity of some classic slots cannot be overlooked. You’ll find a selection of the most popular classic slots right here on this page.
The best online casinos for classic slots are listed on this page. We carefully review all casinos, so we are absolutely certain these are the best of the best. We only list legit casinos that pay the winners and that treat their customers fairly.
