How To Play Penny Slots

penny slots text with row of slot machines in background

Penny slots are an enjoyable escape from reality where the themes grab your imagination and the jackpots are beyond anything you could ever have imagined.

Remember when you used to go to those land-based casinos and felt the buzz of excitement as soon as you put your penny in that slot, pulled down the side lever, and watched as those colorful lights and sound effects went wild when you won? What added to the popularity of these slots is that with a minimum bet, you can play for longer periods of time with a smaller budget for that big payout.

With the advances in technology, you no longer have to get dressed. Drive to the casino, and then wait for a slot. It’s not very convenient. Rather, create a Big Dollar Casino account and access a whole range of games with jam-packed jackpots anywhere, anytime. 

The Lowdown on How to Play Penny Slots Online

We all love our country. So, when we see a penny slot which has a liberty bell, our beloved flag, or even a bald eagle on, it evokes a sense of patriotism, pride and hope. No wonder we’re drawn to these types of penny slots, because all they can do is bring us luck! 

Let’s get to the fun party of playing penny slots by first understanding what the various buttons and functions are:

With ‘Bet’ you can change:

  • Coin Size – from $0.01 up to $0.25
  • Coins per line – ranging from 1 – 15 or more dependent on the game
  • Lines from 1 – 30 or more also dependent on the slot
  • Bet max – automatically sets your wager to the maximum amount, which is the best option to get a hold of those huge jackpots

‘Auto Play’ allows:

  • Auto Plays – choose 5, 10, 20, or 50 spins per round
  • – and + – adjust the spins from 10 to 11, 12, 13, etc
  • Start Auto Plays – begins the winning spinning!

Use ‘Options’ for:

  • Sound FX – switch the sound effects on or off and increase the volume
  • Music – want some background audio? Get it here!

What is the ‘i’ for?

  • This is where you’ll find the paytable which lists the jackpot amount, what the various symbols payout, and how much those paylines could win for you.

Home button

  • Takes you back to the casino.

How to play a penny slot

  • Pick a machine: Look for a penny slot you like
  • Look at the paytable: This can usually be found on the machine or by accessing the menu
  • Choose your bet: Use the buttons to select the number of paylines you want to play and the amount you want to bet per line
  • Spin the reels: Once you’ve selected your wager, click the ‘Spin’ or ‘Play’ button
  • Check for winning combinations: If you land the right symbols on one or more paylines, you’ll receive a payout

Before you get carried away with all those wins when playing online penny slots for real money, an important thing you need to do is decide on a budget and don’t overspend! Even if you’re on a winning streak, don’t be tempted to spend more than you can afford. This is where our fantastic bonuses, free spins, and lucrative offers and promotions come into play. They can really increase your bankroll and the amount of time you can spin for to up your chances of hitting it big. 

Extra Features You SHOULD Take Advantage of!

Playing an American-themed penny slot machine game is like discovering the beauty of our land all over again with those symbols and bonus rounds inspired by historical landmarks and symbols.

Symbols you should understand

Wild: This symbol substitutes any other symbol to form a win when it lands on the reels. In an American-themed slot, the wild may be an image of the stars and stripes.

Scatter: With a scatter perhaps representing the Great Seal of the United States, it could win a payout when appearing on a specific payline in a specific order in accordance with the paytable. Two or more scatters landing anywhere on the reels earns either a bonus round or a scatter win.

Bonus rounds: These mini games are also triggered by landing certain symbols or combinations. They offer the chance to score additional cash, free spins or even a progressive jackpot. In these bonus rounds, you might need to play a catch game where you need to grab a true icon of our country… those dollar bills!

miami dice screenshot of gameplay

How Do Paylines Work?

Paylines on a penny slot are the lines that run across the reels and determine winning combinations. When you spin the reels, the goal is to land symbols in a specific pattern on those paylines as shown on the paytable. If the symbols on the reels align on a payline in the right pattern, you win. The number of paylines in a penny slot can vary as stated previously. Although the more paylines a penny slot has, the more chances you’ll have to win with each spin.

But… always keep the random number generator (RNG) in mind. This is a software program that generates random outcomes for online penny slots. The purpose of it is to ensure that the outcome of each spin is completely unique and not influenced by any external factors.

When you want to choose the number of paylines to play, click on the hamburger menu we spoke about earlier (seen in the top right corner), and then click ‘Lines’. Alternatively, click on ‘Playing 30 lines at 1 coins/line with $0.01 coins’ right at the bottom of the screen, and a pop-up will appear where you can choose the amount of lines you want to play. 

You should note that the number of paylines you opt to play will influence how much you spend. Each payline requires a separate bet. This means that if you have a limited budget, you should choose fewer paylines to keep your bets smaller. The same should be practiced when choosing your coin size. Your budget obviously decreases faster if you’re making higher bets of lets say a coin size of $0.25. Play with a smaller coin size of $0.05 and make your budget last longer without the risk of losing more than you can afford.

How Your Emotions Come Into Play on Penny Slots

As we said before, those bright lights, sensational sound effects, and ringing bells create a sense of anticipation with each spin you take. They all stimulate the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, which adds to the experience of potentially knowing you will win. Not to mention how those high-quality graphics and 3D animations also enhance your playing experience. When playing penny slots, a sense of nostalgia and familiarity is also evoked by those themed designs based on popular movies, TV shows, or even comic book characters. And when it comes to those lucrative bonuses and features you could trigger, it feels as if you have control over your winning fate.

It’s natural to get wrapped up in the exhilaration that playing penny slots gives you. Winning can be addictive, leading to the continuation of playing despite negative consequences. It’s important to play responsibly, set a budget and stick to it.

 

Winning Strategies to Use

Although there’s no surefire way to increase your chances of winning on penny casino games, as winning is based on chance and luck. There are however, some tips that may help:

  • Play every payline: Make sure to activate all lines to increase your chances of earning a winning combination.
  • Take advantage of special features: Take a look at the paytable at the type of bonus rounds, free spins, and more the slot has
  • Choose games with a high RTP: This means Return to Player, which is the percentage of total bets a slot machine is programmed to return to a player over time.

The RTP is vital to your playing as it decreases your losses while increasing those payouts. Always play a penny slot that has a higher RTP percentage so you can get back a larger portion of the total bets made. For example, a penny slot with an RTP of 95% means that for every $100 wagered, the machine is programmed to return $95.

Try not to play a penny slot with less than than the industry average of about 95% as then a larger portion of the total bets go to the casino as profit. Do some research online and search for a list of penny slots with a high RTP. You can also read reviews of penny slots online to get an idea of which games have what percentages. If you’re in a land-based casino, you can ask the staff for information on the RTP percentages of the penny slots they have available.

Some players like to use two popular betting strategies when playing penny slots. The Martingale and Paroli.

The Martingale strategy involves doubling your bet after every loss until you win. The idea behind this strategy is that when you do eventually win, you’ll recover all of your previous losses, plus, make a profit equal to your original bet. Utilizing the Paroli method, this is the reversal of the Martingale. What you need to do here is increase the wager after each win instead of each loss. The idea behind this strategy is to take advantage of winning streaks and avoid losing too much when you experience a losing streak.

You’ll probably need to alter the way you use the Martingale system on penny slots by modifying the progression of your bets to account for their limited betting range. Do this by starting with a small bet that’s within the allowed range, such as 10 cents. Double your bet after each loss and then return to your original bet size after each win. Once you keep winning, return to your original bet size of 10 cents and start the process over again.

For the adaptation of the Paroli strategy to play those American-style penny slots, you need to again begin with a lower bet, like 5 cents. Increase the wager after a win with a  fixed amount, such as doubling your bet, or a percentage of your current winnings. Limit the number of increases by deciding on a maximum number you’re comfortable with. When you’ve reached the limit you chose, go back to your initial bet of 5 cents.

 

 

The Statistics of How Popular Penny Slots Are in The USA

According to data, penny slots are among the most played games in a casino. In land-based casinos, penny slots are located in high-traffic areas because they can be played for just a few cents, and therefore attract a large number of players. In online casinos, penny slots are easily accessible and offer players the convenience of playing anywhere they are. In both online and land casinos, their low cost per spin generates significant revenue as players spend hours playing them. 

You’re probably wondering how penny slots differ from high-limit and progressive slots. The high-limit slots are designed for those who are willing to bet larger amounts per spin, usually $5 or more. They may offer larger payouts and better odds, but come with a higher risk of losing. Progressive slots are linked to a network of machines, with a portion of each player’s bet being added to the jackpot. They, too, offer the potential for a gigantic payout, but the odds of winning are very low. This is why penny slots are so ideal! As they are perfect for those with a small budget. While they have a lower payout rate compared to high-limit and progressive slots, the low cost per spin makes it worth it because of the affordability and ease of play. 

Previously, penny slot players tended to be older, with ages ranging from mid 50s to early 60s. The gender distribution is evenly split between male and female. In terms of income, penny slot players typically have lower to medium incomes. Now, in recent years, the popularity of penny slots has increased among younger players, especially those in their 20s and 30s. The rise of online and mobile gaming has also made slots more accessible to a wider range of people, regardless of age, gender, or income level. Additionally, casinos are offering more themed and interactive games to appeal to a younger, tech-savvy demographic.

Answer us this, who hasn’t heard of Wheel of Fortune? This popular penny slot is a household name among American slot players, and has been a staple in casinos for many years. Due to its large progressive jackpots and bonus rounds, it’s become a favorite for gamblers of all ages and backgrounds. Other well-known penny slot games include Cleopatra, Buffalo, and Da Vinci Diamonds. 

Play Penny Slots at Big Dollar Casino!

Why? Because of our terrific bonuses, large-scale promotions, and unique offers you won’t get anywhere else! Each increases your chances of winning and making your playing experience more enjoyable and that much more rewarding. We have online slots for real money to suit every budget as you pursue those enormous wins in all our jackpot filled games – all in the comfort of your home, or while you’re waiting in a boring queue. 

Sign up a Big Dollar Casino account, and within seconds, you can take advantage of a Welcome Package that most casinos wouldn’t dare give (yes, that’s how generous we are!). There are also Daily Offers to use every single day, which means you get spoilt everyday!

We cannot wait to have you as part of OUR winning team! But, please note, gambling is meant to be a form of entertainment, so make sure to play responsibly and within your means 🙂