Online casinos are incredibly popular in Canada and people have access to all kinds of different platforms. Some of them are very different in their design and bonuses, but all sites will have at least a few slots. In fact, you can often find thousands of them, and each one has its own specifics.
Deciding which slots to focus on is not easy because people need to consider a lot of different things. We are fully aware of that, so it’s time to take a good look at everything.
Return to Play
There is no arguing that the Return to Play is the first and most important figure to check when choosing casinos. The best casino slots in Canada will have an RTP of over 96%, which means that they return $96 for every $100 you wager.
RTP is basically the percentage of money wagered that a slot is theoretically expected to return over a large number of spins. It is worth knowing that this is a great comparison tool and a higher RTP means a lower expected house edge in the long run.
Some of the newer slots usually come with higher RTP than their older counterparts. With that said, we recommend checking this information before you start playing. Some casinos will provide that info within the platform itself, whereas others will require you to look for it online.
Volatility or Variance
The second key metric you need to consider when choosing slots in Canada is volatility. Some people also call it variance, and it describes how a slot tends to distribute its payouts. It may sound similar to RTP, but the two are completely different because they verify different data.
Low volatility games are those that often provide smaller but more frequent payments. They usually appeal to people who want a steadier experience and are not ideal for those willing to take more risks.
Speaking of risk, high-volatility slots are where you should focus on. They have longer periods without meaningful payouts, but there is a possibility of getting larger wins. This creates bigger swings in bankroll.
Of course, you also have slots that come with medium volatility. They usually sit in between and can be solid options for people who have more budget but are not willing to go all in.
Hit Frequency
The next metric on the list is hit frequency and it shows how often a slot produces any winning combination. A game that comes with a 30% hit frequency may return a win on around three of every 10 spins over the long term. The important word here is any because that wins a small payout, as well as something big.
You need to use the hit frequency to understand rhythm, not the game’s profitability. A higher number here can often make a person feel busier, whereas a lower number can mean more empty spin. Neither pattern is inherently better; it depends on the kind of entertainment experience you want.
Maximum Win Potential
Every Canadian who wants to play slots wants to win as much as possible. That’s why the maximum win potential is an incredibly important metric that you have to consider. It is usually displayed as a multiplier of the stake itself.
Keep in mind that many software providers will put gigantic numbers just to get your attention. It is common to find slots with a 10,000x maximum win, but that does not always tell the full story. Maximum prizes are generally extremely rare and often linked with high volatility. That’s why you need to be careful.
Betting Range and Feature Cost
A slot’s maximum betting range can be as much as its payout figures, but it is one of those things that people rarely take into consideration. It is important to check the minimum and maximum stakes and learn how certain features cost. Things like Autoplay, rapid spins and even repeated bonus attempts can be very interesting, but they can make spending rise faster than expected.
Feature cost is another aspect to consider. Some slots will offer immediate access to FS or bonus rounds for multiple of the base wager.
Bonus Round Frequency
Bonus round frequency is the last key metric we believe all Canadian bettors must consider. This refers to how frequently a game may trigger free spins, pick-and-click features, mini games and other special rounds. Some of the most popular slots have these kinds of bonus features that will appear more often, but they will offer smaller average rewards.
Others, on the other hand, will make players wait longer for a feature, and there will be the possibility of bigger payouts when it arrives.