Although the history of slot machines began in the late 19th century, some of the most Popular Slots were created not too long ago. And while there are many types of slot machines, only a few have truly proven their popularity and widespread appeal.
We’re about to reveal some of the most iconic casino slots, so if you decide to place your bets using the maximum stake during your next gaming session, we suggest checking the game’s paytable just to be on the safe side. You should be fully aware of each symbol’s value, the game features, and the number of paylines that are either activated or selected based on your gaming preferences. Ready to discover the most popular slots? This way!
Liberty Bell
Invented and designed by a San Francisco mechanic named Charles Fey in 1895, Liberty Bell was the first-ever and a popular slot machine. Its main symbols included horseshoes, stars, spades, diamonds, hearts, and Liberty Bells. When three bells aligned, the machine paid out 50 cents.
With a coin slot at the top, it featured small reels in the center and a paytable at the bottom. Here’s how it worked: players inserted a nickel and pulled a lever on the right side to spin the reels. While Liberty Bell machines were eventually removed from casinos, the original Liberty Bell can still be seen on display at the Liberty Bell Saloon in Reno, Nevada.
Lion’s Share
One of the most popular slots ever, Microgaming’s classic Lion’s Share, gained major attention back in 2014 due to media reports about its progressive jackpot going unclaimed for over two decades. Thousands tried their luck, but no one hit the big win.
Despite featuring only 3 reels and a single payline, Lion’s Share became one of the most iconic slots in Vegas. It was such a popular slot that people queued just to drop a coin in and spin the reels.
Eventually, a couple from New Hampshire won the $2.4 million progressive jackpot at MGM’s famous Lion’s Share machine. Shortly after, MGM Grand retired the game due to high maintenance needs. Nevertheless, it secured its place in gambling history thanks to a jackpot that took 20 years to hit.
Megabucks
Created by IGT, Megabucks has become one of the most legendary progressive slot machines in the world. It’s responsible for some of the largest slot wins in history. Known for offering massive jackpots, Megabucks games are simple in design but come with a life-changing progressive prize.
One of the most notable wins occurred in 2003, when an anonymous engineer hit a staggering $39.7 million jackpot at Excalibur in Las Vegas. Other notable wins include:
- Cynthia Jay Brennan, a cocktail waitress, who won $34.9 million at Desert Inn, Vegas.
- A retired flight attendant who took home $27.5 million at Palace Station.
- Johanna Heundl won $22.6 million.
- A businessman from Illinois hit $21.3 million on his first spin.
However, tragedy followed some winners—like Brennan, whose sister died in a car crash shortly after the win—fueling rumors of a “Megabucks curse.” Still, many believe such tales are nothing more than urban legends, including stories of underage players or casino employees winning jackpots they couldn’t legally claim due to local regulations.
Wheel of Fortune
IGT’s Wheel of Fortune has proven to be the second most popular slot machine of all time. Featuring a bonus element just like the real TV show, this slot is a fan favorite and can be found in casinos worldwide. While it comes in many versions, the most iconic is likely the 3-reel edition with a colorful wheel mounted on top.
The multiplayer version of Wheel of Fortune includes a bank of machines where each player has their own screen. What makes it even more thrilling is the multiplayer bonus round, where players can spin the bonus wheel together—capturing the true spirit of the game show.
In the 5-reel version, wild symbols help players form winning combinations, and if luck is on your side, you might hit a Super Wild that boosts your win up to 5x. Last but not least, the Triple Action Bonus round is triggered when three or more Triple Action bonus symbols appear anywhere on the reels. Despite newer versions, none quite match the legacy of the original due to its legendary progressive jackpot potential.
Mega Fortune
With 5 reels and 25 paylines, NetEnt’s Mega Fortune has become a wildly popular slot among players, often growing to multimillion-euro jackpots before someone lands the win. Featuring symbols like luxury cars, yachts, and extravagant jewelry, Mega Fortune stays true to its high-roller theme and has delivered some of the biggest online slot wins ever.
The game includes several exciting features, most notably three progressive jackpots: Mega Jackpot, Major Jackpot, and Rapid Jackpot. Meters for each jackpot are displayed above the reels. Champagne acts as the scatter symbol—land at least three to trigger the free spins bonus round. Meanwhile, the Wheel of Luck is the bonus symbol, and landing three or more consecutively from left to right on an active payline will launch the bonus game.
Perhaps the most legendary win came when a Finnish player hit the Mega Jackpot for an astounding €17.8 million while spinning the Mega Fortune reels. Though this record was later surpassed by Mega Moolah in 2013, Mega Fortune remains proof that life-changing wealth is just a spin away.
Mega Moolah
Powered by Microgaming and one of the most popular slots ever, Mega Moolah is a progressive slot with 25 paylines that competes with the Mega Fortune jackpots. Set to African safari music, it features animals like antelopes, elephants, giraffes, lions, monkeys, and zebras as the main symbols.
Landing at least 3 scatter symbols at the same time triggers 15 free spins. What’s even more exciting is that all winnings during Free Spins are tripled, and Free Spins can be retriggered. Players can win one of four progressive jackpots during the random bonus round. The game has awarded some of the largest jackpots in slot history. For example, in 2015, British soldier John Heywood won a massive €17,879,645.
Cleopatra
Inspired by the famous Egyptian theme and developed by IGT, Cleopatra is a classic 20-payline slot that stands out above similar releases. Featuring ancient Egyptian music, the main symbols include Cleopatra, the Eye of Horus, scarabs, and pyramids. Landing at least 3 Sphinx symbols triggers the Cleopatra Bonus, awarding 15 free spins. All prizes, except for the five Cleopatra symbols, are tripled during Free Spins.
The game was so successful that it inspired the creators to make a sequel, Cleopatra II, with richer graphics and engaging sound effects. However, even if you choose the original game, you’re still playing a classic that many players enjoy today. If you land five Cleopatra symbols, you win a grand prize of 10,000 coins.
Book of Ra
With a popular ancient Egypt theme, Book of Ra has always been a top choice in both land-based and online casinos. Powered by Novomatic, Book of Ra is a 9-payline video slot offering many bonus features and big payouts. With its lively and entertaining narrative gameplay, there are several ways to win here. If you land 5 archaeologists at once, you win an incredible 5000x bet. However, the big money comes from the Free Spins feature.
Players need at least 3 scatter Books to trigger the Free Spins feature. The pages of the book will flip and randomly determine the symbol that will expand during the ten free spins. While hitting the jackpot may not be easy, when big wins come, they can be huge.
Starburst
There’s no denying that Starburst by NetEnt has become somewhat legendary in the iGaming world. The game features a dark backdrop with sparkling gem-filled space, five reels, and 10 paylines. The futuristic music and the Wild symbol are easily recognizable in this version. Wilds only appear on reels 2, 3, and 4, and once one or more Wilds appear, the Starburst Wild feature is activated.
During this feature, Starburst Wilds expand to cover the entire reel and stay in place while the other reels spin again. If a new Wild lands during a re-spin, it expands and stays alongside any previously expanded Starburst Wilds for another re-spin.
Another great feature is that Starburst pays both ways—unlike traditional slots, where you need at least 3 matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel. The maximum payout per spin (betting up to $200) is $100,000. However, to achieve that, you need to land five bars on consecutive reels along an active payline. Players love this slot, possibly because it suits both beginners and experienced players alike.
Immortal Romance
Powered by Microgaming, Immortal Romance draws on science fiction and vampire lore, becoming one of the most popular slots in recent years. Aside from stunning graphics and amazing visual and sound effects, the game features 5 reels and 243 paylines, with an RTP rate of 96.86%. The four main characters are Amber, Troy, Michael, and Sarah.
When it comes to features and additional games, Immortal Romance offers several exciting options. The Wild Desire feature can randomly trigger, causing 1 to 5 reels to turn Wild. Similarly, landing 3 or more scatter symbols anywhere on the reels activates the Chamber of Spins, which can’t be triggered during Wild Desire.
The game remains one of the most popular slots, with many players continuing to try their luck in hopes of hitting the highest multiplier.
Do you have any other thoughts on Popular Slots?
This concludes our list of the most popular slots, but if you have any suggestions or if your favorite isn’t listed here, feel free to let us know on our forum.