Canada’s Favourite Video Slots of the Year Revealed
The online gambling industry in Canada is growing at a phenomenal rate, and almost all of that growth is being fuelled by the popularity of video slots. These immersive, feature rich entertainment experiences are tantalising Canadians young and old and are categorically, the engine powering the domestic gambling sector.
In this article we explore some of the most popular games in the country, focusing on gameplay features, RTP rates and overall player experience. Discussions about best real money slots often include factors such as volatility, game mechanics and player preferences in the Canadian market.
What Makes a Popular Slot?
First things first, a slot game needs to be good. In terms of quality, the ceiling for these types of games isn’t as high as it is for traditional video games. But the basement can go very, very low.
So, the first step toward popularity is being playable. A good slot must have no bugs and be easy to navigate. Then it has to have three key components:
- An engaging theme
- An enticing RTP
- Tempting volatility
The first is self-explanatory. A slot themed on the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky is unlikely to be popular for example.
The second and third components are where things get interesting. RTP is the amount of money on average that a slot machine returns to the player for every $100 spent. That’s not a hard and fast rule for every hundred dollars wagered. It’s a long-term average.
If you were to wager $10,000 on a 96% RTP slot, you’d end up with very close to $9,600 in your pocket at the end of the night.
Why is RTP important though? Because it signifies whether a game is worth playing. Too high an RTP and there is no jeopardy, no adrenaline and no point playing. Too low and players will feel like they are being fleeced. A good slot finds the sweet spot. Volatility is a different matter. That’s the term used to describe how often a slot machine pays out.
You might think that a low volatility slot would be more appealing to players as it would increase suspense and also likely increase the amount of money that players stand to win. But that’s not what the data shows. The data shows that games with a higher volatility – a higher payout rate – are more popular. Even if those payouts are smaller. That’s because wins, no matter how small, provide us with a hit of dopamine.
And dopamine isn’t very good at distinguishing between big wins and small wins, so regular wins of the latter variety inject more feel-good chemicals into players’ brains than irregular big wins.
Five Slot Games That Put All This Together
Below we’ve compiled five slot games that exceed at all three of the key components covered above. Without further ado, here they are:
Gates of Olympus
This game hits all three of those key components with unerring accuracy. Firstly, the theme, Greek mythology, is ever popular in the slot machine world.
Secondly and thirdly, the RTP falls in that 92-96% sweet spot and the volatility ensures small, scattered wins for players.
Big Bass Bonanza
Fishing doesn’t really seem like a theme that would naturally do well with slots player, but the data suggests otherwise.
This game and other marine based titles consistently perform well around the globe. Big Bass Bonanza’s appeal lies mainly in the gameplay and graphics, which firmly position it towards the top of the genre.
Sweet Bonanza
Sometimes a game does well at all three key components of a successful slots, and other times a title puts all its energy into one goal and excels at it.
Sweet Bonanza’s MO is to ply their players with regular dopamine and they do that fantastically by using a cluster pay system, which allows for multiple wins from a single spin.
Book of Dead
Players of this slot follow Rich Wilde through an Ancient Egyptian setting, and whilst the RTP and volatility are nothing to write home about, the level of immersion provided by the game continues to prove popular with players.
Released before 2020, Book of Dead remains one of the most popular slots in Canada to this day.
Starburst
Perhaps the most popular slot game on the planet. Starburst is your boots and braces game. It does what it says on the tin.
The gameplay and user interface are shiny and sparkling, and reminiscent of something you would find on a mobile game that you can’t put down.
It also nails RTP and volatility better than any other slot, which when you put it all together, makes its position as #1 obvious.