Penny slots explained
The coin is one cent, but a spin costs lines times bet per line, and the house edge applies to every spin.
Penny slots cost per spin
- Cost per spin = lines × bet per line.
- Brass Bells or Midnight Sequins: ten lines × one cent = ten cents per spin.
- Same slots at five cents a line: ten lines × five cents = fifty cents per spin.
- Sapphire Sevens: one line × one cent = one cent per spin.
Check the total bet on the screen before you spin, not just the coin size.
Penny slots cost per hour
- Spins per hour × bet per spin = total bet per hour.
- Total bet per hour × house edge = average cost per hour.
- Example in Brass Bells: one thousand fast spins at ten cents = one hundred dollars bet. With a house edge of 3.85%, you tend to lose about $3.85 of it per hour.
Count your spins for a few minutes to find your own spins per hour.
Return to player on penny games
Penny games often return less than slots with bigger bets. Real casino slots have their own RTP set by the game maker and the casino.
Our three teaching slots have exact numbers: Brass Bells returns 96.15% with low volatility, Midnight Sequins returns 95.98% with high volatility, and Sapphire Sevens returns 95.93% on one line.
| Slot | Return (RTP) | A win every | Volatility (SD) | Top win (bets) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire Sevens classic 3 reels, 1 line, low volatility | 95.93% | 4.1 spins | 5.18 | 400 |
| Brass Bells 5 reels, 10 lines, low volatility | 96.15% | 3.1 spins | 2.96 | 267 |
| Midnight Sequins 5 reels, 10 lines, high volatility | 95.98% | 4.4 spins | 7.83 | 1266 |
Exact numbers from every possible reel stop. These are our own teaching slots; real casino slots set their own numbers.
How to play penny slots
- Pick the bet per line (one cent on a penny slot).
- Pick the number of lines.
- Read the total bet on the screen.
- Press spin – a random number generator picks the result (how slot machines work).
- Wins are paid for symbols lined up on an active line.
Set a spending limit before the first spin and stop when it is used up.
Questions
What are penny slots?
Penny slots are slot machines where the smallest bet per line is one cent. Most have many lines, so a full spin usually costs more than one cent.
How much does a penny slot cost per spin?
Multiply the number of lines by the bet per line. On a ten-line slot at one cent per line, one spin costs ten cents.
Do penny slots pay back less?
Penny games often have a lower return than slots with bigger bets. Each real casino slot has its own RTP set by the game maker and the casino.
Is there a way to win at penny slots?
No. Every spin is random and the house edge tends to take its share of the total you bet over time, no matter how you play.
How much can I lose per hour on penny slots?
Multiply spins per hour by bet per spin by the house edge. In our Brass Bells slot, every one hundred dollars bet tends to lose about $3.85 on average.