2025s Best Slots and the Insider Picks for Game of the Year

An Interview with Casino.org's Jamie Hinks

We all love online slots; they are the most popular form of online gambling, and Canadians have a real passion for playing these games - the figures demonstrate this. We sat down with Jamie Hinks from review site Casino.org to find out his top picks for 2025. But before we took the deep dive, we wanted to understand what makes a good slot game in the eyes of the experts.

"Thanks for taking the time to come and talk to us, Jamie. Before you give us your top slot picks for the year, could you let us know how Casino.org rates and reviews the best games? What is it that makes an online slot stand out from the crowd?"

Jamie Hinks
"Thanks for having me. I always love to talk about online slots and the work we do at Casino.org. Lots of your readers might think we just play the games for our work. While we do open accounts, use bonuses and play as everyday punters, the research we do is very thorough and data-driven. The company has decades of experience in reviewing online casino games. We always recommend that anyone looking for more information on online slots takes a little bit of time before diving in."

"As well as checking out security and licenses, we want to understand each slot's return to player (RTP). The RTP represents how much a slot will pay out over time. This is a theoretical figure, calculated over millions of spins, and typically ranges from 92% to 99%. In our view, games need an RTP of 96% or above."

"Maximum win amounts per spin are also a key consideration. This is indicated by a multiplier (e.g., 5,000x) and represents the maximum amount that can be won when all bonus features are active. Maximum win rates have fallen compared to the early days of online gambling. Finding a 10,000x-your-stake win per spin is pretty rare. However, some providers offer slots with extreme payout potential, which are always popular."

"We always check out the bonus features, and quantity alone is not enough. We also assess what value they add to the game and how accessible they are."

"Looks and themes matter - after all, slots are a form of entertainment, and they should be visually pleasing and fun. A great soundtrack adds tension and excitement, too. Smooth or 3D graphics are the bare minimum we expect. We want to see animated symbols, cut-scenes and great sound effects. The best online slots feature interesting payout mechanisms and layouts as well."

"Are all the slot games much of a muchness?"

Jamie Hinks
"No! Absolutely not. Slots might have started out with the Liberty Bell machine with three reels and six symbols, but they have come a long way since then. While three-reel video slots are still popular, they have been joined by multi-reel, Megaways, grid/cluster and progressive jackpot slots. Branded slots are inspired by movies, board games, television shows and even rock bands. However, because the slot provider also pays a product licensing fee, RTP rates tend to be lower."

"Come on, Jamie, spill the beans. What are Casino.org's top picks, and where do you recommend people play the games?"

Jamie Hinks
"Drum roll, please! With thousands of games out there, and new ones being released all the time, we spend hours researching and playing new slots. However, it takes something really special to knock our favourites off their top spots. Our lists do not change as frequently as you might expect because sometimes you cannot beat the classics. We do not fall for the marketing hype and stick to our principles that great games deliver across our broad-based judging criteria."

"We really do put our money where our mouths are and have a section on our website where players can try out our top 10 slots for free. We always advise customers to practise before playing with real money. We suggest giving them a spin and exploring the bonus features so that players know what to expect when their hard-earned cash is at stake."

Our favourites this year (in no particular order) are:

• Iron Bank 2
• Wanted Dead or a Wild
• Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead
• Razor Returns
• Big Bass Bonanza
• Bonanza Megaways
• Money Train 4 - The Last Stand
• Dam Beavers
• Tombstone RIP
• Starburst XXXtreme

"You said the classics take some beating. Are there any new titles in that list?"

Jamie Hinks
"Oh yes. Our slots expert, Daisy, claims that Iron Bank 2 is the month's hottest release. Elsa Fiott, who tested out the game, says that she had a riot playing and triggered loads of bonus features."

"In her review, she said she selected the Random Wilds base feature and realised that this was a high-volatility game. After many non-winning spins, the wild reels landed, and the multipliers were impressive. She loved the free spins with four scatters and the ability to unlock the super version of the bonus. Elsa was particularly impressed with Walking Wilds, growing multipliers and extra spins that quickly turned the feature into the highlight of the session."

"While this game won't suit players looking for steady wins, lovers of volatile slots with layered bonuses and significant upsides will have a thoroughly thrilling time."

"Were there any particular highlights of the other games you rated?"

Jamie Hinks
"Yes indeed!"

• Tombstone RIP has huge winning potential with 300,000x-your-stake max wins.
• Money Train 4 boasts 20+ bonus features, and you can win up to 150,000x your stake on every spin. It's the final game in the Money Train series, created by Relax Gaming.
• Starburst XXXtreme continues the out-of-this-world experience with bolstered payouts and multipliers worth up to 450x, plus 200,000x max wins.
• Razor Returns stands out from the crowd. It is officially the sequel to Razor Shark, but it outshines the earlier game in every way. It has fantastic graphics and bonus features including free spins, mystery symbols and Torpedo Scatters.
• Bonanza Megaways uses Big Time Gaming's patented Megaways mechanism. While the graphics do look a bit dated, it is a treat to play. Players can win up to 26,000x their stake on every free spin, and gold bars promise unlimited free spins.

If you feel tempted to try out any of these great slot games, remember to gamble responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. Keep the fun in the game for a win-win experience.