Is free a reality? There’s a well-known saying that there is no such thing as a free lunch, meaning that if someone offers to buy you lunch (or any other inducement), they will always want something in return. But is that true? While you may not get offered a free restaurant-quality meal most days of the week, there are other free entertainment options available online. The question is: are they really free, and if so, are they any good?
As we focus on gambling entertainment, and as we know that Canadians enjoy gambling, with around two-thirds of the population taking part in paid-for gambling activities, it is worth noting that online casinos might not offer free food, but they do offer free online slots.
We were interested to find out what makes a free online slot stand out from the crowd and whether they were genuinely free, or if there were catches to playing. We invited industry expert Martin Backhouse to come and talk to us about the best free slots in Canada.
Hi Martin, and welcome to The Gamblest. Before you divulge what makes for great free slots, could you please introduce yourself and the company you work for?
Thanks for having me. I am a content editor at Casino.org. Our company has been rating and reviewing online casinos for over 3 decades. We aim to always tip the scales in the player’s favour by providing the best insights and gaming guides. On a personal level, I love gambling. Responsibly, of course. I love writing, too, so it’s great to merge the two and guide players through their own online betting journey. With so many online casinos and bonuses available, it’s not easy to choose the right one. That’s where I can help.”
Thanks for that. Why do online casinos offer free games, and is there a catch?
Online casinos offer free slots because they want players to try out their games; it is as simple as that. There are tens of thousands of games available to Canadian players across all genres. It can be so hard to choose which one to play, and many people can suffer from decision paralysis, unable to choose what to play. Free options let them try out without risk and decide whether they like the games.
Is there a catch? The obvious downside is that you cannot win real money when playing for free, but you do get all the entertainment value and can learn the mechanics and check out all the features of the games.
The best way to think about free slots is that they offer a genuine ‘try before you buy’ opportunity. If the game is not for you, you can move on without spending any money. If you enjoy the tumbling reels, flashing lights and virtual wins, there is no compunction to play for real money.
Why do you review free slots if people are not risking their money?
Well slots are the backbone of an online casino, but that does not mean that they are all worth playing. We have a massive free slots library (over 20,000 games) that spans different providers, features, and themes. To make things simple, and for people who like to take a shortcut, we apply our usual rigorous review process and produce a shortlist of those we think are the best.
Many people who play for free go on to play for real money, and we want to look after all iGamers, no matter what stage of the playing journey they are at. Even when playing for free, we want to make sure players avoid scam and rogue sites.
Do the same companies that produce the best real-money games also produce the best free ones?
Yes, because in online casinos, free games are essentially lighter versions of the real-money versions. So, look out for top-name developers like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Playtech, Microgaming, and IGT, to name but a few.
Which games are currently topping the list of best free slots and why?
Our top games at the moment are:
- Pirots 4
- Sweet Bonanza
- Wanted: Dead or a Wild
- Fire in the Hole 3
- Razor Returns
- Jelly Express
- Tombstone Slaughter
- Starburst XXXtreme
- Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead
- Tarasque
We have chosen each game for a different reason, with a view to offering as broad a playing field as possible.
Why do these games rate highly in your opinion?
Each one of them stood out for different reasons. This means players can try them all and find something special that sets them apart from the rest of the pack and from each other.
- Pirots 4 is our top grid slot. This game from ELK Studios takes the bird-leg slot into outer space, adding a fresh sci-fi twist. It is played on a 6×6 expanding grid where four parrots collect gems, trigger upgrades, and unlock features.
- Sweet Bonanza is the best slot for free spins. Players step into Pragmatic Play’s world of candy and fruit to trigger the tumble mechanic, where symbols cascade and create chains of payouts.
- Wanted Dead or a Wild is Hacksaw Gaming’s Wild West themed games with a variety of great bonus features.
- Fire in the Hole 3 is the best for high volatility. Nolimit City’s mining saga has explosive mechanics from tumbling reels to xBomb multipliers.
- Razor Returns is the best for winning potential, and Push Gaming has expanded the underwater chaos with 40 paylines.
- Jelly Express is the best cluster pays slot from Pragmatic Play.
- Tombstone Slaughter tops the charts for extreme gameplay. Brought to you by Nolimit City, it is played on six reels and features familiar mechanics and multipliers that unlock as gameplay intensifies.
- StarburstXXXtreme is the best twist on a classic.
- Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead is a classic choice and one of the most iconic slots ever. Developed by Play’n Go, it combines striking Egyptian visuals and simple, powerful gameplay.
- Tarasque has the best unique theme inspired by French mythology, complete with a medieval soundtrack!
If players find a title they enjoy, should they just sign up to the real-money version.
We always advise players to take a slow and steady approach and to check out our top real money picks, because things can change and new titles can be making the news and turning heads.
