Penny Slots Explained: Coin Value Versus the Total Cost of a Spin

A “penny slot” is a slot with a very small coin value, but the coin value is not what a spin costs. The total stake per spin is the coin value multiplied by the lines or the bet multiplier the game uses, and that total is what leaves your balance each time. In the Ontario lobbies we checked on October 19 and 20, 2026, the lowest total stakes we recorded were C$0.10 a spin, for example on Divine Fortune Gold, Rick and Morty Megaways and Big Bass Bonanza at OLG.ca; most titles started at C$0.20. At Ontario’s maximum pace, even C$0.10 spins add up to C$144 of wagers in an hour.

Casinos for players in Canada

Featured casinos pay us commission. Affiliate disclosure

• Spinrise Up to €5,555 + 257 Free Spins Offer from our affiliate partner's list, October 23, 2026. Check the casino's terms. Visit Spinrise (opens in a new tab) T&Cs apply. 19+ (18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec). Responsible gambling
• NorthSpin Up to €7,000 + 250 FS Offer from our affiliate partner's list, October 23, 2026. Check the casino's terms. Visit NorthSpin (opens in a new tab) T&Cs apply. 19+ (18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec). Responsible gambling
• JeetCity Up to $10,000 + 180 Free Spins Offer from our affiliate partner's list, October 23, 2026. Check the casino's terms. Visit JeetCity (opens in a new tab) T&Cs apply. 19+ (18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec). Responsible gambling

What does a spin actually cost?

Look for the total bet, often labelled “bet”, “total bet” or “stake”, rather than the coin value. With made-up figures to show the arithmetic:

• A coin value of C$0.01 on 20 lines is a C$0.20 spin.
• A coin value of C$0.01 on 25 lines is a C$0.25 spin.
• A C$0.01 coin with a 20-coin bet multiplier is also C$0.20.

The game’s bet panel shows the total. If it shows only coins, multiply. The bet ranges casinos publish are totals: OLG.ca listed Wolf Gold from C$0.25 to C$125 and Great Rhino Megaways from C$0.20 to C$100 per spin.

What are the lowest stakes in Ontario lobbies?

From the public game pages we read:

• C$0.10 a spin: Divine Fortune Gold, Rick and Morty Megaways and Big Bass Bonanza on OLG.ca; Big Bass Bonanza and Divine Fortune Gold on Betty in Ontario.
• C$0.20 a spin: most titles, including Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, Sugar Rush and most Megaways games on OLG.ca.
• C$0.25 a spin: Wolf Gold, on OLG.ca and Betty.

We did not find a one-cent total stake on any title we recorded.

How much does an hour of penny slots cost?

Ontario’s AGCO standards require at least 2.5 seconds between game starts and ban autoplay and turbo modes, which caps play at 1,440 spins an hour. At that pace:

• C$0.10 a spin is up to C$144 wagered per hour.
• C$0.20 a spin is up to C$288.
• C$0.25 a spin is up to C$360.

The expected cost depends on the RTP. At C$0.10 a spin and a 96% RTP, an hour’s expected cost is about C$5.76. On Blazing Bison Gold Blitz King Millions, whose OLG.ca page shows an RTP range of 86.0% to 90.5% and a C$0.20 minimum, an hour at the minimum carries an expected cost of between about C$27 and C$40. A low stake on a low-RTP game can cost more per hour than a higher stake on a high-RTP one.

Which low-stake game costs least per hour?

The data offers a useful pairing. Divine Fortune Gold starts at C$0.10 a spin on OLG.ca and shows an RTP of 96.73% to 96.95%, the highest range among the 289 OLG.ca slot pages we collected. An hour at C$0.10 and full pace, C$144 wagered, then carries an expected cost of about C$4.40 to C$4.70. The same title on Betty in Ontario also starts at 0.1 but shows 94.97%, which puts the same hour at about C$7.20. Rick and Morty Megaways starts at C$0.10 on OLG.ca with an RTP of 96.55%; on Betty its minimum is 0.2 at the same RTP, so the cheapest spin there costs twice as much. For low-stake play, the casino you choose changes the hourly cost as much as the game.

What does RTP mean on a penny slot?

The same as on any slot: the long-run share of stakes paid back. It is set per game and per casino version, not by stake size. On OLG.ca, the 289 slot pages we collected ranged from 86.0% to 96.95%. Check it in the game info before choosing a low-stake game for a long session. Our explainer on what RTP does and does not tell you covers how to read it.

Do small wins add up?

Not as much as the screen suggests. On a C$0.20 spin, a payout of C$0.10 is a C$0.10 loss. Ontario’s standards say a slot must not present a return equal to or below your stake as a win, and must show your session net position in Canadian dollars. On penny slots, with many small payouts, that net position is the number to watch.

Is a penny slot a good way to make a budget last?

It can stretch a session, because each spin risks less. The trade-off is the number of spins: low stakes invite long sessions, and long sessions add up wagers. On average, a budget supports total wagers of about the budget divided by the house edge, so C$20 at a 4% edge supports about C$500 of wagers, or 2,500 spins at C$0.20, a little under two hours at Ontario’s pace. Many sessions end much sooner. Set a time limit in your account as well as a spending limit.

What we could not confirm

• Coin values and line counts for individual games: we recorded total bet ranges from public pages.
• Minimum stakes at bet365 and BetRivers: we searched their lobbies for titles, not stakes.

Before you start a penny slot

Open the bet panel and find the total stake per spin. Check the RTP in the rules. Multiply your stake by the number of spins you expect to play to see your total wagers, and set a session time limit as well as a deposit limit. Our guide to reading the paytable and setting the stake shows the rest of the screen.