You’re cruising around 888casino or your land-based casino of choice, looking for a good slot machine on which to try your luck and have some fun. You see all-time favorites, with spinning reels and splashing cards, that are completely familiar and comforting. The big wins are impossible to forget. (And who would want to?) Of course, those games are all worth a spin or a shuffle. Naturally, you’ll take your shots with them.

But there is something to be said for the machine games that stand a chance of becoming your new favorites. Those are definitely worth playing as well. Now, nearly a third of the way into 2025, great offerings are being introduced and made available for play.

With that in mind, we’re presenting some of the slot and video poker offerings that all stand a chance of becoming new additions to your stable of top machines. Here, then, are new favorites for 2025. 

Happy playing, have a blast, and, of course, good luck!

*** Also consider reading more on how to win at slots. ***

Take to the Sea – and Bring Your Sword

The story behind Captain Bones Big Bounty, available on 888, is two pirates going at on the high seas. A male pirate sports the kind of facial hair that would do Black Beard proud. Additionally, a sultry female of the skull-and-crossbones variety dominates the reels along with a masted boat and the requisite chest of gold booty. 

They show up on six reels across four rows with 4,096 paylines. Among the features that can lead to a storm of cash: free spins, wheel bonus, and cash collect. Get lucky and snag a maximum win of 5,500x. The soundtrack is chill (save the sea shanties for your father’s slot machine) and the volatility has been ranked as medium.

Stay on watch for the Plunder Party. It’s an engaging cartoon that offers at least six cash prizes. With winning and watching in the offing, this machine is anything but a walk down the plank.

Egypt slots

Play Like an Egyptian

Keeping it simple while taking us back to ancient times, Gods of Egypt: Ra’s Reign first appeared on 888 in late 2024. It is a straightforward game that gets you into the swing of things with symbols that include pyramids, snakes, and the signature Ra the Sun God. K, A, J, Q, and 10 all appear to be carved into Middle Eastern stones in this high volatility machine that is easy to play and perfect for beginners as well as veterans of the slot world.

The vibe is simple and streamlined with free spins that keep you in the game. There are five reels and four rows that bring on 30 betways, bonus bets, and a bonus wheel. Speaking of which, you can win big by building up bonuses or getting lucky and making a jackpot. 

For those looking to get deeply into a long-gone culture, escape from the modern world, and spin for cash, Gods of Egypt: Ra’s Reign can be a rewarding slot-machine time trip.

Anteing Up for Poker With an Old Friend 

All slot machine fans are very familiar with the Wheel of Fortune gaming franchise. Machines based on the enduring TV show debuted in the 1990s and are still going strong with new iterations showing up all the time.

The latest one, targeted at those of us who like to spin the wheel while playing the cards, is Wheel of Fortune Video Poker. It recently debuted at the Downtown Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and has been an instant hit.

Blowing up out of the gate, this machine combines favorite features from the Wheel of Fortune slot machines with video poker, a game that is easy to play and easy to love. In this amalgamation – which comes in triple play, five play, and 10 play configurations – the unique feature is a Wheel of Fortune side-bet that gets generated when you receive a winning hand of Jacks or better. 

Snag those prized cards and the fun really kicks in: you get the chance to see the machine randomly solve a classic Wheel of Fortune word puzzle. Payouts happen at various tiers. Hit the top one and an animated Vanna White – the TV game show’s famous letter turner – comes out to celebrate.

If you love playing video poker and the Wheel of Fortune slot machine, this game allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds at the same time while hoping for the puzzle to be solved.

Joker slot machine

The Joker is Wild – Again

With the Fire and Roses Joker slot machine being a big hit, it makes sense that Triple Edge Studios would introduce the sequel: Fire and Roses Joker 2 All-In. The atmosphere of this bonus-heavy machine is set with the introduction of the Joker, a fiery female with flames at her feet. You can play it on 888.

In order to cash in for big bucks on this circus themed game, you want to build up free spins and hit the bonus round multiplier. In terms of the playing field, there is a 3-4-5-4-3 grid. Wild cards can lead to winning spins; plus free-spins and a win multiplier can add up and result in the kinds of wins that draw us to slot machines in the first place.

Keey an eye out for the “must hit by” jackpots and “increased win ways” during your free spins. Go all-in for this joker-themed machine and watch the wild cards fly.

Reel in the Big Fish!

If you’re looking to take a deep dive into slot play, More Unusual Catch is worth a dip. The machine, featured on 888, can hook you up with 8,000x payoffs. The setting is underwater – with the reels themselves submerged – and a mustachioed angler is in there, trying to catch the big ones. 

There is medium volatility in this game where you hook catch money when at least three symbols match on the grid. Goggle-up and look out for multipliers, scatters, and bonus rounds, all adding to the cash that can be derived from playing this game with great visuals and a valuable bass that you’ll angle to bring in on the bonus round.

Put in your money, send the reels a spinning, and aim to land the kind of cash that makes slot play a joy. See you in the deep end of the clear and open waters!

*** If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like blackjack strategy and craps strategy. ***

Michael Kaplan is a journalist based in New York City. He has written extensively on gambling for publications such as Wired, Playboy, Cigar Aficionado, New York Post and New York Times. He is the author of four books including Aces and Kings: Inside Stories and Million-Dollar Strategies from Poker’s Greatest Players.

He’s been known to do a bit of gambling when the timing seems right.