If you’re presented with the choice between fish table and slot games, your choice will depend on your understanding of both gameplays. But when it comes down to the payout potential, there can be a wrong or an accurate choice. 

Interestingly, these are the two most popular game types, but they're completely different experiences. Fish table games let you shoot at targets with your own skill involved, while slots just spin and hope for the best. 

In this blog, we break down the best approach to choosing between these two games.

What Exactly Are Fish Table Games?

Think of fish table games as a mix between an arcade shooter and a casino game. Instead of spinning reels, you're using a cannon to shoot at fish swimming across your screen. Every fish you hit pays out credits based on how valuable it is.

Here's how it works: You've got a cannon at the bottom of your screen. Fish, crabs, sharks, and sometimes dragons swim by. You aim, shoot, and if you hit them, you win credits. Small fish are easy to hit, but don't pay much. Big boss fish are tough to nail, but can pay huge amounts.

The cool part? Your aim actually matters. If you're good at aiming and picking the right targets, you'll do better than someone just spraying bullets everywhere. It's not pure luck like other casino games.

You'll also get special weapons. Some ammunition is like spread shots that hit multiple fish at once, or bombs that clear the whole screen. These cost more per shot but can lead to massive wins when you use them at the right moment.

How Do Slot Machines Actually Work?

Slots are way simpler. You pick your bet amount, hit the spin button, and watch the reels spin. If you land matching symbols on the paylines, you win. That's pretty much it.

Most sweepstakes slots have 5 reels with 10 to 50+ paylines. You'll see symbols like diamonds, fruits, lucky sevens, or themed pictures. Get three or more matching symbols in a row, and you're paid according to the game's paytable.

Here's the thing: slots are 100% random. They use a technology called a Random Number Generator (RNG) that makes sure every spin is completely unpredictable. You can't control where the reels land. No skill, no strategy, just pure luck.

What makes slots fun are the bonus features. Wild symbols help you complete winning lines. Scatter symbols unlock free spins where you play without spending more credits. Some slots have multipliers that boost your wins, and a few even have progressive jackpots that keep growing until someone hits them.

The Big Difference: Skill vs Pure Luck

This is the most important thing to understand about fish table games versus slots.

Fish Table Games Reward Skill

With fish tables, you're actually in control. Your accuracy matters. If you're a good shot and make smart decisions about which fish to target, you'll consistently do better than beginners who shoot randomly.

Every second, you're making choices. Should I shoot the small fish for easy points? Or save my bullets for that golden dragon that's about to swim by? Should I use my special weapon now or wait for a better crowd of fish? These decisions directly affect how much you win.

Popular titles like the Golden Dragon game showcase exactly how skill-based mechanics work—with responsive shooting controls, diverse underwater targets, and strategic weapon systems that reward smart decision-making. Your performance genuinely impacts your results.

Slots Are 100% Random.

With slots, your skill means nothing. The only choice you make is how much to bet per spin. You can't influence the outcome, predict what's coming next, or use any strategy to improve your odds.

Some players love this because it's simple, no learning curve, no pressure to perform. Others hate it because you have zero control. You're just pressing a button and hoping to get lucky.

How Often Will You Win?

Fish Tables: Steady Small Wins

Fish table games give you lots of small wins. You're constantly hitting fish and racking up points. The gameplay feels active and rewarding because you're always earning something, even if it's just a few credits here and there.

Small fish might pay 2-10x what your bullet costs. Medium fish pay 20-50x. Boss creatures can pay 100-500x or even more. The key is your accuracy—miss too many shots, and you'll burn through credits fast, no matter how good the payouts are.

Slots: Bigger Wins, But Less Often

Slots work the opposite way. Most spins pay nothing at all—you just lose your bet. But when you do win, it's usually a bigger amount relative to what you bet.

You might go 10, 20, or even 30 spins without winning anything. Then suddenly you hit a combination that pays 50x or 100x your bet. This creates bigger swings in your balance. You can lose money quickly during a cold streak, but one good bonus round can win it all back.

What About Bonus Features?

Slot Bonus Rounds

Slots have crazy bonus features that create the biggest winning opportunities. The most common is free spins—you get 10-20 spins without betting any credits. During free spins, special features often kick in like sticky wilds, multipliers, or expanded reels.

Some slots have pick-and-win bonuses where you choose items to reveal prizes. Others have wheel spins or cascading reels that create multiple wins from one spin. When these bonuses hit, you can win 500x, 1000x, or even more than your bet.

The downside? Getting these bonuses is pure luck. You can't trigger them on purpose. You just keep spinning and hoping the right symbols land. It might take hundreds of spins before you see a bonus round.

Fish Table Special Weapons

Fish tables handle bonuses differently. Your special weapons are basically bonus features you control. When you see a bunch of valuable fish swimming together, you can fire a spread shot or bomb to wipe them all out at once.

Some fish tables have special events where point values temporarily double for all targets. Others have jackpot fish that swim across the screen—hit them and you claim a big prize pool. The difference is that you decide when to use these opportunities based on what's happening on your screen.

Managing Your Money: Which Game Lasts Longer?

Fish Tables Give You Control

With fish table games, you control how fast you spend money. Fire fewer shots and your credits last longer. Focus on easy targets, and you'll maintain a steady balance. If you're running low, you can switch to conservative play until things turn around.

This is great for players on a budget. You're never locked into a spending rate. If your balance gets low, just slow down your shooting and be more selective about targets.

Slots Have a Fixed Spending Rate

Slots are different. Once you set your bet size and hit spin, that money's committed. You can't slow down mid-game to make your bankroll last longer (unless you manually lower your bet, which also lowers your potential wins).

If you're betting $1 per spin and go 20 spins without winning, you've lost $20 with no way to adjust. Some players like knowing exactly what each spin costs. Others find it frustrating that they can't adapt on the fly.

Which Game Type Fits Your Personality?

You'll Love Fish Tables If You

Want to actually do something instead of just watching reels spin. Fish tables are active; you're aiming, shooting, and making split-second decisions constantly.

Enjoy getting better at games. Since skill matters, you'll improve over time. Your aim gets better, you learn which fish to prioritize, and you figure out the best times to use special weapons.

Like social gaming. Many fish tables are multiplayer. You can see other players' bullets on the screen and compete for the same targets. It creates a fun arcade atmosphere that slots just don't have.

You'll Prefer Slots If You

Want simple, relaxing entertainment. Slots require zero effort or concentration. Pick your bet, press spin, watch what happens. It's perfect for unwinding without thinking too hard.

Dream about hitting it big. While fish tables give steady wins, classic slot games can deliver massive jackpots from a single lucky spin. If you're chasing that one huge payout, slots offer higher potential.

Don't want to feel responsible for losses. With fish tables, you might blame yourself for missing shots or targeting the wrong fish. With slots, it's just bad luck—nothing you could've done differently. Some people find this mentally easier.

Game Speed: Fast Action or Steady Pace?

Fish Tables: You Set the Tempo

Fish tables let you play at whatever speed feels right. Want fast-paced action? Rapid-fire at everything that moves. Do you prefer taking your time? Aim carefully and be selective. You control the pace completely.

This flexibility affects how long your money lasts. Twenty bucks might last 15 minutes if you're trigger-happy, or stretch to an hour if you play conservatively. You adjust in real-time based on how things are going.

Slots: Consistent Speed

Every slot spin takes about 3-5 seconds, including animations. If you're betting $1 per spin, you'll spend roughly $12-20 per minute regardless of whether you're winning or losing.

Some players appreciate this consistency. It's predictable and rhythmic. Others feel rushed, especially during losing streaks where their balance drops at a steady rate with no way to slow down except stopping completely.

Return Rates: What Can You Actually Expect?

Slots Have Published RTPs

Slots clearly state their Return to Player (RTP) percentage, usually 94-97%. This means over millions of spins, the game pays back that percentage to players. A 96% RTP slot returns $96 for every $100 wagered long-term.

These numbers are tested and certified, so you can trust them. But remember: RTP is a long-term average. In the short term, anything can happen. You could lose $100 in an hour or win $200 on that same 96% RTP slot.

Fish Tables Vary Based on Skill

Fish tables rarely publish RTPs because skill changes everything. An experienced player might get a 98% return rate. A beginner might only see 85% until they improve.

This is both good and bad. Good because skilled players can potentially do better than slots. Bad because beginners will struggle more, and there's no certified baseline to verify the game is fair.

Final Thoughts 

Honestly? Neither one is "better." It completely depends on what you enjoy.

Pick fish tables if you want to feel involved, develop skills, and control your spending pace. Pick slots if you want simple entertainment with jackpot potential and don't mind leaving everything to luck.

Here's my advice: Try both with small bets. Spend 20 minutes on fish tables, then 20 minutes on slots. Which one was more fun? Where did your money last longer? Which kept you more entertained? Your gut reaction will tell you where to focus your gaming time.

Some players love both for different moods. Fish tables when they're feeling sharp and focused. Slots, when they want to zone out and relax. There's no wrong answer—just whatever makes your gaming sessions more enjoyable.