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Starburst
Starburst
RTP: 96% Volatility: Low
Max Payout (x wager):500 x wager
Min. Wagering:£0.01
Max. Wagering:£1
Software Provider:NetEnt
Paylines:10
Reels:5
Released:2013
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100 free spins when you play £10
New cust only. Opt in & deposit £10 in 7 days & wager 1x in 7 days on any casino game (excluding live casino & table games) for 100 Free Spins. Wagering contributions vary. Free Spins worth 10p each on Big Bass Splash. 3 day expiry. 18+. T&Cs Apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org
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Game Type:Penny slot
High Paying Symbols:Gold Bar, Lucky 7
Low Paying Symbols:Emerald, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Amethyst
Features and Awards:Win Both Ways: Pay out from both sides, Wilds: Substitute any symbol, Expanding Wilds: Cover the whole reel, Respins: Activated by expanding wilds, Max Bet: Increase the chance of winning.
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Battleship Direct Hit!
Battleship Direct Hit!
RTP: 95,90% Volatility: Medium Maximum Payout: £250,000
Max Payout (x wager):2500 x wager
Min. Wagering:£0.10
Max. Wagering:£100
Software Provider:WMS & Red 7
Paylines:117649
Reels:6
Released:2019
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Get 100% deposit bonus up to £ 200 on your first deposit. Your bonus is immediately available for activation after you have made your first deposit. To activate your bonus, go to "My Profile" ? "My Bonuses". With only 35 times wager requirement! 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org
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In-game Bonuses:Cascading Wins, Free Spins with re-triggers
High Paying Symbols:Medals and battleship
High Paying Symbols Value:4x for a match of 6.
Low Paying Symbols:Card ranks (10 to Ace)
Features and Awards:Turret Fire: Transforms low-value symbols into premium ones. Free Spins: Destroy ships to earn spins and jackpots.
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Siren Song
Siren Song
RTP: 96,33% Volatility: High Maximum Payout: £1,500,000
Max Payout (x wager):30000 x wager
Min. Wagering:£0.25
Max. Wagering:£50
Software Provider:TrueLab Games
Paylines:25
Reels:5
Released:2021
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In-game Bonuses:Free Spins
High Paying Symbols:Harp, Pirate, Skull
High Paying Symbols Value:Up to 60x for 5 matching symbols.
Low Paying Symbols:Card royals A, K, Q, J
How to Trigger a Free Spins Round:Land 3 scatter symbols to choose between 3 free spins features
Features and Awards:Emerald Free Spins: Sticky scatters; Silver Free Spins: Fish multiplier; Crimson Free Spins: Collect keys for chest multipliers.
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How to Play and Win on Online Slots – A Slot Dictionary

Slots may seem straight forward, but there are many aspects that differ between games. Let us take you through the key aspects that impact your chances to win:

Base Game

The base game refers to the primary game available in an online slot title. This is the standard game layout that the majority of the gameplay is based around.

Reels

Reels are the vertical columns of symbols or characters that spin when you play a slot game. The number of reels can vary across different slot games. The traditional number of reels associated with slots is 3. However, more recent titles regularly offer 5 or more reels. Once the reels stop spinning, the resulting sequence of symbols is displayed.

In order to win, you must match all or a specific number of symbols across the different reels. The symbols used on reels are often specific to the theme of the game however, the most common symbols I have come across are numbers and fruit. Casinos use random number generating (RNG) software to ensure fairness across slot games.

Winning Combinations

A winning combination is usually a sequence of images or characters that once aligned will result in a payout. Usually, winning combinations need to be in sequence starting at the outer left most reel and continue across in a horizontal direction to the right.

Depending on the game being played, a different number of sequential matching symbols need to be displayed in order to have a winning combination. Some brands offer winning combinations for matching symbols that align vertically in the same reel.

‘Pays both Ways’ is a fairly recently new feature, which allows winning combination to appear in both left to right and right to left directions. We have explained this in more detail below.

Coin Value

Coin value in slots refer to the monetary value associated with the coins you use to wager in the game. The coin value can be adjusted to determine how much money is wagered on each spin.

An easy example would be if you selected a coin value of 1p and used betted 100 coins on a spin then amount that would be betted is £1. Coin values are a great way of managing the amount of money that you bet, as well as helping to you stick to your budget. The number of coins used per bet can also affect the total payout. In general, the more coins used per bet will reduce the total payout of any potential winnings from that bet.

Bet Level

The bet level is an adjustable feature found at most online slots. The function of this feature is to allows you to customise the number of coins wagered per bet. An example of this is a slot that offers a bet level of 1-10, the scale refers to the number of coins betted on each spin. If you choose a bet level of 5, you will bet 5 coins per spin.

The bet level is linked to the coin value, so the bet level you select will wager this specific number of coins with the coin value that has been selected. The bet level is another good way to manage your budget and control the amount of money that is wagered on each bet.

Paylines

Paylines detail the number of matched symbols that need to appear in sequence in order to win the bet.

Traditionally only one payline was on offer based off matching a number of symbols horizontally across the reels. Nowadays, casinos offer a large number of paylines for each slot. These paylines can consist of matching symbols vertically, horizontally and even diagonally across different reels. You can select more than one payline that is on offer to increase the odds on each spin, but keep in mind that the more paylines are selected, the larger the bet is that will be placed.

Pays Both Ways

As we mentioned above, traditionally you would need to match the symbols in a slot game in order from left to right to satisfy any paylines. In this case you must match as many symbols as is required by the game, starting from the leftmost reel to receive any payout.

When a slot game includes pays both ways, the winning combinations are paid out from both left to right and right to left directions, increasing your chances of winning. While pays both ways can result in a more engaging playing experience with greater odds of winning, it is important to note that payouts are usually lower when compared to traditional slots.

Anywhere Pays or Scatter Pays

Anywhere Pays is a feature that allows you to win based off matching symbols appearing anywhere on the reels. Unlike most slot paylines which require you to align matching symbols in specific directions, ‘Anywhere Pays’ will payout as long as the predetermined number of matching symbols appears anywhere on the slot’s reels.

Due to the nature of symbols not having to be in sequence, this is another feature that can increase the chances of wining on a slot. You might find this feature to be referred to as Scatter Pays or Scatter Wins when playing slots.

Cluster Pays

Cluster Plays are often considered included in an ‘Anywhere Pays’ payline. Cluster Pays are when symbols need to appear adjacent to each other in vertical or horizontal directions across different slot reels forming a cluster of matching symbols.

Wilds and Sticky Wilds

Wilds are somewhat like a wildcard in online slots. Many top online slots will include Wilds as part of the playing experience.

These are special symbols that act as a substitute for other symbols so that if a sequence of matching symbols is interrupted by a wild, the wild can included to form a winning combination. Some brands will use Wilds to trigger additional bonus features such as free spins or bonus multipliers. These types of Wilds are most commonly referred to as substitute wilds and are the most common type of wilds we have come across.

Two other common types of Wilds we have seen at top brands are Expanding Wilds and Sticky Wilds. Expanding Wilds extend to a full reel in either a vertical or horizontal direction. By expanding to an entire reel they cover that reel so that if a matching symbol is missing from a winning combination on a particular reel but an Expanding Wild is present, the Wild will be factored in to give you a winning combination.

Sticky Wilds usually come in the form of a single symbol. This symbol however, will be ‘stuck’ in a particular location on a reel for a number of spins providing additional opportunities to win over multiple spins.

High Paying Symbols

High paying symbols are specific symbols offered by a brand that when they appear in a winning combination they will result in a larger bonus being won. These symbols are typically centred around the theme of the particular slot being played.

Low Paying Symbols

Low paying symbols are usually the most common winning combination symbols available at slots. As the name suggests, these symbols result in a lower payout than regular winning combination symbols and high paying symbols. As a result of the lower payout on offer you will find that these symbols are more likely to appear in one of the reels as you play.

Due to the higher likelihood of landing a low paying symbol in your winning combination these are a good way to keep the game engaging while still offering the opportunity to contribute towards potential winnings.

As you can see here, the most common symbol being the purple diamond pays the least whereas the BAR symbol will pay the most. If you were to get three purple diamonds you are only getting 5 coins whereas three of the bar symbol would pay 50 coins which is 10x the amount of the purple diamond.

In-Game Features and Awards

These are special promotions offered by casinos to give you the chance to win random bonuses. They come in a variety of different types such as free spins, anywhere pays, wilds and scatter symbols to name a few. These are generally awarded at random and are a way of the casinos to reward consistent players and to keep gameplay fun and engaging.

Comparing Slot Games

As all good slots players know, not all slot games are created equal. There are many variations in the way games are put together, from the basic themes, graphics and animations, to the complex maths models behind the games that determine how and when a slot will pay out.

To help you choose the right slot game for your budget, experience and expectations, here is our simple guide on what to look out for.

Wagering Range

Wagering range refers to the amount of money that can be placed on each spin. Most slots have a minimum and maximum wagering range. This is a good way of controlling the level of risk a player wants to take with each spin. The higher the wagering amount, the higher the potential payout will be. However, it is also important to keep in mind that the higher the wagering amount, the more money will be lost if a winning combination does not appear.

Nearly all of the top brands offer slots tailored to casual players as well as slots tailored to high-rollers. In terms of the slots available for casual players, these have a small minimum wagering requirement sometimes only £0.01 per spin. While high-roller slots on the other hand have much higher minimum wagering requirements, sometimes up to £100.

While it can be difficult to pin point an exact average given the number of slots available in the UK, from what we have seen the average range would be somewhere from £0.10 to £2 per spin.

In-Game Bonus Features

Many slots come with bonus features. However, these are not to be confused with casino bonuses, which are promotions that can be used to get free spins or credit that can be used on slot games as well as other casino games.

Slot bonus features are triggered within the game itself by landing specific symbols, combinations or events that happen while playing.

The types of bonus features most commonly found at slots are extra multipliers, free spins, and interactive mini-games. For example, if you trigger the free spins feature you will receive a certain number of free spins that can be used to give you additional chances to land winning combinations. The wager that is put on the free spin is equal to the wager that you put on the spin that activated the free spin bonus.

In-Game Free Spins

In game free spins can be triggered by landing a specific symbol or sequence of symbols as well as a number of other traditional methods. In game free spins provides, as the name suggests, free spins within the game round you’re already playing.

Bonus Reels

Bonus reels are activated during a bonus round or feature. They are often found during freespin rounds. On a bonus reel you can expect to find more high-paying symbols, wilds, and multipliers which can increase your chances of winning during a bonus spin. It is also common to find special symbols, specific to bonus reels that do not appear in the base game. If these symbols appear in a winning combination, you can expect to win bigger amounts when compared to winning combinations in the base game.

Expanding Reels

It is common to find expanding reels during in a bonus round, especially a free spin bonus. Here you will notice that the number of reels present during spins is increased which give you more opportunities to land a winning combination.

Re-Triggers

This bonus feature allows you to activate the bonus feature, while still playing with that bonus feature. For example, if you trigger a free spins bonus, and during that bonus you land on a specific number of scatter symbols while playing your free spins, the bonus feature can be ‘re-triggered’ which in turn gives you additional free spins bonuses to use.

Bonus Buy

This feature allows you to purchase a bonus round or special feature. By using your own funds you pay a predetermined amount of money to bypass the base game and go directly into the bonus round. This can be used to get access to free spins or any other in-game bonus features available at that casino.

Jackpot Wheels

Once you activate this bonus feature you are guaranteed to win something. The wheel will appear on screen and rotates until it lands on a specific prize. The prizes on offer can vary from free spins, small cash rewards, to progressive jackpots that can result in significant payouts. This feature is activated in much the same way as other in-game bonuses, by landing specific symbols during regular gameplay.

Bonus Gambles

This feature most commonly appears after a win or at the end of a bonus round. It gives you the opportunity to risk your winnings or bonus reward for a chance to increase them. The most common type of bonus gamble offered is the ‘double or nothing’. In this instance you are given the option to wager your winnings on the outcome of a simple game, usually a 50/50 scenario like flipping a coin or guessing the colour of a card. You have the potential to either double your winnings or loose it all. Some games will allow for repeated bonus gambles, potentially multiplying the winnings several times. Just remember that if you guess incorrectly on any bonus gamble round, all of the winnings you have up to that point will be lost.

Upgrade Symbols

These symbols are special features that if they appear on a reel can enhance the value of other symbols that make up a winning combination. Upgrade symbols can, as the name suggests upgrade the value of standard symbols in a winning combination. In bonus rounds like free spins, each time the upgrade symbol is landed, it can upgrade a different symbol type for the remainder of the free spin bonus feature.

Ladder or Trail

Like with most in game bonus features, this is triggered during the base game by a number of different methods such as landing specific combinations, winning a certain number of games or simply a through a random event.

Once triggered, this bonus requires you to step through a number of ladder or trail sequences. As each step is achieved, you increase your potential for bigger wins. To progress through the steps, you can be presented with a number of different mechanisms such as spinning a wheel, rolling a dice, or collecting specific symbols during free spins, to name a few.

Link and Win

As the name suggests, this feature requires you to link specific symbols during gameplay to activate the bonus feature. Once activated, you can expect to receive bonuses like free spins, multipliers, or cash prizes.

Return to Player – RTP

Another important factor to consider when choosing what to play is Return to Player or RTP. This is expressed as a percentage and refers to the average amount of money paid out to players in prizes by a game. Typically, this will be around 95% to 97%. At 97%, on average, for every £100 you wager, £97 will come back to you in prizes. Now this doesn’t mean that you will always lose 3% of your stake – that wouldn’t be fun at all! You might win 150% back, whilst someone else might lose 50%. This is just an average payout for a game, across millions of pounds of bets, across thousands of players.

In general it is better to play a slot with at least 96% RTP. But don’t write off those with an RTP under 96%. Casinos that have slots with an RTP below 96% do so to increase the likelihood of the casino making a profit from these titles. However, if casinos offered slots with lower RTP values and no incentive for customers to play these slots then customers would just choose a similar slot with a higher RTP value.

In order to make these lower RTP slots enticing to players, the casino will offer enhanced game features. These will come in the form of bonus rounds and features like free spins, bonus multipliers and free mini games. Progressive jackpots are another feature commonly associated with lower RTP slots. So while on average a lower RTP value slot will result in a lower likelihood of winning over time, they do however, offer bonuses that can result in larger one off winnings.

If you prefer higher volatility play you may also prefer to play a slot with an RTP less than 96%.

Variance or Volatility

One of the biggest factors that will determine the kind of experience you will have when playing slots is the variance of the game you are playing. This is also sometimes referred to as the volatility.

Unlike RTP, variance is based on the frequency of wins. Most games fall into Low, Medium or High variance (also known as volatility) depending on how often they actually realise wins, as well as the average value of those wins.

Variance refers to how much and how often a game pays out. Low variance games will typically pay out more frequently, but in smaller amounts. Games like Starburst by NetEnt are good examples of low variance slots. Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, high variance games will pay out infrequently, but sometimes much bigger prizes. Classic high variance slots include Book of Dead by Play n Go, Dead or Alive by NetEnt, or more recently, pretty much anything in Big Time Gaming’s slot catalogue – Bonanza or Extra Chilli for example.

The best slot sites will offer a mixture of games at different variance levels. However, some sites are clearly geared more towards a particular level of variance, so it can be important to see which kind of games a site focuses on most before you sign up.

Payout Value

The payout value of a slot is the amount of money a player can expect to receive from a winning combination. It is usually expressed as a multiple of the wagered amount and is determined by the game’s pay table. The payout value for each game is fixed and predetermined by the casino.

The payout value can vary from title to title. Classic slots often have fewer pay lines and less features on offer. This results in lower payout values when compared to other slot types. The exception to this is for rare combinations in classic slots which can have much larger payouts than normal winning combinations.

Video slots on the other hand generally offer larger payouts when compared to classic slots. This is due to the bigger selection of paylines, additional features such as cluster pays, wilds, and bonus rounds. All of these contribute to a broader range of payout values.

The payout value will depend on the winning combination that is achieved. This can range anywhere from 1x to 10x for standard symbol winning combinations. These are the most common winning combinations on slots. Symbols associated with the theme of the game will usually result in a a larger payout range, anywhere from 10x to 50x. The largest payout are reserved for special symbols such as game specific characters, treasures of special icons. If you get a winning combination containing any of these special symbols the payout value can range anywhere from 50x to 500x.

Themes and Graphics

It’s fair to say that quality must be at the forefront. Each slot should have pristine graphics and audio in order to keep you engaged throughout the course of your gameplay.

As you can see from the slot games listed above, there are literally thousands to choose from, with many different themes and graphical styles. Some themes are common – Irish slots are ten a penny, whilst Ancient Greece and Fairytales are other well-mined sources of inspiration for slot studios.

Game Studios or Software Developers

There are of course many different game studios or so called software developers or game developers producing slots, and you may well have a favourite. The biggest are names like NetEnt and Microgaming, but there are lots of others around which you may or may not have heard of. When you find one you like it’s worth checking out their full catalogue because typically their games will all have a similar style and gameplay.

Depending on what you enjoy most about playing slots, different developers style will be more suited to you. If you enjoy visually stunning graphics and engaging themes, have an eye for creative design and unique bonus features you may be drawn to NetEnt’s portfolio of games.

If you are less concerned about the aesthetics and creativity of a game, and more interested in playing across a large number of different slot titles that offer progressive jackpots, then Microgaming might be the developer of choice for you.

Some look for a consistent stream of bonus offers when playing slots and this is what Pragmatic Play attempt to tailor their playing experience to.

As you might have guessed by now, each developer has their own unique style, features and aesthetics that they like to use. While each game will never be a copy of another, they might contain similarities. This means that many have a specific preference when it comes to developers.

Barcrest Logo

Barcrest

Barcrest are best known for their selection of classic slots, themed slots, and progressive jackpots. They specialise in high-limit betting, adjustable RTPs (Return to Payer), and branded themes. Iconic titles like Rainbow Riches, a strong arcade presence, and an extensive history in the slot industry is what sets this brand apart from its competitors.

Read more about Barcrest
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Big Time Gaming

Big Time Gaming are pioneers in slot game functionalities and features. If you’re looking for high-volatility slots and unique themes, this is a good choice. BTG are also big on their gameplay mechanics, for example they offer megaways slots which provide thousands of winning combinations (117,649 to be exact)

Read more about Big Time Gaming
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Endorphina

From classic slots, themed slots, and innovative video slots, Endorphina has strong coverage across them all. This brand is a master at providing high-quality graphics, engaging storylines, and unique bonus features. You will be sure to find diverse themes as Endorphina offers both classic fruit machines and more modern and story-driven games. These include some with controversial and provocative themes.

Read more about Endorphina

Fugaso

Fugaso is a leader in providing themed slots with classic, modern, and innovative designs. They specialise in offering a unique playing experience with themes ranging from political satire to fantasy settings, all offering a variety of bonus features. You can expect to find high-quality animations, inventive bonus rounds, and progressive jackpot series games at any of Fugaso’s titles.

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Lightening Box Games

Lightening Box Games are tailored to those who enjoy math-focused slots with diverse themes specialising in innovative mathematical models and engaging gameplay mechanics. They are unique in that this developers often collaborates with other big providers on projects with the aim of delivering unique bonus features and high-volatility games.

Read more about Lightning Box Games
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Microgaming

Microgaming are one of the most recognised developers in the industry, partly due to their progressive jackpots, selection of branded slots, as well as classic and modern video slots. Their record-breaking progressive jackpots such as Mega Moolah, high-quality graphics, and diverse themes are their specialities. Unique to Microgaming is their long established history in the industry, dating back to 1994, a vast games library and partnerships with major entertainment franchises for branded slots.

Read more about Microgaming
NetEnt Logo

NetEnt

NetEnt have a history of providing some of the best innovative video slots, 3D slots and branded slot titles. Their high-definition graphics, innovative gameplay features, and immersive storylines are what players look for in NetEnt slots. Their most popular titles like Starbust and Gonzo’s Quest, emphasis on mobile gaming with NetEnt Touch, and a strong focus on player experience is what separates them from the competition.

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Novomatic Logo

Novomatic

Novomatic are renowned for their ability provide both incredible classic slots and modern slots. If you are looking for simple yet engaging gameplay and land-based casino classics adapted for an online experience then this brand is definitely one check out. Novomatic is known for its famous Book of Ra series, a strong presence in both land-based and online casinos, and straightforward mechanics that appeals to traditional players.

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Play'n Go

Play’n Go is one of the best developers at providing video slots, 3D slots, and progressive jackpots. This developer always put emphasis on rich graphics, diverse themes, and innovative bonuses in all of their titles. What makes Play’n Go stand out is their mobile-first approach, popular titles like book of Dead, and consistently high RTP games.

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Playtech

Branded slots, progressive jackpots, as well as classic and video slots are what players associate with Playtech. You can expect to find high-quality branded content like their DC Comics inspired slots, a wide range of games on offer, and substantial jackpot networks at any of their slot games. Unique features you can expect from this developer is their Age of the Gods series, their collaborations with major entertainment brands, and comprehensive gaming solutions beyond slots.

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Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play are one of the best games developers at offering video slots, classic slots and progressive jackpots. Within these slots you can expect high-quality graphics, diverse themes, and engaging bonus features. Unique features associated with Pragmatic Play are Daily Drops & Wins promotions, mobile-optimized games, and rapid game releases.

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Red Tiger Gaming Logo

Red Tiger

Red Tiger is a brand that has made a name for itself by offering top class video slots with innovative features. The high-end graphics, engaging themes, and unique mechanics like the ‘Smart Spins’ are what players have gotten used to from this developer. If you enjoy daily jackpots, integration of gamification tools, and an emphasis on player engagement then you will be sure to enjoy many of Red Tiger’s slot games.

Read more about Red Tiger
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Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil is best know for their high-definition video slots and progressive jackpots. Their slots offer stunning visuals, innovative game mechanics, and immersive narratives. On top of this, the unique features associated with Yggdrasil are the introduction of mechanics like “Splitz” and “Gigablox”, strong storytelling in games, and the YG Masters program which aims to foster collaboration.

Read more about Yggdrasil

Licensing and Fairness

When choosing a game, and when choosing where to play, always make sure the casino and their slot suppliers are properly licensed by a recognised gaming jurisdiction. This will ensure that the games have been properly audited for fairness and genuinely random outcomes. It also means that you will have recourse to a licensing body should you have a dispute over the outcome of a game. All casino sites listed on Compare.bet are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.

Types of Online Slots

A single slot site might host dozens of general online slot game variations, each one encompassing a range of games as a whole. While most people know the basics of a typical video slot game, the truth is that every few modern games are typical. If you are playing slots at random, there is a good chance you will run into a feature or bonus that is not part of classic games.

It is almost impossible to remember every single variant of all slot and casino games in existence, but knowing the basic general types can still be important. Many of the best slot sites offer a good variety of games, so you want to know the most popular archetypes and categories.

Jackpot Slots

Jackpot slots are a similar to traditional online slot games, with the difference being that this variation gives players the opportunity to win larger than normal prizes. Generally the prizes on offer at these types of games are in the form of progressive jackpots. Here, a small portion of each player’s bet is used to contribute towards a cumulative jackpot. As more and more players play the jackpot slot, more and more money is contributed to the jackpot prize. The premise of the game stays the same: hit the winning combination and you walk away with the money.

The appeal with this type of slot game is that with just one spin, a player can land the winning combination and win the jackpot. The exciting and highly-unpredictable nature of this game is another reason that people tend to enjoy it. Despite the fact that jackpot slots gives players the chance to win large sums of money, it must not be forgotten that these games are know for their high volatility and low odds of winning. The jackpots are enormous but are not easy to win. It is important to balance the excitement of playing this game with responsible gambling habits.

Classic Slots

Classic slots are the three-reel slot games that most people think of when “slots” are mentioned. These are simple and easy to bet on and often show results quickly, meaning that they are a popular choice for online casino players who want something straightforward.

Most classic slots will use various symbols to mark winning conditions, as well as a jackpot symbol that the player would need to match three of to get the big win. With only three reels, the combinations are limited, but the spinning itself is fast.

There is not really any particular quirk that you need to know regarding these machines. They are incredibly common on any slots site, and most features are going to be simple things that the game itself can explain.

Playing classic slots is simple since there is usually just one payline, you spin and hope that you get a winning combination in the middle of the reels. Bonus spins are basically going to be more of the same, and only a few will have features that drastically alter the game itself.

Video Slots

Video slots are generally five-reel slots that take things up to the next level. While the five reels mean more combinations as a whole, they are also usually packed with more features and bonuses, as well as opening up more paylines that can influence the kind of wins you earn.

Video slots also tend to put more effort into presentation, using stylish graphics and animation to draw in users. The theme can be important since it influences all of the symbols, the music, and even the choice of bonus features in some cases. The main point of video slots is to take full advantage of the digital improvements they have over classic slots. This means more bonuses, flashier visuals, greater variety, and a widespread presence in any online casino.

However, playing these games is still relatively simple. While the extra paylines can vary things up, you are usually just spinning like normal. The real change is bonuses. For example, when playing slots like this, you might activate a hidden bonus feature by getting specific combinations of symbols. This could just be free spins, or it could be an entirely separate bonus game that has its own set of gameplay rules.

Megaways

Megaways games feature six reels and a rotating set of symbols, meaning there are a huge amount of paylines with each spin. The number of paylines on offer can vary between 243 and 117,649 patterns, making every spin extremely unique.

These are larger-scale slots that many of the best slot sites offer as a main attraction. While Megaways games are quite rare, and are often Megaways-focused versions of selected games that were already popular, they can lead to a lot of winnings paid if you get lucky.

Megaways slots are notable for having even more intense bonuses. This can mean entire bonus rounds and unique in-play features, leading to more active slots bonus options and keeping the game fresh for a lot longer than standard slots.

Of course, this also makes them more complex to play and can put them under more restrictions. For example, bonus money may have extra steps you need to take before you can withdraw it as cash funds, and the slots bonus games may require you to play them in specific ways.

Many of the best online slot sites offer a good range of Megaways games, although they are obviously quite limited in number. They can be hard to learn as a new player but are often worth it if you want to play something more complex and with greater variety.

Progressive Slots

Progressive slots are slot games that have progressive jackpots as a core feature. These are jackpots that gradually build up over time, taking into account bets across the entire site or even the network until somebody wins that jackpot.

While these are still normal online slots underneath, progressive jackpot slots are heavily focused on the progressive jackpots themselves. Players can earn a massive payout if they get lucky, and the jackpot keeps increasing as more people put money into the game.

These often become a central part of an online casino, with many larger-scale jackpot slots constantly gaining more money until somebody gets lucky. They are effectively the live casino games equivalent of slots since the jackpot rises and falls in real-time.

Best Free Online Slots

Certain slot games are able to be played completely free. Keep in mind that most free slot games will not let you win any real money. The exception is through free spins you earn as part of a bonus spins feature since you could technically earn money with nothing but free spins under the right circumstances.

The Future of Slots in the UK

The online slot world has evolved by leaps and bounds over the past two decades. Innovations are being introduced on a yearly basis, from the revolutionary Megaways, all the way to thrilling Hold and Win games.

The nature of these new slots is to introduce or at least improve the gaming experience for us, the players. New themes, soundtracks, graphics, storylines, sequels, and bonus features are all reasons to tune into the latest news on upcoming slot games. The introduction of AI has also made it even easier for companies to fast-forward their production of slot releases, freeing time up to focus on innovative features such as 3D gaming, VR, and even augmented reality.

AI is being used to create personalised experiences for players. Online casinos use AI to analyse player behaviour, preferences, and gaming patterns. By analysing this data, the AI software can recommend slot games that it feels are suited to your preferences and playing style.

AI is also used to tailor your in-game playing experiences. Similar to how it can recommend different slot games based on data and patterns, it is also used to adjust in-game features based on player interactions. For example, the AI software can predict which bonus features you tend to enjoy and where possible will offer these types of bonuses instead of ones you might have previously ignored or not claimed.

Compare to play

If you’ve made it this far, you should now you have all the information you need to choose from one of the many slot games listed on our site. If you are searching for a specific set of games like high volatility slots, high RTP slots or Megaways games, use the sorting or filtering function directly on this page. Remember to always practice responsible gambling while you play slots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are scatter pays and scatter wins the same thing?

Yes, scatter pays and scatter wins refer to the same concept. Both terms describe the payouts or rewards that you receive when you land a certain number of scatter symbols on the reels, regardless of whether those symbols align on traditional paylines.

Scatter symbols typically offer wins when they appear anywhere on the reels, and they often trigger special features like free spins or bonus rounds in addition to the cash rewards. The term “scatter pays” emphasizes the payout, while “scatter wins” highlights the outcome, but they are interchangeable.

Why don't you list slots from Evolution Gaming?

Evolution Gaming does not directly product slots. Their focus is heavily weighted on live dealer games. Their most influential contributions are live casino games. At any Evolution Gaming creation you can expect to find high-definition streaming, an immersive live dealer experience, and innovative game modes like First Person and VR games.

Do slots with cluster pays not have pay lines?

Slots with cluster pays do not have traditional pay lines. Instead of aligning symbols on fixed paylines, these games reward players when groups (or clusters) of matching symbols appear adjacent to each other, typically in clusters of 4 or more, depending on the game’s rules.

In cluster pay slots, the key is getting symbols to touch horizontally or vertically, and the size of the cluster often determines the payout. Many cluster pay slots also feature cascading or tumbling reels, where winning clusters disappear and new symbols fall into place, potentially creating more wins.

Do slots with scatter pays not have pay lines?

Slots with scatter pays often still have traditional paylines, but the scatter symbols themselves are an exception to the payline system.

In most slots, scatter symbols can pay out regardless of where they land on the reels. Unlike regular symbols, which must align on specific paylines, scatters can award payouts or trigger bonus features (like free spins) simply by appearing in the required number, regardless of their position on the grid. That said, there are some scatter-only slots, where the entire payout system is based on the number of scatters and no traditional paylines are involved. However, many slots combine both payline systems and scatter features.

Why do some slots have a range of pay lines?

Some slots offer a range of paylines to provide players with more flexibility and control over their bets. Having a range of paylines offers players a customizable experience, balancing risk, reward, and personal preferences. Here’s why slots feature a variable number of paylines:

Player Choice: By allowing players to choose how many paylines to activate, slots accommodate different risk levels and budgets. Players can bet on fewer paylines for lower overall bets or activate all paylines for a better chance of landing winning combinations.

Bet Size Adjustment: The number of paylines you activate directly impacts the total bet amount. Activating more paylines increases the cost of each spin, but also boosts the chances of winning since more paylines are in play.

Game Strategy: Some players prefer fewer paylines for higher volatility, while others activate all paylines for more consistent but smaller wins. This flexibility caters to various playing styles.

Bonus Feature Requirements: In some slots, activating a certain number of paylines might be required to trigger bonus features or to maximize win potential. Players can adjust paylines to suit their goals, whether they want to focus on base game wins or aim for feature-triggering symbols.