Online Slots UK – Find the Best Online Slots Sites
Slot games are some of the most popular casino games for players in and outside the UK. Find the best slots from the casinos we recommend and learn more about online slots UK and how to win in this slots guide!
Best Online Slots Sites
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- 24/7 customer service
- More than 3,000 games
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- 100 daily no-deposit free spins
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- Large game selection including bingo
How to Start Playing the Best Online Slots
When playing slots online you don’t need to dress up and head into a brick-and-mortar casino or game shop. Simply log in to your online casino account and start playing!
If you are brand new to online gaming, here is a quick step-by-step on how to start playing slots online:
- Sign up at an online casino (read our reviews to find the best slots sites)
- Make a minimum 5 pound deposit with for example PayPal or Deposit by Mobile
- Opt-in for the welcome bonus (a promo code might be required)
- Start playing for free (using your bonus) or for real money
- If you don’t know of any top online slots yet, we recommend reading some slot reviews to find the best slots for you
How to Win on Online Slots
So once you have signed up to a casino and found an online slot to try, the next question is of course how to win. It is important to remember that slot machines are games of pure luck and chance and that there are no tactics you can make use of. But by choosing some of the best-paying slots with a high RTP and/or jackpot, you can choose a game with the best payouts.
Once you’ve made a deposit in your casino, you can start playing for real money. A 5-pound deposit will get you far here! Open your slot, choose your bet and click spin. While all slot games are unique, the gameplay is normally very similar.
In order to win while playing, you will need to land a set amount of symbols on your paylines. Depending on the symbols you match (and how many there are of them) you will get a payout or bonus. You might for example get free spins, multipliers or access to a bonus game. If you win anything, you can choose to keep spinning from your balance or cash out your bankroll.
How Online Slots Work
Now that you know what an online slot is and how you can start playing it, it’s time for you to learn how it started and how it works today.
The first slot machine was built in 1894 and was a mechanical coin-operated game. It featured a 3-reel design with a few symbols and was very plain, with only one payline. They were popular in bars around the country and offered small prizes such as bubble gum or a few cents. Fruit symbols became common in modern video slots as a result of classic slot machines.
But, with the modernization and introduction of computers, physical and remote slots nowadays are controlled by software, and a random number generator is used by the slot machine’s program to decide which symbols will appear on the reels at the end of each turn.
As you would suspect, once slot machines became automated, players began to doubt how fair the game would be. However, online slots will have to pass numerous stringent tests to be considered fair. Typically, an online slot machine’s random number generator software is tested by an independent software testing organization. Then, the platform can be licensed if the results prove it to be fair and random.
Real Money Online Slots
If you want to win real money when playing online slots, you need to play real money slots. These are slots that you play from an online casino where you deposit and bet your money in the game.
In the game, you will be able to choose how much you want to bet (within the minimum and maximum betting limits). This normally ranges from less than £1 per spin up to £20 or more. Sometimes you can also choose how many paylines you want to be active, how many coins you want to bet per line, or similar.
When playing on real money slots, you will get to see your winnings as you spin. We always recommend going for slots with a high RTP (return to player percentage) of at least 96%. Progressive jackpot slots are of course the most lucrative ones, with potential winnings of millions of pounds.
Low Deposit Slots
With more and more low minimum deposit casinos on the market, you don’t have to spend much to play online slots. These days most online casinos accept deposits of £10 or less. This means that you can sign up at an online casino, deposit £10 and start playing right away.
While a £10 deposit might not sound like a lot, it will actually last for quite a few rounds on a slot game. Most slots allow you to freely choose your bet amount per spin, starting from just a few pence. With the minimum bet amount you can play up to 100 spins on some slots, and hopefully, you will get some free spins in there too!
Note that if you play with the minimum bet amount, you will also get the lowest winnings possible. For some jackpot slots, progressive jackpots are only paid out for players betting the maximum amount per spin.
Low Stake Slots
If you are looking to get the most spins out of a small deposit, you need to play a low-stake slot. We recommend the following slots, where you can set the stake as low as £0.09 per spin, giving you 111 spins for £10!
1. Starburst Slot from NetEnt
Starburst is a well-known video slot that can be found at most online casinos. This slot from NetEnt is often part of the welcome package when signing up at a new casino, giving free spins to new players.
We like to recommend this slot for two reasons: It is very easy to understand and enjoy, and it has a good range of betting options. At this slot, you can choose to bet only £0.10 per spin. This will make a £10 deposit last for 100 rounds!
With bonus features including an expanding wild symbol and respins, you can end up getting a lot of spins for just £10. Starburst is an easy slot that is perfect for beginners.
Try Starburst at PlayOJO!
2. Mega Moolah from Microgaming
Mega Moolah from Microgaming is another personal favourite. The online slot from 2006 is one of the most popular in the world. This is mainly thanks to its four millionaire-maker jackpots; Mini, Minor, Major and Mega.
At this slot, you can set the minimum coin value to £0.01. If you activate all 25 paylines (which you should in order to get a shot at the jackpots), you can then play with a minimum bet of £0.25 per round. This means that you can play 40 rounds with a £10 deposit and have your chance to win many millions in jackpots.
Sign up to Yako Casino and try the slot for yourself!
3. Dead or Alive from NetEnt
Another favourite from NetEnt, with a different theme than Starburst, is Dead or Alive. This Western-style slot is well-known for giving lots of free spins. And if that wasn’t enough, you can bet as little as £0.09 per spin!
The slot has 9 paylines and an RTP of 96.8%. You can collect free spins and multipliers, which will give even a coin value of £0.01 some nice winnings.
You can find Dead or Alive and other NetEnt slots at Online Casino London!
4. Turning Totems from Thunderkick
Both NetEnt and Microgaming have a lot of great slots to try out. But we also want to mention some other game providers. To start off, Thunderkick is one worth checking out. Their impressive collection of slots includes a lot of fun designs and themes, combined with simple gameplay.
Turning Totem is a colourful, Tiki-inspired slot. The set-up is unique with five totem poles instead of the regular slot wheels. Once you click Spin, the totems will turn and the symbols will change to unveil winnings combinations.
With a minimum bet of only £0.10 per spin, it is a fun game to try out for a few rounds. The game has some simple bonus features including a free spins mode.
Check out slots from Thunderkick at Videoslots!
Quick Online Slot Strategy Tips
1. Choose a game with a smaller jackpot
Although most people will go after the bigger jackpot bonus, choose the slot games with smaller jackpots over those with large progressive jackpots. While the allure of a big win is understandable, you’ll be far more likely to win this route.
2. Mind the paylines
Take the time to learn about the paylines in each game before you begin. You’ll know your odds of winning if you know how many paylines your chosen game has.
3. Always play on safe sites
Playing on safe sites ensures that your money will not be in vain, and it will not disappear because of intentional and unethical reasons. Just play real money online slots at reputable and trustworthy online casinos and you’ll be good to go. A good place to start is here at Kabono.
4. Make bonus rounds the holy rounds
Bonus rounds are very important if you want to nail jackpots and get free spins. You should know where they are and how to play them, so you can maximize your winnings.
Free Online Slots
You also have the option of playing at free online slots. This can be done in two main ways:
- Playing slots for free in demo mode with play money
- Playing slots for free using free spins or other casino bonuses
Tip!
If you want to test some online slots before spending your own money, playing for free in demo mode is a good place to start. Then you can test out the game and get used to the symbols and gameplay for free. But of course, if you play for free using play money you won’t be able to win real money.
Free Spins and other Casino Bonus Rewards
You can actually win real money while playing for free though; thanks to casino bonuses. Many casinos reward players with free spins that you can use to spin the reels for free while still winning real money. By adhering to the terms given (normally a minimum deposit, unless it is a no deposit bonus) the casino will give you a certain amount of free spins. Normally the free spins are given on a specific slot, such as Starburst or Book of Dead.
Some free slots UK players can enjoy are available at online slots websites – the game providers’ own websites or online casinos offering free games.
New Online Slots
It is not only new online casinos but also new casino games that are launched at a frequent pace.
While you would think that the hundreds of slots available at online casinos should be enough for most players, there is something about the fact that new is (almost) always better. So to keep up with current trends and to ensure the biggest wins, new online slots are developed and launched all the time.
Players too should watch out for new and emerging casino sites, because most of the time, they offer big bonuses and promos. But — you should always read reviews and think wisely when choosing your casino. New online slots normally come with improved graphics, big winnings and cool themes.
Some of the latest online slot favourites include the Megaways slots from Red Tiger Gaming and movie and TV franchise slots from NetEnt.
Common Slot Machine Terms & Their Meaning
If you are new to the game category or feel a bit overwhelmed with all the intricate features of slots at online casinos, don’t worry! We will walk you through some of the most common slot terms from A to Z.
A
- Action: The amount of money that has been bet on a slot over a period of time.
- Active payline(s): The paylines that are currently active in play where winning combinations will pay out a prize.
- All-way slots: Slots that don’t have any fixed paylines but can create winning combinations in all ways/directions.
- Autoplay: A function that allows players to play the slot for a set number of rounds automatically.
- Auto spin: The same as autoplay where players set a certain amount of spins that will be spun automatically.
- Avalanche slot: A unique slot feature/technology first developed by NetEnt. In avalanche slots, winning symbols disappear from the reels and make room for new symbols to fall in to create possible new winning combinations on the same spin. Also known as cascading or tumbling reels.
B
- BAR symbol: A traditional slot symbol that reads “BAR”. It was one of the first slot symbols that was designed alongside fruit symbols, bells etc.
- Bet: The action to place a bet (spin) and the amount wagered per spin.
- Bet per line: The amount wagered per (active) payline per spin. Some slots only offer players the chance to select the bet per spin while others allow players to adjust the bet per line.
- Bonus feature: Different special features within a slot game that reward the player with something extra. Typical bonus features are free spins, re-spins, bonus games, spinning jackpot wheels and gambling features.
- Bonus symbol: A or several special symbol(s) in a game that can reward bonus features or high wins. Typical bonus symbols are wild symbols, scatter symbols and unique symbols that unlock a special feature.
- Branded slots: A modern type of slot games that are developed with inspiration and licensing from TV/movie franchises or other brands. Some examples include the slots Vikings (NetEnt) and Game of Thrones (Microgaming).
- Buy-bonus slots: Slot games that allow players to use their bankroll to buy bonus features. What this means is that instead of waiting for bonus symbols to appear and launch a bonus feature, it can be bought to start it right away.
C
- Cascading reels: Slot reels where winning symbols disappear (explode, drop or similar) from the reels to make room for new symbols within the same spin (see Avalanche slot).
- Coin size: The chosen or pre-determined value of one coin, used to bet when spinning. Some slots allow players to adjust the coin size and/or choose how many coins they wish to bet per spin.
- Coins: The value/credit used to bet in slots. Each coin will have a value of the currency used by the player, but the actual spin wager will be of slots, not a real currency.
- Collect: When winning in a slot game, players can choose to collect those winnings to cash them out. Some slots also have unique collect bonus features.
- Cluster pay slots: Slot games that pay out prizes for symbol clusters instead of symbols aligned on a payline on the reels. The goal is to get a minimum of X symbols in a cluster to get a payout, regardless of reels, positions and lines.
- Classic slot: Online slots with a traditional theme and symbols of fruits, bells, BAR symbols etc are often referred to as classic slots. These are simple slot games that don’t come with a lot of special features.
D
- Demo mode: Most online slots can be played for free by playing in the so-called demo mode. This opens the game in a mode where players wager using play money and therefore can’t win real money.
E
- Expanding wilds: Wild symbols that can expand to cover several positions on a reel/row.
F
- Fixed jackpot: The highest prize in a game that is a fixed amount – not a progressive jackpot that grows.
- Fixed paylines: While some slots allow players to choose how many paylines they wish to have in play (and wager on), others have a set of fixed paylines that can’t be changed. This means you bet on all paylines on every spin.
- Free spins: A type of bonus that can either be given by an online casino or as a bonus feature in a slot game. This allows players to spin the reels for free without paying anything from their bankroll, but real money prizes can be won as normal.
- Freeplay: Playing a slot for free with play money without being able to win real prizes (see demo mode).
- Fruit machine: Another term used for classic slots with fruit symbols. In the UK, “fruit machine” is often used instead of “slot machine” to describe land-based slot cabinets.
G
- Gamble feature: A bonus feature where players can choose to place a gamble to possibly double their way. By for example betting on red or black, players can either win more or lose their winnings.
- Game developer: A game studio/software company developing games. All online slots are developed by a game developer.
H
- High volatility: Slots are often categorised as having high or low volatility. High volatility slots offer larger but less frequent payouts.
- High-paying symbols: Most slots will have high- and low-paying symbols. High-paying symbols often have a design related to the theme of the slot and can also be bonus symbols.
- Hit frequency: The average amount of times a slot machine is expected to pay out winnings, normally presented as a percentage. As an example, a 10% hit frequency means that on average, the slot pays out wins on 100 of 1,000 outcomes.
J
- Jackpot: The highest possible win from a slot game. The jackpot can be fixed (a set, static amount) or progressive (a dynamic amount growing in tact with player wagers).
L
- Lever: The handle used in old-fashioned physical slot machines to spin the reels by pulling it.
- Low volatility: Slots are often categorised as having high or low volatility. Low volatility slots offer smaller but more frequent payouts.
- Low-paying symbols: Most slots will have high- and low-paying symbols. Low-paying symbols often have a simple card design such as 10, J, Q, K or card traits.
M
- Max bet: The maximum amount possible to bet in a spin. Some slots have a button that players can click to directly place the max bet.
- Megaways: A unique online slot technology developed by Big Time Gaming that is now licensed to and used by many other game developers. The technology offers a random reel modifier mechanic that changes the number of symbols appearing on a reel.
- Minimum bet: The minimum amount possible to bet in a spin.
- Mobile slot: An online slot game that can be played on mobile devices. Most modern slots are available across all platforms thanks to HTML5 technology.
- Multi-way: Slots that offer several winning ways.
- Multiplier: A bonus feature that multiplies wins with a set amount. Some slots feature multiplier levels where more of a specific symbol/outcome can result in higher multipliers.
O
- Online slot: A slot game developed for online play, as found at online casinos. Online slots are inspired by land-based slot machines developed more than 100 years ago.
P
- Payline: Lines across the reels and rows where symbols can form a winning combination. Slots can have everything from a few to thousands of active paylines going from right to left, left to right and/or diagonally across the reels.
- Paytable: Information within a slot game that outlines the rules of the game, the worth of each symbol, how different bonus features work and so on.
- Progressive jackpot: The highest prize in a game that is a dynamic amount that increases by taking a share of all player wagers. The jackpot grows until it is won and then starts again at a set minimum amount.
R
- Random number generator (RNG): Software used to ensure that all outcomes are 100% random and fair. Slot games using RNG technology are not be fixed and can not be won using any sort of strategy.
- Reels: The vertical, spinning wheels where symbols are showing. A slot game typically has 3-6 reels.
- Return to player (RTP): A number used to indicate the theoretical payout of a game, normally presented as a percentage. A typical slot RTP is around 96%. Read more in our RTP guide.
- Rows: The horizontal lines of symbols. Normally each reel in the slot has at least three rows each (and therefore three symbols showing).
S
- Scatter symbol: A bonus symbol often used to trigger free spins or other bonus features.
- Spin: The act of spinning the reels to reveal symbols and possible wins.
- Stacked symbols: In some slots, symbols are stacked on top of each other to trigger wins or bonuses.
- Symbol: The icons used in slots to differentiate the different winning combinations and worths. A slot can have anything from three simple to many unique symbols. Modern video slots normally feature a mix of classic symbols (card-related, fruits, bells etc) and theme-specific symbols.
- Software developer: A game studio/software company developing games (see game developer).
T
- Total bet: The credit wagered per spin in a slot. Some slots allow players to choose the number of paylines, coins etc and the sum of this will make up the total bet.
- Tumbling reels: Slot reels where winning symbols disappear (explode, drop or similar) from the reels to make room for new symbols within the same spin (see Avalanche slot).
V
- Variance: A measure of how often a slot is likely to show winning combinations. A slot can have high or low variance.
- Video slots: A term often used for slot games that feature more modern designs with 3D animations or similar.
- Volatility: Slots are often categorised as having high or low volatility. The term is used to describe if the game offers frequent, small wins (low) or less frequent but larger wins (high).
W
- Wager: Another word for a bet; the money wagered per spin.
- Wild symbol: A bonus symbol that normally acts as a joker and can substitute for any other symbol (apart from other bonus symbols) to create winning combinations.
- Win: Landing a combination of symbols or similar that results in a win. Normally players need to land at least three of the same symbol to win a payout from the slot game.
- Win-both-ways: Slots that offer winning combinations to be counted both from left-to-right and right-to-left.
#
- 243 ways to win: A slot with 243 fixed paylines.
- 1,024 ways to win: A slot with 1,024 fixed paylines.
- 3D slot: A slot game that features 3D graphics, also known as video slots.
- 3-reel: A slot that has three reels (vertical spinning wheels where symbols are showing)
- 5-reel: A slot that has five reels (vertical spinning wheels where symbols are showing)
- 6-reel: A slot that has six reels (vertical spinning wheels where symbols are showing)
Basic Online Slot Terminology You Have to Know
The terms listed and explained above are just a selection of the most widely used online slot terminology. But of course, you won’t meet all these terms in all online slot games. If you just want to cover the very basics, I would say the following slot terms are the absolute must-knows:
- Return to player (RTP): A number used to indicate the theoretical payout of a game, normally presented as a percentage.
- Reel: The vertical, spinning wheels where symbols are showing. A slot game typically has 3-6 reels.
- Payline: Lines across the reels and rows where symbols can form a winning combination. Slots can have everything from a few to thousands of active paylines going from right to left, left to right and/or diagonally across the reels.
- Wild symbol: A bonus symbol that normally acts as a joker and can substitute for any other symbol (apart from other bonus symbols) to create winning combinations.
- Scatter symbol: A bonus symbol often used to trigger free spins or other bonus features.
Ready to Play Slots?
When it comes to playing slots, nothing beats starting with free spins. They give you the chance to explore games, test your luck, and even win real money—all without spending a penny. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, free spins are the ultimate way to make the most of your slot experience.