How We Rate Slots
Our reviewers don’t just play out a few spins of each slot – they’re dedicated to exploring every facet of every single game, and that takes time. It would also take almost unlimited funds if you were hoping to emulate us, which is why we’re such advocates of playing demo games wherever possible.
Playing slots demo games lets you test out your bankroll completely risk-free. You won’t be able to keep any winnings you spin up, but you’ll have a subjective view of the gaming mechanics, and that’s always useful when it comes to deciding where to wager your actual cash.
Our experts check specific features of each game, so you can easily pinpoint the ones that might appeal to you. Every player has different requirements from their gaming session, so here are some of the things we’re looking out for when it comes to the best online casino slots.
Game type and theme
The slots online UK players enjoy playing cover just about every theme you could possibly imagine. From ants to zombies, you can pretty much bet that a software developer in some part of the world has created a slot based around it!
We’ll tell you whether a game is a classic old-school slot or a state-of-the-art video game. Three reels, five reels or maybe even more – this is the sort of information that lets you narrow down your options quickly, finding the slots games UK players like you are enjoying.
Paytable and game symbols
Are you the sort of slots online UK player who chases the big jackpot payouts? Then you’ll be heading straight for the paytable information to find out which symbols you need to line up across the reels. But high roller or not, examining the icons that will spin up on the game lets you know what sort of cash payouts to expect. We’ll explain how the Wilds and Scatters work, what rewards they’ll return and whether or not they trigger any bonus games.
RTP and volatility
Finding the slots games UK players are queuing up to play is all very well, but not all games suit every player. We track down the RTP and volatility of every game we review, so you have all the necessary information at your fingertips. Not sure what RTP and volatility are all about? Keep scrolling down to the Helpful Terminology section and we’ll explain all!
Bonus features
Some slots online UK players enjoy simple, basic gameplay with just three reels and one single payline. But other players are on the lookout for extra helpings of fun served up as free spins, side games and bonuses, all of which add something extra to gameplay – not to mention the chance to spin up big cash rewards!
Where to play
Once we’ve explored every single aspect of an online slot, we go through all the casino operators offering that game. We’re on the lookout for the best possible gaming experience, whether that’s because of an exceptional online casino promotion offering free spins or bonuses to play that particular game, or simply because a casino offers a superior spinning session. We’re also keeping our eyes open for any slots free play spins too, as that’s the best way of exploring a new game that you haven’t played before.
Our favourite casinos offering the best online slot games
Top developers covered
There are hundreds of slots developers these days, all trying to create the slots games UK players will enjoy, and keep coming back to. We make sure we review games from all the leading studios, including Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, Play ‘n GO, NetEnt, IGT – the list goes on and on.
Fans of old-school classic slot machines will be irresistibly drawn towards developers like Aristocrat, with games that mimic the land-based casino experience. Other players will be more taken with unusual gaming mechanics, such as the 7x7 grid of Gemix, from Play ‘n GO, which allows you to explore three themed worlds as the game unfolds.
But our reviewers also sniff out the very best of the newest developers, bringing you fantastic slots from studios such as Push Gaming, No Limit City and CR Games. One of our favourites is the Action Bank slot which features a bonus worth 500x your stake. We’re on a mission to bring you the best slots online UK players can access, so you can find the games that appeal to you the most.
Helpful slots terminology
When you first start playing online slot games it can almost seem as though you’re talking another language. But we’re here to help you understand what’s going on, so you’ll soon be spinning those reels like a pro!
Paylines
- Paylines are one of the most important aspects of any slot, since these are the ways you win, by lining up symbols along an active payline – usually from left to right, but some games offer a Pays Both Ways mechanic.
- The earliest slots had one single payline running across the middle row, but as games became more complex, so too did the paylines. One payline became three, then five, then ten, and these days it’s even possible to come across games with dozens of paylines.
- The Ways To Win mechanic does away with paylines completely. Symbols just have to land on adjacent reels, starting from the left, to win cash prizes. Big Time Gaming refined this even further with their thrilling Megaways games, offering variable rows on each reel to come up with over 100,000 possible winning combinations, which makes for unusual and exciting gameplay.
Wild symbol
- Most online slots have a Wild symbol, which may – or may not – feature on the paytable. But all Wilds have the ability to stand in for other game symbols, apart from Bonus and Scatter symbols, that have specific functions to perform.
Scatter symbol
- Scatter symbols don’t always come with a cash payout – although when they do, they can often deliver the highest returns in a game. But they trigger the bonus or free spin feature rounds when you land three or more. They’re called Scatters because, unlike all other game symbols, they don’t need to appear on a payline to activate.
RTP
- RTP stands for Return To Player and represents the theoretical average payout that a specific game delivers. For example, the Big Bass Bonanza slot RTP comes in at 96.71% which is a little over average. Some gamers insist that this is the amount you’ll receive back from gambling £100, but this definitely isn’t the case! Subtract the RTP from 100 to come up with the house edge – anything over 5% makes for risky returns in our opinion, although this statistic has to be considered in conjunction with volatility.
Volatility
- Also known as variance, volatility refers to the level of risk involved in playing a specific slot game. Replace the word ‘volatility’ with ‘risk’ and you’ll have a good idea of which games will be most suitable for your gaming style.
- Low volatility games usually maximise your bankroll, giving plenty of low value wins to keep you in the game. High-volatility games can eat through your bankroll incredibly quickly, so you’ll need to generate plenty of wins and bonuses to see good results – and that requires elastic funds and nerves of steel in some cases!
- Medium volatility slots could be said to combine the best of both worlds, but low-stakes players need to be extra cautious here. These games tend to pay out relatively small amounts the majority of the time, and even though it seems as though you’re racking up the wins, your balance may still be dwindling. So test your luck before relying on your bankroll to see you through!
Bonuses and free spins
- Bonus rounds are one of the features that slots online UK players can’t get enough of. This is where you get the chance to win the biggest prizes – and in the case of free spins, it won’t cost you a single penny, which is the Holy Grail of the true slots fan!
- Scatters and Bonus symbols trigger these bonus games. Usually, three or more Scatters are required to activate free spins, but sometimes developers introduce different features, just to add something extra to gameplay. Expect Bonus Pick games, Gamble options that let you double – or lose – your win, and exciting Quest games which could increase your prize payout.
Jackpot prizes
- There are two types of jackpot payouts that you’ll come across when playing online slot games. Some games have one, two, three or even four Jackpot prizes, usually displayed prominently across the top of the reels. Spin up special bonus symbols to access the big payouts, with all players standing an equal chance of landing a prize.
- But you’ll also come across Progressive Jackpots, which are the seriously big money prizes. Every game played adds something to the overall prize, which is usually randomly triggered once it reaches a certain amount. The higher your bet, the more likely you’ll trigger a Progressive Jackpot payout, so this is a feature aimed very firmly at the high-stakes thrill seekers! One of our jackpot slots is the Big Banker. Check out the Big Banker demo, before you start playing with real money and try for the elusive £250k jackpot.
Best online casino slots tips and tricks
It’s easy to learn how to play online slot games, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to spin up cash prizes! All reputable slots are governed by random number generators, guaranteeing a completely random and fair experience with every single spin, so there’s nothing you can do to influence the symbols to land in your favour.
But that doesn’t mean you have to be a passive participant in gameplay! Whether you’re choosing to spin the reels for relaxation or for fun, the ultimate goal is to spin up cash prizes, and we can certainly help you with that! So read our tips and tricks and find out how to maximise the returns from your session at the reels.
Let’s start playing slots!
Now you know how to find the slots games UK players are enjoying right now, it’s time to start finding your perfect games – and we’re on hand to help! Read through our in-depth game reviews, learn where you'll find the best casino offers, then discover which five casinos our expert reviewers recommend for each slot. Grab yourself a bonus offer as you sign up, then follow our steps to slot success, being sure to set strict gaming limits before you start spinning those reels.
