Types of Online Slots
The online slots world keeps growing. Players have more entertaining casino games to choose from than ever, with new themes and technology being introduced all the time. Modern slot games can be divided into several categories:
Classic Slots
These are the original online slot games and they still exist on slot sites, despite becoming dated. Classic slots often have traditional themes and are reminiscent of fruit machines at land-based casinos.
Video Slots
Playing online slots has become more exciting with the release of the video slot, which is now the dominant slot type. Their game mechanics are more evolved than in classic slots, and can feature more paylines and eye-catching bonus rounds. Their improved graphics allow for in-depth characters and themes and the overall experience is more immersive.
Video slots online include 3-reel and the more elaborate 5-reel slots, which contain exciting features like wilds and scatter symbols, with live-action backgrounds and animations.
3D Slots
3D slots take video slots to another level. These cutting-edge games feature characters that feel like they’re jumping out of the screen, making betting on online casino slots almost cinematic. Sometimes these games feature 3D cutaway scenes as part of bonus rounds, while others are a total 3D experience.
The top 3D slots right now include The Rift, Turning Totems, Gonzo’s Quest and Jungle Jim El Dorado.
Live Casino Slot Games
Another recent creation is the live slot game. Like live blackjack and roulette online, these feature a live human dealer who seems to be inside the game, alongside the slot’s virtual character. Good examples of live slot games are Gonzo’s Quest Live from NetEnt and Safari Riches Live by Playtech.
Scatter Slots
A scatter slot is simply a slot game that features scatter symbols, which, if you land them, can help boost your win. They make games more fun and lucrative. These scatters usually tie in with the theme of the slot machine like pyramids in an Ancient Egypt-style game.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
These games are very popular as they give players the chance to win huge prizes from small stakes. Casual players have good reason to think these are the best slots to play for real money, because they stand a chance of banking a big win that previous players have helped grow.
With a progressive jackpot slot, a small portion of each player’s stake contributes to the jackpot, which rises until a player triggers it. There have been several players winning seven-figure and even eight-figure prizes lately.
Fruit Machines
These slots mimic the machines you find in bars and arcades across the UK, featuring three reels and a payline in the middle. Symbols generally include classics like fruit, bells and the number seven.
‘Fruities’ give you the option to hold or nudge reels, adding another layer of fun. The best fruit machine games at online slots sites for 2024 include Fruit Shop, Booming 7 and Fruit Fiesta.
Branded Slots
The trend for themed slot games has accelerated. Themed slots are similar to video slots, but they follow a narrative based on a famous movie, TV show, band or another pop culture icon. Some of the best branded slots in 2024 are A Nightmare on Elm Street: Megaways, Britain’s Got Talent, Vikings, and Guns N’ Roses.
Slot Comparison Tool
You can click the image below if you want to use our tool to contrast slots for bonus features, RTP, if they have a jackpot, and their maximum win.
Slots' Random Number Generators and How they Affect Games
A random number generator (RNG) is used to calculate the result each time you hit spin on an online slot game. An RNG is also used on physical slots found in casinos and arcades, and is used to determine the results of online casino games like at online blackjack sites.
The random number generated goes through the game’s software and produces a tangible result, giving you a win or a loss.
All licensed operators providing for UK players will fall under the jurisdiction of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which monitors the RNG technology that online slots sites use to ensure it remains fair.
Payouts and RTP
The key concept to familiarise yourself with when playing slots online is RTP, which stands for return to player percentage. This percentage refers to the amount of money a slot is expected to return to you over a prolonged period, based on a calculated average.
It essentially refers to the house edge. If a slot has an RTP of 94.75%, it means the average the house claims will be £94.75 for every £100 staked. However, slots are games of chance, so some players will make a profit and others will make a loss. That’s just how it goes.
The RTP gives you an idea of the average return you can expect. You should look for as high an RTP as possible. NetEnt’s Mega Joker has offered an RTP of up to 99%, while Jackpot 6000 goes up to 98.8%, making these some of the best payout online slots in the UK going off RTP.
You will be presented with a payout table when you browse the games at the best online slots sites. It will tell you the symbol values and the paylines, while explaining features and any relevant jackpot information. Payout tables also list the prizes either as a cash amount or as a multiplier.
For example, if you see ‘100x’, it means you stand to win 100 times the size of your single line bet. It will also inform you of the online slots bonus rounds and the minimum and maximum prizes. You can use this information to determine your potential payouts on new online slots.
The Best RTP Slots in the UK
Here are some of the best RTP slots at UK online casinos:
The Best UK Slots Software Providers
The best UK slots providers compete to launch the most popular games each year and sell to the best slot sites in the UK. And the best online slot sites let you filter games by provider. It's not unusual for players to prefer one slot provider over others, because they tend to create games of a certain style.
For example, Play'n GO creates slots with interesting stories, incredible graphics, and humour, while NetEnt makes slots, including jackpot slots, that have a certain ingredient that helps some reach legendary status.
These are the top slot software providers in the industry right now:
🍀 Microgaming
The Isle of Man-based firm is one of the largest online slots providers in the UK. It supplies hundreds of titles like Mega Moolah, Game of Thrones, Mermaids Millions and Thunderstruck II.
🔷 Playtech
The Matrix, Superman, Top Gun and American Dad are some of the exciting branded casino slots that Playtech has produced. It’s also famous for making Age of the Gods and Big Bad Wolf.
♦️ NetEnt
This Swedish software supplier is responsible for some of the best online slots in the UK, including fan favourites Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and Mega Fortune. It also makes branded video slots, such as Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen.
⭕️ Play’n GO
This is another Swedish company with a wealth of exciting UK online slots to its name. Play’n GO is responsible for hits, such as Troll Hunters 2, Book of Dead and Mystery Joker.
💥 IGT
International Game Technology or IGT is a multinational firm headquartered in London, with offices in Las Vegas, Rhode Island and Rome. It’s a pioneer in branded video game slots, and its biggest hits include Family Guy, Da Vinci Diamonds, Pharaoh’s Fortune, and Cleopatra.
🧿 SG Digital
The digital division of Scientific Games produces several exciting slots after purchasing other providers, NYX Entertainment and NextGen. They include Raging Rhino Megaways, Lucky Lanes, and Prisma Blast.
🌀 Novomatic
Austrian software provider Novomatic celebrated its 40th birthday in 2020. It works with the best slot sites in the UK and releases new online slots on a regular basis. They include Sizzling Hot, Book of Ra and Lord of the Ocean.
🔲 Betsoft
This software firm is renowned for quirky releases, such as The Slothfather and Good Girl Bad Girl. It has a particular focus on slot apps and casinos and 3D slots.
Tournaments at UK Slot Sites
The best online slots sites often host tournaments based on a certain slot – typically a classic game or a hot new release. You can join these tournaments and bid to complete the challenges to climb the leaderboard and win prizes. Exciting prizes include cash, trips, cars, and gadgets.
These online slots tournaments are generally hosted in collaboration with the software provider to boost the profile of a game. They allow players to earn valuable prizes and are worth finding at the best gambling sites for UK slots.
How to Sign Up to Online Slot Sites
You could visit some of the sites above or other casinos featured on this page, and then set up an account and play the best UK slots by following these steps:
- Visit the cashier and make a deposit using your preferred payment method.
- Select a slot that appeals to you, paying careful attention to the payout table.
- Set your coin value, aka your bet, and set the maximum bet per line if you are playing a progressive jackpot slot. Then hit the spin button.
- As long as you’re having fun and betting within your limits, play until you decide to make a withdrawal. Remember that all wins read from left to right.
- Finally, you can visit the cashier to make a withdrawal. Choose your preferred withdrawal method, enter your desired or maximum amount, and confirm. Withdrawals are never instant, and wait times should be clear in the terms and conditions.
Payment Methods at UK Slot Sites
The best slots sites will offer you a wide range of payment methods for making deposits and withdrawals. Debit card payments are popular among visitors to UK slot sites and are widely accepted.
Common online casino payment methods include e-wallets, such as Neteller or PayPal, but you probably won’t be able to claim a bonus if you opt for Neteller or Skrill as it’s difficult for a casino to track if users have claimed the bonus before.
Vouchers, such as a Paysafecard, are accepted at many new online slots sites, along with other prepaid cards.
In addition, withdrawal times vary depending on the online casino you play at and the withdrawal method you choose.
You might need to make withdrawals via the same method you used to make a deposit, as this is a licensing condition designed to stamp out money laundering.
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