Your Guide to the Best Online Slots

Slot games have been immensely popular for decades – in fact, it’s been over a century since the first machines were introduced in bars and saloons, making a huge splash from the get-go. Nowadays you don’t have to use an actual machine – you can play online slots with ease.

The Best Slots Casinos To the top sites!

• Bonus Offers At slot casinos
• The best slot appsPlay on the go
• PayPal& other payment options
• Top slot gamesTry them here

We’ve got additional resources for all the reel fans, such as advantages of playing slots online, and a detailed overview of the most popular game types and providers. Additionally, we’ve hand-picked recommendations for the best online slots casinos with favourable bonuses, payment options and customer service.

The Best Slots Machine Casinos with Welcome Bonuses

You’re here to find the best slots sites for UK players, so I have made this as easy as possible for you with the help of the table below. Here, you can see the best five casinos for playing real money slots, as well as some preliminary information about their welcome bonus offers. Further on the page, there is a lot more information about the reasoning behind why these operators have come out at the top of the list, however if you’re ready to start playing, select a website from the list and start spinning those reels.

• More Articles about Online Slots:
• .RTPs What do they mean and why are they important?
• .Jackpots How do progressive games work and which games pay the most?
• .Themes What themes there are and which are the best?
• .Manufacturers The best manufacturers of gambling machines in casinos.
• .History The evolution of slot machines.
• .Glossary The most important terms explained.

I recommend the above casinos as they meet the highest standards set out by my tests. And if you are wondering which criteria I follow, part of the most important factors are safety, game catalogue and so on.

These are the things that are important when selecting the best slots casinos, specifically tailored toward this interest, which means that table and card games are not overly important. Well, bonuses are equally important, no matter what type of games you prefer.

If you’re instead looking for a great all-rounder casino, those are found here in a list that meets a strict set of testing criteria.

If you’re hungry for more information about the spinning reels, browse through our related pages that will tell you about different slot game types, RTPs, historical titbits, mobile slots and more!

Tips for Beginners Playing Real Money Slots Online

Slots are perhaps the easiest, least effort-requiring real money online games, so there are very few things in way of tips that we can give you that would significantly impact your game outcome, apart from familiarising yourself with the slot terminology. Nevertheless, here are some general guidelines.

What You Should Know Before Accepting Bonus

Most slot sites offer welcome packages to new players (in addition to other perks for existing members) so there’s, without a doubt, plenty to choose from as a newbie. Nevertheless, not all bonuses are created equal, and some may be more beneficial to you than others. That’s why we advise you to always examine the number of play-throughs required to get the reward paid out to your as well as the time allowed for this.

As you can see from the table above, the various types of games contribute in a different way to the wagering conditions. The good news is, slots typically get a 100% wagering contribution due to their higher house edge than other games like blackjack or roulette. Always check the terms and conditions before accepting a bonus, as there is often a list of excluded real money slots that will not count in the playthrough.

Free Spins and No Deposit Bonuses

Alongside the common match welcome bonuses, some operators also have no deposit or free spin promotions available. These are a lot rarer to come across than the typical extra cash promos, however there are a few around that will give you a few free spins on a slot game just for signing up to their website with a new account. More common, is something of a combination between the two – a match bonus on a deposit, with a couple of spins as a cherry on top.

Advantages of Online Slots

There’s no secret to why so many people enjoy playing slots – they’re easy, low-commitment and purely chance-based, meaning you needn’t have any skills or use a strategy. We’ve already touched on a few prominent upsides to playing online slots, so let’s take a closer look at those and some other advantages.

Free Play Options and Available 24/7

Online casinos are open 24/7, so you can spin the reels pretty much whenever you want. Whether in the middle of the night or just trying to fill a dull moment, good slot sites will always offer a fantastic selection of reels for you to pick from. Best of all, you don’t need to go anywhere to enjoy a few spins – you can play from the comfort of your sofa!

You’ll generally find a bigger selection of reels online than in any land-based casino, where obvious space limitations don’t allow for quite that many options. Many major online gambling sites offer upwards of 200 games, with the likes of William Hill hitting upwards of the 600 mark. That’s an extraordinary selection between the different slots categories, so you can rest assured that you won’t get bored with so many thrilling ideas and themes on your screen.

If you’d like to get a head start on a game without spending any funds first, you can make good use of the practice play mode, offered by several major online operators. This will allow you to use play money to spin the reels a few times while you get the hang of the game, its rules and features. Grosvenor has more than enough slots in practice mode – for some of which you don’t even need to be a registered member. So, go and test out the reels!

Higher Profit Distribution Than Land-Based Casinos

Though not so obvious at first sight, the return to player (RTP) percentage of a game may be the biggest factor that has an actual influence on your chances of coming out on top. While actual, land-based slot machines’ RTPs often fall in at around the upper 80s, most games enjoy RTP rates of at least 92%, with the best online slots being around mid-90s. These numbers are tested and certified by third-party companies that are independent to the casinos and the authorities, some of which you can see below.

RTP numbers are not made up by the casino, they are reliant on the way the developer programs the game. Under the requirements from the UKGC, the RTP percentages must be proven to be accurate and regularly audited by third party testing authorities such as those listed above. These companies check RTPs and RNG software to ensure fairness and consistency for all players across all casinos. Though the RTP rates in online slots are generally more favourable than on land-based machines, there may be a bad apple or two on the virtual scene as well, so double-checking when you choose is the best way forward.

Higher Jackpots Build Bigger Than Land-Based

As well as RTP rates being higher than the land-based counterparts, the online jackpot games also benefit from outrageously higher prize pools. Another huge plus of real money slots online is having access to a bigger number of progressive jackpot games, including some astronomically high ones such as Microgaming’s Mega Moolah or NetEnt’s Mega Fortune. There are over 150 different slots whose jackpot pools grow progressively the more people wager. Progressive jackpot slots are all linked together across casinos, even in different countries, and the more that people wager on the games, the higher the payout grows until it finally changes someone’s life.

Playtech also has developed a swathe of progressive jackpot slots. Its most well-known would arguably be the Age of the Gods series of slot games – a Greek-god-themed selection that all have their jackpots linked together, which means the prize pools increase very quickly. It also has a few licenced television- and movie-themed jackpots, such as Gladiator and Monty Python’s Spamalot. Its Jackpot Giant title is also much-loved by UK players, paying out millions of pounds with one of the biggest jackpots won on a mobile to a Scottish librarian in 2016.

Good Jackpot Slots Casinos

There are currently tens of millions of pounds in jackpot games on the UK scene, most which can be attributed to online slots. As previously mentioned, game jackpot pools grow with each real money wager, but you may sometimes find a jackpot pool that is shared among several games. Apart from slots and the occasional roulette game, other diversions such as blackjack also may appear as jackpot variants on some slot sites.

The jackpot slot game selection at a given gambling spot – whether online or offline – depends on which slot provider is used; Microgaming, NetEnt and Playtech are the usual suspects when it comes to big amounts, though you’ll find dozens of jackpot games from other software-makers as well. Most major casinos tend to offer reels from different providers, so you will, without a doubt, be spoilt for choice. We’ve detailed the main slots providers below, we’ve also provided a general overview of the main slot game providers and software developers on our casino overview page.

Ladbrokes

• Ladbrokes slot library
• Games selection: 250+
• Progressive Jackpots: 31
• Biggest Profit: £3.1 million
• Software Provider(s): Playtech, NetEnt, IGT, NextGen

Ladbrokes is one of the oldest operators in the UK, with a history dating back to the late 1800s. Now, the business holds a presence in both the land and digital worlds. In the latter, this casino offers a great selection of over 30 different progressive jackpot slots, predominantly supplied by Playtech.

• Beach Life: Highest payout: £8,211,488
• Age of the Gods: Highest payout: £1,011,729
• Gold Rally: Highest payout: £6,347,118

The Age of the Gods jackpots are an interconnected collection of prize pools that can strike across any of the titles in the series. Developed by leading software firm, Playtech, the opportunity to strike it rich with a lucky spin has made these titles some of the most popular jackpot slots available.

888casino

• 888casino slot library
• Games selection: 198
• Progressive Jackpots: 35
• Biggest Profit: £4,671,110
• Software Provider(s): Dragonfish

This operator is a little different to all of the others when it comes to its library of slots, as it actually has its own software development company to create the games. I must say that to reach this point, an operator must not only gain a huge number of customers and, of course, profits but also an expertise in the sector.

Under the 888casino umbrella, the development branch, Dragonfish, is responsible for the majority of the slots at the casino, including its exclusive jackpot slots.

One of the most popular is the Millionaire Genie progressive, which offers a 95.02% RTP. Although this is a little lower than some of the other standard slots, it is an impressive figure for one with a jackpot that regularly pays prizes in the hundred-thousands. This is just one of the operator’s 35 proprietary jackpot games that nestle in with almost 200 other titles.

Casumo

• Casumo slot library
• Games selection: 788
• Progressive Jackpots: 52
• Biggest Profit: £1,267,230
• Software Provider(s): Microgaming, NetEnt, ELK Studios, Play’n GO

Incepted in 2012, Casumo is a relatively new casino in the online industry when compared to the likes of Ladbrokes. However, its fresh face comes with a new vitality for keeping things fun and giving gamers everything that they could want in a casino. The slots library is a great example of this: boasting nearly 800 slots games from a huge collection of software developers, players will never want for something new to play. There are stacks of unique gameplay features in the titles from ELK Studios alongside the crowd-favourites from Microgaming, such as Gonzo’s Quest and the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot, which has set a Guinness World Record in 2018 for the highest payout at over £18 million.

Cracking into the online casino scene can be difficult against the industry stalwarts, but Casumo has become a favourite thanks to its enormous games library and gamification of its loyalty programme. The cherry on top for slots lovers is the fact that the majority of its game library is available on mobile, too.

Online Slots On Mobile Devices

Playing on the go is a rapidly-growing subsection of online gaming which has experienced a sharp uptick in popularity with the faster-than-ever developments in portable device technology in the last years. Slot games have evolved immensely since their humble beginnings, with online slots now adapting not only to growing performance of smartphones and tablets, but of course also to various screen types. Many games are optimised for mobile use with simplified navigation commands and reel viewing that makes the most of your screen space. Whereas in the past you would have had to search high and low for a truly exhilarating title, these days, you can reach the best online slots out there with just a few clicks.

The Casumo Casino App

• 900+ mobile slot games
• For iOS and Android devices
• For all sizes from smartphone to tablet

Play on Mobile Here!

Scan and play here! >

The good thing about playing mobile slots is the game itself doesn’t require your utmost concentration nor any playing strategy, so it’s an incredibly effortless way to stay entertained during any dull moment. You don’t typically wager huge amounts per spin, so there’s no need to overthink things while you’re out and about.

Obviously, you can play anywhere as long as you have a good internet connection, and with many operators providing HTML5 browser-based gaming apps, you don’t even need to download or install anything. If you’d like to experience top-notch mobile gambling with a huge selection of reels to boot, check out Mr Green!

How to Recognise a Bad Slots Casino

We’ve talked at length about picking the right slot outlet and the best games, but how about mastering the tricks when it comes to spotting black sheep? Though most casinos have solid licensing and monitoring in place, there may be some – especially ones regulated offshore, with more lax requirements and less thorough auditing – that employ some cheeky tactics to get the most out of their players. These are some things to watch out for when scouting for your next slot casino:

• Lack of proper UKGC licensing
• Unclear monitoring standards
• No guarantee of safe payments and encryption
• Limited selection of games and low RTPs

Our advice is to stick with the casinos recommended on our site or other major operators that are fully licensed in the UK market and thus comply with all regulations and player protection measures. In terms of RTPs, look for mid-90s for standard, non-jackpot variants and don’t go below 90%. For more details on how to avoid scams and unreliable gambling operators, take a look at our safe casinos guide!

Try Your Favourite Slot Games

What makes a good slot game depends on who you ask. Some people love a good bonus game, others love expanding wilds, jackpots or fruit themes. It’s usually down to personal preference but you can find my favourite titles at many different online casinos. They all tick the boxes for great design, graphics, interesting themes and exciting special features. Try a few for free at your chosen online operator to see if you like them without risking any real money.

The Most Popular Slots in the UK

Now that you’ve got a good overview of the biggest provider names on the slot scene (and on the iGaming scene in general) and of the juiciest jackpots, let’s look at the most popular reels or slot game series that are enjoyed by thousands of gamblers around the world. Whether for their special features, design or RTP, each of these games is unique in its own way. For information on other types of popular games from these providers such as roulette or blackjack, check out our casino games overview!

Starburst by NetEnt

This eyecatcher will light up your screen with vibrant gems, mixing a futuristic vibe with some elements of classic fruit machines. As is the case with many NetEnt games, this one has strikingly good graphics rendering an almost 3D-like feel, and it includes several fantastic special features:

• Wins can be paid out left to right or right to left
• Expanding Wild symbol transforms the entire reel into a Wild
• Paylines are adjustable, between 1 and 10

The RTP is 96.10%, which can be described as an average-to-high when comparing to other reels available online. To get an impression of the game layout and rules, check out the slideshow.

Thunderstruck 2 by Microgaming

This Viking-themed slot is another crowd favourite whose popularity has also resulted in multiple follow-ups since its introduction onto the slot scene, such as Thunderstruck II, seen in the slider. The Thunderstruck series games offer several extra features – though we should mention that these are sometimes common among Microgaming games:

• Free spins are available
• 243 fixed lines in Thunderstruck II
• Gamble features and bonus rounds

The RTP here is the same as with Starburst – 96.10%. As you can see, these mid-90s payout percentages tend to be rather common in online reels, giving players an obvious advantage over land-based slots.

Pixies of the Forest by IGT

The magical fairy theme of this game is brought to you by IGT, which has used its trademark tumbling reels feature to spice up the gameplay. This means that after you match symbols, they disappear and more ‘tumble’ into place, potentially for new matches time and time again.

• 99 paylines
• Free spins bonus
• Tumbling reels feature

The long-term RTP for this title hovers at around the 94% mark, which is smack-bang in the middle of the range of slots overall. It also has a low-medium volatility, meaning you’ll expect frequent payouts of low amounts.

Gonzo’s Quest by NetEnt

This is one of the most popular games from NetEnt, featuring a cheeky Spanish explorer, 3D graphics, stunning visuals and a range of innovative features such as the Avalanche. There are also free spins or ‘Free Falls’ included in this fun title.

• Free spins available
• 20 paylines
• Up to 5x multiplier

This title has a 96% RTP rate, which is in the higher side of average in the industry, and it’s in the Medium-High volatility range, which means it doesn’t pay out as frequently as a low volatility but has bigger pays when it does.

Jurassic Park by Microgaming

Based on the blockbuster 90’s dinosaur movie of the same name, this slot has intrigued the masses since it was launched by leading developer, Microgaming.

• 243 paylines
• Bonus T-Rex alert feature
• Stacking multipliers

The Jurassic Park slot has a 96.67% RTP rate, which is a fantastic statistic and right at the higher end of the average score. With lots of free spins and added features, this is a slot much-loved by UK players.

Other Recommended Online Slot Highlights

In keeping in line with giving you the best online slot experience possible, we have tried and tested a handful of popular online reels. These are a diverse representation of what you slot fanatics can look for out there: from classic slot-inspired titles to cutting edge modern creations that showcase the latest graphics and audio. You’ll find titles from the software heavy-hitters in the gambling industry, such as NetEnt, Microgaming, and IGT. That means you can test out multiple titles with a free demo and quickly find your new favourite game or go-to software provider.

Can You Play Slots Without Downloads?

• Benefits of the HTML5 Format
• No download necessary
• Compatible with more devices
• Optimised view and navigation
• No device-specific customisation

Speaking of no need to download or install a gaming app, let’s take a closer look at what the similarities the booming HTLM5 format shares with the more ‘settled’ native (a.k.a downloadable) apps. They will of course both enable mobile gaming, and the types of online slots that you can access with one versus the other should be go unchanged for the most part. But while both formats enable your device to enter the game platform, they do it in different ways.

Resulting from the presence of download or a lack thereof, the amount of customisation differs. Native apps are tailor-made for each device and OS, and thus enjoy a better fit, so to speak. On the other hand, web apps can aim for a one-size-fits-all approach due to there being no download – but that may slow down the performance slightly and involves loading times. On the upside, HTML5-based apps and games can be reached by more operating systems than the usual Android or iOS options.

Play Online Slots for Real Money

In conclusion, slots are fun. But of course, now we all know that there is so much more to the one-armed bandit than can be seen on the surface. There is an enormous range of different titles with unique features and potential bonus games available for UK players, many of which you’ll be able to find at these top 5 slots sites. If none of these really jump out at you, check out our top six best casinos on our homepage. If you’ve made it this far, you are ready to play online for real money. Jump to best casinos for slots. Mention all benefits of playing again, jackpots, bonus games etc. Conclude page.

FAQs

As much as we’ve tried to collate this page as holistically as possible, please let me know if there are any topics that I have missed that aren’t covered elsewhere in the other slots articles.