Brits love spinning the reels of slots for real money online and there are thousands of thrilling games to play! Slots are among the most popular, interesting, enjoyable and fast-paced games at UK casino sites. With a wide range of themes, reels, paylines, features, jackpots, volatility, RTP and software providers, you’re spoilt for choice. You can try your luck at everything from classic pokies and timeless favourites to the latest and most advanced video slots. Not sure where to start? We’ll help you find the best online slot sites in the UK.
Our team of experts rank their slots experience based on certain parameters to determine which online casinos are the best for playing slots in the United Kingdom. Here’s how we rank the best UK slots sites we recommend to you:
✔️Variety of slot games – There should be a wide range of games available. A premium online slots experience is one that includes hundreds of titles and variety. Classic pokies, 3-reel machines, 5-reeled games, the latest and popular video slots, licensed slots, and progressive jackpots should be a part of the mix.
✔️Good slot bonuses – We check to see if there is a slots welcome offer as well as ongoing slots promotions. This includes checking for regular deposit bonuses, free spins, tournaments, loyalty program, etc.
✔️License and reputation – Playing slots for real money should be done only at sites that can be trusted. We look for where the casino is licensed and regulated (a license from the UK Gambling Commission is a must for UK casinos), check for certifications and any accolades, and also learn what other players have said about their slots experience.
✔️Withdrawal Process – We expect more than instant deposits and trusted payment options. Withdrawal processing times should be swift and secure with no or low casino pending times.
✔️Wagering Requirements – We investigate the wagering requirements of promotions and bonus offers. We’re looking for transparency and easy to understand terms and conditions. The best online slots casinos have no wagering or low wagering requirements to ensure fair play.
✔️Software providers – We check to see which software providers supply the online slots. NetEnt, Microgaming, IGT, Playtech, and Novomatic are examples of some of the top software providers in the industry, offering some of the best, most trusted and fair slots at UK online casinos.
✔️Game fairness – The best sites have their RNG (Random Number Generator) software tested at random and on a regular basis by trusted, independent third-party testing agencies recognized by the UKGC, such as eCOGRA and iTech Labs. These tests also ensure that the RTP (Return to Player) percentage of games are accurate.
✔️Mobile usability – Slots shouldn’t just perform well on desktop. They should also be fully optimised for a mobile experience, either via mobile web browser or app. We test slots on mobile for their user interface and overall gameplay performance.
✔️Slots RTP – In addition to checking the number of slots games and providers, we also check out the RTP percentages of games and look for sites that primarily offer slots with higher than average RTPs (over 96.0%). The higher the RTP, the greater the chance of winning.
✔️Reliable customer support – Customer support should be quick to respond and available 7 days a week. We want to see multiple communication options, including live chat.
Today, UK players have plenty of choices when it comes to slots play online. No matter your tastes or interests you are bound to find a slot game with a style, theme, and features you like. With that said, there are different types of slots. These include the following:
Also known as fruit machines, classic slots are either 1- or 3-reeled slots with a traditional design similar to old school one-arm bandit slots that were once found in bars and arcades across the UK. Symbols on classic slot machines typically include fruits (e.g. cherries, lemons, plums, oranges, etc.), bells, a gold bar, and/or the number 7 (usually coloured red). These machines also tend to have few paylines and no special features.
Today, top classic machines at UK sites include: Break Da Bank (Microgaming – RTP 95.7%), Triple Diamond (IGT – RTP 96.09%), Double Triple Chance (Merkur – RTP 96.31%), and Fire Joker (Play’n GO – RTP 96.00%)
These are slots that have 3-reels. The are often designed as classic fruit machines but can also feature other themes and additional features, like free spins, wilds, etc. Though not as popular or abundant as 5-reeled slots, 3-reel slots still have their fans.
Popular games include: Bar Bar Blacksheep (Microgaming – RTP 95.03%), Alchemist’s Lab (Playtech – RTP 97.32%), and Mega Joker (NetEnt – RTP 99.00%)
Slots with 5 reels are the most popular online slots today. Video slots with 5-reels dominate the industry and tend to be elaborate games covering a wide range of themes and equipped with several features like wilds, scatter symbols, free spins, bonus mini games, etc.
Popular 5-reel slots in the UK include: Jack Hammer 2 (NetEnt – RTP – 97.1%), Esqueleto Explosivo (Thunderkick – RTP 97.6%), and Immortal Romance (Microgaming – RTP 96.86%).
Video slots are the most popular online slot games around the world, including the UK. There are literally thousands of these games, and they consist of everything from the classic 3-reel slots to the elaborate 5-reel slots we’ve mentioned above. Over the years video slots have evolved. They cover an array of themes (e.g. ancient Egypt, Greek mythology, Norse mythology, Wild West, vampires, ferries, pirates, fish, anime, gems, cyberpunk, steampunk, etc.), they cover an array of features (e.g. expanding wilds, sticky wilds, free spins, respins, multipliers, mini games, etc.), they have new mechanics (e.g. tumbling reels, exploding symbols, big symbol blocks, etc.), and incredible visuals and sounds (e.g. 3D graphics and animations, cut scenes from movies, cinematic soundtracks, etc.).
Some of the most popular video slots games include: Starburst (NetEnt – RTP 96.01%), Gonzo’s Quest (NetEnt – RTP 95.97%), Thunderstruck II (Microgaming – RTP 96.65%), Book of Ra Deluxe (Novomatic – RTP 95.1%), and Rainbow Riches (Barcrest – RTP 95%).
Also known as licensed slots, branded slot machines are usually 5-reel, multi-payline, feature-rich video slots that are themed after popular movies, TV series, music bands, comics, board games, video games, etc. Branded slots have grown in popularity over the years.
Some of the most popular in the UK include: Game of Thrones (Microgaming – RTP 95.03%), Guns ‘N Roses (NetEnt – RTP 96.98%), The Dark Knight (Playtech – RTP 95.96%), Lara Croft: Temples and Tombs (Microgaming – RTP 96.05%), and Monopoly Bring the House Down (Barcrest – RTP 96.10%).
If you’re like most Brits, chances are when you play slots online, among your favourites are video slots with progressive jackpot prizes. These games feature top jackpots that climb in size the more players play, because a portion of each player’s stake contributes to the jackpot. When triggered, these jackpot slots are known for awarding huge money prizes, anywhere from hundreds of thousands of pounds to millions of pounds.
Well known progressive jackpots slots include: Mega Moolah (Microgaming – RTP 88.12% ), Mega Fortune (NetEnt – RTP 96.00%), and Age of the Gods: God of Storms (Playtech – RTP 96.14%)
Any slot game with more than 1 payline is a multi-payline slot. That said, there are some slots that go above and beyond having 10, 20 or even 50 paylines. For instance, games that feature Big Time Gaming’s MegaWays mechanic, increase the number of ways to win. The best slot sites in the UK have MegaWays games.
Examples of the most popular of these games include: Bonanza (Big Time Gaming – up to 117,649 ways to win – RTP 96%), White Rabbit (Big Time Gaming – up to 248,832 ways to win – RTP 97.72%), and Great Rhino MegaWays (Pragmatic Play – up to 200,704 ways to win – RTP 96.50%).
Virtual reality (VR) slots are video slots that have been designed to allow players to experience slots games in virtual reality using VR gear, such as VR headphones and a VR headset like Oculus. These games take 3D slots play to the next level, providing a more immersive experience. Though offering a cool experience, VR slots are not widespread or popular because VR equipment is required to play, which can be pricey.
Examples of VR slots include: NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Dracula.
Online slots are one of the easiest casino games that you can play. If you’ve never played at slot sites before, here’s the step-by-step basics to enjoy this fun entertainment.
One of the benefits of playing at UK slot sites is that many of them offer bonuses and promotions that can be used on slots. These offers are often awarded in the form of a deposit bonuses and/or free spins. Here’s a look at the most common types of slots bonuses.
💰Welcome Bonuses – This is a bonus offered on sign up to new players who can usually claim it with their first deposit. A welcome bonus is often a match deposit bonus (e.g. 100% Match up to £100 Bonus). However, it may also be Free Spins (e.g. Up to 50 Free Spins with first deposit) or a combination of a bonus and free spins (e.g. 100% Bonus up to £100 + 50 Free Spins).
💰Free Spins – Sometimes also referred to as “Extra Spins”, Free Spins are a promotion in which the casino gives a certain number of spins (e.g. 50) at a certain value (e.g £0.10 per spin) on a specific game or games (e.g. 50 Free Spins on Starburst). Free Spins are usually part of no deposit, first deposit, and reload bonus promotions. They are also commonly used in campaigns to promote new games or are awarded as prizes in slots tournaments.
💰Deposit Bonuses – This is a bonus that can be claimed by a player once they have made a qualifying deposit. Deposit bonuses award players with bonus funds that can be used for making real money wagers on slots and sometimes other games. The are usually available for new players, as part of a reload bonus, or are a perk of VIP/loyalty programmes.
💰No Deposit Bonuses – This is a bonus that is awarded to a player without them needing to make a deposit to claim it. It’s typically reserved for new players and can be claimed after registering, either awarded automatically or with a bonus code. It may be a small amount of bonus money or free spins.
💰Cash Back Slot Bonuses – This is a type of bonus in which players are awarded a percentage of their losses back (e.g. 10%) up to a certain amount (up to £10) on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This promotion may apply only to all or select slot games and may be a perk reserved for VIP/loyalty members.
💰Reload Slot Bonuses – This is usually in the form of a deposit bonus and is awarded to existing players. It is often offered to reward loyalty or to encourage dormant players to return, deposit and play. It is not uncommon for reload slot bonuses to also include free spins.
Prior to claiming any slot bonus, be sure to carefully read the full terms and conditions (T&Cs) linked to these promotions. T&Cs tell you exactly what you can get from the promotion, how you can claim it, and when it expires. In short, it is the rules that apply to the bonus or the free spins that can be claimed.
T&Cs inform you of important rules, such as how much you need to deposit to qualify for the bonus or free spins, the max bonus amount you can claim/the max number of free spins you’ll be awarded, Bonus/free spins expiry, any wagering requirement stipulations linked to the bonus and/or free spins winnings, which games qualify for fulfilling wagering requirements, win cap amounts, any exclusions, etc.
Compared to casino table games like blackjack, which usually offer the best RTP rates (e.g. 99% – 99.65%), online slots RTP rates typically range between 94 – 99%. With that said, when in search of the slot machines with the best odds of winning, there are a few things you need to understand. They include:
Slot bonuses are always connected to terms and conditions and many of them are also subject to wagering requirements. This means that you need to wager a certain amount of your money within a certain period of time (e.g. 7 days from the point the bonus was credited) – on qualifying games that contribute to wagering requirements – before you can withdraw the bonus and/or any winnings that resulted from using the bonus.
Depending on a casino’s bonus policy, wagering requirements may be attached to:
Fair wagering requirements is anything 35x or lower. For instance, if a bonus is subject to 35x wagering requirements, this means that the bonus amount awarded to you by the casino (e.g. £20) must be staked 35 times (£20 x 35 = £700) before the bonus and any resulting wins from it can be withdrawn.
Though some casino sites offer wager-free promotions, most have wagering requirements in place to prevent bonus abuse. It’s important to choose a casino with fair wagering requirements. This means you should look for online slot sites with:
Playing real money slots on mobile today is easy to do as most online casinos offer an HTML5 technology-based iGaming experience that is fully optimised for smartphone and tablet screen sizes, with many games supporting play in landscape and portrait mode. It is also becoming commonplace for casinos to offer native apps for iOS and Android as well as for casinos to have hundreds of different mobile friendly slot games from classic slots and video slots to progressive jackpots.
The best mobile slots experience is one that offers a wide variety of games, easy navigation, a pristine user-interface, seamless play, 24/7 support, mobile payments, and promotions such as mobile slots no deposit free spins or bonuses for new players. Every site we review and recommend is mobile-friendly.
New slot sites launch every year, providing UK players with more choice when it comes to picking a rewarding and diverse online and mobile slots experience. But should you take the risk of trusting a new site over an established brand?
The primary advantages of playing at new UK slot sites is that they tend to have the latest and most popular games, are mobile-friendly, offer swift payouts and have competitive welcome offers. The main disadvantage is that they have not yet had time to build a solid reputation and some do not have native mobile apps or VIP/loyalty programs. Ultimately, you need to weigh the pros and cons and decide what makes the most sense for the experience you want. All the new sites we recommend are UKGC licensed and run reputable operations.
⭐Check out the best new online slots sites >>
Over the past two decades slots software providers have increased in popularity and numbers. While there are numerous developers and suppliers, the top software providers of slots at UK casino sites today include:
Free online slots are an excellent way to practice new games, understand their mechanics and features as well as sharpen your skills before you play for real money at UK slots sites. However, nothing compares to the thrill and excitement of risking real money for the chance at winning a big prize. Here’s a look at the advantages and disadvantage of both free and real money slots and how the two compare.
Whilst there is no playing method or strategy that will guarantee a win when you play online slots for real money, the following are tips to help ensure that you enjoy the most gratifying experience:
⭐Play at a trusted site – The best slot sites for winning are those that are reputable. This includes sites that are licensed and registered by the UKGC, ensure game fairness by having their RNG software randomly tested for optimal performance and RTPs tested for accuracy, and having a solid reputation for paying winnings out to players and doing so swiftly.
⭐Play slots with a high RTP – The RTP of a slot can directly impact your winning chances. Slot machines with the best odds of winning are those with a high RTP (96% or higher). The lower the house edge, the better your odds of winning.
⭐Read the paytable – Understanding the games you play can help improve your skill and lead to making better choices as well as finding the types of slots you truly enjoy playing and find the most gratifying.
⭐Play the max bet for jackpot games – As a general rule, playing the maximum bet is usually best when you play slots online because wins typically pay out at higher multiples. Moreover, the only way to have a chance at winning many progressive jackpots is with a max bet.
⭐Understand slot volatility – It’s not just an RTP that dictates a winning slot. Remember that low variance slots will produce more frequent wins with smaller payouts, high variance slots will not produce many wins but the payotus are higher when they do, and medium variance slots are a blend of the two.
⭐Practice with free games – Playing free slots before playing them for real money is a good strategy because it allows you to get a feel for the game and its features without worrying about losing money.
⭐Know when to quit – Avoid falling into the gambler’s fallacy trap. No win is ever guaranteed. Even if you haven’t won on the last 10 spins, this doesn’t mean that the 11th spin will be a winner. Outcomes are 100% random. Don’t chase losses. Risk only what you can afford to lose.
Playing online slots for real money continues to be one of the favourite pastimes of British casino players. There are thousands of games including classic fruit machines, 3-reel and 5-reel, multi-payline video slots, licensed slots and progressive jackpot games. Online slots are popular for their never-ending variety of engaging and fun themes, dazzling visuals, animations and sounds, unique features, and the thrill of winning a potentially huge money prize. Whether you spin the reels of your favourite slots at home or on the go, we can help you find the best slot sites in the UK today. Start your search by checking out our recommended casinos!
Yes. Just make sure to play real money slots at reputable online casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
The most popular online slots are 5-reel video slots with bonus features and high RTP rates. Gonzo’s Quest, Thunderstruck II, Book of Dead, and Rainbow Riches are examples of popular slots.
Yes, as long as they are licensed and regulated by the UKGC.
Online slots are one of the easiest games to play. You select how much you want to bet, the number of paylines you want to play, hit the spin button and wait for the result. Each result is determined by a Random Number Generator (RNG), a microcomputer that generates numbers between one and hundreds of times per second to ensure a completely random outcome every time.
Progressive jackpot slots are slot machines that have one or more jackpots that start at a pre-determined amount and continuously climb in size until they are won. Each time players wager on the game, a portion of their stake is added to the jackpot(s). This continues until the jackpot is triggered. An example of a progressive jackpot slot is Microgaming’s Mega Moolah.
The online slot game with the best RTP is NetEnt’s Mega Joker with a 99% RTP. Usually, if a slot RTP is 96% or higher it’s considered great and if it’s over 98% it’s fantastic.
The online slots that payout the most are those with a high RTP percentage. Look for slots with an RTP of 96% or above. Additionally, keep in mind that volatility matters. Slots with low volatility tend to pay out small sized wins more frequently whilst high volatility slots pay out less frequently but typically result in larger wins when a winning combination is landed.
The best slot site is one that is licensed and regulated by the UKGC, offers no or low wagering on welcome offers, has a wide variety of slots from top software providers, and has a good reputation for fairness, responsibility, paying players swiftly and providing 24/7 support. LeoVegas, 888 and Pokerstars are great examples of top UK slot sites.
Some do have loyalty or VIP programmes. These programmes may be open to all players or may be invitation only. Typically, they are multi-tiered systems that give players the chance to earn points from playing real money games – like slots – in order to climb levels or tiers for the chance to claim special perks and exclusive rewards/offers.