Online slots: find a game worth playing
Know what you’re spinning for
Modern slots are built around special symbols and features. The names aren’t always obvious so we’re helping you understand what they are and what they mean.
Megaways
Playing a Megaways game means every spin randomly changes how many symbols appear on each reel, making the number of ways to win change too. It can be anywhere from a handful to 117,649 on the same game.
Why it matters: more ways to win sounds promising, but Megaways slots run at high volatility (a term to describe slot games which might not pay out often but the wins if they come, tend to be larger).
The Megaways engine was built by game studio Big Time Gaming (BTG). It proved popular enough that most major developers now licence it from BTG to use on their own titles.
Cascading Wins
On a standard slot, a spin is one event. The reels stop, you win or you don’t, and that’s it until the next spin.
Cascading wins change that because if you land a win, the winning symbols disappear and new ones fall into the gaps from above. They “cascade”. If those new symbols form a win too, the same thing happens again and again, all within the same spin. Different providers might call it different things like avalanche, tumble, reactions, but it’s the same mechanic.
Why it matters: a single spin can pay out multiple times in a row. Most games that use cascading wins also add a multiplier that grows with each cascade; the more it builds, the more each subsequent win is worth. (We’ll get onto multipliers later.)
Scatter Symbols
On a standard slot, most symbols only pay when they land in the right place, on a specific payline and usually starting from the leftmost reel.
Scatter symbols ignore all of that. They pay out wherever they land on the grid, no matter the reel or position. But the bigger reason players watch for them is what they trigger: land enough scatters (usually three or more) and you’re into a bonus feature. Most often that means free spins.
Why it matters: the scatter trigger is usually the most significant moment in a slot session. The base game is largely marking time until it happens.
Multipliers
On a standard slot, a winning combination pays a fixed amount based on the paytable. Land three of the top symbol on a payline and it pays whatever the paytable says.
A multiplier increases that fixed amount. It might be 2x, 5x, 10x, or in some games unlimited. They show up in different forms: attached to a wild symbol, applied across all wins during free spins, or building with each cascade in games that use both mechanics together.
Why it matters: multipliers are often the difference between a free spins round that barely covers your stake and one that doesn’t. When a game advertises a high maximum win, there’s almost always an unlimited or very large multiplier doing the work to get there.
Wilds
Most symbols on a slot only do one thing which is land in the right place and pay out. A wild symbol does something different. It substitutes for other symbols on the reels to help complete a winning combination.
Think of it like a blank tile in Scrabble. If you have two matching symbols on a payline and a wild lands in the right position, the wild becomes the third matching symbol and the combination pays.
Note that wilds can’t substitute for scatter symbols, the two work independently.
Wilds appear in almost every slot you’ll play, they’re the closest thing the format has to a standard feature. Sticky Wilds and Expanding Wilds which we’re just about to cover are variations to know.
Sticky Wilds
On a standard slot, a wild symbol appears for one spin and disappears. It does its job, substituting for another symbol to complete a win, and that’s the end of it.
A sticky wild stays. When it lands, it locks in position for one or more spins before clearing. Some games pair this with a respin and every additional wild that lands resets the spin count, so the feature keeps going until no new wilds appear.
Why it matters: sticky wilds turn a single lucky symbol into a sequence. Instead of one spin with one wild, you’re playing out a round where wilds can build up across the reels before it ends.
Expanding Wilds
We just covered sticky wilds which locks in place across multiple spins, but expanding wilds are different. They don’t stay, but they grow.
When an expanding wild lands on a reel, it stretches to fill the entire column, turning one symbol position into a full reel of wilds for that spin. Some games expand across multiple reels simultaneously.
Why it matters: it’s one of the most straightforward routes to a significant single-spin payout. A full reel of wilds aligned with the highest-paying symbol covers every row on that reel at once. Unlike mechanics that require a bonus round to deliver, expanding wilds can do real work in the base game.
Hold & Win (also called Hold & Respin and Cash Collect)
Hold & Win works differently to most bonus rounds. You trigger it by landing enough special symbols (usually coins or jackpot tokens) at which point the reels reset to blank. Your collected symbols stay locked in position. You then get three respins to collect more. Every new symbol that lands resets the count back to three. The round ends when you run out of respins or fill the grid.
Why it matters: it’s one of the most common bonus structures in modern UK slots. Unlike free spins, the outcome builds incrementally so what you’ve already collected stays on the board. The jackpot symbols, usually found at the corners of the grid, are what most players are watching for.
Blueprint Gaming tends to use the name Hold & Respin and Pragmatic Play calls theirs Cash Collect. The mechanic is the same.
Hold & Win Slot Spotlight
The base game is played across 5×3 reels with 20 paylines filled with well-known farmyard symbols. It is also home to a wild which can substitute all other symbols in-game.
The main protagonist (or antagonist from a chicken’s perspective in game) can use his bow and arrow to shoot and upgrade low paying symbols into higher paying symbols during any base game spin and a second chance at triggering the bonus. This keeps the excitement high throughout play and allows for the base game to be as engaging as the bonus round.
Play Chicken Fox Jr at Slingo
We spoke to Operations Manager at Lightning Box Michael Maokhamphiou, to discuss Chicken Fox Jr (Chicken Fox slot’s prequel) which features the Hold & Win mechanic.
The brand is maybe best known for its portfolio of animal-themed slots including Silver Lion, AstroCat, PandaPow and Lightning Gorilla.
Tell us about Lightening Box and your games?
“Lightning Box was initially founded by a pair of slots aficionados who each have over 20 years of math-focused game design between them. Our Sydney-based studio has been creating slot games since 2004 and has released multiple fan favourite games.
These titles have introduced new game mechanics and features to the industry, with an emphasis on player entertainment. We develop our games across multiple platforms, from online to land-based games and everything in between. Some of our most popular games include Chicken Fox, Silver Lion and the recently released Lightning Gorilla. We are perhaps best known for our high-quality animal-themed games that have become a staple of many people’s play sessions.“
How does Chicken Fox Jr’s bonus round Work?
“The bonus game in Chicken Fox Jr is awarded for landing at least three golden eggs in the base game. However, upon the player landing two golden egg symbols, Fox Jr can be triggered to use his bow and arrow to shoot a target and award the player the additional bonus symbol needed. Eight free spins are initially awarded with more spins being unlocked for additional golden egg scatters being landed.
Once in the bonus round two additional fox wilds symbols are added to play with one also having a multiplier attached, these help in increasing wins further. All chicken symbols have an instant cash prize attached to them in the bonus round which is unlocked for landing any fox wild symbol on the game grid. Additionally, any egg symbols landed during the bonus round award even more free spins for the player, increasing the big win potential further. With enormous wins on offer for players, we are excited to see the reception the game receives upon release.“
Tell Us More About Chicken Fox Jr
“Chicken Fox Jr serves as a prequel to one of the most popular games within our portfolio Chicken Fox. We decided during early development to pack this title with both new and innovative features to keep our players engaged over an extended play period.“
What Are the additional challenges that come from making a sequel to a popular game?
“Chicken Fox has secured a loyal fan base since its release in early 2019 and we are particularly proud of this title. Its success has led to us releasing a sequel in Chicken Fox 5x Skillstar and now a prequel. There is a balancing act which must be navigated carefully when building a series of games. Of course, we want to celebrate the ground-breaking original and pay homage to it through our theme and design. We also want fans of the game to have a recognisable experience when playing the next chapter of this release.
However, Chicken Fox Jr must also distinguish itself as a unique player experience. The numerous new features present in the base game and bonus round ensures that the title has mechanics that engage both new and existing players of the growing franchise. Our game developers worked hard to ensure the design of the game felt instantly familiar as being a part of the overall Chicken Fox brand. At the same time, they added enough features for it to be distinct from the original. It is a pleasure that we now have the opportunity to create games with an established audience of players and exceeding their expectations is a driving force in all the titles we create.“
What Else Does Lightning Box Have In Store?
“We have a hold and spin game on the horizon after Chicken Fox Jr closely. This will be followed by a game which will build upon the lightning respin bonus round seen in another fan favourite game Lightning Gorilla. Additionally, we will be continuing our expansion into new and existing markets via partnerships with leading operators and introducing new players to our extensive portfolio for the very first time. It’s an exciting time to be in the industry as new markets open around the world and launching our products in a region which has yet to enjoy our titles is a thrilling opportunity for us.”
Cluster Pays
Most slots pay left to right. Match symbols along a fixed path starting from the leftmost reel and you win. The grid is essentially just a backdrop.
Cluster Pays makes the whole grid the playing field. Instead of paylines, wins are formed by groups of matching symbols that touch each other. This can be horizontally, vertically or both. Land a big enough cluster anywhere on the board and it pays. No set paths or left-to-right rule.
Most Cluster Pays games clear winning symbols via a cascade (we mentioned it above, when new ones drop in from above) so a single spin can chain into multiple wins.
Why it matters: it’s a completely different spin. Wins can come from anywhere on the board making play more unpredictable.
Gigablox
On a standard slot, every symbol takes up exactly one position (square) on the grid.
Gigablox changes that. Oversized symbol blocks anywhere from 2×2 up to 6×6, can land on the reels and cover multiple positions at once. The mechanic is licensed from game studio Yggdrasil, and a growing number of titles across different providers use it.
Gigablox isn’t as common in games lobbies as Megaways or Cascading Wins because it is exclusive to games built under Yggdrasil’s licence. So you’ll only find it in Yggdrasil titles.
Why it matters: a large block of matching symbols covering multiple grid positions makes winning combinations significantly easier to form. A 6×6 block on a standard 6-reel grid covers the majority of the playing field in one symbol. It’s one of the few mechanics that can produce a notable win in the base game without needing a bonus round to get there.
Bonus Buy
Bonus Buy is a mechanic that skips straight to a slot’s bonus feature by paying a set multiple of their stake (typically 50x to 100x) rather than waiting to trigger it through normal play.
if you’re a UK player you won’t find it on any UKGC-licensed site we feature here as it was banned by the UK Gambling Commission in 2019 on safer gambling grounds. Any site offering Bonus Buy to UK players is not operating under a UKGC licence.
Why it’s worth knowing about: you may come across it on another site. We’re just letting you know Bonus Buy option has been removed for the UK market for player safety.
In the UK, online slot stakes are capped at £5 for adults and £2 for players aged 18 to 24.
What is RTP And How Does It Work?
Anyone who has played slots at an online casino will have come across the term RTP. This stands for return to player percentage, which is the amount (expressed as a percentage) that you can expect to receive back after playing the game for an extended period of time.
For instance, if a game has a 95% RTP, if you play over a long period of time and wager £1,000, in theory you should end up with a bankroll of £950. In a sense, RTP is another way of expressing the House Edge, so a game with a 95% RTP has an effective House Edge of 5%. It’s also worth knowing that the same game can have a different RTP depending on which casino you play it at, so where you play matters as well as what you play. If you want to find the sites that consistently offer the best returns across all their games, compare our online casinos with the highest payout percentages.
It needs to be remembered, however, that this is a theoretical calculation and the RTP is unlikely to reflect any individual’s wins and/or losses when playing the game. This is because online slots are games of chance that are operated using a random number generator (RNG), and the outcome of any spin cannot therefore be predicted or influenced. The RTP also excludes major jackpot payouts, so the actual RTP you experience may be higher or lower than the theoretical rate.
The RTP on some of the most popular slots is shown below:
| GAME | RTP |
|---|---|
| Cleopatra (IGT) | 95.02% |
| Gonzo’s Quest (NetEnt) | 96% |
| Starburst (NetEnt) | 96.1% |
| Mega Moolah (Microgaming) | 88.12% |
| Fluffy Favourites (Eyecon) | 95.3% |
| Rainbow Riches (Barcrest) | 95% |
| Bonanza (Big Time Gaming) | 96% |
| Around the Reels in 80 Wilds (Gamesys) | 95.77% |
Slots That Stood The Test of Time
Not every great slot needs a new mechanic. Fluffy Favourites, Irish Luck, and Starburst have been around long enough to outlast trends and new slots. They’re still here after decades because they work and players love ’em.
The original and one of the best from Eyecon. It has been in games lobbies for a long time (launched 2006!), and is still a firm favourite with players. The theme is an old-fashioned fairground and the stuffed animals stall. There’s a crane grabber feature and a pink elephant wild that triggers free spins if three or more land in view. Other characters to look out for are the goldfish, giraffe, turtle, rhino, duck, and lion. This is a 25 payline game with no fussy features like cascades or Megaways.
A 20 year old classic you can play at MrQ
Irish Luck is another Eyecon fave launched 10 years ago. Twenty-five paylines, two separate bonus games, and a free spins mechanic that triggers from the shamrock wild rather than a scatter. The Irish theme is exactly what you’d expect, leprechauns and rainbows and overflowing pints, but the bonus structure is what keeps it on site ten years on.
Play Irish Luck at 247Bet Casino
10 paylines and one feature, NetEnt’s Starburst must be one of the simplest slot games ever invented. With only 5 reels and launched slightly later in 2012, it’s a ‘pays both ways’ slot built around a single expanding wild: land it on reels 2, 3 or 4 and it fills the reel, holds, and triggers a respin. There’s no bonus round, free spins, or jackpot. Does it endure thanks to its low volatility and simple mechanic?
Play Starburst at Mecca
Types of Slots
Thanks to computer technology, we’ve come a long way since the days of fruit machines in the pub – online slots are a whole different game. Game designers and studios now create games with unique themes and elements much faster, going far beyond spinning reels into a cinematic experience. Many come with extra bonus features with more cash prizes to be won.
Online slots come in many different forms, here are the main types of games you will see:
3-reel Classic Slots
The original slot format. Three reels, one payline across the middle, and a handful of symbols like cherries, lemons, BARs, lucky 7s. Win by landing three matching symbols in a row. There’s no bonus rounds, scatters, or free spins. Still popular for players who want straightforward play without learning a new mechanic every session.
5-Reel Slots
The standard format for modern online slots. Five reels allow for more paylines, more symbol combinations, and more room for bonus features. Most five-reel slots are video slots which are fully animated with scatter triggers, free spins rounds, and in many cases multiple bonus mechanics running simultaneously.
If you’re playing a slot with a Hold & Win feature, cascading wins, or a Megaways engine, it’s almost certainly built on a five-reel base.
Slots With Progressive Jackpots
These jackpot games can pay out much higher than regular online slots because they are networked together and each time anyone plays, it contributes to the common jackpot, which can be won by just one person at any time. Payouts can be very large.
More Progressive Jackpot Slots Here >>
Slots With 243 Ways To Win
Online slots have a lot more winning combinations possible, zigzagging across the rows and reels. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track. So game designers calculated what’s the maximum number of paylines possible, and the maximum on a standard 5×3 grid is 243. With 243 ways to win games, it’s much simpler: as long as your symbols are touching across the reels, you win. In exchange for this absolute set up, 243 ways to win slots tend to have a higher minimum bet than other games.
Popular Online Slot Themes
A slot’s ‘theme’ is how it sells itself before you’ve spun once. Most fall into a handful of categories. Look through the slot titles in any games lobby and you’ll see a wide variety of slot themes.
- Adventure: think quests, treasures, and exotic locations. Usually built around a hero or villain protagonist. Gonzo’s Quest from NetEnt and Book of Dead from Play’n GO are some great examples.
- Fantasy: often presented as mythical worlds and legendary creatures with an element of magic. Avalon 3 from Games Global fits into this theme.
- Classic: your fruit symbols, BARs, lucky 7s. There’s often no narrative or frills apart from a consistent visual designed to look like physical slot machines and early video slot machines. Check out Cheeky Fruits to see this type of slot in action.
- Sci-Fi: slightly niche but still a strong theme. Think space, time travel, aliens, and time machines, like Space Digger from Playtech.
- Animals: we believe this to be one of the largest categories on any site. Games range from Buffalo Blitz and Country Farming to more fictional creatures.
- Branded: these slots are built on licensed IP spanning films, TV shows, bands, and board games. Monopoly Megaways, The Goonies, Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, and even Top Cat are examples.
There’s often a filter or search function inside games lobbies that let you sort slots by theme. Others have sub-categories for certain themes.
Most Popular Software Providers
Game makers are also called software providers. They are the studios behind the games and the biggest names are on every licensed UK site. Here are the 5 most popular software providers for UK slot players:
- Pragmatic Play: now one of the most prolific developers in the industry. Responsible for Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, and the entire Big Bass franchise. Releases new titles consistently and holds a huge presence across bingo, casino, and slots lobbies.
- NetEnt: Formerly Net Entertainment, NetEnt is the Swedish studio behind Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and Mega Fortune. Known for clean mechanics and high production quality, they are now part of the Evolution group.
- Microgaming: one of the longest-established names in the industry. Offers a wide catalogue spanning slots, table games, and progressive jackpots including Mega Moolah. Also develop a lot of casino games like Blackjack and Roulette.
- Playtech: known for high-volatility slots and progressive jackpots. Also produces branded titles across major film and TV licences, plus instant games like Keno and Scratch cards.
- Quickspin: a smaller studio but with a reputation for video slots with inventive mechanics.
How UK Slot Regulations Have Changed
UK online slots are more tightly regulated now more than ever. If you’ve noticed what bonuses look like or how much you can stake, that’s all down to UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) changes. Here’s what’s changed and when.
Gameplay Features Banned
Auto-play, spin speeds under 2.5 seconds, animations that make a losing spin look like a win, and anything designed to give the impression you can influence the outcome were all removed from UK-licensed slots.
Can You Play Slots On Mobile?
Yes, and most players do.
The majority of slots are now built in HTML5 which means you can play them in any mobile browser without having to download anything. The same game you’d play on desktop scales automatically to your screen.
Many operators have moved into building dedicated apps for iOS and Android.
Is Gambling On A Slot Machine Random?
Yes, slot machines (at least the ones from trusted developers) operate randomly. That means with each spin, the chance of winning is the same. However, there is this thing called the Return to Players Rate (RTP) that is programmed into the game. This is how often the slot pays out over time. A higher RTP rate means that the game plays out more frequently than a lower one. Slots above 95% are considered to have a high RTP.
What Is Slot Game Volatility?
Slot volatility is a way of measuring the risk factor of a slot game. A low-volatility rating means you will get smaller wins more often, which means you can have fun for longer for a relatively low stake. A high-volatility game may see more spins without a win, but then a bigger win.
Are There Any Slot Strategies?
Due to the fact that slots payout randomly and rely on luck, you can’t strategise your way to a win.
Slot Tips
Check the RTP before you play: It’s in the paytable or info section of every game. Higher RTP means a better theoretical return over time. Anything above 96% is solid for online slots.
Always read the paytable: It tells you wha the symbols pay, how the bonus triggers, and what the feature rules are. Two minutes before you spin saves a lot of confusion mid-session.
Match volatility to your budget: High-volatility slots can go long stretches without paying. If your session budget is limited, a low or medium volatility game gives you more play time and more frequent returns, even if the ceiling is lower.
Set a limit before you start: Most licensed UK casino sites let you set deposit and loss limits in your account settings, even at registration, so use them. Deciding your limit in advance is easier than deciding it mid-session.
Online Slots FAQs
Is it legal to play slots online?
It is entirely legal for UK slot players to play at any site that is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
Can you win money playing online slots?
You most certainly can, although winning money is never guaranteed. Games are random and big payouts and jackpot wins are always possible but should never be expected. Most slot sites and online casinos will let you play games for free in demo mode, so you can get a taste of how things work before playing to win real money.
Which online slots pay out the most?
Each online slot has what is known as a return to player percentage (RTP), which is the amount of money, on average, returned to a player over a prolonged playing session. Most online slots have an RTP of between 85 and 95 percent.
What are the best online slots?
There are so many types of games out there offering such a variety of gameplay features that in the end it all boils down to player preference. Some like straightforward gameplay while others like more complex games with special features and bonus rounds such as multipliers and expanding wilds.
Should you max bet on a slot machine?
Betting the max means betting the maximum number of coins and the maximum number of paylines. Note there is a max £5 bet at all UKGC-licensed sites.
How do I pick a good slot machine?
One of the best ways to choose a good slot machine game is to read our reviews! We cover all aspects of the gameplay (e.g., symbols, paylines, coin sizes, etc.), as well as the special bonus features, the graphics and sounds, and the overall quality of the playing experience.
What does wager mean in slots?
Your wager is the amount you spend on a single spin. This will be determined by the coin size you select, the number of paylines you play, and the number of coins you have in play on each spin.
How many lines should I play on a slot machine?
Some slots automatically have all the paylines in play on every spin, but when this isn’t the case you should always choose a coin size that enables you to have the maximum number of paylines (and coins) in play.
How much can you win on penny slots?
Online slots offer players a range of coin sizes, but even when you playing with a coin size of £0.01, if you play the maximum number of coins and paylines, you can still trigger a payout.
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