?? Top 10 Best Online Slots
There are literally thousands of slots available to play at the best UK online casinos and top slots sites, and new games launch every single week. But despite this variety and fast-changing market there are a handful of slots that are timeless classics that British players come back to time and time again.
Welcome to our run down of the Top 10 Best Slot Games of All Time:
10. Wolf Gold
Pragmatic Play‘s Wolf Gold will leave you howling for more with its exciting bonus features and its promise of mini, major and mega jackpots. This beautiful game will transport you to a starry desert where you meet a range of wild west animals including an eagle, a puma, a buffalo, a stallion and of course the legendary wolf. Each animal will get you up to 500 coins, and the lone wolf counts as a wild symbol.
The special features of this 5-reel slot include stacked wilds, free spins, mega symbols, and a Money Respin feature to increase your chances of winning bigger prizes.
To play Wolf Gold, head over to Mr Vegas and enjoy a generous 100% matched deposit bonus up to £200 to double your casino funds. This is one of the best slot sites in the UK with a wide selection of both popular games and exclusive slots.
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Wolf Gold | 96.01% | Medium | 200x |
9. Mega Moolah
The Guiness World record for highest online slot payout of all time is held by a British man who won £13,209,300 on the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot on 6 October 2015. This game is certainly Microgaming‘s biggest success story, and it can be found in many British casinos.
The original Mega Moolah has an African Savannah theme, and this is one Big Game worth going on safari for! The slot has five reels with 3 symbols showing on each, and 25 paylines in the base game. A cut of every spin goes into the progressive jackpot, and the kitty can grow to a nice six figure sum!
If you want to play Mega Moolah and be in with a chance of becoming a millionaire then head to Zodiac Casino where just £1 will get you 80 free spins! This is one of the few UK slot sites to offer a low cost bonus to play progressive jackpot slots online.
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Mega Moolah | 88.12% | Medium | 15,000x in base game + progressive jackpot |
8. Bigger Bass Bonanza
We like Big Bass and we can not lie! Bigger Bass Bonanza is the sequel to the hugely successful fishing themed slot, with two additional paylines allowing you to cast your net more widely. With an action-loaded free spins round, and RTP of 96.71% this is a great game to play for real money.
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Bigger Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | High | 4000x |
7. Aloha! Cluster Plays
The Cluster Plays mechanic by NetEnt really makes this terrific tiki themed game stand out from the crowd. Rather than trying to remember which paylines are valid, you just need to count the symbols that are touching in this 6×4 grid. Any cluster of 9 or more identical symbols will payout, and a substitution symbol can become part of any cluster. Sticky Win Re-Spins will hold the winning cluster in place and spin the reels around it to try to increase the winning combo.
One of the best online slot sites that has a bonus for this game is Fortune Mobile, who have a three part welcome bonus that can get you up to £500 in total. This online casino site works well both on mobile devices and also desktop computers.
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Aloha! Cluster Plays | 96.42% | Low | 2000x |
6. Fire Joker
Fire Joker is a classic slot with just three reels that harks back to the old-school pub machines. But the Joker has something up his sleeve, and if you are lucky you will be able to spin the Wheel of Multipliers and increase your initial stake by up to 800%. Flaming Re-Spins are another great bonus feature, and this simple machine will also win both ways.
To play Fire Joker we recommend the Hopa Casino welcome bonus as all new players can get 100 bonus spins on their first deposit. The site also matches your first three deposits up to a maximum bonus of £500, making this one of the biggest bonus casino sites.
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Fire Joker | 96.00% | Medium | 800x |
5. Bonanza
Big Time Gaming’s first Megaways title is well worth checking out if you want a good introduction to the Megaways mechanic. Bonanza is a 6 reel slot with up to 117,649 Megaways that can reward players with a maximum win of up to 10,000x their stake. This is a high volatility game, so it may take some time to make it to the mini bonus game but players can really strike gold in the bonus round.
If you want to play Bonanza then LeoVegas is a great place to play, and in August 2024 you can claim up to £100 in bonus money over your first two deposits.
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Bonanza | 95.98% | High | 12000x |
4. Rainbow Riches
Rainbow Riches is a proper golden oldie of a game, having been launched by Barcrest way back in 2009. Rainbow Riches is a 5 reel, 20 line game that transports you to the Emerald Isle. There are several bonus features to help you find the pot of gold, including walking the leprechaun’s Road to Riches or trying your luck on the Wishing Well.
At Rainbow Riches Casino you can keep what you win from playing this slot as they offer free spins with no wagering requirements when you sign up and make your first deposit.
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Rainbow Riches | 94 - 96% | Medium | 500x |
3. Gonzo’s Quest
This legendary video slot was NetEnt’s first runaway success, and you can also find the game in a Megaways form and as a brand new Live Casino Game! In the original, you follow Gonzalo Pizarro on his hunt for the city of gold: El Dorado. Along the way, there is a treasure trove of bonus features to unlock, including the Free Fall feature, and an Avalanche which can trigger massive multiple wins.
To join Gonzo on his epic quest visit Hello Casino where you can get 100 Gonzo’s Quest spins when you make your first deposit.
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Gonzo's Quest | 95.97% | Medium | 2500x |
2. Book of Dead
Play’n Go’s Book of Dead is the most enduring slots franchise, and the protagonist Rich Wilde appears in a range of sequels and his daughter Cat Wilde continues the legacy with further expeditions,. The slot game has plenty of bonus features and free spins to help you uncover the secrets of the tombs, and the RTP is a high 96.21%.
To play Book of Dead slot for free head over to Play Grand and collect their 30 free spins no deposit offer!
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Book of Dead | 94.25% | High | 5000x |
1. Starburst
Almost every single review site puts Starburst at the top of their list, but for very good reason! There are so many free spin welcome bonuses available on Starburst for UK players, that it this game is a classic choice for beginners, and the zen-like simplicity continues to please experienced players. The RTP is good at 96.08%, and the low volatility of the game makes it an excellent option for playing through a wagering requirement.
The best slots bonus to collect for Starburst is from Videoslots, which is the best online slots site with over 9000 games in their catalogue. Sign up and make a small minimum deposit of £10 to enjoy a 100% match up plus 11 wager-free spins on Starburst that let you keep what you win.
Online Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
---|---|---|---|
Starburst | 96.09% | Low | 500x |
? New Online Slots
New slot games are released every single week, meaning that there is always something new to play. We keep an eye on all the top studios and developers and try out their new game when they hit UK casinos. We also throughly test all new slots sites before we add them to our list of recommendations.
In August 2024 these are my most played new slot games:
- Mega Moolah Megaways by Gameburger Studios combines two of my favourite types of slot game: the legendary Mega Moolah jackpot slots experience and the thrill of the Megaways features. This game promises plenty of extra spins, infinite escalating multipliers, rapid retriggers, and an extra horizontal reel, combined with the classic progressive jackpot wheel from Mega Moolah with the top prizes reading into the millions.
- Gold Blitz Extreme? by Games Global with 4096 ways to win over six high-voltage reels. This electrifying slot game comes with high pay symbols, respins, and Rising Rewards? jackpots.
- Chronicles of Olympus II – Zeus by Alchemy Gaming uses the studio’s popular X UP? mechanic, with a game-changing twist. The new blue X Up symbols will upgrade the free spins multipliers FOREVER, meaning that the multiplier level you reach on this track will be synced to your account every time you open the game!
?? How We Rate the Best Online Slot Games
There are many different factors that make us consider a game as a great slot game. These are the elements we take into account when reviewing and recommending top online slots:
- Return to Player (RTP): This percentage is the amount of money you can expect to win back from a game over a long period of time. Most online slots return 95-97p per £1.
- Volatility: Low Volatility slots will pay out similar amounts for each win. Higher volatility slots have the bigger prizes, but these occur less frequently.
- Software & Game Developer: There are hundreds of studios producing slots games on different software platforms, each with their own strengths and special features.
- Free Spins: Many slots have in-game free spins that give you more opportunities to win.
- Bonus Rounds: Modern slot games have heaps of bonus rounds and features that increase the fun and give the potential to super-size your win multipliers.
- Visuals & Sound: The latest software developments mean that players can enjoy 3D graphics, state-of-the-art animation and cinematic sounds when playing online slots.
- Engaging Theme: There is an element of personal taste involved here, but we prefer games that take a fresh and original approach to a concept over those that are just trying to cash in on the latest hot slot.
?? Types of Online Slot Games
When the first slot machine was patented in 1894 the game was a much more simple affair than today’s more immersive and imaginative slots. We have come a long way from the early one-armed bandits and fruit machines where players just pulled a lever and matched three symbols across the centre of the reels. Here are some of the most popular types of slot games you will find in online casinos in 2024:
Classic Slots
There are many classic slot games that faithfully recreate the experience of traditional mechanical slots, with a modern twist. These games normally have a good RTP and a low variance, meaning that you can expect to win smaller amounts more frequently than when playing more high-octane slots. Classic slots normally come with 3 or 5 reels and only have 1-25 playlines making them easier to get the hang of. A popular classic slot is Starburst by NetEnt.
Video Slots
Technically all online slots are video slots, but normally when casinos and players talk about “video slots”, as opposed to other types of game, they are referring to slots that have a more immersive storyline with great visuals and sound. Video slots often have 5, 7 or even 9 reels., and offer more paylines, often boasting 243, or 1024 ways to win. Bonus rounds are a major attraction in this game, and these can step away from the reels and offer a different playing experience with exciting mini-games. A popular video slot is Gonzo’s Quest where we follow the protagonist in his search for the lost city of gold: El Dorado.
Branded Slots
Fan’s of popular culture can find their favourite shows, stars and bands in online slot form. The bigger game developers licence the rights to hit movies, popular TV shows, and even comic books. Our current favourite branded slots are Jurassic Park Online, Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen and Knightrider.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
Most slot games in a physical casino have a jackpot prize that is set by the casino or developer. Progressive slots are different, and the jackpot grows every time a bet is placed. Some progressive jackpots are locked to just one slot at an online casino, but the larger slot jackpots will be shared across a number of games, meaning that you can be in with a chance of winning whatever your taste in game. Although the odds of winning the largest jackpot slots are slim, the payouts are epic and can get to millions of pounds. Mega Moolah is a popular progressive jackpot slot.
Megaways Slots
Megaways slots are increasingly popular in the UK, and you can find Megaways versions of most of our favourite games. While traditional online slots have a fixed number of reels and paylines, Megaways games have a random reel modifier that changes the number of symbols and the layout with every spin. You can have up to 6 reels with 2-8 symbols showing on every spin, creating up to a maximum of 117,649 paylines. Bonanza was the first slot to use the Megaways Mechanic in 2016 and is still a great game to play years later.
?? Online Slots Basic Terminology
When you read a review of a slot game there might be many unfamiliar words and concepts. Here is a quick rundown of some of the main terms that will help you understand how an online slot game works:
Slot Reels
The reels of online slot games are generated by a software program that randomly chooses a symbol with each spin. The symbols of online slots can appear in any random order, and most online slots have between 3-9 reels.
Online Slot RNG
Online slot machines are run by a Random Number Generator (RNG) which determines where the symbols on the reels land in each spin. We only recommend slots sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) which needs the casino to prove that the RNG is truly random and that it is checked regularly. This means that the slot games are fair, and that there is no way to fool the system or rig the wins.
Winning Combinations and Paytable
To win on a slot game you need to line up the symbols on the reels. Different symbols and combinations will give you different win multipliers, and you can check out the Pay Table in the slot game when you are playing. Wild symbols will normally swap in for any other symbol along the payline.
This is the Paytable for Starburst. If you are lucky enough to line up 5 BAR symbols along the reels your winnings will be the bet you placed x25:
Paylines
Traditional fruit machines only paid out when the right symbols were lined up along the centre row. Nowadays playing slots is much more exciting as most online games have a greater number of paylines along which you can find a winning symbol combination.
The number of paylines on a casino slot will determine how many ways you can win while spinning the reels, and these are normally read from the leftmost reel to the right. Starburst, for example, has 10 paylines as shown in the picture below, but this slot also pays both ways so you can also win from right to left!
Before you spin the reels in some games you can choose how many lines you wish to play and in which combinations. So if a slot has 24 paylines you can choose to bet only on 10 and specify which combinations i.e. paylines 1-6 and 21-24. You can also decide how much you want to bet on each line.
Max Bet on Online Slot Games
How much you can bet on a slot game will vary depending on its min/max bet limits, and the number of paylines. Every wager you make will deduct coins from your balance, and you will need to place a bet for every payline you select. The minimum bet is 1 coin, so if you want to play a slot with 10 play lines you will need to bet 10 coins minimum. The value of coins varies between slot games with some letting you play for pennies and others requiring a minimum bet of £1.
If you are playing a slot game to work through the wagering requirements of a free spins bonus or casino welcome offer, be aware that there may be a max bet limit attached to the deal’s Terms & Conditions. You often need to work through wagering requirements with many smaller bets rather than risking it all on a handful of spins.
Slot Games RTP (Return to Player)
One of the key statistics to check out before you start playing a slot game is the Return to Player (RTP) as this tells you how much money you could potentially win back. This is expressed as a percentage, so for a game with 95% RTP you would expect to win £95 for every £100 you bet.
This percentage is the statistical rate of payout over a long period of time, and so is not a guaranteed return. One player may play £100 and not win a penny, whereas another could hit the progressive jackpots on their very first spin. This figure is most useful when you want to compare different slots.
Online slots are known to have higher RTPs than physical machines in land-based casinos, partly because of the lower overheads of running a slot site compared to a real-life venue (i.e. staff, rent, utilities etc). You can expect the majority of online slots to have an RTP between 95-97%, but there are some games that go even higher. Rainbow Riches Pick ‘N Mix, for example, boasts a max RTP of 98%, making it an ideal game to choose when playing through bonus wagering requirements.
?? Slot Games Bonus Features
It was very rare for old school slot machines to have many exciting features, as this was limited by the reels and software back in the day. Now in 2024 the potential for bonus features and more complicated mechanics is nearly limitless, making gameplay much more exciting and offering many more ways to win.
Slot Bonus Games
More and more online slots come with mini-games as a bonus round. These add a fun new dimension to spinning the reels online. You trigger these games by getting a certain combination of symbols, and if you beat the game you might win money, points or free spins.
There are loads of different bonus mini-games, some of which test your skill and others that rely on luck when you spin a wheel or pick a chest. Many of these add additional multipliers into the mix, increasing the winning potential substantially.
Wild Slots
Wild symbols are the most common type of bonus feature in online slots. When they appear they can stand in for any other symbol and make more winning combinations. Some types of wilds go even further and can help you score even bigger wins:
- Expanding Wilds: stretch horizontally or vertically and can even cover the entire reel.
- Sticky Wilds: hang around on the reels for the next spins.
- Shifting Wilds: can move from one reel to another.
- Random Wilds: show up when you least expect them and can act in surprising ways.
- Stacked Wilds: will expand to cover more of the reel they land on.
- Walking Wilds: will shift along the reels as all the other symbols benefit from free respins.
Scatter Slot Games
Scatter symbols do not need to be aligned on a payline to trigger a bonus or win. In most scatter slots, when 3, 4 or 5 scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels the bonus will be paid, or a feature game will launch. NetEnt‘s popular slot Dead or Alive has a sensational scatter symbol that triggers some great win multipliers.
Win Multiplier Bonus
Many of the online slots bonuses you get during the game are Multiplier Bonuses. In this type of bonus round you normally progress through several stages earning a higher multiplier for each one you overcome. These rounds can help transform an average winning combination into a much higher cash prize.
Win Both Ways Online Slots
In most slot games the paylines are read from left to right, so if you line up three symbols starting from anywhere other than the first reel the winning combination will not be counted. In Win Both Ways slots combinations are also read from right-to-left, giving you almost twice as many chances to win.
Starburst is one of the most popular online slots of all times, and I believe that the Win Both Ways mechanic is one of the reasons that players are so hooked. Unlike standard slot games, where you can tell if you have lost as soon as the second reel stops, games like Starburst have you holding your breath until the very end to see if you can win from right-to-left.
243 Ways to Win Slot Games
Some video slots do away with the idea of paylines and just give you 243 Ways to Win instead. These 5-reel slots show 3 symbols on each reel and the wins are read left to right, but it doesn’t matter which position the winning symbols are in (top, middle or bottom) as long as they are on adjacent reels.
Before you spin you choose how many coins to bet, but you do not need to select paylines to place a stake on as you will get paid for every possible winning combination. This makes playing the game much more simple, but be aware that these games have low volatility and smaller wins because there are so so many ways to win.
A classic 243 ways to win slot is Immortal Romance by Microgaming, which has a popular storyline of vampiric love.
1024 Ways to Win Slot Games
Like their predecessors, the 243 ways to win slots, 1024 slots offer even more ways to win! These games show an extra symbol on each reel, upping the number of ways to line up the combinations across the five reels to a maximum 1024 wins in a single spin (4 x4 x4 x4 x4).
A good 1024 ways to win slot is Lucky Panda by PlayTech.
Free Spins
In-game Free Spins are a bonus feature that give you extra chances to spin the reels without betting your own money. You normally collect these in a game when a certain combo of Scatter symbols appear on the reels. Sometimes there will be other bonus features added to the reels during the free play that can maximise the potential winnings.
Slots sites also have Free Spins promotions where they give players the chance to play games for free. This is a great incentive to try out a new online slots site, or sample a new game, and you can find the best free slots bonuses in our list above.
Cluster Pays Online Slot
Cluster Pays are another type of slot games that doesn’t have paylines. Instead you win by forming a group of 4 or more symbols that are attached either horizontally or vertically anywhere on the reels.
One of the original titles is Aloha! Cluster Pays, and other popular games include Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness and Jammin’ Jars.
?? Mobile Slot Games
If you want the convenience of playing slots on your phone you no longer need to hunt for a special mobile slots site or dedicated slots app because virtually all casinos are fully optimized for mobile players. Not only can you expect the same quality of gameplay on your phone compared to your desktop, most games are now designed on a mobile-first principle, so they are best played on mobile devices.
Most online slots can be accessed through the browser on your mobile for instant play, and the best UK slots sites have mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices.
?? Free Online Slot Games
It is possible to play most online slots in demo mode before you decide to bet with your own cash, but it is much more exciting to play real money slots with a free casino bonus. Most slots sites give new players free spins or cash credit to try out their platform and best games.
If you want to try free demo slots games to play in the UK it is possible: the UK Gambling Commission regulations dictate that that you must be registered at an online casino before you can try a game in demo mode, so why not grab a free sign-up bonus from one of these great sites:
?? Slot sites | ?? Sign-up Bonus | ?? Top Game | ?? Wagering |
---|---|---|---|
Space Wins | 5 free spins no deposit | Starburst | 65x |
Hot Streak Slots | 10 free spins | Finn and the Swirly Spin | 60x |
All British Casino | 10 no-deposit spins | Book of Dead | 35x |
21 Casino | 21 No Deposit Spins | Book of Dead | 35x |
PlayGrand | 30 spins | Book of Dead | 35x |
? Final Thoughts
Modern technology has brought Vegas style slots out of the casinos and into the palm of our hands, and we can play these exciting games for real money whenever, and wherever, we please. UK players have many slots sites to choose from, and you can safely claim a welcome bonus from any of the sites recommended by BonusFinder as they are all fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
These are some of the advantages to choosing to play slots at one of the top slot sites UK instead of a traditional casino:
As online casinos are not limited by physical space you can access hundreds of different slots. This is more than your standard brick and mortar casino, plus you don’t have to wait around for other players to finish a popular game.
Online slots sites launch new games on a monthly basis, and you will often find extra free spins bonuses to test out a brand new game.
Online slots have a better return -to-player than their land based counterparts as the casinos do not have as many overheads.
You can find many more styles of gameplay and innovative gameplay at an online slot site than with the slot machines in a traditional casino lobby.
Real life casinos are loud and noisy places, so playing online slots at home can be a much calmer and more peaceful experience.
The best UK slot sites will have some form of Safer Gambling tools that let you set limits on how much you spend or designate set time-outs, helping you play responsibly.
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?FAQ
- Are online slots rigged?
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Online Casinos have absolutely no way to control the outcome of any of their slot games. As part of the UK Gambling Commission’s licensing process all UK slot sites need to guarantee that the outcome of every spin is random by having their Random Number Generator (RNG) certified and regularly tested.
- Can I play online slots for free?
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Many online slots sites give new players the opportunity to play for free so that they will try out the site. You can win real money playing slots with free bonuses, but be aware that you will need to meet the wagering requirements before you can withdraw your winnings as cash.
- Should I only play casino slots with high RTP
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Many slot reviews will tell you that bigger is always better when it comes to a game’s return to player percentage, but this is not necessarily true. Because this figure is calculated over long-time frames you are in no way guaranteed to make back that much money as online slots use random number generators.
- What payment methods can I use to play slots online?
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There is a variety of ways to make a deposit and play online slots for real money. All licensed UK slot site accept debit cards, and most will take PayPal or another type of eWallet. If you prefer to fix your budget and use a prepaid card then check out these PaySafeCard Casinos, and many mobile sites will now let you deposit by phone bill.
Whichever payment methods you choose, rest assured that all the online slot sites recommended by BonusFinder use the latest security software to protect your funds and data, and are fully regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.