Video slots are by far the most common game available at the best casino sites in the UK. Game providers such as NetEnt, Microgaming and Play’n GO have provided countless classic slots at video slots casino sites, including Starburst, Immortal Romance and Rich Wilde & The Book of Dead.
This page will teach you all to know about the best slotting games at video slots casino sites – how to play them, where to play them, and how to get the best video slots free spins offers and bonus deals.
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How We Rate the Best Casinos for Online Video Slots
Okay, so you have now seen our list of the the best video slots casino sites, but how did we come up with that list? You may be wanting to make your own choices when it comes to the best video slots casino sites and are wondering what you should look for. Here is a list of criteria by which we judge when making our choices for the best online video slots casinos.
Number of Games
There are over ten thousand online slots available now, which means a great deal of variety. If there’s a common factor of video slots online that you look for – such as ‘cluster pays’ features or cascading wins – then the more you are able to play video slots, the more likely you are to find the video slots you like the most.
Having said this, we do not promote video slots casino sites that fill their video slots desktop with dozens of identical, poor-quality slots. Which brings us to our next criteria …
Number of Providers
We estimate that there are about 250 companies now around the world that provide both video slots mobile casino games and video slots online casino games. When we look at a video slots casino site, we check out how many providers they use, and we think the more the merrier.
Again, we look for quality providers for the video slots desktop arena – names such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, Quickspin, Yggdrasil and Big Time Gaming. If a video slots casino has these names, we known the best video slots are available.
Safety & Security
Keeping yourself safe at an online casino is of course incredibly important, especially as you will be sharing your personal details online and your financial details too. We only champion video slots online casino sites that take online security very seriously, including the use of stringent encryption tools.
If a slots site operates in the UK then it must, legally, possess a United Kingdom Gambling Commission licence. We do not mention sites under any circumstances that do not possess one.
Other Games
Some video slots casino sites just offer video slots online, and while we think there is nothing wrong with this, we prefer sites where you can play video slots alongside other casino games such as blackjack, roulette, video poker and baccarat.
We also love video slots casino sites that have live casinos. Here you can not only play video slots, but you can also play all the casino classics with live dealers and croupiers leading the action.
Bonuses and Promotions
Video slots free spins bonuses are one of the most common bonuses offered by online casinos. We like to see video slots welcome bonus offers too. At SportsLens we also champion video slots casino sites that offer regular bonuses, and not just bonuses to new players.
We also scruntinise any video slots free spins bonus or video slots welcome bonus for fairness and validity. We do this by examining the terms and conditions to make sure they’re fair.
What are Video Slots?
Video slots first appeared in the late 1980s, in Las Vegas. Gambling guru William ‘Si’ Redd – the creator of IGT – had seen the kind of video gaming tech that was coming in for games such as Space Invaders and Pac Man and created a video version of poker, which we now know today as ‘video poker’. Other companies began to apply the same tech to slots, which up to then had been purely mechanical with a few electronics thrown in.
The reels and mechanics of a slot were replaced by computer chips and a video screen, and the video slot was born. Because of the graphical rather than mechanical nature of such slots, extra features could be added such as wild symbols, scatter symbols and side games. Video slots soon eclipsed mechanical slots (or ‘one armed bandits’ or ‘fruit machines’ as they are known in the UK) in popularity.
When online casinos began to appear, the games they offered were primarily casino games such as blackjack and roulette. Slots did not really begin to appear until around 2005, and then they were slow to take off due to disappointing sounds, graphics and gameplay. All that changed though in 2011 with NetEnt’s release of Gonzo’s Quest, which took video slots to a whole new level. A decade later and online slots are by far the most popular game available at online casinos in the UK and internationally.
Types of Video Slots Games
There are lots of different video slot casino games types, and here is your complete guide to the most popular types commonly found at video slots online casino sites.
Classic Slot
Most people in the UK will have grown up with classic slots, although they will have called them ‘one armed bandits’ or ‘fruit machines’. Classic slots usually have one single payline – right across the middle – and only three reels.
Some classic slots have more than one payline and additional features, but the majority of them stick to the classic line up.
Video Slot
The most common kind of video slot has five reels, three rows and a fixed number of paylines. Commonly, the most basic type of video slot has wilds (symbols that substitute for other symbols) and scatters (symbols that pay out no matter where they land on the reels). It may also have a side game, or a bonus feature such as free spins.
All Ways Pay Slot
Slots with the ‘all ways pay’ feature do not have paylines. Instead, all possible paylines are in play with every spin. A slot with five reels and three rows has 243 ways to win, which is 3x3x3x3x3 (as there are three rows of five reels). A slot with six reels and four rows would have 4,096 ways to win, with is four raised to the power of six.
Cascading Wins Slot
In terms of cascading wins slots or avalanche slots as they are also known, they began with the creation of Gonzo’s Quest in 2011 by NetEnt. With this feature, whenever a win occurs, all the symbols involved in the win cascade off down the screen and new ones fall in from above to replace them. This of course has the ability of triggering new wins. in Gonzo’s Quest, for example, each cascade win triggers a rising multiplier which is applied to subsequent cascade wins.
Megaways Slot
The Megaways concept was invented by Big Time Gaming for their own slot, Bonanza. They added it to more slots and these slots became immensely popular. Soon, other companies approached Big Time Gaming wanting to lease the Megaways concept and BTG said okay, for a fee!
Megaways slots always have six reels, and the number of symbols on each reel varies from two to seven upon each spin. If all reels land with seven symbols on them, that gives a staggering total of 117,649 paylines!
Progressive Jackpot Slot
Progressive jackpot slots have been around since before the internet. Slots at Las Vegas casinos were linked together so they could share a common jackpot. Online the same thing is at play. A tiny proportion of every wager into a slot is held back to build a massive jackpot that builds and builds until a rare winning combination of symbols land it.
The biggest jackpot holder is currently Mega Moolah by Microgaming which rose to £12 million before being won in September, 2018.
Cluster Pays Slot
Some people think that ‘cluster pays’ slots do not count as slots, but some people do, which is why we are including them here. With cluster pays slots you do not have paylines, and the symbols are arranged in a grid as opposed to reels.
You land wins by landing clusters of identical symbols. A cluster is a group of symbols that touch, horizontally or vertically (not diagonally). As is common with these types of games, a winning cluster of symbols vanishes and new symbols pop up to replace them.
How to Play Video Slots Machines
It is not difficult at all to play video slots machines, but if you are used to fruit machines and one-armed bandits, all the reels and paylines may seem a little bewildering. Here we are going to take you through a couple of spins of one of our favourite slots, Starburst.
Here is the familiar Starburst screen. This slots is not an ‘all ways pay’ slot, and has ten paylines (you can click on the numbers left and right to see each payline). Unusually though, paylines run both left to right and right to left, so in effect there are 20. Our coin value is currently 20p and our bet level is one. As there are ten paylines, and you pay a coin for each payline, our total wager is £2. The total wager is also multiplied by the bet level. As that is a little too rich for us, we’re going to adjust our coin value.
We have reduced our coin size to 1p, which makes our overall bet 10p, which we are more comfortable with. Now everything is set how we like it, it’s time to hit the big green spin button in the center of the screen.
Alas, we did not win. Although there are a lot of purple diamonds on screen, none of them make the crucial ‘minimum row of three consecutive symbols’ we need on a payline. Undeterred, we spin again.
After a couple more wins we gain our first win! We have two rows of three orange hexagon symbols on paylines six and nine. As the payout for such a combo is seven coins, we win 14 coins in total and as our coin size is 1p, that 14p in winnings! Crack open the bubbly.
Starburst is just one example of a slot from the thousands available and they are have their own individual rules. They all work in roughly the same way though – you choose your stake and then spin the reels, crossing your fingers that you land a payout.
The Top 10 Video Slots to Play Today
Here for your consideration, are what we think are the best ten video slots available to play today.
1. Starburst (NetEnt – RTP: 96.09%)
We’ve already mentioned Starburst, but we love this video slot so much we are going to mention it again! This classic game is easy to play, and is the perfect place to begin your video slots career if you are a newb! Starburst now has a sequel – Starburst XXXtreme – which was released in 2021.
Where you can play Starburst
2. Gonzo’s Quest (NetEnt – RTP: 96%)
If there is one slot that changed slotting history, it’s Gonzo’s Quest. When it came out in 2011, it stunned people with its incredible graphics. The avalanche feature was new too, and this swiftly became the most popular slot ever made, and is still extremely playable today. There is now also a Megaways version of this amazing video slot.
Where you can play Gonzo’s Quest
3. Immortal Romance (Microgaming – RTP: 96.86%)
Many think that Microgaming’s classic gothic slot is the best slot that they have ever come up with. Like some other Microgaming games, you unlock features as you play. Once all features are unlocked, you get to choose which feature you want whenever you trigger a new one. The sounds and graphics add a creepy vibe to this awesome video slot.
Where you can play Immortal Romance
4. 1429 Uncharted Seas (Thunderkick – RTP: 98.6%)
This lovely little video slot is graphically superb. Instead of reels, the symbols rumble and roll around a map filled with traditional illustrations from classic sea atlases. This slot also has a superb RTP of 98.6% which is one of highest you’ll find anywhere. It’s so high that sadly many casinos ban this slot from contributing towards wagering.
Where you can Play 1429 Uncharted Seas
5. Reactoonz (Play’n GO – RTP: 96.51%)
Reactoonz by Play’n GO is our favourite example of a ‘cluster pays’ slot. The little critters you can see above fall into the 7×7 grid and create clusters. Each successive cluster powers up the Reactoonz meter and extra bonus powers are released. The graphics of the game are first class, and the bouncing soundtrack will have you tapping your toes!
Where you can play Reactoonz
6. Deadwood (NoLimitCity – RTP: 96.03%)
If you like cowboy-themed slots then you are really spoilt for choice, as there are dozens of them. We think Deadwood (no connection to the TV series of the same name) is the pick of that particular crop, with outstanding graphics and gameplay. It also has a standout setup with 3-4-4-4-3 reels and ‘all ways pay’ making an impressive total of 576 ways to win.
7. Foxin’ Wins Again (Next Gen – RTP: 95.6%)
The original game Foxin’ Wins from NextGen Gaming was a true blue classic, then came along this sequel which turned out to be an even better game! The game features a very well off Fox and his three impish nephews who bounce around the reels, generally causing mayhem. Playing Foxin’ Wins Again you hope those nephews will cause you big payouts too!
Where you can Play Foxin’ Wins Again
8. The Walking Dead (Playtech – RTP: 95.73%)
The Walking Dead is, to many people, the greatest comic book ever created. AMC agreed as they turned TWD into an outstanding TV series, and Playtech have turned the TV series into an excellent slot. All your heroes are here – Rick, Michionne, Daryl, Carol and the nastiest villian of them all, Negan. Oh, of course there are lots of zombies too!
Where you can play The Walking Dead
9. Big Bass Bonanza (Pragmatic Play – RTP: 96.7%)
One of the main aims of online video slots is to go fishing for jackpots, so what better theme could there be for a video slot than fishing? This game is probably the most popular title ever created by Pragmatic Play, and you don’t even have to like fishing to play it! One thing you are guaranteed to like though is the high RTP which is a ‘reel’ catch at 96.7%
Where you can play Big Bass Bonanza
10. Bonanza Megaways (Big Time Gaming – RTP: 96%)
There are now over 100 Megaways slots but for our top ten picks we are going select the slot where it all started for Big Time Gaming (who certainly hit the big time with this slots release). This was the first Megaways title, and the first to max out at an incredible 117,649 winning paylines. Despite it being followed by dozens of Megaways games, it’s still one of the best ever titles in that illustrious series.
Where you can play Bonanza Megaways
Bonuses at Video Slots Casino sites
One of the best things about bonuses at online casino sites is that usually you are free to use your bonus money to play video slots without any limitations. Some sites may restrict your wagering on some slots by some degree, but usually you are left free to fulfil any wagering demands on any slot you desire.
Video slots free spins bonuses are used as an alternative to a video slots welcome bonus by some sites. You may also get a video slots free spins bonus in addition to a video slots welcome bonus. Video slots free spins usually can only be used on a specific slots, although you can get a video slots free spins bonus that can be used on any slot the site offering the bonus has.
Video slots free spins bonus winnings are subject to wagering. For example, if a bonus has wagering of x30, and you win £10 from your video slots free spins bonus, then you will need to perform £300 worth of wagering on your winnings before you are able to withdraw them.
Popular Software Providers of Video Slots
Video slots casino sites seldom make their own games. Instead they rely upon third party providers to supply them for the site. There are several successful companies that supply the best video slots, and here are details about what we think to be five of the best.
NetEnt
Although they are not quite the giants that they used to be, Swedish company NetEnt are still producing many classic games. They used to be the clear market leaders and were guaranteed to make the best video slots, but the rest of the industry has caught up. Best slots: Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Finn’s Swirly Spin.
Microgaming
Along with Playtech, Microgaming are the longest running slots provider in the industry. They are particularly well-known for their progressive jackpot slots, which offer jackpots that can rollover until the lucky jackpot winners become instant multi-millionaires. Best slots: Immortal Romance, Mega Moolah, Major Millions.
Playtech
Playtech has expanded immensely since their humble Estonian roots, and now have more interest over the whole spectrum of online gambling than any other casino games providers. They are most well-known for releasing slots with a common theme, although their popular ‘Marvel slots’ series was decommissioned in 2017. Best slots: Age of the Gods (series), Kingdom’s Rise (series), The Walking Dead.
Play’n GO
Like their rivals, NetEnt, Play’n Go originate from Sweden. In 2020 they caused something of a stir by announcing their intention to released a slot per week for the entire year. They almost made it (releasing 50) and people were astounded at the high quality of their slots, despite the busy schedule. Play’n GO also release ‘classic’ slots, which is something of a rarity these days. Best slots: Reactoonz, Gemix, Troll Hunters.
Big Time Ga
Big Time Gaming were a company no one took much interest in until their release of Bonanza Megaways. The ‘Megaways’ concept took off instantly and now seems to have taken over the casino realm completely. Dozens of companies have released Megaways slots (leasing the concept from BTG), including NetEnt, Pragmatic Play and iSoftbet. Best slots: Bonanza, Extra Chilli, Wheel of Fortune.
How to Win at Video Slots
Sadly, there is no guaranteed way to win at videos slots – if there was, online casinos would not include them in their video slots desktop lobbies! Video slots are very volatile, meaning you are just as likely to win as you are to lose, and you are just as likely to win big as you are to lose a lot. Slots do pay out big jackpots though, just not very frequently.
We have two main tips if you want to increase your chances of a decent win when you play video slots. Our first is to stick with slots with an RTP over 96 percent. RTP (return to player) is a theoretical measure of a slot’s generosity. The higher the RTP, the most generous the slot.
The second tip is to play progressive jackpot slots such as Microgaming’s Mega Moolah. These slots tend to have low RTPs but significantly high jackpots. Playing such slots is really like buying a lottery ticket – you’re probably not going to win, but there’s always the chance you might, and you could win what should be a life-changing amount of money!
Summary
Video slots casino sites offer you the chance to play the best slots from excellent companies such as NetEnt, Microgaming and Playtech on video slots mobile casino sites and video slots desktop sites too. They are generally very entertaining (if you get bored with one slot you can quickly move onto the next … then the next … then the next … and so on) and you may just win a decent – or life-changing – amount of cash.
We hope this guide to online video slots will help you to get the most out of your video slots online playing experiences! Please remember to spin those slotting reels responsibly.
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