The slot machine is perhaps the most famous casual casino game of all time. For me, the word ‘casino’ itself triggers images of slot machines in my mind. They have been around since forever, and are prominently featured in absolutely every casino that has ever existed. Of course, this includes online casinos – in fact, the majority of games found at all online casinos is comprised of slots. They are simply everywhere.
Slots are also one of the easiest casino games in history. They do not require any special skills in order to play them and win. There is no strategy, no logic, and no deep thinking like in blackjack, for instance. Slots are 100% luck and nothing else. That is what makes them so appealing to so many people.
If you want to start playing slots with real money, you need to know the basics. In this article, we will attempt to summarise everything there is to know about slot machines in this article, so you can start playing prepared. We will even tell you which the best UK casinos for slot games are.
Online Slots – Rules & Variations
We are fairly certain that you know how slots work – you insert a coin in the machine and spin the reels. There are various ways to win at this game, and they all include successfully forming combinations from the symbols on the reels. Let’s dive a bit deeper into the possible combinations and the different symbols you are likely to encounter when playing slots.
Combinations & Special Symbols
The reels of a slot machine are covered with symbols which are shuffled at random every time you spin. There are pre-determined patterns across the rows, called ‘paylines’. If you manage to get 3 or more identical symbols across a payline, you win something. Different combinations have different payouts – you can check them all in the game’s paytable, which should be easy to find.
Depending on the game you are playing, the symbols can be pretty much anything – from fruits and playing cards to comic book heroes and movie characters. Aside from the usual symbols that form combinations, there are a few special ones that you might stumble upon in all slot games.
Wild is a symbol that can be used as a substitute for all other, except for the Scatter. With it, you can complete any combination across all paylines. Needless to say, the Wild symbol is pretty cool.
Scatter is a symbol that has a variety of uses, but they all revolve around extra spins, winning payouts and even bonus games. For example, if you get three Scatter symbols at once, you get a chance to play a totally different game with a big payout.
Multipliers increase your winnings several times, and add up in most games that feature them. If you are lucky enough to get a few multipliers in a row, your winnings can increase greatly.
It’s important to know that different games might have different rules – and there are quite a lot of slots games out there. Before playing any of them, make sure you check out the paytable and the rules for bonus rounds, extra spins, and stuff like that.
Types of Slot Machines
Back in the early days, slot machines had exclusively 3 reels. In present day, however, most slot machines you can play online feature 5 reels, which makes for more possible paylines and opportunities for bonuses. You can find a game with 3 reels, of course, but we recommend that you play on the 5-reel ones, since they have a lot more to offer.
Apart from the number of reels, we can categorise slot machines by the type of jackpot they offer. Some games feature a non-progressive jackpot, which are fixed amounts of money. The real deal are the progressive jackpots, which get bigger and bigger as the players bet more and more on the game. Progressive jackpots tend to get really, really huge. UK citizen Jon Heywood managed to win the spectacular sum of £13,209,300 while playing Mega Moolah at Betway – one of the games that feature a progressive jackpot. What a lucky guy.
Settings & Software
One of the many advantages of playing slots online rather than at a land-based casino is that you can customise your game just the way you like it. On top of all that, there are helpful settings that can make the game go much faster, allowing you to get to those big wins and bonus rounds much faster than normal.
Auto Spin is an option featured in almost all online slot games. It does exactly what it says – you will no longer have to click the ‘Spin’ button every 5 seconds. The game will do that for you. The other handy option worth mentioning is Quick Spin, which significantly reduces the time you have to wait before a spin finishes and you get to see the result. Combining those two options is one of the best ways to complete the wagering requirements that casinos set for their bonuses. Just let the game do its thing and you will be able to cash out your winnings before you know it.
Each game has a unique set of options you can configure to your liking, like graphics quality, audio level, etc. Keep in mind that newer games, naturally, have way better visuals and more settings to toy around with than old slot games.
The Leading Developers of Slot Games
The online casino scene has been rapidly developing over the last decade, and there are many software developers that specialise in creating games for it. While there are many, many companies that produce online slots, there are a select few that can be labelled as the top developers of such games.
Playtech is one of the biggest developers of online casino software. It surely is the most popular, since a big percentage of online casinos use their platform. They are famous for their Marvel Comics-themed slot machines, many of which are long-time fan favourites. We are talking about games like Spider-Man, Iron Man 3, The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk, etc. Other famous games from their catalogue include Little Britain and Monthy Python’s Spamalot.
NetEnt is renowned as the company that creates the best casino games in terms of sheer quality. Their catalogue is rather small, but all games in it are exceptional. Among their most popular slots are titles like South Park, Aliens, Gonzo’s Quest, and Starburst.
Microgaming is probably the first developer of online casino software. In fact, they are the people behind the first online casino ever launched. Microgaming have created classic slots like Thunderstruck, Immortal Romance, Terminator and the wildly successful Mega Moolah. Their more recent games include famous slots like The Dark Knight and Game of Thrones.
IGT stands for International Game Technology are a well-known creator of great slot games. If you are a slots player, you have definitely come across their most famous games – Cleopatra, Pharaoh’s Fortune, Wolf Run, Monopoly, etc. Of course, there is the fan-favourite Family Guy slot game, which is themed after the hit TV show.
RandomLogic are 888 Casino’s personal game developer. Their games can be found only there, and they are truly something to behold. Slots by RandomLogic have a unique feel and play extremely well. Try some of their games and you will see what we are talking about. Popular titles by this developer include Millionaire Genie, Ultimate Universe, and Snack Time.
Best Casinos for Real Money Slots
Slot games dominate the libraries of almost all online casinos. However, some have more to offer than the rest – be it a bigger library, better selection of games, or something else. Without further ado, here are the best UK casinos for slot machine enthusiasts.
Ladbrokes has more than 400 slot games in its library! There you can play a great variety of Playtech powered games, like Spider-Man, The Avengers, Thor, and Fantastic Four, among others.
Leo Vegas features 400+ slot games, and is also the best mobile casino ever made. The game collection includes titles from many of the best developers of slot games. At Leo Vegas, you can enjoy games like Starburst, Mega Moolah, Immortal Romance, and Gonzo’s Quest.
32Red will surprise you with its 300+ slot games, courtesy of the veterans Microgaming. Featured games include Mega Moolah, The Dark Knight Rises, Thunderstruck II and Game of Thrones.
All of our Top 10 casinos have great collections of slot games – it’s just that these three really stand out when it comes to this particular game. Make sure you give our recommended casinos a try. You will not be disappointed that you did.
Play Online Slots at One of Our Top Casinos Today!
If you want to play online slots with real money, do not hesitate and register at one of our recommended casinos. All games are fair, and the websites are safe and secure. If you are leaning towards a specific casino from our Top 10, make sure you check out its detailed review for more information.
The classic game of slots can be enjoyed be everyone, since it doesn’t require any specific strategy, or a lot of money to play with. Don’t forget that it’s all about pure luck – sometimes you will win, sometimes you will lose. The important thing is to have fun!