The perception of glitz and glamour that accompanies visions of casino gambling is more a product of Hollywood than your typical UK high street.Casino Royale would have been far less popular had James Bond been hunched over a betting machine playing virtual poker in his local Ladbrokes instead of a hotel in Monte Carlo.The reality of offline gambling leaves the door wide open for the internet to claim an increasingly large chunk of the market. Online slots are particularly well placed to make the most of the opportunity for the following reasons:
1. Convenience
Gone are the constraints of daily opening times and the need to brave the elements. Online slots allow you to play whenever you want, from the comfort of your home or on the move.
2. Privacy
Online slot websites legally have to safeguard your data. This ensures that you can enjoy your gaming without worrying abut the person sat on the stool next to you. For those who may struggle with managing their gambling habits, resources for responsible gambling support are readily available.
3. Game selection and availability
While traditional casinos and fixed odds betting terminals only have a limited selection of slot games, the online slots has a huge amount of options. For some of the widest selection of titles, the best slot sites are your go-to. For example VideoSlots, offers nearly 3,500 online games from over 100 providers. You'd be hard-pressed to find more variety even in the bustling casinos of Las Vegas.
4. Prizes and jackpots
Players love a jackpot, and online slots have plenty on offer. Payouts in online slot games are determined by Return-to-Player (RTP) ratios, with the biggest jackpots reserved for the luckiest of players. The nature and choice of online games often result in more substantial jackpots than their offline counterparts.
How much can I win playing online slots?
The biggest single jackpots can be found in the world of progressive slots. Progressive jackpots increase by accumulating a percentage of each losing stake to the total.The world record for the largest jackpot ever won on an online slot machine is €17,879,645 (£13,209,300) back in October 2015. Lucky UK player, Jon Heywood, won the prize playing Mega Moolah at Betway.In contrast, the biggest offline slot jackpot was won back in March 2013 at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, totalling a massive $38,710,826 on the Megabucks game.
How we choose the best sites for slots
We’ve reviewed over 300 of the best UK slot sites, rating everything from the range of games to the fairness of welcome bonuses.Our team of experienced reviewers thoroughly test every brand in our database to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information at all times.
What’s the difference between slot sites and casinos?
While the differences might not be obvious, they do exist, and are mainly to do with the size and diversity of the games on offer. Here's our breakdownSlot site: Large range of slot games with a limited casino offer, such as
Wild Spins. May include a small selection of live games and tables.
Casino: Includes a large number of video and
live dealer casino games such as poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and others. Features a range of slot machines as part of the wider site.
Bingo site: Despite their differences, slot and casino sites do have one thing in common: a total lack of bingo. For us, a bingo site with slot games is still a bingo site.
Do bingo sites offer slots?
The variety of slots available on bingo sites will usually be smaller than on a dedicated slots site, although some platforms including Dragonfish and Jumpman do tend to retain a full selection of games regardless of site type.
What the best sites have in common
When players first look at slot sites, there’s a tendency to just sign up to the first they see, especially if they click through to a site on a whim after spotting an advert. After playing on one or two sites, players start to develop a stronger idea of what they like and what makes a site on of the best slot sites. All the top online slot sites have certain qualities in common that prove popular with users.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses have a considerable influence over a player's initial choice of an online slot site. A generous bonus with reasonable terms makes all the difference. Sites with a generous welcome bonus is likely to continue providing good promotions.
Diverse Slot Providers
Leading slot sites typically feature a mix of slot providers, offering a wide variety of gameplay, artistic styles, and jackpots. Sites with at least three providers, including industry giants like Microgaming, Playtech, or NetEnt, offer a well-rounded gaming experience.
Responsive Support
While issues are rare, responsive customer support can make or break your gaming experience. Quick access to a helpful support team can quickly resolve any problems, and ensure your long-term enjoyment remains secure.Subjects like this and more are covered in our reviews as ‘categories’. Look at the filter on the left of our listings if you want to see sites listed by a specific strength, such as the best support or the best VIP rewards.
New or established slot sites?
Choosing between new and established slot sites can be a difficult. Older sites inspire more trust as they have a strong track record, but newer sites often offer superior technology and more attractive welcome bonuses and no-deposit slot bonuses to compete with the bigger brands. Only ever play at sites withe valid licenses. The most reputable sites in the UK will also have the mark of eCOGRA or other independent reviewers, or a mark from a company that tests games for fairness, like iTech Labs.
Games galore
The game selection on any given slot site depends on the slot providers they work with. These are software development companies that specialise in producing slot games and other digital games. Occasionally, a site will also develop in-house games too.Gamesys sites like Jackpotjoy are known for making their own games, with some exceptional, high quality results. The benefit of this is that when you join a Gamesys site, you have access to exclusive games that you can’t find on other sites. This naturally gives a player a solid reason to choose them over another brand. Gamesys sites typically have bingo too and chat games for all players.NetEnt is one of the top slot providers out there, producing some of the most recognisable slots of recent years. This company makes Starburst, which has become the first game that many new players see. Their Motorhead game is known for using actual music from the band. This company also produces several table games and even live dealer games, blending real casino gaming with online play.Microgaming was established in 1994 and is one of the founders of online casino play as we know it. There are hundreds of Microgaming titles, with more being released constantly. Beautiful Bones is a luscious Mexican-themed slot, while a Microgaming classic is Thunderstruck II, one of the most popular Viking-themed games.Playtech is a huge name and they tend to be a site’s sole provider, but this is not always the case. This company produces a lot of big jackpot games. As well as original titles like Age of Gods, Playtech makes licensed DC comics games such as Superman II and Man of Steel.
Our Verdict
As you explore the world of online slots consider these factors to help you enjoy the ultimate gaming experience,. The best slot sites share common qualities that resonate with players, offering convenience, variety, and potentially big wins.