The UK's Best Slot Sites

We admit, there’s not a lot to separate a slot site from a casino; but we do believe there is a distinction to be made. A lot of this comes down to the size and variety of the games available. Here’s how we define each:

Slot site: Large range of slot games with a limited casino offer, such as Wild Spins and Foxy Casino. May include a small selection of live games and tables.

Casino: Includes a large number of video and live 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.

Why are slot sites so popular?

Online slots have massively taken off in the last decade. For a long time, the idea of playing slot or bingo games on the computer was a little lacklustre, compared to the glitz and glamour of traditional casinos.

While bricks and mortar casinos still have their appeal, certainly for a fun night out, online casinos have come on in leaps and bounds and essentially taken over. Many players would simply prefer to log in to a slot site than waste time and money travelling to a standard casino. With a few clicks, all the latest slot games and big bonus offers can be grabbed with ease.

Technological advances are part of the reason for this booming popularity. Internet browsers are now able to run graphically advanced games with comparative ease, not even needing to download software, so games played at home can have real music, stunning artwork and animated features. Even mobile phones can play these games now, opening up a new level of convenience.

Slot veterans also know that joining several real-world casinos requires a lot of travelling around, while it’s very easy to join several online casinos in the space of half an hour. For those who like a welcome bonus, doubling or tripling their starting cash, this is a very useful feature.

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 good site. All the top online slot sites have certain qualities in common that prove popular with users.

Welcome bonuses are naturally a big factor, as they tend to sway a player’s initial choice to join up. Though a welcome bonus only reflects your first few days of use on a site, it is important. A good site will offer a generous bonus with reasonable terms. If the requirements look a bit too high, chances are that future promotions will also ask a lot.

Consider slot providers too

Top sites also tend to have a mixture of slot providers. This is not always the case- some sites get a huge catalogue of slots from one source- but for longevity, a mixture tends to be best. Look for sites with at least three providers, including a big name like Microgaming, Playtech or NetEnt. This will ensure that the slots have variety in gameplay, artistic styles and jackpots.

The best sites also have the best support. While you should technically never need it, it’s great to have easy access to a helpful team when anything goes wrong, or you just have questions. Trying to sort out identity checks or technical issues with only email correspondence is very frustrating. A good support team and FAQ means that your long-term enjoyment is more 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.

Best Slot Sites - March 2019

New or established slot sites?

Sometimes, players are a little torn between joining the newest site out, or going with a more established, recognised name. There are pros and cons to both. The older sites are perceived as more trustworthy, after years of trading and being under the microscope. Newer sites tend to have the edge in terms of technology, but not always.

The question of trust is tricky and it’s only natural for older brands to instil more trust than a brand-new site with no track record. If this is a concern, the main thing to do when looking at a new site is check their credentials, either on the site footer or in the ‘about’ area. You should only ever play at sites with a license. The best sites 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.

New sites tend to have the edge with welcome bonuses and no-deposit slot bonuses, as they need to make big offers to compete with established brands. A nice £10 bonus without any cash from you is sure to make you more likely to visit a new site. This competition works in your favour, as new sites need to offer larger amounts with less wagering requirements. Always check the full terms first, of course. The flip side is that the older, bigger sites may offer more things to do day-to-day.

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.

Slot sites vs bingo sites

There is some debate as to which is better; a dedicated slots site or a bingo site. There are benefits to both kind of site and more often than not, a slot player can have a good time on either.

The majority of bingo sites still offer slot games, so if you’ve tried all the latest slot sites, don’t rule out bingo. The game selection does tend to be smaller than a slots-only site, but if there are titles that you like, then the actual play experience is just the same. Bingo sites tend to have chat rooms and a friendlier outlook, since bingo is aimed at a more casual type of gambler. They also tend to have more creative and interactive promotions.

With a dedicated slot site, you get a more streamlined approach. There will often be five or more slot providers, creating a huge library of different games. These sites tend to be a little more sleek and stylish and focus on more tangible promotions, like cash match bonuses and cashback from losses. The design of these sites takes players straight to the action, unlike some bingo sites which have a more ponderous lobby setup.

The biggest sites out there, such as BGO, simply solve this problem by offering everything! A multi-platform site often has bingo, slots, casino games, live dealer games and sports betting, all in one place. These sites can be a bit of a maze to navigate, but are great for choice. Sometimes, one area of the site will suffer in terms of promotions, with sports or poker getting the lion’s share of offers.

The beauty of online slot gaming, which still gives it the edge over playing at bricks and mortar casinos, is choice. You can decide for yourself which sites are better, by joining as many as you please!