In the UK, the popularity of slot sites has never been higher, with plenty of punters enjoying the ease of use, accessibility, easy-to-understand rules and the potential for quick winnings.
It can be helpful for newcomers to have a guide to the best slot games in the UK, so we have compiled a breakdown of the top slots, covering different types of games, including video slots, Megaways and those with the highest RTPs.
Best slot games: Video slots
Video slots are the most popular type of online slot. Below we have listed our top five video slots:
1. Big Bass Bonanza
RTP: 96.71 per cent.
Big Bass Bonanza is a classic fishing-themed slot, with players able to gather money symbols on the reels for payouts during the free spins round.
It is one of the leading slot titles in the UK, and the Big Bass series is often included in free spins offers for new users. It operates across five reels and features many ways to win, with a maximum win of 2,100x stake.
2. Eye of Horus
RTP: 96.31 per cent.
Eye of Horus is an Egyptian-themed slot, where players can upgrade lower symbols to higher-value ones.
It’s a classic among slot games, and features 10 paylines, alongside expanding wilds. It also offers a top prize worth 500x the wager.
3. Book of Dead
RTP: 96.21 per cent.
Book of Dead is a flagship title from Play’n GO, one of the most well-known developers of casino software. This high-volatility slot features a free spins round, and while the studio has kept it simple with five reels and 10 paylines, there’s plenty packed into this slot, including bonus games, expanding wilds and a 5,000x jackpot.
4. Starburst
RTP: 96.09 per cent.
The king of low-volatility games is Starburst, which has 10 paylines and a jackpot of 500x your stake. Known for vibrant visuals and expanding wilds, this slot offers regular wins and a simple yet captivating gameplay experience.
Starburst was created by popular studio NetEnt, and you can read more about the studio and its games with our guide to NetEnt casinos.
5. Rainbow Riches
RTP: 95 per cent.
Rainbow Riches is a popular Irish-themed game developed by Barcrest. It has five reels and 20 paylines, with the standout feature being the three bonus rounds, including the road to riches trail, the wishing well pick and the pots of gold free spins.
This is a medium volatility title with a top win of 500x stake, and it’s known for its charming theme, big payouts and the subsequent series it spawned.
Best slot games: Megaways slots
Megaways games use a specific random reel modifier, with six reels and up to seven symbols. They feature a unique mechanism that changes the size of reels on each spin, meaning they could show between two and seven symbols, altering the number of possible paylines.
They also have a dynamic payline structure, and the number of paylines varies with each spin. You can find out more about the best Megaways slots with our dedicated guide
Below are our top five Megaways slots:
1. Bonanza Megaways
RTP: 96 per cent.
The original Megaways slot, with 117,649 possible ways to win and a jackpot of 12,000x the original bet. It was developed by popular studio Big Time Gaming, and you can read more about their games with our guide to Big Time Gaming casinos.
In this game, six cascading reels showing between two and seven symbols, with 12 free spins awarded as the minimum. Unlimited win multipliers during those free spins rounds is another unique feature.
2. Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways
RTP: 96.1 per cent
Fishin’ Frenzy is Blueprint’s answer to the Big Bass series, with a similar mechanic including a fisherman wild that collects fish prize symbols. However, the Megaways game uses 15,625 paylines and a maximum win of 10,000x stake.
You can read more about the game developer with our guide to Blueprint Gaming casinos.
3. Extra Chilli Megaways
RTP: 96.19 per cent.
Extra Chilli Megaways has the same 117,649 ways to win as Bonanza, although this time players can land a jackpot 20,000x their wager.
This medium-volatility title features six cascading reels which can feature up to seven symbols.
4. Wheel of Fortune Megaways
RTP: 96.46 per cent.
This game boasts one million paylines – the most we could find for a Megaways title.
Players will enjoy the expanding reels and wild megastack features, all played out against the backdrop of the American TV show.
5. Big Bass Bonanza Megaways
RTP: 96.7 per cent
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways is the Megaways version of the popular fishing slot, with a high RTP of 96.7% and 147,656 ways to win. Players can land a top win of 4,000x stake, while the fisherman wild that collects money symbols will be a familiar feature for fans of the classic versions.
Best slot games: Slingo
Slingo is a popular form of slot game that combines elements of slots and bingo. The game features a 5x5 number grid, with the game’s slot reels placed below.
We have listed the top three slingo games that are widely available on both slot sites and the best bingo sites:
1. Slingo Fire & Ice
RTP: 96.1 per cent.
In this slot game, users compete to match up the fire and ice symbols over 24 paylines. It’s a simple slot to play due to only two symbols, while the volatility is a low to medium giving players a solid chance of a payout.
Users can use free spins and respins during the game and there is also a multiplier function to increase potential payouts.
2. Slingo Starburst
RTP: 96.5 per cent.
Here, the jackpot remains at 250x your wager but the number of paylines has increased from 10 to 12, while the game moves from low to medium volatility.
3. Slingo Deal or No Deal
RTP: 95 per cent.
In this game, you choose one of 26 boxes at the start and each time you hit spin, a different box is opened, revealing a certain amount of money that is then removed.
There are not loads of bonus rounds, but you will get events like the banker’s offer round if you advance far enough.
Best slot games: Themed slots
Themed slots are another popular option for slot gamers, with common themes including animal slots and Egyptian slots, as well as slots themed around popular TV shows, movies and more.
The top five themed slots include:
1. The Goonies
RTP: 96 per cent.
Blueprint Gaming have incorporated graphics and music into a five-reel slot game with a 10,000x jackpot.
The bonus features are all tied to the film as well, including Sloth’s Win Spin, One-Eye Willie’s Bonus Boost and more, many of which can help players trigger one of three free spins rounds available.
2. Gates of Olympus
RTP: 96.5 per cent
Gates of Olympus is a popular slot with an Ancient Greek theme, and it uses a tumble mechanic where winning symbols vanish after a win.
It has five reels and no traditional fixed paylines, with a top win of 5,000x stake available.
3. Big Bass Splash
RTP: 96.71 per cent
This is another popular fishing slot and the sequel to Big Bass Bonanza. It has the same collect mechanic but the free spins pay harder, with a maximum win of 5,000x stake.
4. Guns N’ Roses
RTP: 96.98 per cent.
This medium-volatility slot game has a good track record of providing decent returns to players – the biggest win you can land is 125x your original stake.
5. Game of Thrones
RTP: 95.07 per cent.
Microgaming have tapped into the world of the hugely successful TV series Game of Thrones for a game with 243 paylines. In addition, each house in this high-volatility game has its own unique features and free spins.
Highest RTP slot games
RTP stands for ‘Return To Player’. This indicates the percentage of funds staked on a game that will be returned to players over a prolonged period of time.
However, if a slot game has an RTP of 97 per cent, it doesn’t mean you’ll get £97 back if you gamble £100. Rather, your losses contribute to the overall RTP of the game, and someone who plays it will be paid out sooner or later.
Below are some details on the top three high RTP slots:
1. Mega Joker
RTP: 99 per cent.
Mega Joker is designed to look like a classic slot machine, and it plays that way too, but where it stands out is an RTP of 99 per cent. It doesn’t guarantee a big return, but it does make it more likely than other games.
2. Book of 99
RTP: 99 per cent.
Book of 99 is an ancient Greece-themed game with a bit more to offer.
For starters, Book of 99 features three spins, has 10 paylines and pays out at a maximum of 12,075x a player’s wager. It can be pretty volatile, but may still be worth your time.
3. 1429 Uncharted Seas
RTP: 98.6 per cent.
This nautical-themed slot game offers a very high RTP of 98.6 and low variance, but still offers a decent maximum payout of 670x, as well as 25 paylines and the usual wilds, scatter and free spins feature, with up to 50 free spins available.
How to choose the best slot games for you
These are the main factors that could influence your choice of game:
RTP: Many players will not play slots with an RTP lower than 96 per cent.
Volatility: The volatility of a slot refers to the level of risk involved in that slot game, in terms of the size and frequency of pay outs. High volatility games will pay out less often, but with higher potential wins, and vice-versa.
Bonus features: Players should also think about any bonus features that the slot offers, as these often increase the chances of wins.
Most popular Pragmatic Play slots
Pragmatic Play is one of the best developers of online slots, and the studio that provides Drops and Wins games. We asked them what their most-played games are this year, so readers can take a brief look and compare the games below.
You can read our article on Pragmatic Play casinos to learn more about the studio and its games, and you can find out where to play Drops and Wins games with our dedicated guide.
Rank | Slot Game | RTP | Maximum Win |
1 | Big Bass Splash | 96.71% | £1,250,000 |
2 | Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | £525,000 |
3 | Big Bass Mission Fishin’ | 96.50% | £1,250,000 |
4 | Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake | 96.07% | £750,000 |
5 | Big Bass Vegas Double Down Deluxe | 96.50% | £1,250,000 |
6 | Big Bass Hold and Spinner | 96.70% | £5,000,000 |
7 | Big Bass Amazon Xtreme | 96.07% | £2,500,000 |
8 | Bigger Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | £960,000 |
9 | Buffalo King Megaways | 96.52% | £625,000 |
10 | Gates of Olympus | 96.50% | £500,000 |
Responsible gambling
Gambling is only a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. Never chase your losses, and take steps to remain in control of your budget.
You can make use of responsible gambling tools offered by UK gambling sites, such as self-assessment calculators, deposit limits and time-outs.
Should you wish to seek help for gambling-related issues, there are several charities and healthcare providers who offer support and information:
Slot Games FAQs
What is the best slot game for beginners?
Starburst is among the best online slot games for those who are new to slots due to its simple gameplay and frequent payouts.
What slot games have the best odds?
Slot sites offer a range of games with a wide variety of odds, though there are several slot games that offer an RTP as high as 99 per cent (though roughly 96 is the ‘industry standard’ ).
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