Online Slot Types
Now you’ve learned about how an online slot works and what you need to consider, you then need to decide on the type of slot game you want to play. There are various slot types to choose from with the following the most commonly found:
- Classic Slot/Slot Machine: these are the original games, which typically have 3 reels and 1 single payline. A win is formed by getting 3 matching symbols across the middle of the screen. You now have modern classic slots which also offer bonus features and extras.
- Video Slot: this is the most common type of slot game and normally comprises 5 reels. Most slots fall into this category and offer bonus features like free spins, wild symbols and scatters.
- Jackpot Slot: these are video slots with a progressive jackpot element. This allows players to win jackpots which can reach 7 or 8 figures. A popular jackpot series is the WowPot network, with Wheel of Wishes paying outa world-record €38.4 million in December 2023.
- Megaways Slot: these are slot games that use the Megaways engine from Big Time Gaming. On each spin, the number of symbols per reel changes randomly, offering you a varying number of ways to win. With a typical Megaways slot game, each of the 6 reels can contain between 2 and 7 symbols, allowing for a minimum of 324 ways to win and a maximum of 117,649 ways to win.
- Grid Slot: known as Cluster Pays slots, these games don’t have a number of paylines or ways to win. Winning combinations are formed by landing clusters of matching symbols (they need to be next to each other). Check out all our grid slots.
- 3D Slot: these are slots that use 3D technology in their graphics. These allow for a richer and more immersive game experience. An example is NetEnt’s Gems of Adoria, which was the first from the reputable slot provider.
- Mobile Slot: these are online slots that can be played on mobile and tablet devices. With advances in technology, all slot games are mobile these days as they are created using HTML5 technology. As a result, they can played on a wide range of devices that are powered by iOS, Windows and Android, amongst other operating systems.
- Themed Slot: while these games will fall under the categories listed above, some players like to play slots that have an ancient Egyptian theme, for example. Others like Greek mythology, superheroes, pirates, dragons, Wild West or zombies. We have a page dedicated to online slot themes.
Slot Providers
The online slots you see are made by slot providers or developers. These are companies who produce slot games basically. With thousands of online slots to choose from, there are over 100 slot developers that are well-known with more launching all the time.
At Online-Slot.co.uk, we provide reviews of slots from over 50 providers. With new slots available daily, the big providers release new titles on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. The most popular providers include:
- NetEnt: they have become the most popular provider and were founded in 1996. With clean graphics and innovative concepts and mechanics, some of their best slots include Starburst, Dead or Alive 2, Vikings and Mega Fortune.
- Games Global (formerly Microgaming): the first casino provider founded in 1994, they release new games every week. Their best slots include Immortal Romance, Mega Moolah, Thunderstruck 2 and Game of Thrones.
- Playtech: founded in 1999, they are known for creating lots of branded slots due to various licensing agreements. With movie slots like Top Gun, RoboCop and Gladiator Road to Rome, they also offer players superb slots series like Age of the Gods and Kingdoms Rise which offer unique bonus features and progressive jackpots.
- Play ‘n GO: formed in 1997, they became a household name when they released the popular Book of Dead slot. With 3 to 4 new slots every single month, their games are well-designed, multi-platform and generally high variance. Their most popular slots include Wild Blood 2, Ring of Odin, Legacy of Dead and Ankh of Anubis.
- IGT: founded back in 1975 and originally focused on land-based slot machines, they have an extensive range of slots which are now available online. They are responsible for some of the most popular games of all time, including Cleopatra, Da Vinci Diamonds and Siberian Storm.
- Novomatic: founded in 1980 and also a land-based slot provider, they are European-focused and produced the iconic Book of Ra Deluxe slot, which has been copied/cloned by various other providers. With a huge catalogue of land-based slots, they release new online slots every Tuesday and are catered to players who are looking for an actual casino experience.
- Big Time Gaming: relatively new to the party, the Sydney based provider has taken the online slots world by storm with their Megaways engine. As a result of the success of Megaways, they have licensed the engine to other providers like Blueprint Gaming, iSoftBet and NetEnt. They are also responsible for the Megaclusters engine which is sure to become just as popular, if not more so, than Megaways.
- Nolimit City: founded in 2014, they have a variety of slot games to choose from. With a new game every month, they’ve made quite the name for themselves with innovative mechanics, huge win potential and controversial themes. Their San Quentin slot is based on the notorious prison and comes with 150,000 x stake max wins.
Online Slot Reviews
We at Online-Slot.co.uk provide detailed slot reviews. Our aim is to provide an in-depth look at all aspects of a slot game so you can play the game that’s right for you. Here’s what we look for:
- Details & Stake Limits: we look at the number of reels, paylines, how much you can spin for, the RTP, and the variance. We also look at the max win potential and what is needed to win that amount.
- Theme/Graphics: we look at how the slot looks graphically, the soundtrack, symbols on the reels and what devices you can play on.
- Bonus Features: we look at the extras on offer like free spins, wild symbols and engine/mechanics.
- Analysis: we summarise the slot and compare to similar games or better ones if needed. We look at the overall playing experience and whether it’s recommended or not.
If you want more details on our slot reviews, check out how we rate slots which specifies all the criteria and metrics. This section also takes a look at how we review casinos.
Free Online Slots
At Online-Slot.co.uk, we give users the ability to play slots for free. This allows users to sample the slots before playing for real money and get a feel for how the game works.
With our free demo slots, you can see the graphics and animations, try the bonus features and make your mind up before you play at an online casino of your choice. Just spin away until you’re happy to go and play at our recommended casinos.
UK Age Verification
In the UK, the Gambling Commission requires that players verify their age before playing a slot for free or for real money. This means that portals like Online-Slot.co.uk add age verification to all slots.
Being responsible, Online-Slot.co.uk was the first site to implement age verification in the UK. We teamed up with AgeChecked to do this and the process couldn’t be simpler. Fully anonymous, they offer a number of ways to verify your age:
Electoral Roll | Enter your personal/address details |
Driving License | Enter your personal details + driving license number |
Credit Card | Enter your card details |
UK Mobile | Enter your email address + mobile number |
This process is free and only needs to be done once. You can create an AgeChecked account which makes it easier if you ever use it in future. Remember that your details will not be stored or shared as they will only be used for verification purposes.
Mobile Slots
Online slots nowadays are available to play across multiple devices including laptops, PCs, smartphones and tablets. With the rise of the use of mobile phones, all slot games are mobile slots meaning they can be played on a range of handheld devices that use iOS, Android or Windows operating systems.
Some slot providers like ELK Studios are mobile-first meaning they create slot games with mobile users as their priority. Developer 4theplayer has taken things further with the creation of Portrait Mode. This allows players to view the slot in portrait mode on their mobile and occupy 60% of the screen rather than the average 20%.
All slots found here at Online-Slot.co.uk can be played on mobiles and tablets. The demo versions are also multi-device. Furthermore, all sites recommended are UK mobile casinos meaning you can enjoy on the go.
Online Slots FAQs
Yes. Slot games are down to pure luck as they use random number generators. You can land a win by seeing matching symbols across a payline. Whether you win or not is down to chance at this given spin.
The best slots to play are down to your personal preferences. Slots have different numbers of reels, paylines, themes, bonus features, variance and other factors.
Here at Online-Slot.co.uk, there are free slot demos available, meaning you can play the games before playing for real money at a chosen casino. With over 3,000 slots available to play free, check out our various slot categories you can try for free.
The short answer is no. That’s if you play slots that are regulated and licensed. We only list online slots from reputable providers that have various operating licenses and deploy random number generators. This ensures fairness and transparency. Online slots have an RTP rate which is normally 95%. This means the casino has a house edge or margin of 5%.