If you’re a slot fan, it’s smart to follow my Simon Says advice. I have all the details and know-how to play and enhance your enjoyment of the best slot sites.
My guide’s objective is to help you determine which slot games are right for you and where best to play them. Let’s kick off with my highly recommended list of top slot sites.
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Reasons to trust what Simon Says
I’ve been involved in casinos and their games, particularly online slot sites, for over 20 years. In that time, I’ve seen many changes, and I keep myself abreast of new rules, regulations, and, of course, any new casino slot games.
I would never recommend a platform for you to play on if I hadn’t checked it out myself first. To do this, I focus on only reputable platforms with all the relevant licensing and security measures.
Impartiality is the name of my game, so I won’t sugarcoat anything. If I come across dodgy slot sites, I’ll let you know to stay away to keep your gambling not only fun but safe.
My key factors for evaluating slot sites
To ensure I only select and recommend the best casinos for entertainment, I confirm and test the following:
- Usability: I will let you know how easy it is to navigate the site, find games, and access other areas like banking and promotions.
- Security: A casino without a gambling licence is a big no for me. I confirm the licence is in place from a reputable regulator like the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. With these in place, I know the security measures will be first-class and offer adequate player protection.
- Bonuses: You can claim their bonus offers to boost the balance when playing at slot sites. I confirm whether they offer fair terms and specific requirements for claiming or playing with them.
- Games: This check involves confirming the range and quality of their titles. I inspect not only the slots library but also the other gaming options available, like live dealer or table game titles.
- Support: When I play at a slot site, I sometimes need to contact a team member to help with a glitched game or assist with other areas. I test the agents to confirm they offer a responsive and helpful service.
- Payments: Another factor I always check is having reliable and easy ways to fund your casino account. I will use the cashier to make deposits and withdrawals and report on minimum and maximum limits, fees, and the timeframes for processing your winnings.
Simon Says: “Before any session on slot sites, I check what promotions and bonuses are available and their terms. It’s a perfect way to increase my balance with my deposit and extend my playing time.”
Types of slot games
I don’t know the exact number of online slots, but I estimate them to be well over 20,000 at my last count. With such a massive variety, you’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding what type of slot game to play.
Let me share some of the most common mechanics you’ll find and how they work.
Megaways slots
Introduced by Big Time Gaming in 2015, this mechanic offers thousands of ways to win on any spin. Since then, many other developers have bought the rights from BTG to use the Megaways slot features at casinos.
They typically come with six or seven paylines, and the number of rows changes on each spin to change the number of paylines. On slots like Bonanza Megaways, which was the first big hit released in 2016, there are up to 117,649 winning ways.
Classic slots
Many moons ago, before online casinos were a thing, the only way to play the games was at a land-based venue. The games typically consisted of 1 to 5 paylines with classic symbols on the reels.
The symbols include fruits, bars, and 7s and have been updated for online play. I am a massive fan as they offer easy gameplay, and I recommend them if you’re just starting with slot sites.
Video slots
These slots generally have a layout of five reels and three rows. They offer a more immersive slot experience as they have more bonus features and mechanics.
The bonuses include free spins, wilds, scatters, multipliers, and pick-me-style bonus games. They come in various themes, which tell a story and are evident in their symbols and bonus features.
Jackpot slots
For the biggest wins, achievable jackpot slots are a top player favourite. They can come as a fixed jackpot where the maximum sum you can win is fixed and won’t increase.
The other is the progressive jackpots, which I usually choose. There is no upper limit on the amount that can be won. Every spin contributes to the growing pots, which can reach millions before being won.
Slot sites: factors to consider
Besides the various mechanics I have highlighted above, there are also many other factors to consider when choosing slots to play. Knowing the differences between these slot factors will help you pick the best options.
- RTP: This is the return to player percentage of your expected returns over the slot’s lifetime. The average for slots sits at 96%, with some higher and many lower. It’s calculated and certified over millions of spins. I always look for the highest returns to increase my chances.
- Volatility: Another factor I check is the slot’s volatility levels. Low volatility slots pay out frequently but with small wins. A high volatility slot generally offers higher win potential but can be hard to trigger. If you’re new to slots, I suggest starting with low volatility, as high can be pretty brutal.
- Paytable: When you load up an online slot, there usually is an info button. Take a look, as it shows you all the bonus features, the symbol payout values, the paylines, and how to trigger wins across them.
- Theme and graphics: What I love most about slots is their entertaining themes, high-quality symbols, and background graphics. The options are endless, with themes covering Asia, Movies, TV shows, Outer Space, and many more.
- Play free slots: I always play a slot in its demo version before spinning with real money. It’s an ideal chance to test a few out without any risk. It helps me find slots I enjoy and believe have the correct RTP, volatility, and bonus features for my requirements.
- Software developers: Hundreds of studios create and power the slots. I have a few favourites, so I often seek them out, like NetEnt, Games Global, Play’n GO or Pragmatic Play.
Casino slots games bonus features
Bonuses are my biggest drawcard when deciding which slot game to play. I want to showcase some of the most common ones and how they run below:
Cascading reels
This nifty feature is also commonly called tumbling reels. When you hit a winning spin, the symbols involved in the win will drop off the grid, and new symbols will drop in. This continues until you can’t achieve any more winning combinations.
Scatters
These typically trigger the free spins feature if enough land together on the reels, usually at least three. In the more classic slots, they won’t launch a feature, but you can receive a higher payout when combinations of them land.
Multipliers
To help boost your winning potential, multipliers can be found in many ways in the slot game. They can come as a multiplier trail like Gonzo’s Quest, where you move up to higher values as you hit winning spins. They also come attached to wilds or free spin features.
Wilds
These are very common and serve various purposes. With some, they will substitute for paying symbols to help form winning combinations. They can also act as scatters, triggering free spins, expanding across reels, or even coming with random multiplier values.
Free spins
By far, this is the most popular feature found in slots. When you land the feature, you will receive a set number of free spins, which averages around 10 to 20. They often come with extra features like expanding reels and higher multipliers.
Pick me bonus
This is a more interactive bonus feature. It’s often found on progressive jackpots. When you land the jackpot feature, you must pick from a set number of cards. Match an amount of the same suit, typically three, and win the corresponding prize.
Hold and win
This is a fixed jackpot feature. When enough of the coin symbols with monetary values land on the reels, you’ll receive three respins on a new grid layout. Every time a new coin lands, the counter resets to 3. When there are no more coins, or you fill the grid, you will bank all the coin prizes.
Pays both ways
In most online slots, the payouts for winning combinations happen from left to right. In pay-both-ways slots, you can also generate wins from the right. It means you have double the chance of securing those winning spins.
Gamble feature
This is a voluntary slot feature found on many titles. When you hit a win, you can choose to collect or gamble your win. You will generally have to pick a card colour and double your win if your guess is correct. However, if you guess wrong, you lose your initial win.
Simon Says: “You won’t really know what types of slot game features you like until you try some for yourself. My best advice is to sign up to a recommended site and try playing some demo games for free so you can get a feel for them.”
My top tips for enjoying the best slot sites
I want to share the five strategies I incorporate into all my slot play to keep it as fun as intended.
- I aim for higher RTP rates.
- I only deposit money I can comfortably afford to lose.
- To boost my budget, I claim the casino’s welcome bonus when joining a new site.
- Always read the terms and conditions attached to bonus offers.
- I always first test out free slots before playing for real money.
My final thoughts on slot sites
Slots are the most played online casino games due to their fun and engaging themes – and the possibility of triggering a big win.
I’ve suggested some of the best slot sites near the top of this page, and to help you choose, you can read my more in-depth casino reviews.
Always remain responsible when playing slots. Set realistic limits and gamble within your financial means. It keeps it fun and safe as you explore the UK’s best slot sites.
Slot sites FAQ
How can I know if the slot sites offer fair games?
The sites recommended on this page all collaborate with quality software providers, who develop the slots with random number generators. These are then externally tested by auditors like eCOGRA, who confirm their randomness and fairness and that they offer the correct RTP rates.
Can I play online slots on my mobile?
Yes, you most certainly can. You can download an app for quick-click access at many top UK slot sites. You can also play seamlessly from your mobile-based web browsers if no app is available.
What is a slot tournament?
Many developers like Pragmatic Play have slot tournaments. You can load up one of their qualifying slots, opt-in, and then you stand a chance to win part of the prize pools as you compete against other players.