What Are Online Slots?
Online slots are games that take inspiration from real-world fruit machines and turn it into games that are playable online. They come in all shapes and sizes, from 3D video slots with ultra-modern mechanics to paired back nostalgic slots with three reels - and not a whole lot else!
Slots are still the most popular type of casino game, generally making up 75% (or more) of the catalogues of most EU Casinos. We love slots for their wide-ranging themes, simple and easy-to-understand gameplay, and endless replayability.
Pros
- Easy
- Flexible
- Win Potential
Cons
- Chance Based
- RTP
- Volatility
What Types of Casino Slots are Available?
Slots are one of the most varied types of casino games out there. No matter whether youâre looking for fascinating math models, immersive new worlds, or just enormous max win potential, thereâs a slot game out there to suit you.
Video Slots
Video slots are the most common and popular type of slot available at most online casinos. These games tend to have bright, crisp graphics that are sometimes 3D in appearance.
Theyâre a more modern version of the slot game, often incorporating bonus rounds and innovative mechanics.
Jackpot Slots
If you love chasing big wins then jackpot slots are the ones to pick. These slots offer either a fixed or progressive jackpot. Fixed jackpots are fixed in one place, meaning if you win the jackpot, you know exactly what youâre going to get.
Progressive jackpots continually grow, taking a small percentage of every single spin and adding that to the jackpot pool. Progressive slots are typically network wide, so the progressive jackpot could be won by anyone playing that slot on any site.
However, some progressive jackpot slots are tied to one casino only, meaning only the people playing at that online casino can win that particular jackpot.
The type of jackpot slot that you choose is up to you! On a site-specific slot youâve got a better chance of winning the jackpot, but it tends to be a smaller pool, while the opposite is true for network-wide slots.
Did you know? The biggest progressive jackpot win ever was on a network-wide slot called Mega Moolah. The win totalled âŹ17,879,645 and was taken home by a player from the UK.
Megaways Slots
Most of us have tried a Megaways slots game. This is a super popular pay mechanic that gives you more than 100,000 different ways to win. The way that the Megaways mechanic works is by moving the reels up and down with each spin to create new paylines.
Tip: If youâve got a favourite slot game that you know is a popular one then look out for a Megaways version. This mechanic is a popular way of revamping classic slots.
Classic Slots
Classic slots are the ones that take the closest inspiration from real life fruity slots machines. They tend to have number, gem, or fruit-themed symbols and be played on a simple three reel set up where only the middle reel is a payline.
If you like the nostalgia of classic games, or just total simplicity then this type of slot is the one to try.
Free Slots
Thereâs one final type of slot game that we havenât talked about and thatâs free slots. The best way to play free slots is either by using a bonus or by playing demo slots.
Demo slots are available at most slot sites and let you play a full version of the game but without a chance of winning real money. Theyâre a good way to get a feeling for a slot game and see if you like it, without risking your own money.
If you do want to win real money then playing slots using a bonus is the best way to play free slots but still be able to win.
Choose a Casino
Choose a casino, if youâre struggling check out our list of suggestions! Then head to the casinoâs homepage.
Start the Registration Process
Youâll see a button that says register or sign up, just click it to open the registration window and get started.
Complete Your Details
Youâll need to choose your login details, provide your email address and mobile number, and then fill in your personal details. This will include your full name, residential address, and date of birth. Some casinos will need you to enter your gender and/or currency too.
Make a Deposit
Unless youâve found a no deposit bonus, youâll need to make a quick deposit if you want to play slots! Itâs at this point that you can claim the welcome bonus, so make sure to opt in if you want to. Once youâve decided on whether you want a bonus or not, make a deposit in the cashier.
Start Playing
If you chose to claim a bonus, itâll be waiting for you in your account balance alongside your deposit. That means youâre ready to start playing slots. Just head to the casino library, click the slots filter and enjoy!
What Kind of Bonuses Can I Use to Play Slots?
If youâre a fan of slots then Iâve got good news - slots are arguably the easiest casino game to find bonuses for. Not only can you use various different types of bonuses to play slot games, but youâll tend to find that slots contribute the most to wagering requirements too - a win win.
Letâs take a look at some of the different types of bonuses that you can claim and use to play casino slots.
Free Spins Bonuses
The most straightforward bonus for slots players is the free spins bonus. This type of bonus awards you a set number of spins with a value thatâs typically between âŹ0.10 and âŹ0.20 each.
Your spins will almost always be for a specific slot game, or sometimes to use on a small selection. Whatever you win from your spins is yours to keep but there are sometimes terms to look out for including:
- Wagering requirement: Some free spins bonuses come with a wagering requirement thatâs generally applied to your free spins winnings. So, if you win âŹ10 and thereâs a 10x wagering requirement, youâll need to wager âŹ100 to withdraw your winnings.
- Max win: Some bonus spins come with a max win attached. The number of spins on offer will generally dictate the max win amount. Once you go over this amount, your extra winnings are forfeited.
Deposit Match Bonuses
Deposit match bonuses are a popular type of casino bonus that youâll often see used to welcome new customers. These bonuses match your deposit by a percentage and up to a certain amount, for example 100% up to âŹ1,000.
If you took the full amount of that example bonus, youâd deposit âŹ1,000 and get another âŹ1,000 in bonus money. Of course, there are some terms attached to this. Letâs take a look at the most common:
- Wagering requirement: Deposit match bonuses always come with a wagering requirement. This is usually applied to just the bonus funds, but increasingly sites are applying it to both the deposit and bonus funds. Watch out for this as it effectively doubles the wagering requirement.
- Game contributions: Often, not all games contribute equally to the wagering requirement. However, the good news is that slots almost always contribute 100%.
Promo codes | Bonuses |
Vavada promo code | No deposit free spins, cashbacks |
Vulkan Vegas promo code | Free spins, deposit bonuses |
GGBet promo code | Esports bonuses |
Ice Casino promo code | Free spins, cashbacks |
Wazamba promo code | Free bets, free spins |
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit bonuses are one of the rarer casino bonuses to find, but they do exist. Better still, theyâre almost always for slot games. These bonuses donât require you to make a deposit to claim them and they usually come in the form of free spins.
Big Bass Bonanza
Pragmatic Play
Book of Ra Deluxe
Novomatic
Sugar Rush
Pragmatic Play
Who are the Most Popular Slot Providers?
Some slot providers are super popular amongst EU Casinos and some are a little more niche. Sometimes itâs because providers have such a vast catalogue, other times they might have a totally unique mechanic, or just one hit series of games.
Letâs take a look at some of the most popular slot providers for EU players.
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play is one of the most prolific studios at the moment, producing both slots and live casino games. Their slot games are well known for high quality visuals, reasonable (around 96%) RTPs, with memorable characters like the fisherman from the enormous Big Bass Splash series.
Youâll find many Pragmatic Play titles in the famous Drops & Wins promotion, which sees a prize pool of âŹ2 million shared between players every single month.
Quickspin
Quickspin has a much smaller catalogue than Pragmatic Play, only releasing one or two new slots each month. They focus exclusively on slots, producing innovative mechanics like the achievements engine.
This gamification mechanic lets players compete for in-game achievements, like starting a free spins round, or getting a progressive multiplier to reach a certain level.
Microgaming
Games Global acquired hundreds of Microgaming slots, so youâll see the names used almost interchangeably. These guys are one of the most well established slots producers in the industry, responsible for titles like Thunderstruck and Immortal Romance.
Microgaming also pioneered the brilliant WowPot progressive jackpot network. This network sees the mega jackpot start at âŹ2 million and only go up!
FAQ
Is it possible to play slots for free?
Absolutely! You can either claim a bonus and use that to play slots for free for a limited time, but with a chance of winning real money. The other way to play free slots is to play them in demo mode. This lets you try out the full slot game without the chance to win real money.
What is the RTP of a slot game and why does it matter?
RTP stands for Return to Player and it represents the average amount youâll receive back from your bets over time. The RTP is worked out over millions of spins, so the amount you actually receive back will differ. But, in general, choosing slots with a high RTP will enable you to make your bankroll last for longer.
What is volatility in relation to slots?
Volatility refers to how big the swings are in a slot game. If a slot has high volatility then you can expect to make a smaller number of bigger wins (that will have larger gaps between them). If a slot has low volatility then youâll make much smaller wins but theyâll happen much more regularly.
Author
Kristaps Soloveiko
Seasoned gaming expert