Slots are the number one choice for most casino players. They’re fun, easy to play, and can offer enormous max wins - up to 500,000x your bet. We’re going to take a trip through all you need to know about casino slots. From understanding mechanics, to claiming bonuses, by the end you’ll be a true slots expert - and ready to start spinning the reels yourself!
Read MoreOnline 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.
Slots are one of the most varied types of casino games out there. No matter whether you’re looking for fascinating math models, immersive new worlds, or just enormous max win potential, there’s a slot game out there to suit you.
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.
They’re a more modern version of the slot game, often incorporating bonus rounds and innovative mechanics.
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 you’re 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 you’ve 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 €17,879,645 and was taken home by a player from the UK.
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 you’ve 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 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.
There’s one final type of slot game that we haven’t talked about and that’s 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. They’re 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.
If you’re a fan of slots then I’ve 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 you’ll tend to find that slots contribute the most to wagering requirements too - a win win.
Let’s take a look at some of the different types of bonuses that you can claim and use to play casino slots.
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 that’s typically between €0.10 and €0.20 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:
Deposit match bonuses are a popular type of casino bonus that you’ll 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 €1,000.
If you took the full amount of that example bonus, you’d deposit €1,000 and get another €1,000 in bonus money. Of course, there are some terms attached to this. Let’s take a look at the most common:
No deposit bonuses are one of the rarer casino bonuses to find, but they do exist. Better still, they’re almost always for slot games. These bonuses don’t require you to make a deposit to claim them and they usually come in the form of free spins.
Some slot providers are super popular amongst EU Casinos and some are a little more niche. Sometimes it’s because providers have such a vast catalogue, other times they might have a totally unique mechanic, or just one hit series of games.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular slot providers for EU players.
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.
You’ll find many Pragmatic Play titles in the famous Drops & Wins promotion, which sees a prize pool of €2 million shared between players every single month.
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.
Games Global acquired hundreds of Microgaming slots, so you’ll 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 €2 million and only go up!
Slot games are maybe the easiest of all of the casino games to start playing. They’re really simple to learn, but you’ll still need to make an account at an online casino first! Below, we’ll walk you through the whole process step-by-step..
Choose a casino, if you’re struggling check out our list of suggestions! Then head to the casino’s homepage.
You’ll see a button that says register or sign up, just click it to open the registration window and get started.
You’ll 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.
Unless you’ve found a no deposit bonus, you’ll need to make a quick deposit if you want to play slots! It’s at this point that you can claim the welcome bonus, so make sure to opt in if you want to. Once you’ve decided on whether you want a bonus or not, make a deposit in the cashier.
If you chose to claim a bonus, it’ll be waiting for you in your account balance alongside your deposit. That means you’re ready to start playing slots. Just head to the casino library, click the slots filter and enjoy!