Slots – or fruit machines – have been a British staple since they arrived on UK shores from over the pond in the 1960s. There was a time that every self respecting pub across the land would have at least one machine blinking and whirring away in the corner but a change in legislation has seen many of them replaced with quiz machines or done away with altogether.
Nowadays you can find video slots in bookmakers and casinos across the country but far and away the most popular way to play is online. Millions of Britons enjoy regular flutters on the slots of casino websites or dedicated apps.
Slots have transposed particularly well to the pocket sized smart devices that most adults now own. Technology advances have meant smartphones are powerful enough to support immersive gaming experiences with detailed graphics and impressive sound design.
Such is the demand in the sector that new variations of the popular slot mechanic are persistently pursued by all the major operators in hope that a new development will be the next big thing in the world of slots. Slingo is one such example – developed in 1994 by a New Jersey real estate developer, it combines elements of fruit machines with all the fun of a bingo game, as the name suggests.
You can find a host of user favourite Slingo titles as well as traditional slots at reliable and trusted operators like Rainbow Riches Casino. We take a tour of some of the greatest Slots played in the UK today. The aforementioned Slingo games score consistently highly among slots enthusiasts. Until you hit a feature or minigame, many traditional slots turns are over in a single spin. Slingo, on the other hand, ensures there’s significantly more entertainment time each time you play thanks to the Bingo element. Several spins are awarded per turn and the player checks off numbers from their card.
Fire & Ice is a terrific example of pushing the boundaries even of what Slingo is capable of. A heroic soundtrack accompanies as you play on two separate grids simultaneously, Fire and Ice. You must climb the pay ladder of the Fire grid to increase the value of the prizes of the Ice grid.
If that sounds like a lot to remember, don’t worry, the game is exceptionally intuitive, not to mention a lot of fun.
A stone cold classic, Starburst from NetEnt has been around for ten years now and still boasts droves of loyal fans. Not overburdened with bells and whistles despite its intergalactic theme, this five by three reeler has much in common with a traditional Vegas video slot.
Somewhat uniquely, paylines in Starburst, which are fixed at ten, are awarded from both left to right and right to left resulting in more chances of winning, plus when five symbols hit, you win double that prize, once for each direction. Add to the mix Starburst’s Wild mechanic and you can start to see why this title has endured so successfully.
On the subject of classics, there are few slots aficionados that don’t hold at least one of the Rainbow Riches titles close to their heart. A series so popular it spawned an entire casino site off the back of its success, this example utilises the Megaways mechanic.
Megaways by Gamesys is a unique slots system that would not be possible on mechanical machines. The number of symbols on each reel in playis not fixed – on each spin between two and seven symbols can appear per reel and each symbol represents a new potential payline. To work out the number of paylines in play in a Megaways title, you must multiply the number of symbols on each subsequent reel and in the case of Rainbow Riches Megaways that total amounts to 117,649 different ways to win. And no, that's not a printing error! Potential paylines of this amount demonstrate to some degree why Megaways slots are so popular. Check out also The Most Popular Slots Played in Canada! Slots games come in all manner of styles and flavours these days but there’s something about the intrigue of ancient Egypt that gamers have always seemed to love – there is, after all, a replica of the Great Pyramid of Giza at the Luxor resort in Las Vegas. Eye of Horus continues that tradition and offers a pared back traditionalists video slot with five reels of action.
Jack, Queen, King and Ace make up the foundation of the symbols with Anubis, Ankh, Scarab Beetle and of course the Eye of Horus the bonuses. Twelve free spins are awarded if at least three bonus symbols appear which can be further upgraded by a Horus Wild symbol. This is an easy to pick up classic game for those interested predominantly in quintessential slots action.
Like all the Monopoly slots titles developed by Shuffle Master, Monopoly Big Spin is a polished experience that plays like a blockbuster video game. Big Spin is a hybrid slot machine and roulette wheel that brings a unique perspective to your normal gaming experience.
Playerscan wager on the likelihood of their chosen Monopoly neighbourhood landing, with the more expensive properties providing bigger wins. Community Chest and Chance zones trigger the bonus wheel feature for added multipliers. It’s a simple concept but so slickly executed that it’s an instant hit. Featured here are some of the most popular slots in the UK that keep players coming back for more time and time again. If there are any on the list you’ve not yet put to the test, give them a try today to find out what all the fuss is about.