How to Play Slots Online

Before You Start Playing

Ahead of spinning the reels, you should become familiar with some important gameplay terms that are associated with online slots.

• Return to Player (RTP) – Percentage of total stakes returned to players over time.
• Volatility (Variance) – Win frequency and size. Higher means bigger but rarer wins, lower means frequent but smaller wins.
• Paylines – Lines across the reels that determine winning symbol combinations.
• Reels – Vertical spinning columns that show symbols during a slot game.
• Rows – Horizontal lines across that form the slot grid alongside reels.
• Symbols – Images featured on the reels creating wins and triggering features when aligned.
• Spin – One full cycle of reels moving and stopping to determine outcomes.
• Bet Size – Amount staked by the player per spin and usually adjustable.
• Max Bet – The highest stake allowed per spin of the slot reels.
• Paytable – Indicates the symbol values and feature trigger values of winning combinations.

No matter your level of online slots knowledge or how much you enjoy spinning the reels, remember to gamble responsibly and stick to your playing budget. Should you experience problems, organisations such as GAMSTOP in the UK can help you control your online gambling.

Step 1: You Need an Online Casino Account

To play online slots with real money, first you need to open an online casino account, which provides access to the full range of games available.

Important: We only recommend playing online slots at casino sites that are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. This ensures that slot games are safe to play and have been tested to verify fairness.

To help you choose where to play, our experts have shortlisted the best online casinos for slots. These rankings are based on criteria such as the number and variety of games available, desktop and mobile compatibility, payout rates and staking options.

Step 2: Choose the Slot Game You Wish to Play

Take time to look through slot games available at the online casino. There are many different gameplay styles and themes to choose from, so you can try games that best suit your preferences.

Slot game developers are always looking for new ways to appeal to different player interests, which means that you will find themed slots covering all manner of ideas and topics. These will set the tone, style, and even influence gameplay features. Popular online slot themes include the following:

• Entertainment & Pop Culture – Music & Bands, TV Shows, Movies & Film Franchises.
• Fantasy & Adventure – Mythology (Norse, Greek, Egyptian), Fantasy & Magic, Adventure & Treasure Hunting, Pirates, Medieval & Knights.
• Culture & History – Ancient Civilisations, Asian-Inspired Themes, Irish Luck, Wild West.
• Animals & Nature – Safari & Wildlife, Fishing & Underwater, Farm & Countryside.
• Classic & Special Themes – Fruit Machine (Retro), Luxury and Glamour, Horror & Gothic, Seasonal & Holidays.

Step 3: Check the Slot Game Rules & Paytable

Before you start spinning the reels of any online slot, you should always check the game rules and paytable. Look for the “i” or “?” icons in the game display, usually found alongside the small cog wheel game settings icon. This will open a separate page within the game

The paytable will display all the main symbol payout values, whenever those symbols align on the reels across the paylines to form winning combinations. Likewise, the game rules will explain slot gameplay mechanics in more detail, including special symbols like wilds or scatters, bonus rounds and free spins, plus any other features.

You should also be able to find the Return to Player (RTP) percentage in the game rules, alongside any other information that might be specific to the slot you are playing.

Step 4: Set Your Staking Budget

All online slots have minimum and maximum bet settings, so that you can choose how much to stake on each spin of the reels. This is important to remember, so that you can remain in control of how much you spend while playing.

Bet settings per spin can usually be adjusted directly within the main slot game interface, although some slots have this functionality placed in the game settings menu. Be sure to check both, set your own staking budget and stick to it while playing.

Step 5: Place Your Bet & Start Spinning the Reels

Once you are comfortable with all the points we have listed above, it’s time to start spinning the reels. Remember to choose how much you wish to bet on each spin, then press the “spin” icon, which is usually found below the main game display on desktop and mobile slots.

Be Aware: Due to UK Gambling Commission regulations and guidelines, the following slots features are no longer available at legitimate and licensed online casinos:

• Autoplay Function
• Slot Spin Speed Faster Than 2.5 Seconds
• Celebratory Sounds & Visuals for Wins Below Staked Amount
• Features Giving the Illusion of Control (EG: Turbo Play or Quick Spin)
• Multi-Slot Play (Playing Multiple Slot Games at Once)

Slots Gameplay Features & Tips

Although it’s true that online slots come in various designs and styles, there are some basic gameplay features that are common across most types of slot games. Check the images below to see gameplay examples, with tips highlighting what you should look out for while playing.

These are just a few tips covering features of slots gameplay. Remember to check the paytable and game rules information page within each online slot, which will explain all the features available, including the main winning combinations and bonus triggers.

Important: No matter how exciting these features can be, don’t forget to play slots responsibly. Set yourself a wagering budget for each game and stick to it while playing. Winning is great, but do try to avoid chasing losing streaks.

Slots Variants and Special Features

While many of us are familiar with the traditional spinning reels, online slots game developers are continually designing new and innovative features, including many variations to both displays and gameplay mechanics. These are some of the most popular slot variants:

• 3-Reel – Classic slot layout with three reels, simple gameplay and few bonus features.
• 5-Reel – Most common slots format, supporting advanced graphics and bonus features.
• Cascading Reels – Similar style to Match-3 puzzle games, winning symbols vanish and are replaced, allowing chain reaction wins.
• Megaways – Originally developed by Big Time Gaming, offering players 117,649 ways to win across paylines.
• Expanding Reels – The height or number of reels expand during gameplay, unlocking more ways to win.
• Cluster Pays – Wins are formed by symbol clusters touching horizontally or vertically, rather than using paylines.
• Video Slots – Engaging slots with immersive themes, animations, and gameplay features.
• Hold and Win – Sticky symbols trigger re-spins and potential bonus payouts or jackpots.
• Progressive Jackpot – Linked slot games build a jackpot that continually grows with player bet contributions until won.
• Fixed Jackpot – Slot games offering a specific top prize amount, which is not affected by player bets.