The United Kingdom remains one of the best and safest online gambling markets in the world. As well as being one of the most mature gambling markets, one of the outcomes of this fact is that due to its exceptional state, developers are fighting tooth and nail to produce the best online slot machines which UK gamblers can play.
The positive outcome is that punters are treated to some truly exceptional slot games which they can play from the comfort of their own homes.
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Separating the Wheat from the Chaff
Not all slot machines are created equally; what we mean by this is that some games are far better than others. This begs the question; what components are needed for an online slot machine to be deemed as good? Let us explain.
To begin with, modern day slot machines are nowhere near as simple as many people are led to believe. They are full of well thought out and exotic features which help to contribute to giving players a lot of excitement and, of course, the ability to potentially win lots of cash. Let’s now take a look at the different components of online slots.
Online Slot Machines: Components and Features
The evolution of slot machines is apparent when you compare old fashioned land-based slots with their new and extraordinary online brothers. The most popular online slot games come with state of the art graphics comparable to AAA video games.
In fact, the top developers are being poached by slots developers away from the video games companies. Several Rockstar Games employees have jumped ship in order to work with the slots developers.
Themed Slots and Bonus Games
In 2022, there are plenty of online slot machines which are themed around a certain story. For example, there are games which are themed around famous films and television series. The Game of Thrones slot is a particular favourite which utilises characters, music and themes for the HBO series. Players can even choose which house to be a part of whilst they play, such is the scope.
Microgaming is the developer behind the GoT slot game and they are one of the most respected developers out there. Other popular themed online slot machines include TED, based on the Hollywood movie TED, the Peaky Blinders slot and Tom Raider.
90% of online slot machines utilise a bonus game feature. Triggered by hitting certain symbols on the reels, bonus games usually are the theatre where players can hit the biggest wins and payouts. THe bonus game usually offers free spins which are the holy grail for all slots players – this gives them the chance to win money without having to risk any of their own.
Unlimited Paylines and Megaways
Another modern feature applied to slot machines online are never been seen before paylines which can line up horizontal, vertical diagonal and even zigzag. A payline is a lineup of specific symbols which payouts can be rewarded. They are the motorways of online slot machines, if you will. Whilst in the past most slot machines had no more than 20 paylines, now, there are online slots which have hundreds of thousands of paylines.
Several years ago, the slots development company Big Time Gaming introduced a brand new engine into their slots known as the Megaways engine. Megaways, uses a technology which adjusts the reels during the gameplay. This is done at random and allows any slot machine with the engine to increase their paylines. Megaways slots have since become some of the most popular on the market.
Variance and RTP
All online slot machines come with a variance (aka volatility) and RTP. To explain volatility first, these come in three levels; low, medium and high. A low variance machine will offer lots of wins but with the compromise of low payout levels whilst a high variance machine is the opposite.Medium lies somewhere in-between.
RTP stands for Return to Player and is the theoretical amount which will be returned to the player from a single slot. For example, Big Bass Splash is an online slot game with an RTP of 94.60%. This means that for every £100 which goes into the game, the player will get £94.60 in return.
Of course, this theory is produced over millions of spins. In reality, luck is a huge aspect. However, the best slot machines will usually have an RTP of above 96%.
Bonuses and Free Spins
A key aspect to attracting new and existing slots players is by offering different bonuses to play. For example, almost all online casino operators in the UK offer some sort of sign-up bonuses to new players. For example, the deposit £10 play with £50 slots bonuses allows all new players to generate an extra £40 when they make a real money deposit of £10. Other bonuses include matched deposit bonuses and free spins.
Unfortunately, most bonuses come with wagering requirements which make the bonuses all but impossible to withdraw. However, there are still some operators which allow new players to play using wager free spins. These free spins allow players to keep whatever they win. These are rare, however.
Summing Up: Which Online Slot Machines Should be Played?
Now that we have done our utmost to teach the basics of online slot machines, we hope it is easier for our readers to decide which slot to play. Any players looking for high octane excitement may opt to play a high volatility slot. Anyone who is perhaps more interested in the tech and dynamics of slots could opt to play one which is themed around their favourite films or television shows.
Thousands of new slot machines are released every year, so if you know the basics of slot machines, then you can use your own sense to pick a game which offers exactly what you are looking for.
