There is a very good reason slots are so popular worldwide. Unlike any other casino game, you need little skill and no strategy to spin and win with slot machines. Essentially, you just feed the machine credits and press the spin button. Everything else that happens after that is completely random. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. Because slots are so easy to learn to play, most casinos contain more slots than anything else. In the UK, slots are extremely popular. In this article, we will look at the history of gambling in the UK and review the top five most popular slots in the country.
A Bit O’ History
Gambling originated in the United Kingdom in ancient times. Games of chance were commonplace and formed as much of a social connection as they did as a form of entertainment. Over the years, gambling experienced several ups and downs in popularity depending on the government in power in the day. In 1541, the Unlawful Games Act was passed by the Parliament of England, which banned all forms of gambling. The reason for the ban was that gambling had led to a “decay in archery.” As strict as the act was, it was barely enforced.
Things changed again with the passage of the Gaming Act of 1845. This legalized all gambling activity but under several guidelines. Some were just plain odd such as not using the court to collect gambling debts, and that gambling contracts were technically unenforceable. Another change took place in the 1960s, which legalized gambling and sports betting. Land-based casinos and sportsbooks were opening throughout the country. Today, the internet has introduced online gambling. All casinos in the UK must be licensed and meet regulations.
Video Slots
In the UK, video slots top the list of the most popular types of slots players favor. It is likely to do with the fact that video slots usually have unique themes and storylines. Video slots also feature such themes as television programs, movies, politics, and mythology, to name a few.
Starburst
This is the most popular slot in the UK. Starburst, which was launched in 2012 by Swedish software developer NetEnt, soared in popularity very fast. It has stunning graphics and an outer space theme. Instead of the usual icons, you would expect on the reels, Starburst uses sparkling jewels in bright colors such as yellow, green, red, blue, and purple. There is a 96 percent payout rate with this game and it has low volatility.
Book Of Dead
This is another extremely popular real money slots UK players enjoy. This particular one was created by Play’n GO, a well-known software developer based in Sweden. What seems to attract players to this game is that it is set in Ancient Egypt. The storyline follows a man named Richard Wilde. Wilde is on a quest to discover a book that contains secrets about the dead. The game, launched in 2014, has an RTP of 96 percent plus several in-game bonuses.
Progressive Slots
This is where most of big money is won. A progressive slot game is one in which several other slots are linked in a network. It could be slots at the same venue or slots at venues across town or the country. Each play on the linked slots adds to the running total, and when it pays out, the prize money can be quite substantial.
Mega Moolah
This is one of the best-known slot titles around the world. Many of the top jackpots ever won on slots have come from a Mega Moolah slot located somewhere on the planet. It has an African theme with native animals on the reels. The game has four different jackpot levels. The Mini Jackpot pays 10 Euros. The Minor Jackpot starts at 100 Euros, and the Major Jackpots start at 10,000 Euros. The Mega Jackpot starts at 1 million Euros.
Age of Gods
Playtech is a software developer from the Isle of Man. They created this progressive slot game that uses Greek Mythology as the storyline’s foundation. It has five reels, 20 pay lines, and a payout rate of 95 percent. This game also features many bonuses, and if you spin five Wild symbols, you can win up to 10,000 times your stake. The progressive jackpot tends to payout monthly in amounts ranging between 100,000 and 500,000 Euros.
Megaways Slots
These are a new variation of slots created by Big Time Gaming of Australia. They are showing up in all kinds of casinos. This works because they contain an engine that modifies symbols on the reels immediately following each spin. The variation has produced a slot with very high volatility but also one with high rewards.
Bonanza Megaways
The theme of this particular slot game is gold mining. It was also one of the first mega ways slots were created. There are six reels, meaning players have up to 117,649 ways to win per spin. There are many symbols to watch, including the familiar card J, Q, K, and A symbols. The letters G, O, L, and D. Spelling GOLD activates bonus features, including free spins where players can win up to 26,000 times their stake. These are exciting slots.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that slots are a popular casino game. That is mostly because they are easy to play and players of all skill levels have an equal chance of winning a jackpot. In the UK, slots are very popular. Some of the most popular titles in the country are also big games throughout the gambling industry. Starburst, Book of Dead, and Mega Moolah also sit on the top five slot game lists from other parts of the world due to their popularity. The list above is far from complete, but it gives you a good idea of which slots UK gamblers favor when they get together with friends at the local casino. It also shows UK players tend to gravitate towards themes in slot games.
