5 Popular Online Slot Designs in the UK

Online slots continue to dominate the UK’s casino landscape. Despite many betting options being available, the vast majority of gaming sessions are spent playing these games. The best sites understand this trend, which is why the top 20 UK casinos offer a wide variety of online slots from leading providers to choose from.

Due to their immense popularity, there has been significant innovation in slot design over the years. Many providers have developed different types of slots to cater to various player preferences and tastes to ensure there’s something for everyone. Let's take a look at some of the most popular online slot designs available today.

Megaways

The Megaways slot design was first created by Big Time Gaming in 2016. This has changed the way people play slots online, with many rival providers releasing their own versions to take advantage of this trend.

Megaways titles work in a different way from traditional slots because the number of symbols on each reel can change with every spin. This means the number of ways you can win changes too, often reaching into the thousands. 

For example, if a Megaways slot has six reels, and each reel can show up to seven symbols, there can be up to 117,649 ways to win. In simpler terms, the more symbols that appear, the more chances you have to match them across the reels and win. This makes every spin exciting and full of potential.

Some of the most popular types of these games in the UK are:

• Big Bass Bonanza Megaways
• Cash 'N Riches Megaways
• Jungle Spirit Megaways
• Bonanza
• Hyper Strike Cash Megaways

5-Reel Slots

Slot games with 5 reels have been massively popular since online casinos started. Most online slots follow this format because it's a proven way to make fun and exciting games.

In this design, there are five vertical columns that spin when you make a bet. Each reel has a set of symbols, with the goal being to match symbols across the reels on a payline. The more matching symbols you get, the higher your win.

Alongside giving cash prizes, many of these games also have special symbols like Wilds and Scatters. These can help you to win bigger prizes or even trigger special bonus rounds.

Some of the most popular 5-reel slots in the UK are:

• Big Bass Bonanza
• 9 Pots of Gold
• Book of Dead
• Fluffy Favourites
• Eye of Horus

Progressive Jackpots

Progressive jackpots offer much bigger top prizes than standard slots. In the best cases, players have scooped millions of pounds, including some lucky winners from the UK.

They are progressive because a small part of every bet is added to an overall prize pool. This means the jackpot keeps growing until someone wins it. Of course, you can also win smaller amounts as you play, just like in a normal slot. But there’s always the allure of the top prize too.

Some casinos have their own progressive jackpot slots for their players only. But others are shared between many online casinos which makes it possible for millions to be won.

Some of the most popular shared progressive jackpots in the UK are:

• Mega Moolah
• Jackpot Giant
• Mega Fortune
• Dream Drop
• Jackpot King

Classic 3-Reel Slots

The classic slot machine design has 3-reels, with this format being the first major type to become popular worldwide. They have always had a special charm in the UK and are still found in pubs around the country.

A 3-reel slot is simple to understand and play. It has three vertical columns that spin when you place a bet. The goal is to match symbols across a payline that usually runs from left to right. The more matching symbols you get, the bigger your win.

Most of these games use classic symbols like fruits, bars, and sevens. So despite their modern interface, they retain their nostalgic appeal to players.

Some of the most popular 3-reel slots in the UK are:

• Fire Joker
• 7s Deluxe
• Mega Joker
• Burning Wins
• Diamond Riches

Branded

Branded slots attract a lot of interest because they are based on pop culture phenomena. This means they can draw in a wide range of players with different tastes and preferences.

The providers must first license the rights from the owner. They can then create a slot game featuring characters, themes, and elements from that brand. This makes the games familiar and exciting for fans.

Depending on the license, branded slots are sometimes only available for a set period of time. Usually that’s at least several years, but it does occasionally end up in disappointment if no extension can be agreed. For example, the South Park slots are no longer available despite being very popular. So players must take advantage of these titles when they can.

Some of the most popular branded slots in the UK available at the moment are:

• Breaking Bad: Cash Collect & Link
• Worms Reloaded
• Game of Thrones
• Jurassic Park
• Monopoly

The future of online slot designs in the UK

The way online slots are designed and created in the UK is always evolving. New regulations along with changing player preferences and demand are the main drivers for these changes. But despite this, slots remain a key part of the industry. According to data from the Gambling Commission, there has been a continued increase in slot gameplay.

Given this trend, it's very likely that new and upgraded slot designs will continue to be introduced. There’s a wide range of game providers nowadays that are always searching for the next big development to lead the market. This constant innovation and new technology ensures a bright future for online slots, with exciting new features and designs always being on the horizon.