Playing UK Slots

Slot machines, or fruit machines as you might better know them, have never been more popular. There was a time when you had to venture to a real-life casino to have a varied choice of machines with good jackpots, but thanks to the online gambling revolution there are now literally thousands you can play from the comfort of your own home.

Many Brits love to gamble and slot machines are the game of choice for many of them who visit online casino websites. The choice truly is staggering and there are so many places you can find slots online that there is a risk of being overwhelmed by it all. Don’t worry though, we’re here to help you.

In this guide, we will tell you about British gambling laws and how to find the best online slots for UK players, as well as sites you should avoid. Read on and learn more about playing slot machines online in the UK.

UK Gambling History and Legislation

The United Kingdom was, and still is, a world leader when it comes to gambling. Other countries were mulling over whether gambling was immoral and should remain illegal, but the UK allowed legal lottery games as early as the 1930s.

The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act came into place in 1963 which allowed casinos to operate legally in the country for the first time, as well as making sports betting through legal and reputable outlets possible. The act also governed the playing of slot machines, which gradually spread from casinos to pubs and clubs, although this kind of slot machine offered much smaller payouts. It also allowed the installation of small payout slot machines in amusement arcades like those you find at the seaside and high street businesses dealing purely with slot machines.

The Gambling Act came into force in 2005 with the aim of ensuring gambling was fair and that children were shielded from it. This was amended in 2014 to very clearly cover the operation of online casinos and gambling websites within the country. UK gambling is strictly regulated and is among the safest in the world from a legal standpoint.

Is It Legal to Gamble on UK Slot Machine Websites?

The short answer to this is yes, but there are some conditions and general rules for online slot machine playing in the UK.

In order to be able to play online slot machines a player must be at least 18 years of ages. This applies to all forms of gambling in the UK, with the exception of the lottery where players must be a minimum of 16 years of age.

Just because a site can be accessed doesn’t make it legal. Many players used a VPN, and some still do, to circumvent sites which are banned in the country, but we strongly advise against this. There are literally hundreds of safe and regulated websites from which you can choose, and which have some of the best online slots for UK players.

It is obviously worth reading customer comments and reviews before choosing a UK slot machine website, but more important than that is checking the site itself to see if it is licensed and regulated properly. Information about regulation can generally be easily found on a gambling website. It is often at the bottom of the main page or can easily be found within a couple of clicks. As long as a site is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, it is legal within the United Kingdom’s borders.

If you stick to reputable and regulated sites such as those we recommend you can play the best online slots for UK players with confidence and peace of mind. The gambling laws of the UK are fairly all-encompassing and are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure fair play on all legal websites.

What Makes a Great UK Slot Machine Website?

There are a number of factors you should take into account when choosing which website you should use to play the best online slots in the UK. These include:

Bonuses

Most, if not all, gambling and casino websites will have some kind of special offer to tempt you in through their virtual doors. With slot machines being big business, the competition is fierce, and this works in the player’s favour. Many websites will match your first deposit with 100% and some will do this up to amounts as high as £1000.

There can also be free spins where you’re given a limited number of goes on a slot machine without having to stake your own money. This is a very popular way to get players to try new or exclusive slot machines on a given site.

There are always terms and conditions attached to bonuses and it is worth reading these before accepting any form of bonus on an online slots website.

Choice of Games

You might have a favourite slot machine you like to play, or you might like to play the field a little. You should always check that the site offers the kind of choice you want, with games available from your preferred providers. There are a lot of websites which offer several hundred different slot machine games, but there are also those with quite a limited choice.

Payment Options

Pretty much every single site with the best online slots for UK players accepts payments via all major credit and debit cards, but some players prefer to use different methods. E-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill, for example, have become increasingly popular and allow anonymous and quick transfer of funds both to and from your online playing account. There are a number of websites which accept this form of payment, but equally there are many which don’t.

If you are a fan of cryptocurrency you might also prefer to use a slots website which accepts Bitcoin. There is a growing number of cryptocurrency slots sites as this form of transaction has increased in popularity over the course of 2017.

Sites to Avoid

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of online slot machines, but there are some disreputable sites out there. Avoid any which we have blacklisted and also any where there are consistent customer reviews warning of problems with receiving winnings or unexplained account closures.