20+ years in the gambling industry including 13+ years playing and reviewing slots.
Winning at online slots is random but you can still increase your chances of winning and enhance your playing experience at online slot sites by following my slots tips.
With a breakdown of how to win at online slots, there is no guarantee you’ll indeed win but the tips help you build a strategy for playing slots online in a way that becomes affordable so long as you gamble responsibly and don’t wager more than you can afford to lose. Here’s a summary of all online slot tips with more information further down the guide:
- Play at UK-Licensed Slot Sites
- Make Use of Welcome Offers
- Find Low or No Wagering Offers
- Understand Bonus Offer Restrictions & Limits
- Make Use of Responsible Gambling Tools
- Practice with Free Demo Slots
- Bet Higher on Progressive Jackpot Slots
- Understand Slot Volatility
- Play Slots with the Highest RTP Rates
1. Play at UK-Licensed Slot Sites
First and foremost, UK players should only play at online slot sites that are licensed by the Gambling Commission. This ensures the games you’re playing at fair, your personal information is protected and the correct responsible gambling tools are available.
Adhering to the highest online gambling standards, procedures and policies, the UKGC ensures that gambling is conducted fairly and openly which also protects children and other vulnerable people from harm or exploitation.
To check if an online slot site or casino is licensed by the Gambling Commission, you can visit their public register where you can search a site’s trading name, business name, domain or account number.
2. Make Use of Welcome Offers
Once you’ve found a licensed slot site, making use of welcome or free spins offers is one great way of helping or improving your chances of winning. Consisting of a deposit bonus or free spins, below are the most common types of welcome offers available to new players:
- Deposit Bonus: normally consists of a 100% match bonus up to £50 or £100 (i.e. deposit £100, get a £100 bonus).
- Free Spins: these are on a specific slot game (i.e. normally 10-50 free spins on Book of Dead or Big Bass Bonanza). There are no deposit and no wagering free spins available.
- No Deposit Bonus: A small bonus (normally £5-10) which is awarded without having to make a deposit. No deposit bonuses are rarely offered these days though.
- Hybrid: Some welcome offers consist of a deposit bonus match plus free spins of some sort (i.e. 100% bonus up to £100 + 100 free spins on your first deposit). A great example is Duelz’s offer:
- Wagering req. 30x
- Value/free spin £0.10
- Offer amount £110
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3. Find Low or No Wagering Offers
With so many different types of offers available to new players, you have to consider what wagering requirements they come with. A great way to maximise your chances of winning at online slots is by claiming offers with low or no wagering restrictions.
Wagering requirements (also known as turnover or play-through requirements) specify how many times you need to wager a bonus or free spins winnings before being able to withdraw the bonus or any winnings.
Wagering requirements can range from 10 to as much as 100 times. Typically, the higher the bonus or free spins value, the higher the wagering requirements will be. For example:
- 100% Deposit Bonus up to £100 (30 times wagering requirements): this means you need to wager at least £3,000 (£100 x 30) before you can withdraw the bonus and any winnings.
- £10 No Deposit Bonus (100 times wagering requirements): this requires you to wager £1,000 before you can withdraw the bonus and any winnings.
- 50 Free Spins (50 times wagering requirements): this requires you to wager the winnings 50 times before they become withdrawable.
If you want free spins with no wagering requirements, check out my dedicated page which highlights all slot sites offers with no turnover requirements. Known as wager-free offers, they help you win at online slots as you get to keep what you win:
Best Free Spins No Wagering Offers 2025
4. Understand Bonus Offer Restrictions & Limits
With any bonus or free spins offer, there are Terms & Conditions in place. You need to consider all the bonus terms so you can assess whether an offer is worth claiming. Below are the most important restrictions and limits you need to look out for:
- Opt-In: The majority of bonus offers are automated so there is no need to opt-in or ‘confirm’ the offer. However, some require you to manually opt-in which happens when you register an account or make your first deposit.
- Promo Code: Whilst most offers are credited as soon as you register or make a qualifying deposit, some will require you to enter a bonus or promo code when signing up or depositing.
- Deposit Limits: Most offers will have a minimum and maximum deposit amount in order to claim. If you deposit less than the minimum required, the offer will not be awarded.
- Eligible Payment Methods: With most casino or slot offers, certain payment options will be excluded. Debit cards are valid for most offers with e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller excluded generally.
- Eligible Casino Games/Slots: All slot site offers are valid on a particular slot game (common for free spins bonuses) or a range of casino games. Slot games normally contribute 100% to the wagering requirements whilst jackpot slots and table games such as blackjack and roulette and often excluded.
- Maximum Win Cap/Withdrawal Limit: Many offers have a maximum you can withdraw from the free spins winnings or the bonus. Some sites will specify you can win up to £100 for example when claiming an offer. If you win more, the excess will be wiped off.
- Max Bet Limit: (50 times wagering requirements): this requires you to wager the winnings 50 times before they become withdrawable.
- Expiration Period: A welcome bonus or free spins offer will have an expiry limit. Deposit bonuses are normally 30 days with free spins varying between 3 and 7 days typically. You need to ensure you complete the wagering requirements before the period is over.
- Wagering req. 0x
- Value/free spin £0.10
- Offer amount 120
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5. Make Use of Responsible Gambling Tools
If you want to win at online slots, it makes sense you follow the below tips to reduce losses. With several responsible gambling tools at your disposal, I go through all the options:
- Reality Checks: These checks allow you to gain control over how much you’re playing slots online as you’ll receive alerts to confirm if you want to continue playing or stop. Varying from 10 up to 180 minutes normally, it ensures you don’t overplay and end up losing all your winnings.
- Deposit Limits: These limit the amount you can deposit into your account so you cannot gamble more than the set limit. If you have a budget of £100 a month for example to play slots online, setting a £100 monthly limit will ensure you don’t deposit more than you can afford.
- Session Limits: This limits the amount of time you can play. If you’re winning at your time is up, you won’t be able to play ensuring you walk away with a win.
- Game Limits: Some slot sites allow you to block yourself from individual slot games. This helps if you have a particular weakness for a game that you cannot avoid playing.
- Loss Limits: You can set a limit on the amount you can afford to lose in a given period (i.e. daily, weekly or monthly). It also ensures you never chase losses by playing at higher stakes in order to recoup your losses.
That said, the only way you can ensure you win each time when playing slots online is to stop when in profit. Is it easy to win at slots though? Of course, if you do this just once on your first ever go and never play again, you could boast that you have made a profit from slot play. A statement few others could ever claim to.
Realistically this is not going to be the case, and you might like to play slots often for entertainment purposes. Yes, I would not approach slot play in another way, and not as a strategy for making money from gambling.
There is, of course, the argument that if you play on, you could reach an even higher level of profit, but this cannot be known: and quite the opposite is far more likely.
If you get into the habit of stopping when in profit, you can guarantee that you’ll walk away winning each time. And if you do lose (which will happen often), you can also rest assured that you’ll only lose what you can afford to lose. By the way, Neptune Play Casino has a great selection of responsible gambling tools:
- No. of slots 2115
- Payout speed 24 Hours
- Win rate 92.4%
- Biggest Slot Providers
- No-Fee Deposits and Withdrawals
6. Practice with Free Demo Slots
Before playing slots for real money, a great tip to is to try our free demo slots. With over 500 available, you can try all the best slot games. Not only fun, it gives you the chance know the games.
With no software to download, you can enjoy our free demos on all devices including smartphones. A great way to hone your skills, I recommend you study a slot game’s Paytable so you understand the rules, bonus features and mechanics. Once you start playing at real money slot sites, you’ll be in a much better position which enhances your chances of winning.
When playing demo slots for fun at OLBG, there are various features to narrow down the extensive portfolio of slot games you can play to suit your exact needs and preferences:
- Search: type in the name of the slot game to find exactly what you’re looking for
- Sort By: sort games by release date, OLBG rating from our experts, highest RTP rates and biggest max wins
- Providers: View slot games from 1 or more slot providers
- Themes: View slot games with a particular theme (i.e. Wild West, Ancient Egypt, Irish or Christmas)
- Features: This allows you to see games with a particular bonus feature or mechanic (i.e. Free Spins or Megaways)
Sort by 'Overall Rating' Tip
7. Bet Higher on Progressive Jackpot Slots
If you’re into slot games with progressive jackpots, you’ll know that these slots can award 7 or even 8-figure jackpots making you a millionaire instantly. Below is a selection of the biggest progressive jackpots:
| Slot Name | Provider | Real-Time Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Moolah | Microgaming | ££10,076,483.58 |
| Jackpot Giant | Playtech | ££6,637,804.44 |
| The Finer Reels of Life WowPot | Microgaming | ££6,106,977.31 |
| Gold Blitz King Millions | Microgaming | ££3,980,185.26 |
| Temple Tumble 2 Dream Drop | Relax Gaming | ££2,514,618.41 |
Indeed, there have been some incredible wins from lucky punters over the years with the highest jackpot won standing at €38.4 million on Wheel of Wishes WowPot.
When you play a progressive jackpot slot, a portion of your bet will go toward the jackpot regardless of the bet level you play. The higher your bet, the higher your chances of winning the jackpot. Whilst most jackpots can be won playing at any bet level, it makes sense to increase your bet size if you can afford it to maximise your chances of landing a big win.
Max Bet on Jackpot Giant
That said, you may find claims and advice as to when and where to play progressive jackpot for the best chance of winning them. Do not take any notice as every spin is random on every game, and the only way you can improve your chance of winning one is by playing at highest stakes.
Always be aware that playing big also comes with the risk and assurance that when you lose, you will also lose big. Never spend more than you can afford to lose with online slots though.
If you’re into jackpot slots, check out Unibet Casino who have the biggest selection available online in the UK (including exclusive Dream Drop jackpot slots):
- No. of slots 3750+
- Payout speed Instant Options
- Win rate Variable
- Exclusive Slots & Instant Withdrawals
- iOS & Android Casino Apps
8. Understand Slot Volatility
Understanding volatility is also crucial for your slot gaming enjoyment. Some slot games even allow you to choose the volatility level for your game. Generally, slots will fall into the following categories:
- Extreme Volatility: Only offered in Nolimit City slots, wins are very infrequent but can be huge (up to 500,000 x bet)
- High Volatility: Fewer but bigger wins
- Medium Volatility: Nice balance between frequency and size of wins
- Low Volatility: More frequent wins that tend to be smaller in size
If you like frequent wins to keep motivated then staying away from high volatility is the tip. If you want to win big, play high or extreme volatility slots. However, beware as there will be long losing runs with no guarantee of a win to take you back to a profitable position.
Volatility levels are not always available to view or advertised. Our in-depth slot reviews will tell you everything you need to know but you can always try in free play mode to see how it feels.
9. Play Slots with the Highest RTP Rates
Unlike the volatility level, the RTP (Return to Player) rate should be easily found within the slot game’s Paytable or Information tab. Legally, this figure has to be available for players to see.
Much like the volatility level, RTP can affect the gaming experience. A high RTP rate is not a guarantee of winning in the short term, or even in the long term. Regardless of volatility and RTP, the slot games are set up for you to lose in the long run. In general though the higher the RTP, the less you will lose overall.
Example:
The amounts below are theoretical over an undetermined time:
- 97% RTP Rate: You’ll lose £3 for every £100 you wager
- 90% RTP Rate: You’ll lose £10 for every £100 you wager
However, this isn’t a guarantee of what you’ll win back as the RTP rate is calculated for all player activity in a predetermined time period (normally 1 year). Whilst you may win, others will lose to ensure the RTP rate is upheld. It’s all down to luck whether you win or lose. One thing for certain though is that the slot or casino site always wins.
Know when to Stop!
Find a Slot Game’s RTP Rate
All slot games will display their RTP rate inside the Paytable. OLBG’s slot reviews also highlight them. A shortcut to finding the best RTP slots is to take a look at a guide for the best RTP slots online.
It includes the top 10 slot games with the highest RTP rate which goes up to 99.07%! There is also a section of progressive jackpot RTP rates which you need to consider.
Highest RTP Slots & Best Payout Slot Machines
In recent years, slot providers have created multiple RTP settings for their games. If you take Play ‘n GO’s Book of Dead slot for example, there are 5 different RTP versions ranging from as low as 84.18% to as high as 96.21%. The version you’re playing plays a big part in determining how much you can win from online slots.
If you want a UK-licensed slot site with the highest RTP rates for their slot games, look no further than MrQ Casino. Guaranteeing the top RTP rate for all slots, you’ll see the RTP when the game loads up!
- No. of slots 1000+
- Payout speed Instant - 24 Hours
- Win rate 95.6%
- Best Slot RTP Rates
- Fast Withdrawals
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Win at Online Slots Related Question [UK]
Can you win money playing online slots?
Yes, it is possible to win real money when playing online slots. The longer you play, the greater the chance that you’ll lose. Slots are games of chance and are programmed to make a profit over a predetermined period. So when you’re in profit, quit and stay ahead.
How do I win at online slots?
To win when playing slots online, you need to follow OLBG’s slot tips. They include playing at licensed slot sites, taking advantage of welcome offers, understanding bonus terms and practicing with free demo slots.
Is there a trick to winning online slots?
Online slot machines use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to determine outcomes. Completely random, it’s all down to luck. However, with jackpot slots, your chances increase with higher bet amounts. So when you’re ahead and in profit, withdraw your winnings and walk away.
How do you pick a winning online slot game?
There is no guarantee that online slot games will award a win but you can increase your chances of winning by picking games with the highest RTP rate, playing games with the right volatility level, playing jackpot slots at higher bet levels and using Responsible Gambling tools to control your budget and focus.
Do online slots remember you?
Yes, they do but the Random Number Generator ensures that each spin is completely random. In some slot games, your progress in collecting tokens for a bonus feature may be recorded but the outcome of each spin is random. This ends when you finish your session though.
How do I win jackpots on online slots?
Winning progressive jackpots is random, like in standard online slot games. The odds of winning a 7 or 8-figure jackpot are very slim but the higher your bet, the higher your chances in most cases. As with all slots, every spin is completely random.
