Casino slots
"Casino slots" means two things: the machines on the floor of a land-based casino, and the slots in an online casino's lobby. In Great Britain they run under different rules. Here is how they compare.
Slot machines in a British casino
Machines in a licensed casino are mostly Category B1: the Gambling Commission's published limits are a £5 maximum stake and a £10,000 maximum prize, or £20,000 where machines are linked to a progressive jackpot. Pubs have Category C machines (£1 / £100); see fruit machines for every category.
Slots at an online casino
An online casino offers hundreds of slots from studios it licenses games from: the providers. The stake cap is £5 a spin (£2 for 18 to 24 year olds), the minimum spin time is 2.5 seconds, and prizes are set by each game rather than by a category limit. Every game publishes its RTP in its rules screen. Online slots in full.
Side by side
| Casino floor (B1) | Online slot | Pub fruit machine (C) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max stake | £5 | £5 (£2 if 18–24) | £1 |
| Max prize | £10,000 (£20,000 linked) | Set by the game | £100 |
| RTP shown? | Machine dependent | Yes, in the game rules | Machine dependent |
| Age check | At the door | Before any play, even demos | Venue's responsibility |
Machine limits: Gambling Commission gaming machine categories (page dated 8 January 2024). Online rules: UK slot rules.
What is the same everywhere
The house edge. Whatever the cabinet, a slot is designed to keep a share of what goes in. The maths, and the myths.
Questions people ask
What is the maximum stake on a casino slot machine in the UK?
Most machines in a British casino are Category B1: £5 maximum stake and £10,000 maximum prize, or £20,000 on a linked progressive jackpot, as published by the Gambling Commission.
Do casino slots pay better than online slots?
Not as a rule. Every slot has a house edge. Online slots publish their RTP in the game rules, which makes them easier to compare.