The Starburst slot is one of the most recognisable casino games in the UK, thanks to its vibrant design and timeless appeal. This review covers everything you need to know about the game, including payouts, bonuses, and top tips. You’ll also find details of the best casinos for this game and how to unlock Starburst free spins.
Starburst Slot Demo: A Comprehensive Overview
NetEnt released Starburst in 2012, and it remains one of the most popular games at the best slot sites in the UK today. Its enduring popularity is down to an uncluttered layout, entertaining animations, and simple bonus features that include re-spins and increase the probability of forming winning combinations.
Gameplay is simple and engaging. You spin across 10 paylines that pay both ways, with star-shaped wilds landing on the middle three reels. These wilds expand to fill the reel and stay locked in place while a free re-spin is activated. This feature can be retriggered multiple times.
The maximum payout is 500x your stake, achievable with the right combination of symbols and sticky wild re-spins. Moreover, you can play the Starburst slot in free play mode or with real money, wagering a minimum of 10p. This makes the game accessible for casual players, while the upper betting limits appeal to players who are looking to play with higher stakes.
Here’s a breakdown of the game’s key details:
| 🎰 Game Name | Starburst |
| 🏢 Provider | NetEnt |
| 📅 Game Release Date | February 2012 |
| 🎯 Starburst Slot RTP | 96.09% |
| ⚖️ Variance | Low |
| 🔢 Paylines | 10 |
| 💰 Max Win | 500x base stake |
| 💷 Min Bet | 10p |
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Load moreStarburst Slot Review
Starburst delivers a smooth and user-friendly experience, and is suitable for both newer slot fans and long-time players. The interface is intuitive, the load times are fast, and the Starburst online slot responds well on all devices, no matter if you’re using mobile casino apps or desktop websites.
A distinguishable feature of this game is its simplicity. There are no cluttered overlays or unnecessary animations, which helps focus your attention on the grid. What’s more, its light soundtrack and crisp visuals create a calm, arcade-like feel that helps each spin run seamlessly.
Why It Remains a Fan Favourite
Starburst has stood the test of time for several reasons. Its streamlined format, responsive design, and signature wild re-spin mechanic continue to attract new and returning players alike. Here are the top reasons behind the game’s continued success at the best UK casino sites:
- Clean Layout: A simple 5-reel setup with minimal distractions makes it easy to follow and ideal for quick sessions.
- Pays Both Ways: Winning combinations form from left to right and right to left, doubling your chances without requiring complex mechanics.
- Expanding Wilds: The signature Starburst Wild lands on reels 2, 3, or 4 and expands to cover the whole reel while triggering a re-spin.
- Fast-Paced Spins: Each round is designed to last for just a few seconds, making use of snappy animations and instant payouts.
- Low Volatility: Frequent smaller wins make this slot suitable for relaxed play without long dry spells between results.
- Compatible Across Devices: The Starburst slot runs smoothly on mobiles, tablets, and desktops, with no dip in visual or gameplay quality.
How to Play Starburst: Rules & Mechanics Explained
You can play the game instantly, without prior experience. Once the game loads, you'll find all the controls in clear view. Here's how to play the Starburst slot.
Step 1: Launch the Game
Join any of the featured slot sites and launch the game in either demo or real money mode.
Step 2: Choose Your Bet Size
Use the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ buttons to adjust your total bet.Step 3: Spin the Reels
Press the spin button in the centre to start the round. The five reels will spin and land randomly.
Step 4: Activate Optional Features
Click the ‘Quick Spins’ button for even shorter rounds or the ‘Autoplay’ button to activate up to 100 automatic spins.
Step 5: Look Out for Winning Combos
Wins form by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the left or right. Any winning combinations are automatically paid out to your account.
🤔 Did You Know? Gameplay options such as Autoplay and Quick Spins are no longer available on sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This regulator banned them in 2021, so you will only find them on international sites, such as ones based in Curacao.
Starburst Slot Rules: Understanding Starburst’s Winning Combinations
This game uses 10 fixed paylines that pay both ways, from left to right and right to left. A winning combination forms when three or more matching symbols appear on consecutive reels along one of those lines. Only the highest win per line is paid, but wins on multiple paylines are added together.
The online slot doesn’t use scatter symbols or bonus symbols to trigger wins. All payouts come from standard combinations and the expanding wilds. The Starburst Wild can also help complete or improve a win by substituting for other symbols.
Seven symbols deliver the slot’s payouts. Below, you’ll find the paytable, outlining the prizes you’d get when playing the Starburst slot in the UK.
Payout Symbol 3 Matches 4 Matches 5 Matches BAR 5x 20x 25x 7 2.5x 6x 12x Yellow Gemstone 1x 2.5x 6x Green Gemstone 0.8x 2x 5x Orange Gemstone 0.7x 1.5x 4x Blue Gemstone 0.5x 1x 2.5x Purple Gemstone 0.5x 1x 2.5x RTP & Volatility in Starburst Slot
This game has a return to player (RTP) of 96.09%, which is fairly standard for modern video slots. This figure represents the expected long-term payout percentage based on extensive testing and millions of simulated spins. Independent labs such as eCOGRA have verified the game’s RTP, ensuring fairness in line with UKGC regulations.
Understanding slot game RTP is important before you play. While 96.09% suggests the game pays back £96.09 for every £100 wagered, this is calculated over a very long time frame. Individual results vary, especially across shorter sessions.
The Starburst online slot also features low volatility, meaning wins tend to occur regularly, though they consist of smaller amounts. This suits players who prefer steady gameplay without the extreme highs and lows of high-variance games. It also makes it a popular option for casual gameplay, where short sessions can still deliver frequent results.
Starburst Slot Features, Gameplay & Wins
This NetEnt slot game doesn’t include the usual bonus features found in newer slots, focusing instead on a single core mechanic.
Starburst Wilds
The Starburst Wild is the game’s only wild symbol and appears on reels 2, 3, and 4. When one lands, it expands to cover the entire reel. This triggers a free re-spin, and the wild remains locked in place for that spin.
Re-Spin Feature
You can trigger up to three consecutive re-spins if more wilds land during the feature. Each new wild locks in and expands, keeping the action moving. This is when the biggest wins in the game typically occur.
Popular Starburst Variants Found in the UK
NetEnt’s original has inspired several spin-offs that retain its iconic cosmic design but bring fresh twists.
Starburst XXXtreme
Launched in 2021, Starburst XXXtreme cranks up the stakes with higher volatility and a 200,000x maximum win. Wilds come with multipliers up to 150x and can drop randomly. The traditional both-ways paylines, meanwhile, are replaced by left-to-right wins only, but the iconic Sticky Wilds Respin feature is still present.
Starburst Slingo
This take on the popular Starburst slot game merges spinning slot gameplay with Slingo-style bingo mechanics. You spin a row of reels to match numbers on a 5×5 grid above, aiming to complete lines, or “Slingos”, to trigger bonus rounds inspired by NetEnt’s top slot. Available at several Slingo sites not on Gamstop, this game offers greater interaction than the original, making it a top choice among fans who enjoy a bit of strategy in their gameplay.
Starburst Galaxy
Starburst Galaxy reimagines the original with an adventurous galactic theme. The layout stays familiar, though the grid is larger and includes cascading symbols where winning symbols explode and are replaced by new ones. What’s more, five consecutive cascades activate a grid modifier that can either remove, upgrade, expand, or transform symbols.
Starburst Slot Free Spins: Grab the Best Bonuses
Plenty of UK sites feature this game in their casino bonus offers, thanks to its widespread appeal and broad availability. From matched offers to comp points, there are several ways to play the game with generous bonuses.
Matched Deposit Bonuses
Matched bonuses are tied to your deposit, whereby a casino may offer 100% extra up to a set amount, giving you double the value to play with. These bonuses usually apply to a wide range of games and often come with wagering requirements.
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Free Spins Bonuses
Many welcome packages and ongoing promotions include bonus spins that are limited to specific slots, and Starburst is often on the list. These spins are typically credited after your first deposit and played at a fixed stake. Moreover, if you claim free spins with no wagering, you can instantly withdraw any winnings from these spins.
🥇 Top Casino for Free Spins: As you’ll find in our SpinYoo review, this site offers 20 free spins on the Starburst slot to new players, in addition to 80 bonus spins on other slots and a matched bonus of up to £250.
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit offers reward you with bonus funds or spins without requiring a qualifying payment. While rare, some sites use them to let you test games like Starburst, but even no deposit free spins are usually linked to wagering requirements or other terms.
🥇 Top Casino for No Deposit Bonuses: While no Betfred Casino promo codes are required to unlock no deposit bonuses, these prizes are only awarded to lucky players but carry no wagering requirements.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses are similar to welcome offers but are aimed at existing players. You’ll get extra funds or free spins when you top up your account. The Starburst online slot is usually eligible for play with these offers unless stated otherwise.
🥇 Top Casino for Reload Bonuses: Activating the appropriate Highbet bonus codes gives you 60 bonus spins to use on the Game of the Week. This may be a new release or a timeless casino favourite.
Loyalty & Comp Points
Loyalty programmes reward you with comp points or another structured system every time you wager. These points can often be exchanged for free spins or converted into bonus cash. Moreover, the more you play, the higher the value of your redemptions, and the better the perks delivered by the programme.
🥇 Top Casino for Loyalty Programs: Completing different missions and entering JeffBet promo codes provides you with a series of customisable rewards you can use on your favourite online casino games.
Mastering Starburst Strategy: Boost Your Chances
Starburst, like all other casino slot games, is based entirely on chance, but smart decisions can help you get the most out of your gameplay session.
- Choose a Casino With Free Spins: Starting with bonus spins reduces your own risk while letting you explore the game’s features. Many featured UK sites offer these as part of welcome deals or existing player promotions.
- Play With a Fixed Budget: Set a maximum spend before you start spinning and stick to it no matter the outcome. The slot’s low minimum stake limit makes it easier to play multiple rounds even with a modest budget.
- Understand How Starburst Wilds Work: The expanding wilds only appear on reels 2, 3, and 4, and each one triggers a re-spin with the wild locked in place. Learning this mechanic helps you recognise when potential win streaks can start and why some spins feel more rewarding than others.
- Avoid Chasing Losses With Bigger Bets: It might be tempting to increase your stake after a losing run, but this often leads to quicker losses. To gamble responsibly, stick with consistent bets and treat any losses as merely the cost of entertainment.
- Use Demo Mode to Practise First: Try the Starburst slot demo to get familiar with its mechanics, features, and payout frequency. This is especially useful if you’re completely new to the game.
Our Verdict
Known for its vibrant design and beginner-friendly gameplay, the Starburst slot continues to attract a wide audience in the UK and abroad. Its expanding wilds and low-volatility setup make it suitable for all players, while its wide betting limits attract smaller bankrolls and high rollers alike. This classic title still holds a coveted place among the most played slot games in the world, and continues to be a key attraction of several casino sites in Great Britain.
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