Starburst slot review

Starburst slot at a glance

NetEnt was founded in 1996 in Stockholm and has been part of Evolution since December 2020. Starburst is the game the studio is most associated with, alongside Gonzo's Quest and Mega Fortune, and its expanding wild is one of NetEnt's signature mechanics.

Those numbers describe a very different game from most high-volatility releases. The ceiling is modest, but the design aims to return small amounts more often.

How the features work in Starburst

Starburst Wilds

Wild symbols can land only on reels 2, 3 and 4. When one appears, it expands to cover all three positions on that reel and stays there while the game gives you a respin of the other reels.

Chained respins

If another wild lands on a different middle reel during the respin, it also expands and you get another respin, with the earlier expanded wilds still in place. Because only three reels can hold wilds, a sequence can build up to all three middle reels being wild at once.

Win both ways

Most payline slots only pay from the leftmost reel. Starburst's 10 lines pay from left to right and from right to left, so a line of matching symbols starting on reel 5 counts too. Combined with an expanded wild in the middle, that gives a line more ways to complete.

There is no separate free spins round in Starburst. The respin sequence is the game's only feature.

What low volatility means on the Starburst slot

Volatility describes how a game spreads its return. A low-volatility slot like Starburst hands back its RTP through many smaller wins, while high-volatility games hold more of it back for rare bonus rounds.

Low volatility does not make Starburst cheaper in the long run. Its RTP of 96.09% is actually a little lower than several high-volatility games on our slot hub. What it changes is how the cost arrives: slowly and steadily, not in big swings.

Many small wins can also feel like progress when they're not. UK rules stop games celebrating a return equal to or lower than your stake, so a 'win' of 5p on a 10p spin should not be dressed up as a success, but it's still a 5p loss.

Starburst RTP on a £20 budget

Starburst's house edge is 100% − 96.09% = 3.91%. Using standard game maths, expected loss = stake × house edge, so £20 staked costs about 78p on average.

Because wins come more often, a £20 balance on a low-volatility game often lasts longer than the raw spin count suggests, as small returns are fed back in. Every replayed pound adds to the total staked, though, and the 3.91% edge applies to all of it.

For an hourly view: 400 spins at 10p means £40 staked and an expected loss of about £1.56. At 50p, the same 400 spins would mean £200 staked and an expected loss of about £7.82. The rate of play matters as much as the stake.

The Wizard of Odds guide to slots (opens in a new tab) makes the same point from the maths side: no betting pattern changes the return, because every spin is independent.

Playing Starburst on your phone

NetEnt builds its games in HTML5, so Starburst runs inside casino apps and mobile browsers without a separate install. A 5x3 layout with just one feature is easy to follow on a small screen.

1. Choose a UK-licensed casino app and finish age and identity verification.
2. Set a deposit limit when the app prompts you, before your first deposit.
3. Search the lobby for Starburst. Note that Starburst XXXtreme is a separate, much more volatile game.
4. Open the paytable to check the RTP figure for the version on offer.
5. Pick a stake and press spin for each round, since autoplay is not allowed in the UK.
6. Use the reality check or session timer in the app to keep track of time.

Our reality checks guide and mobile slots explainer cover the tools you'll see. For screen layout, read landscape vs portrait mode.

UK rules on the Starburst slot

Starburst in a UK app follows the same rules as every online slot. The Gambling Commission's stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) sets a maximum of £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds.

• Each spin lasts at least 2.5 seconds, and turbo and slam-stop are not allowed (since 31 October 2021).
• Autoplay is banned on all online casino games (since 17 January 2025).
• Net spend and time spent are shown in real time.
• Games must not celebrate a return that is equal to or below the stake.

The Commission's announcement of safer online game design (opens in a new tab) sets out the reasons for these rules. Games must also make their rules available, which the Commission's technical standard on game descriptions (opens in a new tab) covers. Read our pages on game design rules and RTP information for more.

Starburst vs Starburst XXXtreme

NetEnt's high-volatility remake keeps the look but changes the maths completely.

If you enjoy the respin feel but want a higher ceiling, our Starburst XXXtreme review covers that game. Expect a far bumpier ride.

Starburst review: who it suits

Starburst suits beginners and anyone who wants a calmer pace at small stakes. If you want something similar from the same studio, try Twin Spin for medium-high volatility or Gonzo's Quest for medium.

Where to play Starburst with a welcome offer

We can't point you to an offer that applies to Starburst, because none of our partner deals names it. The offers below are for new customers aged 18+, terms apply, and they are slot offers only.

PlayOJO's app gives 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza for a first deposit of £10 or more. Each spin is worth 10p and winnings are paid in cash with no wagering. It isn't available in Northern Ireland, can't be combined with other promotions and must be claimed through the designated offer link.

Coral runs a bet £10, get 100 free spins deal from 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027: deposit and bet £10+ on slots, then accept the 10p spins on selected games within 48 hours and use them within 7 days. There's no wagering on spin winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded.

Ladbrokes gives 50 free spins a day for your first 10 days after you play £10 on slots, up to 500 at 10p each on selected games. Each day's spins must be claimed before 23:59 and used within 7 days, with no wagering; deposits by prepaid card, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill or Moneybookers don't qualify. Coral and Ladbrokes are both LC International Limited brands, so you may only be able to join one as a new customer.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.