News & Blog

You voted, we counted. Now it’s time to reveal the official winners of the Hideous Slots Community Awards 2025 for the best slots and studios of the year.

If you’re brand new to online slots and don’t know where to start, this guide breaks down six easy, beginner-friendly games with simple layouts and fuss-free bonus features.

The trials and tribulations of real life often serves as a medium of inspiration for a lot of things we see in the media, whether it’s heartbreaking songs about lost lovers, autobiographical biopic movies, or even slots inspired by actual historical events.

Have your say! Vote on your favourite slots and game developers for 2025.

If you’re tired of slots that look great but play like a wet paper bag, this guide walks you through how to find the ones that genuinely deliver.

We’ve all been there: it’s 2am on a Friday night and you’re spinning the reels, waiting with bated breath, crossed fingers, (and toes) for a slot to finally spit out the bonus features.

Slots, historically, have always been about luck. But have you ever wondered what actually happens when you hit Spin on your favourite online slot?

The holy grail of information when you’re playing any slot machine, online or land-based, is the slot’s paytable. If you’ve ever wondered how many symbols you’ve got to match up, or what the hell that weird-looking wild symbol means, chance are, it’ll be in the slot’s paytable. 

If there’s one thing that’s defined the modern slots landscape, it’s the Bonus Buy feature.

Once a rare addition reserved for the games on the more volatile end of the spectrum, now feels like almost every release has a shopping basket attached to its free spins and bonus features. 

With such an abundance of online slot games out there, currently at our disposal, each title differs from the last, in some shape or form, from their intrinsic mechanics and in-game features to overall volatility and potential. It may all feel like a bit of a minefield, as a player, when trying to decide on where to place your hard-earned stakes and, whilst it may feel easier to simply fall back on your go-to favourites, quite often sampling something a little different can go a long way… So, what about when you’re not actually playing slots but, instead, watching them Yep, a good old, hearty slot stream, where thousands of eyes are glued to a screen for 3 hours of spinning reels, cascading clusters, countless bonus teases and more ups and downs than a jack-in-a-box glued to the back of a racehorse…all in the hope of sending viewers off to bed satisfied and achieving a bit of profit for good measure. An effective slot stream is all about a mixture of informative content, great entertainment and a wide variety of games played; the latter two arguably being key since playing slots and simply watching them can be very different kettles of fish, so what must be considered when deciding upon an entertaining, stream-worthy slot to play in front of an audience? We’ve outlined some of the core factors that, we believe, make for a perfect mix of, both, easy viewing and excitable potential when it comes to selecting games to present to our viewers.

However, you shouldn’t forget that when you accept a bonus you’re accepting the bonus policy and terms and conditions that come alongside it. One of the most common terms is wagering, which will be attached to nearly every bonus you have available to you as a UK player.

There are hundreds of online casinos for players in the UK to choose from, each boasting their own special features or perks that promise to give you an experience you won’t forget.

You voted, we counted. Now it’s time to reveal the official winners of the Hideous Slots Community Awards 2025 for the best slots and studios of the year.

DEGEN Studios is the new kid on the block, launched in 2025 – and they’re not here to play it safe.

As an independent games studio built by industry veterans, they’re all about pushing the boundaries on what can be done with slots, with highly volatile gameplay and provocative themes at the heart of their player experience. 

If you’re brand new to online slots and don’t know where to start, this guide breaks down six easy, beginner-friendly games with simple layouts and fuss-free bonus features.

The trials and tribulations of real life often serves as a medium of inspiration for a lot of things we see in the media, whether it’s heartbreaking songs about lost lovers, autobiographical biopic movies, or even slots inspired by actual historical events.

Have your say! Vote on your favourite slots and game developers for 2025.

If you’re tired of slots that look great but play like a wet paper bag, this guide walks you through how to find the ones that genuinely deliver.

We’ve all been there: it’s 2am on a Friday night and you’re spinning the reels, waiting with bated breath, crossed fingers, (and toes) for a slot to finally spit out the bonus features.

Slots, historically, have always been about luck. But have you ever wondered what actually happens when you hit Spin on your favourite online slot?

We all have our favourite shows we like to binge with a cup of tea or coffee, all cosied up on the couch where we can turn up the volume and switch our brains off for a bit.

Maybe it’s a dramatic soap like Eastenders, where there are more seasons than you can count and someone’s dying every episode, or a guilty-pleasure reality series like Love Island. 

At Hideous Slots, our brand has always been built around our streamers and their lovable (slightly unhinged) personalities. After all, they’re the heart of the chaos, and the ones who bring the slots to life whenever they go live to our 30K+ YouTube subscribers.

Whether it’s binge-watching a TV show for the 10th time, replaying an old video game, or spinning the reels on your favourite slot, there’s always a certain je ne sais quoi or lil’ extra something that keeps you coming back for more.

The holy grail of information when you’re playing any slot machine, online or land-based, is the slot’s paytable. If you’ve ever wondered how many symbols you’ve got to match up, or what the hell that weird-looking wild symbol means, chance are, it’ll be in the slot’s paytable. 

Free spins might be free, but using them smartly is the real way to win. We’re breaking down how to read the T&Cs and make the most out of every bonus spin, without any complex jargon or spreadsheets.

Slot machines have changed a lot in the last 20 years. Once upon a time, you could score three cherry symbols on a line and the job was a good’en; you’d bag enough change to pay for your next pint.

Now, though? Online slots are a whole different kettle of fish, with different paylines, symbols, and bonus features to worry about. 

If there’s one thing that’s defined the modern slots landscape, it’s the Bonus Buy feature.

Once a rare addition reserved for the games on the more volatile end of the spectrum, now feels like almost every release has a shopping basket attached to its free spins and bonus features. 

If you’ve spent any time spinning the reels, whether that’s online or down your local pub, you’ve probably heard a few “facts” about how slots work. 

October is here, so roll out the witches’ hats, black cats, and cartoon bats… Scratch that, if you’re wanting a real scare this Halloween, check out these seven horror-themed slots to spin this spooky season.

Online slots have their roots in early slot machines, reaching back over nearly a century. From humble mechanical slots to the flamboyant releases of today, we’ve come a long way. Still, it’s important that we don’t forget where things started – with the classic online slots that promised players innovation and rewards. These classic slots may feel outdated nowadays, but most of them hold strong nostalgia for players, meaning they’re often revisited, remaining popular even today. Let’s take a look at six of our favourites.

As a slots fan, one of the most exciting bonuses you can claim is a free spins offer – guaranteed to add some extra fun to your experience. These are a staple of most online casinos’ promotions, promising players spins on the most popular slot games for a small upfront cost, or sometimes no cost at all. However, it’s crucial that players approach with caution, and always look out for the signs that these offers may not be as generous as they first seem. Let’s take a look at three common free spins scams that players are likely to come across, and find out which bonuses are worth the hype, and which you should avoid.

Players who are new to the world of slots will find an exciting journey awaits, but it can be a bit overwhelming. With an untold number of online slots to choose from, endless promotions found at each site, and new payment methods turning up all the time, it’s no wonder that new players can feel confused. This isn’t a unique experience – in fact, there are a number of mistakes that most new players make, or think. Let’s take a look at the most common examples, and clear up any misunderstandings once and for all.

Some slot features are forgettable — others keep players hooked for hours. We’ve rounded up five mechanics that make games endlessly replayable.

Expanding, sticky, nudging, and multiplying — some wilds are more than just symbols, shaping the way we play slots today.

One of the most difficult feats to achieve for a game studio is the perfect sequel, but that doesn’t stop studios across the industry from trying each year. Whether they introduce minimal changes and aim for familiarity or turn things completely on their head for their second time around, players are always excited to see what’s may come next from their favourite titles. This year, Big Time Gaming are tackling sequels in a big way, revisiting three of their most popular releases for a fresh take – Star Clusters, Castle of Terror, and the iconic White Rabbit. We sat down with Big Time Gaming’s visionary leader, Nik Robinson, to learn more about the studio’s approach to sequel slots and what its blueprint for chart-topping games looks like.

Think you’ve seen all the best slots? Think again. These five underrated providers are quietly shaking up the scene with unique themes, fresh mechanics, and slots that stick.