Starburst slot review

Starburst slot basics

Starburst is one of the best-known games from Swedish studio NetEnt, now owned by Evolution. It runs on five reels and three rows with 10 fixed paylines. What sets it apart from most line slots is that wins count in both directions, from the leftmost reel and from the rightmost reel.

It has become a reference point for low volatility slots, and it spawned two very different sequels covered later on this page. Browse the rest of our reviews in the slots hub.

How the features work in Starburst

Starburst has a single feature, and it only appears on the three middle reels. When a Starburst Wild lands on reel 2, 3 or 4, it grows to cover the whole reel, so all three positions on that reel become wild. The game then holds that wild reel in place and respins the other reels once.

If another Starburst Wild lands on a different middle reel during that respin, it expands too, stays put alongside the first, and earns a further respin. Each new wild therefore extends the sequence. Because only reels 2, 3 and 4 can carry the wild, the run of respins is limited by how many of those reels are still free, and a full house of wild middle reels is the best case. When a respin produces no new wild, the sequence ends and the wilds clear.

Combined with the both-ways paylines, a fully wild reel in the centre is powerful: it can complete lines that start on either side. That is the whole of the bonus action. There is no free spins round, no scatter-triggered bonus and no multiplier. Our guides to expanding wilds and respins cover how these mechanics appear in other games.

Pay-both-ways lines: what they add

On a normal line slot, a combination must start on reel 1. Starburst also accepts combinations that start on reel 5 and run leftwards. With 10 lines read in two directions, the game checks 20 line patterns on every spin. How a full five-symbol line is counted is set out in the paytable.

This is a big reason for the low volatility. Paying both ways spreads the 96.09% return across many more winning outcomes, so each individual win tends to be smaller. It does not make the game cheaper to play. The RTP, not the number of lines, sets your average cost.

Starburst RTP: cost per spin and per hour

At 96.09%, Starburst’s house edge is 3.91%. Multiply any stake by that figure for your average loss per spin. Because UK slots must allow at least 2.5 seconds per spin, an hour of continuous play could include a lot of spins; the hourly column below uses 400 spins an hour purely as an example.

Low volatility means your balance usually drifts rather than lurches, so a £20 budget at 10p often lasts a long time. It still drifts downwards on average; frequent small wins slow the loss rather than reverse it. Our cost per hour guide puts these figures beside table games and other slots.

Starburst max win in pounds

The top prize is 500× stake. That is £50 at 10p, £500 at £1, £1,000 at the £2 cap for players aged 18 to 24, and £2,500 at the £5 cap for players aged 25 and over. It is one of the lowest ceilings among popular modern slots, and that is the trade-off for its gentle swings: a game cannot pay small wins very often and also hold back a large share of its return for enormous prizes.

How to play Starburst

1. Open the paytable to check symbol values and the RTP of the version your casino runs.
2. Pick a stake; all 10 lines are fixed, so the stake covers every line.
3. Press spin. Each spin is started manually because autoplay is banned on UK slots.
4. Look for matching symbols from either the leftmost or rightmost reel along a line.
5. If a Starburst Wild lands on reel 2, 3 or 4, watch it expand and the respin play out.
6. Keep an eye on the net position and timer the game displays, and stop at your planned limit.

Starburst, Starburst XXXtreme and Starburst Galaxy compared

NetEnt has built two follow-ups on the same name, and they could hardly be more different from the original.

XXXtreme keeps the expanding wild but adds multipliers and turns the volatility right up. Galaxy moves to a larger grid. If you want other low-swing NetEnt games, Blood Suckers is listed at 98.00% with low volatility, and Twin Spin offers 243 ways at medium–high volatility.

Starburst myths and mistakes

• Myth: a wild is due after a long gap. Every spin is independent, so a dry spell changes nothing. See slot myths.
• Myth: playing more lines improves the return. Starburst’s 10 lines are fixed, and line count never changes the RTP.
• Mistake: assuming low volatility means low cost. The edge is 3.91% whatever the swings; low volatility only changes how losses arrive.
• Mistake: ignoring the RTP version. UK rules require the RTP or likelihood of winning to be available before you play, under RTS 3 on game rules and the likelihood of winning (opens in a new tab), so check it.

Our page asking is a higher RTP slot better explains how much a percentage point really matters over a session.

Starburst and UK slot rules

The Gambling Commission’s stake limits for online slots cap Starburst at £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24. The game must also meet the design rules in force since 31 October 2021: at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no turbo or slam stop, no autoplay and no celebrating wins that are equal to or smaller than the stake. That last rule matters on Starburst, where many line wins are smaller than the total bet. For the maths behind these returns, Wizard of Odds on slots (opens in a new tab) is a clear independent explainer.

Who the Starburst slot is best for

Starburst suits players with small budgets who want long, calm sessions and do not mind a low ceiling. Anyone chasing a big top prize should look elsewhere. If you are using free spins from an offer, our guide to what free spins are worth shows how to value them.

Where to play the Starburst slot in the UK

These are slot spin offers on selected or named games, and none is tied to Starburst, so look the game up in each casino’s lobby. New customers only, 18+, terms apply.

• PlayOJO: make a first deposit of £10 or more and get 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p a spin. Winnings carry no wagering and land as cash. Not available in Northern Ireland or with any other offer.
• Coral: bet £10 on slots after depositing (some methods excluded) to receive 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each, between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027. Accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, no wagering on winnings.
• Ladbrokes: play £10 on slots for 50 free spins a day over your first 10 days, up to 500 in total, at 10p each on selected games. Claim by 23:59 daily; spins expire after 7 days; no wagering. PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe, Moneybookers and prepaid cards don’t qualify.

Coral and Ladbrokes are both LC International Limited brands. For support if gambling stops being fun, GamCare (opens in a new tab) runs the free National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Compare casinos in our UK casino reviews.

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.