Starburst

Starburst has stayed in casino lobbies for over a decade for a simple reason: it is easy to follow and it pays often. Wins count from left to right and right to left, which roughly doubles how frequently a spin returns something, even if the individual amounts are small.

The one feature is the expanding wild. When a star lands on the middle three reels it expands to fill the reel, locks in place and awards a respin. Two or three stars can stack respins together, and that is the game's ceiling — there is no free spin round and no bonus buy.

Who it suits

• RTP 96.1% — around average for a NetEnt classic.
• Low volatility. Frequent small returns, gentle swings, a budget that lasts.
• No bonus round. If you want feature depth, this is the wrong game.

This profile is exactly why casinos attach free spins to it. Low volatility means the wagering requirement on a bonus is more likely to be worked through steadily rather than lost in a few spins — which suits both you and the operator.

Every casino we list runs the same version of the game under Estonian licensing. What differs is the bonus terms around it, so it is worth reading the wagering conditions before claiming free spins here.