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If you have ever played a few online slots, then you might already be familiar with Starburst – it’s nothing short of an ongoing legend on the online casino scene. Even though the slot was released over a decade ago, it remains popular to the day (and it even has a sequel!). In this Starburst slot review, we will have a look at the game, its features, the best casinos in the UK to spin it, and more.

Overview of NetEnt’s Starburst slot
Before we dive into the review, let’s take a quick look at some of the slot’s technical details –
Game | Starburst |
Software provider | NetEnt |
RTP | 96.09% |
Layout | 5×3 |
Paylines | 10 (both ways) |
Betting range | £0.10 to £100 |
Maximum win | 500x your stake |
Features | Expanding Wilds, Respins, Win Both Ways |
Released in | 2012 |
Starburst theme, graphics, and more
Before we get into the gameplay and features, let’s understand what NetEnt’s Starburst looks like – as half of the fun is in the graphics.
- Theme: As you might already know, Starburst has an outer space theme. The jewel-studded grid is set against a dark backdrop that is sprinkled with twinkling and an occasional meteor shooting across.
- Graphics: Aside from the static graphics, the slot offers interesting animations like twinkling stars and shooting meteors.
- Sound effects: To hit the thematic trifecta, a slot game needs to have some bangers playing in the background. Starburst has upbeat music playing, which, along with the whirring of the reels and other sounds, help build a fun atmosphere.
Starburst gameplay and features

Half of Starburst’s charm lies in the gameplay. There are no fancy mechanics or complicated features. Instead, the gameplay is quite simple. In this section, we will have a look at the slot’s gameplay, features, as well as symbols and payouts.
Let’s start with the basic gameplay of the slot –
- As mentioned earlier, Starburst has a 5×3 set-up – so you have 5 reels and 3 rows, which is a classic and commonly used format for slots
- The slot has 10 paylines, which have a unique “Win Both Ways” feature – so a winning combination can occur from left to right and right to left. This is unique because most slots have a left-to-right rule.
- To play the game, you have to adjust the bet amount and click on the spin button at the centre – and that’s all to the base game. And to win, players need to land three or more of the same symbol on a payline.
Now, let’s look at the special features –

The highlight here is the Expanding Wild feature, represented by the multi-coloured star-shaped gem. Here’s how the feature works –
- Expanding Wilds: To start with, this wild symbol appears only on the reels 2, 3, and 4. When the wild symbol appears randomly, it expands, covers the whole reel, and converts it into a wild reel.
- Respins: The Starburst Wild expands and triggers a respin feature, which presents players with another chance to win. The expanding wild remains locked in place during the respin.
- Additional respins: During the respins, if you land another Starburst Wild, it also expands to give you yet another respin. The good news is that this consecutive respin can happen up to 3 times – so we might get a screen with three fully wild reels that may lead up to a big win!
Symbols and payouts
Much like other online slots, Starburst has low-paying symbols, high-paying symbols, and some special symbols that trigger bonus features.
High-paying symbols

Low-paying symbols

In addition to these regular symbols, Starburst also features special symbols like the multi-coloured Wild symbol.
Starburst RTP, volatility, and max win
In this section, we will explain Starburst’s RTP, volatility, and more.
- Starburst has an RTP of 96.09%, which is slightly above the industry standard of 96%. This RTP of 96.09% is the default and the most common version. However, online casinos can choose from six different RTP levels that range from a low of 90.05% to a high of 99.06%. So before you start spinning, ensure that you check the RTP.
- NetEnt’s Starburst is a low-volatility slot, which means you’re likely to get frequent but smaller wins, which makes it a favourite with casual gamers, beginners, and pretty much anyone who doesn’t like to take high risks.
- As mentioned earlier, Starburst has a maximum win of 500x the stake. By today’s standards, a win of 500x may not seem like a lot.
Where to play Starburst slot?
Considering that NetEnt is a well-established software provider that has collaborated with many online casinos in the UK, you should be able to play Starburst at any of the casino sites. Here are the top 5 online casinos in the UK that offer
Casino | Welcome bonus | Claim the bonus |
Casumo | Up to €300 + 50 Free Spins | Visit Casumo |
PlayOJO | 50 No-Wager Free Spins | Visit PlayOJO |
All British Casino | 10 Free Spins on NetEnt’s Starburst | Visit All British |
MrQ | 30 Free Spins on your first deposit | Visit MrQ |
Pub Casino | 100% deposit match up to £100 | Visit Pub Casino |
There are several more licensed and reputable casinos that offer games from NetEnt. You can check out casino reviews produced by our team and find a good fit.
Play Starburst free
Most online casinos let you try slot games for free. This means you should be able to play Starburst by NetEnt for free in the demo version. To load the Starburst demo, head over to a casino site that you’re signed up on, search for ‘Starburst’, and click on the ‘play demo’ option. This is a great way to check out a game for free before wagering your real money on it.
P.S. A lot of online casinos offer free spins bonus on Starburst, so you can also play the game with a bonus!
Other slots like Starburst
- Starburst XXXtreme (NetEnt): As mentioned earlier, Starburst gained massive popularity, which was enough to warrant a sequel.
- Berryburst (NetEnt): This fruity slot offers a similar aesthetic to Starburst with its bright colours and cascading reels.
Conclusion
So, is the Starburst slot worth playing after all these years? Yes, it is!
As we were reviewing this slot, we felt that the graphics were slightly dated – especially when you place it next to newer slots that are 3D and feature cinematic cutscenes. Nonetheless, there are new slots with 2D graphics, so it depends on the player’s preferences.
We loved the simple gameplay and features. There are no complex rules to trigger the bonus features, which is something that’d definitely appeal to casual players, beginners, or anyone who likes to keep things simple.
Finally, the 500x max win may not sound like a lot, especially now that we have slots with way bigger rewards. However, as Starburst has low volatility, it offers frequent wins. Plus, it has a high RTP, meaning you have a good chance of seeing a return on your investment.
FAQs
You can play Starburst at any online casino in the UK that offers NetEnt’s games. Some of the notable names include All British Casino, PlayOJO, Casumo, LeoVegas, and more.
Yes, you can play Starburst’s demo for free at online casinos that offer it or on NetEnt’s official website.
Yes, Starburst is optimised for mobile, so you can play it on the go without a hitch.
No, the Starburst slot does not have a bonus feature that offers in-game free spins. However, some casinos, like the All British Casino, offer a free spins bonus that you can use on the slot.
As mentioned in our guide, Starburst was released in 2012 by NetEnt.
Yes, as mentioned in our guide, a lot of casinos include free spins for Starburst in their bonuses.