Bookies Slot Machines Guide: What Are FOBT Slots?
If you have ever wandered into a betting shop in the UK, you might have spotted the bright screens along one wall. These are often called Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, or FOBTs, and they are a big part of how modern bookies look and feel.
They are not the same as old pub fruit machines. FOBTs host a mix of digital games, including slots and virtual table games, with outcomes decided by software rather than mechanical reels.
If you are curious about how they work, what you can play, and the rules around them, this guide walks through the essentials without any complicated jargon. Read on to learn more.
What Are Bookies Slots and How Do They Work?
Bookies slots are electronic gaming machines found in high street betting shops. They run digital versions of games such as slots, roulette and simple card titles. You choose a game, set your stake, and press to play. The result appears instantly and is determined by a Random Number Generator (RNG). This system produces unpredictable outcomes, so results cannot be influenced or forecast.
These machines are regulated, with limits on stakes and how the games operate. On slot-style games in bookies, the maximum stake per spin is £2. Many players look at a slot’s theme and features, such as free spins, wilds, or mechanics like cascading reels and Megaways. Others focus on numbers. Return to Player (RTP), shown as a percentage, reflects the share of stakes a game is designed to pay back over a very long span of play. Volatility gives a broad idea of whether wins tend to be smaller and more frequent or less frequent and potentially larger. Neither figure predicts what will happen in a single session.
If you play, it might help to decide a spend limit in advance and take breaks. Tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion are available if you want to pause or step back.
If you decide to try your hand on FOBTs, remember to do so responsibly and within your means; never wager more than you can afford to lose.
Types of Games Found on Bookies Slot Machines
You will find more than one style of game on these machines, and the mix can vary by shop and software. Understanding the main type could makes it easier to pick something that matches what you enjoy.
Traditional Reels vs Video Slots
Traditional reel slots echo the look of classic fruit machines, with three to five reels and a set of symbols. Wins are paid when symbols line up along paylines, which may run horizontally or diagonally. These games tend to be straightforward, with simple paytables and fewer extra features.
Video slots take things further with richer graphics, licensed themes and added mechanics. Features might include free spin rounds, sticky or expanding wilds, and pick-style bonus games. Some add systems like Megaways, where the number of ways to win changes on each spin, or cascading reels that remove winning symbols and drop new ones into place.
Roulette and Other FOBT Games
Slots are only part of the line-up. Many machines also include versions of roulette, where you place bets on where a virtual ball will land on a wheel. The bet types are familiar, from single numbers to groups, colours and ranges. There are usually quick on-screen chips and layouts to keep things moving.
You may also see simple card and dice games, such as virtual blackjack or titles inspired by bingo and keno. All of these use the same core technology to generate outcomes, and each game provides an on-screen rules section explaining bet types, payouts and house edges. If you are comparing options, a quick look at those details could help you understand what to expect.
Why Did FOBT Stakes Change in the UK?
In April 2019, the maximum stake on FOBTs in UK betting shops was cut from £100 to £2 per spin on slot-style games. The change followed concerns about how quickly large amounts of money could be lost on these machines. Before the limit, staking £100 every 20 seconds meant losses could mount in a short time.
The Government introduced the cap after consultation and review. The aim was to reduce rapid, high-value losses and to support safer play in high street settings. The lower stake does not change how the games work, but it does slow down the rate at which money can be risked on each spin.
If you also play online, you may find separate rules that reflect the digital environment. It might be worth checking the staking options and settings available to you wherever you choose to play.
How Do Payouts and RTP Work on Bookies Slots?
Payouts happen if symbols land in a winning combination based on the game’s rules. The amount depends on the paytable, the symbols involved and your stake. Paytables are built into every slot and show exactly how each combination is paid, along with any multipliers or bonus features that could affect the result.
RTP is a theoretical measure of how a game is designed to share stakes between prizes and the house over millions of spins. A slot with a 94 percent RTP is expected to return £94 of every £100 wagered over time. This is not a target for any single session. Outcomes are generated randomly, so short-term results can be higher or lower than the average.
Volatility sits alongside RTP to describe the general pattern of wins. Low volatility games tend to produce more frequent, smaller outcomes. High volatility games pay less often but can include larger prizes. Always keep responsible gambling practises in mind.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
