20+ years reviewing 10,000+ slots, breaking down games honestly to help you make smarter choices and have fun.
This week has been a deep dive into the rich history of slot machines, alongside some exciting new game releases and a look ahead to what's next at UK slot sites.
Digest with 1 weekly news post
Revamped History of Slots Guide: From the Liberty Bell to Mobile
It’s always a pleasure to go back to the roots of this industry, and I’ve updated the History of Slots article to reflect that. It’s fascinating to see just how far we’ve come, from the mechanical reels of yesteryear to the sophisticated digital experiences we enjoy today. The timeline includes:
- 1891: Sittman & Pitt's 5-drum poker machine, wins paid across the bar, not automatically
- 1894: Charles Fey's 3-reel Liberty Bell cracks the automatic payout
- 1907: Herbert Mills' Operator Bell brings fruit symbols and the BAR sign, via chewing-gum prizes
- 1960s: Britain's low stake caps birth the nudge, hold and gamble, shaping today's bonus culture
- 1963–76: Bally's Money Honey and the first video slot arrive
- 1990s–today: Online, mobile and Megaways define the modern game
New Slot Games Released this Week
This week, there are new games from Hacksaw Gaming and Nolimit City:
18/08/2026: Outsourced 2 Balkan Engineering (Nolimit City)
Outsourced 2 Balkan Engineering is the work-themed sequel to Outsourced. Played on 4 reels with 625 ways to win from 20p, it swaps the sweatshop for a Balkan construction site. Print Spin respins raise position multipliers for more ways to win, aided by Infectious xWays, Elevator symbols and xNudge Balkan Wilds (multipliers to 999x). 2 free spins modes (Tilt and Tiltier Spins) keep base game multipliers for up to 11,111 x bet max win potential.
18/08/2026: Epic Ze Zeus (Hacksaw Gaming)
Epic Ze Zeus is a Greek mythology Cluster Pays slot and is a supercharged version of Ze Zeus. Played on a 6x5 grid, wins need 5+ connected matching symbols. Super Cascades leave Divine Squares that the Hand of Zeus activates, revealing Coins (up to 500 x bet), multiplying Zap of Zeus symbols (to 10x) and collecting Vessel of Wealth symbols. 3 free spins modes keep Divine Squares highlighted, with the top mode guaranteeing a Hand of Zeus on every free spin. Max win potential is 50,000 x bet, Hacksaw's highest ever.
Upcoming Games Added
Below, you’ll find summaries of upcoming slots I’ve added this week to the demo slots page (including in-depth reviews and free-play versions):
House of the Dragon (Blueprint Gaming)
House of the Dragon is the official slot for the Game of Thrones prequel series, played on 5 reels and 20 paylines from 10p. The scatter-driven game features a Collect feature (Cash Prize Scatters gathered by expanding Collect Scatters), a Dragon's Wheel awarding cash or Super Bonus entry, 5 Syrax Strike modifiers guaranteeing wins, and the Dance of the Dragons Spins with up to 5 enhancements, including multipliers to 10x. With amazing visuals and the official soundtrack, it comes with 3,000 x bet max wins (significantly lower than the 50,000 x bet found in Game of Thrones).
Eternal Diamonds (Pragmatic Play)
Eternal Diamonds is a dazzling Las Vegas-themed slot played on 5 reels and 50 paylines from 20p. Blue, red and green chips are collected in pots above the reels, randomly triggering the Respin feature: 3 respins with up to 3 modifiers: Blue adds multipliers up to 100x, Red activates expanding respins, and Green adds an extra respin. During respins, only Diamond Money symbols (up to 125 x bet and poker chips land, each resetting the counter and locking in place. Filling all 15 positions wins the 10,000 x bet Grand Jackpot. With a 96.5% RTP rate, it offers 20,000 x bet max wins.
Huff N’ Lots of Puff Grand (Light & Wonder)
Huff N' Lots of Puff Grand is a Three Little Pigs-themed slot played on 5 reels with 243 paylines from 20p. The focus is on Hard Hats, upgrading Frames and fixed jackpots: when a Hard Hat lands, frames upgrade and a new one is added elsewhere. Frames climb from stick to brick to diamond, awarding cash prizes from 0.5 up to 150 x bet, or fixed jackpots. A Wheel feature grants bonus entry and upgrades jackpots: the Super Jackpot (7,500 x bet) rising via the Super Wheel to the Ultra Jackpot (10,000 x bet). Free spins, Mega Hats and Super/Ultra versions feature. With 10,000 x bet max wins, it’s the 9th release in the Huff N’ Puff series.
Reel Talk?
It’s also worth noting that the 30th edition of the Reel Talk newsletter has been sent out, bringing you the latest insights and updates from the world of slots. Including reviews and demos of upcoming games, there was news of 2 major progressive jackpot winners.
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