Avatar UX slots are built around PopWins, a mechanic in which winning symbols pop and the reels grow taller, adding ways to win as a chain continues. The studio released its first game in 2019, launched PopWins in 2020 with CherryPop as its flagship, and first reached casinos through Yggdrasil’s partner network. Here is exactly how its mechanics work and what to check before playing in the UK.
Avatar UX released its first game in 2019 and launched its PopWins mechanic in 2020; CherryPop is its flagship.
PopWins removes winning symbols and makes that reel taller, so the number of ways to win grows during a chain.
Later mechanics include MultiPop (sticky position multipliers), ZapReel (a feature reel above the grid), StickyPop and Infinity Stacks.
Its early games were distributed through Yggdrasil’s YGG Masters programme; its licence holders are Epic88 Limited and Epic88 Malta Limited.
We hold no independently checked RTP or max win figures for Avatar UX games, so read each game’s help screen.
First game
2019
Signature mechanic
PopWins (launched 2020)
Flagship slot
CherryPop
Licence holders
Epic88 Limited and Epic88 Malta Limited
Other mechanics
ZapReel, MultiPop, StickyPop, Infinity Stacks
Early distribution
Yggdrasil network
Who makes Avatar UX slots?
Avatar UX (often written AvatarUX) is a Malta-based slot studio that released its first game in 2019. Its games are supplied under licences held by Epic88 Limited and Epic88 Malta Limited, the companies you may see named in a game’s rules or on a regulator’s register. Trade press reported that it won the Rising Star award at the 2022 EGR B2B Awards, and it has since built a catalogue around a small family of in-house mechanics rather than one-off themes.
PopWins is the idea everything else at Avatar UX grows from. It combines two familiar features: cascading reels, where winning symbols are removed and replaced, and expanding reels, where the grid gets bigger. The twist is that each pop makes that particular reel taller, so the board changes shape as a chain continues.
A spin lands on a starting grid, for CherryPop a 5 × 3 layout that pays both ways.
Any winning symbols are paid, then removed (they ‘pop’).
The reel where symbols popped grows taller and new symbols drop in to fill it.
Because reels are taller, the number of ways to win rises for the next drop.
The chain continues until a drop produces no new win; in many PopWins games, growing reels far enough also leads to free spins.
In practice this means most spins look ordinary, and the value lies in the rare long chains that stretch the grid. That pattern points to high volatility, although we have no checked volatility rating for individual titles. Our page on volatility explains what that means for a session budget.
PopWins maths: how ways to win grow
A ways-to-win slot multiplies the number of symbols on each reel to get the total ways in one direction. On five reels of three symbols that is 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 243, which is why 243 ways is such a common figure. When PopWins makes reels taller, the product climbs quickly. The table is an illustration of the arithmetic, not the specification of any one game.
Illustration: ways to win as reels grow on a five-reel grid
Reel heights
Ways in one direction
Ways paying both directions (up to)
3-3-3-3-3
243
486
4-3-3-3-3
324
648
5-5-5-5-5
3,125
6,250
7-7-7-7-7
16,807
33,614
9-9-9-9-9
59,049
118,098
The last row matches figures Avatar UX has quoted in launch announcements, where fully grown reels of nine symbols give up to 59,049 ways one way or 118,098 counting both directions. Like Megaways slots, the big ways counts sound generous, but they do not change the RTP; they only change how the return is distributed. The ways to win slot machines guide compares the formats.
Other Avatar UX mechanics: MultiPop, ZapReel and more
Avatar UX mechanics at a glance
Mechanic
First reported in
What it does
PopWins
2020 (CherryPop was the third PopWins title)
Winning symbols pop and their reel grows taller, adding ways
MultiPop
Zombie aPOPalypse (September 2022)
Positions that held a winning symbol keep a multiplier that rises with each consecutive win
ZapReel
LooneyPop (February 2023)
An extra reel above the grid shows random feature rewards each spin, such as an added multiplier or split symbols
StickyPop
Check the game rules
Listed among the studio’s mechanics; read the game rules for how it works
Infinity Stacks
Check the game rules
Listed among the studio’s mechanics; read the game rules for how it works
MultiPop
In MultiPop, the cell where a winning symbol sat keeps a multiplier after the symbol pops. If that cell is part of another win in the same chain, its multiplier rises by one. Launch coverage of Zombie aPOPalypse described a cap of x5 in the base game and x10 in free spins, where multipliers do not reset between spins. It is a form of progressive multiplier tied to positions rather than to the whole screen.
ZapReel
ZapReel adds a strip of cells above the main reels. Each spin it shows random rewards, which in LooneyPop included an extra multiplier, expanding wins, synced reels and new split symbols. The rewards reset on the next spin. Later games such as Worms of Valor (March 2024) combined a five-cell ZapReel with a PopWins variant. It is a kind of reel modifier shown openly on screen.
Avatar UX and Yggdrasil
Avatar UX’s first route to casinos was through Yggdrasil. CherryPop was released in 2020 through Yggdrasil’s YGG Masters partner programme, in which Yggdrasil supplies games built by independent studios. Later titles were often launched first to operators with a direct connection to Avatar UX before a wider rollout. Our page on Yggdrasil slots explains how YGG Masters works, and our glossary entry on the aggregator covers the wider distribution model.
Avatar UX RTP and max win: what to check
We do not hold independently checked RTP, volatility or max win figures for Avatar UX games, so we have not printed any. The figures quoted at launch can differ from the version a UK casino runs, and many studios supply several RTP settings. The game’s help screen is the source to trust; our guide to how to find a slot’s RTP shows where it is.
Illustration: what RTP means for 100 spins at £1 (£100 staked)
RTP shown in help screen
House edge
Long-run average cost
97%
3%
£3
96%
4%
£4
94%
6%
£6
Max win is quoted as a multiple of the stake. Under UK limits the most you can stake on an online slot is £5 a spin if you are 25 or over and £2 if you are 18–24, so a 10,000× max win would be worth £50,000 or £20,000 respectively. Treat any max win as a rarely reached ceiling, and see max win caps for how casinos may limit payouts.
What changes in the UK version of Avatar UX slots
Launch coverage of several Avatar UX games mentions a buy bonus in certain jurisdictions, an ante bet that raises the stake for a better chance of free spins, and a gamble wheel offered before the feature. In Great Britain slots are not supplied with a bonus buy (see bonus buy in the UK), and every option on the UK version must fit the rules in the Commission’s standard on responsible product design (opens in a new tab): no autoplay, at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no turbo or slam-stop, and no celebration of returns at or below the stake.
If an ante bet is offered, it raises your total stake per spin, and the higher figure must stay within the limit.
Check the UK help screen to see whether a gamble wheel is offered; if it is, it adds risk to a feature you have already triggered.
Free demo play is available only after age verification.
Who Avatar UX slots suit
Advantages
Distinctive, well-defined mechanics that are easy to see working on screen.
PopWins chains make each spin a small sequence rather than one result.
ZapReel shows its modifiers openly before the spin resolves.
Bright, cartoon-style presentation for those who like it.
Drawbacks
No independently checked RTP or max win figures from us; you must read the help screen.
Most of the value comes from rare long chains, which suggests high volatility.
Ways counts in the tens of thousands can make a game feel more generous than its RTP.
Features differ from the versions shown in overseas videos.
If you enjoy cascading and grid-growing games, Avatar UX sits alongside cluster pays and Megaways titles as a feature-led choice. If you prefer predictable sessions, a low-volatility classic will suit you better.
Where to play Avatar UX slots in the UK
Avatar UX games are offered at some UK-licensed casinos, but availability varies and changes, so search the casino’s lobby for the title; we do not claim any partner below carries Avatar UX games. Coral gives new players aged 18+ 100 free spins when they deposit and bet £10 on slots, at 10p a spin on selected games, with 48 hours to accept, 7 days to use and no wagering on winnings. Ladbrokes gives 18+ new customers 50 free spins a day for their first 10 days (up to 500) after depositing and spending £10 on slots, at 10p each on selected games and with no wagering. Both are run by the same operator, so you may not be able to join both as a new customer.
PlayOJO gives 18+ new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland) 80 free spins at 10p each on Big Bass Bonanza with a first deposit of £10 or more, paying winnings as cash with no wagering. Terms apply to all three. Set a deposit limit and a time limit before you start.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is PopWins in Avatar UX slots?
PopWins is Avatar UX’s signature mechanic, launched in 2020. When symbols form a win they are paid and removed, the reel they were on grows taller, and new symbols drop in. Taller reels mean more ways to win on the next drop, so a chain of wins can expand the grid a long way. In many PopWins games, growing the reels far enough leads to free spins. The cascading reels page explains the replace-and-drop part of the mechanic.
Who makes CherryPop?
CherryPop is made by Avatar UX and was the third game in its PopWins series. It was released in 2020 through Yggdrasil’s YGG Masters partner programme, which supplies games from independent studios to casinos. It starts as a 5 × 3 grid that pays both ways, and wins grow the reels. We hold no checked RTP or max win figures for it, so check the help screen. Read more about the partnership on our Yggdrasil slots page.
How many ways to win do Avatar UX slots have?
It depends on the game and on how far the reels grow during a spin. A five-reel grid with three symbols per reel has 243 ways in one direction; if every reel grows to nine symbols, the ways rise to 59,049, or up to 118,098 when wins count in both directions, figures Avatar UX has quoted for some games. More ways do not change the RTP; they change how wins are spread. See our explainer on ways to win slot machines.
What is the RTP of Avatar UX slots?
We do not hold independently checked RTP figures for Avatar UX games, so we do not publish one. Launch announcements sometimes quote a figure, but casinos can run different versions. The reliable number is the one in the game’s help screen at the casino you are using. As a guide to what RTP means, at 96% the long-run average cost of 100 spins at £1 is £4. Read about RTP variants to see why versions differ.
What is MultiPop?
MultiPop is an Avatar UX mechanic first used in Zombie aPOPalypse in September 2022. When a winning symbol pops, the position it occupied keeps a multiplier, and each further win involving that position adds one to it. Launch coverage described a cap of x5 in the base game and x10 in free spins, where the multipliers carry over between spins. It rewards long chains in the same area of the grid. The multipliers page covers the wider family of multiplier features.
What is ZapReel?
ZapReel is an extra reel of cells shown above the main grid in some Avatar UX games, first used in LooneyPop in February 2023. Each spin it displays random rewards that apply to that spin, such as an added multiplier, expanding wins, synced reels or split symbols, and they reset on the next spin. Later games, including Worms of Valor, used a five-cell version. It is a visible form of reel modifier; see our page on reel modifiers.
Can I buy the bonus on Avatar UX slots in the UK?
No. Some Avatar UX games include a buy bonus in other jurisdictions, but slots at UK-licensed casinos are not supplied with one, so free spins have to be triggered in normal play. Stakes are also capped at £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds, including any ante bet. The bonus buy in the UK page explains how this applies across all studios.
Is Avatar UX licensed?
Avatar UX games are supplied under licences held by Epic88 Limited and Epic88 Malta Limited. Whether a supplier holds a current Great Britain licence can change, so the reliable check is the Gambling Commission’s public register, searched by company name. If you play at a UK-licensed casino, the casino may only offer games from suppliers it is allowed to use. Our page on the Gambling Commission and slots explains how supplier and operator licences fit together.
Are Avatar UX slots high volatility?
We do not hold a checked volatility rating for individual Avatar UX games, but the PopWins design suggests high volatility: most spins produce little, and a large share of the return comes from rare long chains that grow the grid. That means sessions can swing widely and a budget can be used up quickly. Check the volatility indicator in the help screen if the game shows one. Our guide to slot volatility and budgets explains how to size a session.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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