Do slot machines pay out more in casinos than pubs? Not automatically. UK law sets no minimum return for either, so each machine's payout depends on how it is set, which it must display as a target percentage. Casinos offer bigger stakes and prizes (Category B1: £5 and £10,000) than pubs (Category C: £1 and £100), but a bigger prize is not the same as a better return.
There is no legal minimum return for casino or pub machines in Great Britain.
Category B1 to C machines must display a theoretical target return; that label is the figure to compare.
Casino B1 machines allow £5 stakes and £10,000 prizes; pub Category C machines £1 and £100.
Higher prizes usually mean more volatile results, not a higher return.
Online slots list their RTP in the help screen; land-based labels show the target on the cabinet.
Legal minimum RTP
None set
Casino machines
B1: £5 stake, £10,000 prize (£20,000 linked)
Pub machines
C: £1 stake, £100 prize; plus Category D
What to compare
The displayed target return
Pub entitlement
1 or 2 Category C/D machines automatically
Age
18+ for Categories B and C
Do slot machines pay out more in casinos than pubs? The short answer
There's no rule that makes casino machines pay back more than pub machines. The Gambling Commission's gaming machine categories (opens in a new tab) require machines in Categories B1 to C to display a theoretical target return to player, but they set no minimum. So a casino machine and a pub machine can each be set anywhere the operator chooses, and the only reliable comparison is the figure each one displays.
What the law does fix is the size of stakes and prizes. Casinos can host Category B1 machines, with a £5 maximum stake and a £10,000 maximum prize, or £20,000 on a linked progressive. Pubs are limited to Category C (£1 and £100) and Category D machines. Bigger prizes change the shape of your results, but they don't on their own mean more money back over time. This page explains why, with worked examples. More answers live in our questions hub.
Casino slot machines vs pub fruit machines: the legal limits
What actually decides how much a slot machine pays out
A machine's long-run payout is set by its maths model: the symbols on each reel, how often each lands, and what the paytable pays. Manufacturers often supply more than one setting, and the operator chooses which to run. The result is shown as a percentage on the machine, often called the return to player. Our payout percentage UK explainer covers how these figures are worked out.
Two other factors shape what you experience. The first is volatility: a machine with a £10,000 top prize must fund that prize from many small losses, so most sessions on it go worse than average while a few go much better. The second is the payout method. Many pub fruit machines have run on a compensated model that steers towards the target return, while other machines pick each result at random; the Commission's draft standards include a notice saying which kind a game is. See compensated machines and volatility.
Do slot machines pay out more in casinos than pubs? Worked examples
Because the displayed figure is what matters, here is what different labels mean in practice. The percentages are examples, not claims about any real casino or pub.
Average cost of 100 spins at different stakes and returns (illustrative)
Machine and stake
Staked over 100 spins
At 80% return
At 90% return
At 95% return
Pub Category C at 50p
£50
£10
£5
£2.50
Pub Category C at £1
£100
£20
£10
£5
Casino B1 at £2
£200
£40
£20
£10
Casino B1 at £5
£500
£100
£50
£25
The table shows the main point: a casino machine at a higher return can still cost far more per session than a pub machine at a lower return, simply because the stakes are bigger. 100 spins at £5 on a 95% machine has an average cost of £25; 100 spins at £1 on an 80% pub machine, £20. Any real session can land well above or below these averages. Try your own figures in our slot cost calculator.
Why people think casino slots pay out more
Bigger visible prizes. A £10,000 or linked jackpot looks more generous than a £100 pub top prize, though the return percentage may be the same or lower.
Atmosphere. Casinos are built around machines, with lots of play and lots of visible wins at once.
Old figures. Statements about typical pub returns circulate widely but are often out of date or unsourced.
US comparisons. Stories about Las Vegas machines describe a different legal system; see Las Vegas slot machines.
None of these tells you a specific machine's return. Only its label does. Our pages on casino slot machines and pub slot machines describe what you'll find in each venue.
How many machines casinos and pubs can have
The number of machines also differs sharply. According to the Commission's summary of machine provisions by premises (opens in a new tab) and the Gambling Act 2005, a pub with an alcohol licence is automatically entitled to one or two Category C or D machines, and can have more with a licensed premises gaming machine permit. Large 2005 Act casinos may have up to 150 machines, and since 22 July 2025 small 2005 Act casinos and qualifying 1968 Act casinos can have up to 80, subject to ratios against gaming tables.
How online slots compare with casino and pub machines
Online slots list their RTP in the game's help screen. Examples from our slot facts: Starburst 96.09%, Big Bass Bonanza 96.71% in its top version, and Rainbow Riches 95.00%. Many games come in more than one RTP version, so check the figure at the casino you use. 100 spins at £1 on a 96% game has a long-run average cost of £4.
Online stakes are capped at £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds, and every spin must take at least 2.5 seconds. Faster play adds up: more spins per hour means more staked per hour. Our page on whether online slots have better odds than pub machines compares the two directly, and how much a slot costs per hour shows the time side.
Does tax affect what casino and pub machines pay?
You don't pay tax on machine winnings in the UK. Operators pay Machine Games Duty on their net takings: 5% where the cost to play is 20p or less and the top prize £10 or less, 20% for a cost to play from 21p to £5, and 25% above £5, according to GOV.UK's Machine Games Duty rates (opens in a new tab). A casino B1 at £5 and a pub Category C at £1 both fall in the 20% band.
How operators set their machines in response to costs like duty is a business decision, and there's no published evidence that venue type alone predicts the return. See Machine Games Duty and tax on slot winnings.
Casino and pub payout myths
Myth: there's a legal minimum payout on pub machines. Fact: the Commission's category rules set no minimum return; machines display a target figure instead.
Myth: casino machines are always looser. Fact: no machine is 'loose' or 'tight' in a way you can spot; read the label. See loose and tight slot machines.
Myth: a pub machine that hasn't paid all night is due. Fact: on a random machine each game is independent, and on a compensated one you can't see its position.
Myth: bigger stakes improve the return. Fact: on most machines the percentage doesn't change with stake; the cost does.
Playing casino and pub machines sensibly
Whichever venue you're in, machines are built to return less than they take. Decide a budget before you go, use the venue's self-exclusion scheme if you need a firm block, and stop when you planned to. The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free, confidential and open 24 hours. Our safer gambling page lists other services.
Where to play slots with a published RTP
If you'd rather see the return before you spin, online slots at UK-licensed casinos show their RTP in each game's help screen. Titles and RTP versions vary by casino, so search the lobby and check the figure there.
Our partner offers are below. Coral gives new customers aged 18+ 100 free spins worth 10p each on selected games after depositing and betting £10 on slots; accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, with no wagering. Ladbrokes gives up to 500 free spins, 50 a day for 10 days at 10p each, after a £10 slots spend, with no wagering. PlayOJO gives 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza (96.71% RTP in its top version) at 10p each with a first deposit of £10, with no wagering. Payment exclusions and full terms apply; see our offers hub and the PlayOJO page.
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Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
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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
Is there a minimum payout on UK slot machines?
No. The Gambling Commission's category rules require Category B1 to C machines to display a theoretical target return to player, and most Category D machines too, but they don't set a minimum percentage. That applies equally to casinos and pubs. The displayed figure is therefore the best guide to how a particular machine is set. Older claims about legal minimums for pub machines don't match the Commission's current rules. Read what is a good RTP for a slot for context.
Do casino slot machines have better odds than pub fruit machines?
Not as a rule. Both are set by the operator from the options the manufacturer offers, and neither has a legal minimum. Casino B1 machines allow bigger stakes and prizes, which usually makes results more volatile, but the return can be higher, lower or the same as a pub machine's. Compare the displayed figures. Our page on which slots have the best odds explains what 'best odds' means in practice.
What is the maximum prize on a casino slot machine in the UK?
The highest-limit UK casino machines are Category B1, with a maximum prize of £10,000, or £20,000 when machines are linked to a progressive jackpot on a premises basis. The maximum stake is £5. Casinos also host B2 to D machines with lower limits. By comparison, a pub Category C machine pays up to £100. Online slots aren't in these categories and have no statutory prize cap. See what is the maximum stake on a slot machine.
Where is the return shown on a slot machine?
On land-based machines the target return is usually on the cabinet glass, a label, or in the information pages on screen. On online slots, it's in the game's help or rules screen, often near the bottom. Online games may come in several RTP versions, so the figure at one casino can differ from another. Our guide to finding a slot's RTP shows where to look for both.
Do pub fruit machines pay out less than online slots?
They can, but you have to check each machine. Many online slots show RTPs around 96% in their help screens, while a pub machine's return is whatever its label says, with no legal minimum. Pub machines also have holds, nudges and often compensated payouts, so the experience differs. Online play is faster and adds up per hour. Read do online slots have better odds than pub machines for a full comparison.
Why do casino machines have bigger jackpots?
Because the law allows it. Category B1 machines are only permitted in casinos and can pay up to £10,000, or £20,000 when linked. Pubs are limited to Category C and D machines, so their top prize is £100. A bigger top prize is funded by everyone's stakes, so it usually means more volatile results rather than a better overall return. Our page on how slot jackpots are funded explains the maths.
Are casino slot machines random?
Land-based machines in Great Britain are either random or compensated. Random machines pick each result independently; compensated machines adjust towards their target return based on what they've taken and paid. The Commission's draft machine standards include a notice telling players which kind a game is. Category B1, B2 and B3 machines must be tested by an independent, Commission-approved test house. See how slot machines are tested for the detail.
Is it cheaper to play slots in a pub or a casino?
Usually a pub is cheaper per spin, because Category C machines are capped at £1 while casino B1 machines go up to £5. What a session costs depends on stake, number of spins and the machine's return. 100 spins at £1 on an 80% machine averages £20; 100 spins at £5 on a 95% machine averages £25. Set a budget first and choose a stake that fits. Our bankroll guide shows how.
Can I ask staff what a machine pays back?
You can ask, but the machine itself should already show its target return, so check the cabinet or information screen first. Staff may not know the setting and can't promise how a machine will behave in your session. The figure is a long-run average, not a prediction. If a machine shows no return information, ask staff about it. Our guide to playing slots in a UK casino covers what to expect on the casino floor.
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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