What is a slot sequel? It is a follow-up game that a studio builds on one of its earlier slots, keeping the name, theme or signature feature but changing the maths, layout or bonus rounds. Money Train 2, Dead or Alive 2 and Gates of Olympus 1000 are all sequels. A sequel is a new game with its own RTP and volatility, not an upgraded copy of the original.
A slot sequel reuses a hit game's name, theme or core mechanic but runs on a new maths model.
Sequels usually raise the max win and volatility; RTP often stays similar or drops slightly.
Common forms are numbered follow-ups, Megaways remakes and "1000" multiplier editions.
A sequel comes from the same studio or brand owner; a copycat comes from someone else.
Definition
A follow-up to an existing slot
Who makes it
The original studio or brand owner
What usually changes
Max win, volatility, features
What often stays
Theme, symbols, signature bonus
Examples
Money Train 2–4, Dead or Alive 2, Pirots 2
What is a slot sequel? A clear definition
A slot sequel is a new online slot released as a follow-up to an earlier game, usually after the first one proved popular. It is marketed under the same name or series, keeps the look players recognise, and brings back the feature people liked. Underneath, though, it is built from scratch: new reel strips, a new paytable and a new maths model that is tested and certified on its own.
That last point matters. Playing Money Train 3 tells you nothing about how Money Train 2 will behave, any more than one film in a series tells you the plot of the next. Each slot has its own RTP, its own volatility and its own max win.
The main types of slot sequel
Studios use a handful of recognisable formats when they follow up a hit.
Common types of slot sequel with examples
Type
What changes
Examples
Numbered sequel
New bonus rounds and maths, same theme and core idea
Money Train 2, 3 and 4; Dead or Alive 2; Reactoonz 2; Pirots 2
"1000" edition
Same game with bigger multipliers and a higher max win
Gates of Olympus 1000; Sweet Bonanza 1000; Sugar Rush 1000
Megaways remake
Original theme moved onto a Megaways reel set
Rainbow Riches Megaways; The Dog House Megaways; Fishin' Frenzy Megaways
Extreme version
Same look with much higher volatility
Starburst XXXtreme
Spin-off series
Many games sharing a character or theme
Big Bass Bonanza, Bigger Bass Bonanza, Big Bass Splash
Comparing originals with their follow-ups shows a consistent pattern: the top prize grows a lot, the RTP moves only a little.
Originals and sequels compared (figures from our verified slot specifications)
Original
RTP
Max win
Sequel
RTP
Max win
Money Train
96.2%
20,000x
Money Train 3
96.1%
100,000x
Gates of Olympus
96.50%
5,000x
Gates of Olympus 1000
96.50%
15,000x
Sweet Bonanza
96.48%
21,100x
Sweet Bonanza 1000
96.53% (top version)
25,000x
Jammin' Jars
96.83%
20,000x
Jammin' Jars 2
96.6% (default)
50,000x
Starburst
96.09%
500x
Starburst XXXtreme
96.26%
200,000x
Chaos Crew
96.30%
10,000x
Chaos Crew 2
96.27%
20,000x
Mental
96.08% (default)
66,666x
Mental 2
96.06%
99,999x
Starburst is the starkest case. The original is listed as low volatility with a 500x max win; Starburst XXXtreme is listed as high volatility with a 200,000x cap. The RTP barely differs, but the experience is completely different: one returns small, frequent wins; the other is built around rare large ones and long gaps between them.
Worked example: original vs sequel on the same budget
Suppose you have £20 for a session and stake 20p a spin. That buys 100 spins on either game. On Starburst at 96.09%, the long-run average cost of £20 staked is about 78p; on Starburst XXXtreme at 96.26% it is about 75p. On paper the sequel is fractionally cheaper.
In practice the session will feel very different. With a low-volatility game, results over 100 spins tend to sit closer to that average, so you would usually still have part of your £20 at the end. With a high-volatility game, it is much more common to lose the whole £20 without a meaningful win, and occasionally to land something far larger. The average hides that spread. Standard deviation is the measure that captures it.
Why studios release slot sequels
Recognition: a familiar name stands out in a casino lobby of thousands of games.
Reuse: artwork, characters and sound can be carried over, shortening development.
Feedback: studios can keep the feature players responded to and change what didn't work.
Market trends: older games can be refitted with newer mechanics such as Megaways or cluster pays.
Rules: a new build can be designed around current UK requirements from the start.
Slot sequel vs copycat slot: what's the difference?
A sequel comes from the studio or brand owner behind the original. A copycat (or clone) is a different studio's game that borrows a successful idea, such as a fishing theme with a money-collecting fisherman or a book symbol that expands. Copycats are legal as long as they don't infringe trademarks or patents, but they are not sequels and share nothing with the original's maths.
The difference shows in the developer name. If the game's help screen and the casino listing show the same studio as the original, or a studio the original's owner works with, it is a sequel or official spin-off. If not, treat it as a separate game. Read slot clones and copycats for examples of both, and book slot machines for one theme that many studios share.
UK rules for slot sequels
Sequels sold to players in Great Britain must meet the same rules as any other online slot. The Gambling Commission's remote technical standards (opens in a new tab) require at least 2.5 seconds per spin and ban autoplay, turbo and slam-stop and the celebration of returns at or below your stake. Stake limits of £5 per spin (25 and over) and £2 (18 to 24) apply to every game, as the Commission's online slots stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) sets out.
Many sequels are sold in other markets with a feature buy. UK-licensed casinos don't offer it, so the British version of a sequel plays the bonus only when it triggers naturally in the base game. At a £2 stake, Money Train 3's 100,000x cap would be £200,000; at £5 it would be £500,000. Those figures are ceilings that very few spins ever approach, as our page on the odds of winning a slot jackpot explains.
Do fruit machines have sequels?
Land-based machine makers also build families of games around a successful theme, and online studios have carried pub and arcade brands online. Rainbow Riches by Barcrest is a good example: the five-reel original lists 95% RTP and a 500x max win, while Rainbow Riches Megaways, released in 2019, lists 96% and 12,500x. In pubs, though, a Category C fruit machine can never offer more than a £1 stake and £100 prize, so a "sequel" cabinet changes the features and presentation, not the legal limits.
How to check a slot sequel before you play
Open the sequel's help screen and note the RTP version the casino is running.
Compare its volatility rating and max win with the original you know.
Read how the bonus triggers; sequels often change the number of scatters needed.
Look at the minimum and maximum stake and remember your UK cap.
Try the demo if one is offered (free demo play, after age verification).
Game libraries change, so search the casino's lobby for the sequel you want rather than assuming it is there. One series link is clear: PlayOJO's welcome offer is 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, the original game in the Big Bass series (18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland, first deposit of at least £10, spins worth 10p each, no wagering on winnings). Coral gives 100 free spins at 10p on selected games when you deposit and bet £10 or more on slots (offer runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027; spins valid 7 days, some deposit methods excluded). Ladbrokes gives 50 free spins a day for 10 days after you deposit and spend £10 on slots, 10p each, with no wagering. 18+ and terms apply to all three; see our casino comparison for full details.
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
Is a slot sequel the same game with better graphics?
No. A sequel is a separate game with its own maths model, paytable and reel strips, even when the artwork looks similar. Its RTP, volatility, max win and bonus triggers can all differ from the original. Starburst and Starburst XXXtreme look alike, but one is listed as low volatility with a 500x max win and the other as high volatility with 200,000x. Always read the help screen; our page on what a slot game help screen is shows where to look.
Do slot sequels pay out more than the original?
Not on average. Most sequels list an RTP within a fraction of a percentage point of the original; some are slightly higher and some slightly lower. What usually grows is the max win, which means more of the return is concentrated in rare large prizes. Money Train lists 96.2% and 20,000x; Money Train 3 lists 96.1% and 100,000x. For what RTP means in pounds, see slot machine RTP explained.
What does "1000" mean in a slot name?
In titles such as Gates of Olympus 1000 or Sweet Bonanza 1000, the number refers to the much larger multiplier values in the remade game, which in turn raise the max win. Gates of Olympus lists a 5,000x max win; the 1000 edition lists 15,000x at the same 96.50% RTP. The core mechanic stays the same. These editions are usually more volatile, so a budget may run down faster. Our multipliers guide explains how they combine.
Are Megaways versions sequels?
Megaways versions are a type of sequel or remake: they take an existing theme and move it onto a reel set where the number of symbols per reel changes every spin, giving up to 117,649 ways in many games. Rainbow Riches Megaways, The Dog House Megaways and Gonzo's Quest Megaways all follow this pattern. The maths is new and volatility is often higher. Read Megaways slot machines to see how the mechanic works.
Who makes slot sequels?
Usually the studio behind the original, or a related studio working with the same brand. NetEnt made both Dead or Alive games; Relax Gaming made all four Money Train games; Play'n GO made both Reactoonz games. Sometimes a sister studio or partner builds the follow-up, as with Gonzo's Quest Megaways, listed under Red Tiger. If an unrelated studio copies the idea, that is a copycat, not a sequel. See who makes online slots for the main studios.
Should I play the original or the sequel?
Choose on volatility and budget rather than release order. If you want longer sessions on a modest budget, the original is often the steadier option. If you accept that most sessions will end with a loss in exchange for a rare chance of a larger payout, a sequel may suit you better. Either way the house edge applies and losses are likely over time. The slot volatility and budgets guide helps match the two.
Can a sequel have several RTP versions?
Yes, and many recent sequels do. Bigger Bass Bonanza lists 96.71% with 95.67% and 94.62% versions, and Sweet Bonanza 1000 lists 96.53% with 95.52% and 94.51% versions. The casino picks which version to run, so two sites can offer the same sequel with different long-run returns. Open the help screen at the casino you use. Our guide on reading slot RTP in the UK explains where the figure appears.
Do UK sequels have bonus buy?
No. Slots offered at UK-licensed casinos don't include a feature buy, even when the same sequel offers one in other countries. In Great Britain the bonus round only starts when it triggers naturally during play. UK versions also have no autoplay and take at least 2.5 seconds per spin. Our page on bonus buy in the UK explains how games are supplied to British players and why the option is missing.
How many sequels can a slot have?
There is no limit. Successful series can run to several numbered follow-ups plus special editions. The Money Train series has reached at least four games, and the Big Bass series includes many spin-offs such as Big Bass Splash and seasonal editions. Each one is a separate game that must be tested before release. For a list of the series we cover, browse the slots hub and the comparisons section.
Is a sequel more likely to trigger the bonus?
Not necessarily. Sequels often change how the bonus triggers, for example by needing a different number of scatters or adding a collection meter, but the chance of triggering it is set by the new maths model, and studios rarely publish it. A more frequent bonus usually pays less on average per trigger. Our guide to odds of triggering a slot bonus explains why you can't judge this from the screen.
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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