Guide to Playing Online Slingo in the UK

What is Slingo?

Slingo is a unique combination of elements from both slots and bingo, resulting in a game that involves spinning reels to mark off numbers to make winning lines (called Slingos). If you haven't already figured it out, the name Slingo comes from combining the words slot and bingo, which further echoes the game's constituent parts.

A typical Slingo game consists of two main areas: the reels and the number grid. The line of five horizontal reels at the bottom is used in place of the caller in bingo to produce numbers at random. Numbers on the grid that match those landing on the reel directly underneath are marked off. 

Marking off a line of numbers, as you would in online bingo, is called creating a Slingo. The aim of the game is to mark off as many Slingos (lines of numbers) as you can in a set number of spins (usually 10 or 11). The more you mark off, the more you stand to win according to the game's paytable.

Slingo is a really engaging game because it packs in the most exciting elements from both slots and bingo, making it appealing to slots fans and bingo lovers alike. Add to that a huge range of themes based on existing slots, TV shows, sports, and games, and you've got a brilliant collection of intriguing games to explore.

The Story of Slingo

Slingo was created in 1994 by New Jersey real estate developer Sal Falciglia Sr. An early prototype of the game was created in 1993 using an old 1950s Bally five-reel slot machine that accepted pesos. Sal had this shipped from Mexico to his basement in New Jersey. He created stickers for the numbers 1 to 75, gold star, joker, and devil symbols and placed them over the existing symbols on the reels. Sal then tested his machine by spinning the reels and playing with a 75-ball bingo card, eventually enlisting his young grandsons to spin the reels for him.

Knowing he had created something special, Sal had the game programmed to play on a computer and presented it to five executives at AOL. Slingo was launched in the games channel of AOL and immediately knocked Boxer Jam off the top spot, remaining number one for at least two years.

Sal developed his game further by presenting it to the folks at IGT., In partnership with Caesar Entertainment and Dave Lyons of Bally's AC, they created the first physical Slingo slot machine in 1999. Together with Scientific Games, Sal rolled out Slingo themed scratchcards in 2001. By 2002, Slingo was so popular that the brand was able to stand on its own, and so Slingo.com was launched.

Zynga Slingo launched on Facebook in 2012, bringing the game to the mobile space, and the following year, RealNetworks bought Slingo. The company's first move was to replace Zynga Slingo with their own creation, Slingo Adventure, which was apparently inspired by Candy Crush-style games. Slingo Shuffle, a separately developed then branded game, was quickly followed by Slingo Riches in April 2015. Then in July 2015, London-based company Gaming Realms bought Slingo from RealNetworks.

Since then, Gaming Realms has taken the game to the next level, launching a range of Slingo games based on popular slots, TV shows, and arcade games.

Popular Slingo Variations

There are currently 64 different Slingo games in the Slingo Originals collection, but some are more popular than others. If you're looking to explore the unique experience that is Slingo, I strongly suggest you start with the best. Here are six of the most popular Slingo games:

Slingo Press Your Luck: Launched in 2024, this relatively new Slingo game is based on an American TV game show called Press Your Luck. The game even features the show's loveable but dastardly mascot, the Whammy, as the blocking symbol. Collect Slingos to climb the board and unlock bonus games.

Slingo Starburst: This 2021 Slingo game is based on one of the best online slots of all time, Starburst. Collecting Slingos here unlocks increasingly valuable winning Starburst slot spins. The joker in this game is in the form of the Starburst slot wild.

Slingo Cleopatra: Launched in 2023 and based on the world-famous Cleopatra slot, this Slingo game dishes out winning spins on the slot for three or more Slingos. An interesting effect is the scarab beetle, which flies off the reels to add extra spins to your total!

Slingo Riches: One of the earlier Slingo games, Slingo Riches has a more classic feel compared to a lot of the newer games as it sticks to the basics of the original. Check out the bingo-style ball holder on the right of the game that represents your remaining spins.

Slingo Rainbow Riches: One of the first Slingo games to tie into an existing slot, Slingo Rainbow Riches features all the bonus rounds from the famous slot, including Wishing Well, Cash Crop, Magic Toadstool, and Road to Riches.

Slingo Deal or No Deal: Arguably one of the most popular Slingo games ever, this one is based on the UK TV show originally starring Noel Edmonds. Just like in the TV show, you'll pick a lucky box to begin, then match numbers to eliminate boxes and their prizes. Collect enough Slingos to start getting offers from the Banker.

How to Play Slingo

Although it may seem like a complicated game at first, Slingo is actually incredibly easy to play, mainly because there isn't a lot of player involvement: you just choose your stake and your spins play out automatically. The only time you really have to take action is when choosing your joker numbers. Here's my simple step-by-step guide to playing Slingo.

Step 1: Buy Your Slingo Card

When you open the game, the first thing you'll need to do is choose how much you want to bet. If you think of it in bingo terms, this is the equivalent of buying your bingo card: it's the total amount you're happy to spend on one game round (10 or 11 spins). I like to click on the money symbol and check out all the available bet amounts before settling on a figure I want. However, you can always adjust this later if you want to play subsequent games at a higher or lower bet amount. Simply click the value you want and you'll see it displayed in the bottom left corner next to Stake.

Step 2: Spin the Reels

When you've chosen your bet amount and you're ready to go, you can start the reels spinning by clicking the Start Game button. It's usually the biggest button on the screen, but it might be called something different, such as Spin, or simply be a spin icon. Either way, hit the big button to start your game and the reels will start spinning.

Step 3: Mark Off Your Numbers

When the reels stop spinning, you'll notice that numbers will start to be marked off automatically. If a number on the grid matches the number on the reel directly below it, it'll be marked off, usually with a star symbol. Your set spins will play out automatically, so you won't need to do anything unless a Joker symbol lands, which I'll talk about next.

Step 4: Watch Out for Special Symbols

Numbers aren't the only symbols on the reels in a Slingo game. Other symbols will also occasionally pop up, including jokers, devils, free spins symbols, and coins. Here's what each of these symbols does:

Jokers	Jokers and Super Jokers are like wilds as they let you mark off any numbers on the grid. Jokers let you mark off a number from the column directly above it, while Super Jokers let you mark off a number anywhere on the grid.
Devils	Often called blockers, these irritating symbols get in the way as they don't do anything except take up the space that could have been occupied by a number!
Free Spins	Landing one of these on the reels adds one extra spin to your total.
Coins	These don't come up often, but when they do, they give you an instant cash prize.

Different Slingo games can have different symbols and sometimes additional effects too. In Slingo Starburst, for example, the joker symbol is replaced by the multicoloured flower crystal from the Starburst slot, which also triggers a respin, just like in the slot!

Step 5: Complete Lines to Win

The aim of all Slingo games is to match numbers to make up winning horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, just like in bingo. These winning lines are called Slingos and the more you get, the higher up the paytable you'll go and the bigger the prizes you'll unlock. Sometimes prizes are straightforward cash payouts, but other times they are guaranteed winning spins of the same value on the featured slot.

Slingo Game Rules

Slingo is an easy game to play if you take a minute or two to read the simple rules. If you want to dive right into the game before understanding the rules, that's fine too, as it's simple enough to learn on the fly. However, I do think it's better to check out these basic rules first:

Slingo is like slots and bingo: In this game, you get a set number of spins (usually 10 or 11) of the single row of five reels to land numbers, with matches on the grid, directly above, marked off automatically.

Make lines of matching numbers to win: Just like in bingo, marked-off numbers that form vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines count as wins, or Slingos, which push you further up the paytable.

Symbols add special effects: In addition to numbers, the reels can also reveal symbols such as jokers, devils, free spins, and coins. These let you mark off any numbers on the grid, act as blockers, award extra spins, and award cash prizes, respectively.

Spins play automatically: Slingo games play out automatically, so there's nothing for you to do except choose your bet amount, pick numbers to mark off when a joker lands, and hit the spin button during slot-based bonus features.

Option to buy extra spins: Most Slingo games let you buy additional spins once you've used up your set spins. Just bear in mind that this is an additional cost on top of your chosen bet amount, so factor that into your responsible gambling practices.

Expert Tips for the Best Slingo Strategy

While it might not seem like there's much you can do to influence the game, there are ways to maximise your chances of winning at Slingo. Here are my top five expert tips for getting the most out of Slingo:

• Learn the rules before you start: This one seems simple, but it can make a big difference. If you take a minute or two to learn the basic rules of Slingo, you'll know how the game works and can minimise your chances of losing money. Be sure to check out the specific rules unique to the variant of Slingo that you're playing too, such as what the special symbols look like, what the bonus features are, and how lines are formed (eg, in Slingo Tetris, lines are actually in the shape of tetrominoes!).

• Pick your joker numbers wisely: This is probably the best and most influential tip I can offer. If you land a joker symbol, think carefully about which number you mark off. Ideally, you want to mark off a number on a line with the most marked numbers already and/or that will result in the most line wins.

• Adjust your bet amount to play responsibly: Slingo games are great for giving you a large range of bet amounts to choose from. However, so much choice can lead to excessive spending if you're not careful. Slingo games can play surprisingly quickly, so factor that into your choice of bet amount per game. Personally, I prefer to play more games with a smaller bet than fewer larger bet games.

• Consider extra spins carefully: It's extremely tempting to click for those additional spins once your set spins are finished, but do so with caution. The costs of those extra spins can escalate quickly, with no guarantee of any kind of return. Slingo is designed to have you one number away from a win most of the time, so bear that in mind. Also note that already matched numbers are not removed from the reels, as they are in bingo, so you could be waiting a while for that one number!

• Look out for bonus features: Slingo is great for offering a variety of bonus features depending on the variant you're playing. For example, in Slingo Riches, three or more jokers at once triggers a cash prize. Check the rules to see what they are before you begin.

Playing Slingo on Mobile

Thanks to their simple design and relatively small size compared to slots, Slingo games are ideal for playing on modern mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. If you're looking for a game for the morning commute or when you only have a few minutes to spare when you're out and about, Slingo is perfect for its quickfire nature.

The game can easily be played on desktop devices, giving you all the space you need for the different elements, yet transitions beautifully to the smaller screens of mobile devices. And because Slingo doesn't involve much in the way of interaction, I find it works really well with the touch screens of smartphones and tablets. The game elements are perfectly sized for the imperfect and imprecise nature of touch interactions.

I love a spot of Slingo at one of the top mobile casinos when I have a few minutes to spare on the train on my way to visit friends and family. 

Free Slingo vs Real Money Slingo

Slingo can be played for free at the top UK online casinos and doing so is a great way of experiencing these games for the first time. If you've never played Slingo before, I highly recommend you start in demo mode until you're more familiar with the rules. Before you play for real money it's crucial you bear a few things in mind that aren't quite so obvious in the free version of the game.

When playing real money Slingo, take care choosing your bet amount per game. These games run fast and can eat through your balance fairly quickly if you're not careful! Also, remember that those extra spins at the end will cost you every time you claim one, and that cost can escalate quickly.

From experience, I can tell you that these things aren't noticeable in demo mode because you're playing with practice money, but they can have a huge impact on your balance in real money games.