Starburst is NetEnt’s space-themed gem slot, released in June 2012, and it is still one of the most widely played slots in the UK. It runs on a 5 by 3 grid with 10 fixed paylines that pay in both directions, and it has one feature: the Starburst Wild, which expands to fill a reel and hands out a re-spin.
This review covers the figures that matter before anyone plays it: the RTP versions, volatility, the 500x maximum win in pounds at UK stakes, the hit frequency and where each number comes from. SlotPal also has a guide to The Starburst Strategy and a piece on Slingo Starburst, but neither is a review of the slot itself, which is what this page is.
Starburst at a glance
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Provider | NetEnt |
| Released | 20 June 2012 |
| Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows, 10 fixed paylines, wins pay both ways |
| RTP | 96.09% at the highest setting, with five lower versions reported (see below) |
| Volatility | Low (most sources); a few sites say low to medium |
| Max win | 500x total stake |
| Stake range | 10p to £5 at UK casinos, because of UK stake limits |
| Hit frequency | 22.7% (OLBG), roughly one winning spin in 4.4 |
| Main feature | Starburst Wilds: expanding wild reels with up to 3 re-spins |
| Free spins | None. The re-spins are the only feature |
Overview
Starburst became popular because it is easy to read. The gems are bright, the paylines are fixed, wins can start from either side, and there is no bonus round to learn. A spin is quick, wins are frequent and most of them are small. That profile suits shorter sessions on a modest stake, and it explains why the slot has been a staple of UK lobbies for well over a decade.
The trade-off is the ceiling. The top win is 500x the stake, which is low next to modern slots that advertise five figure multipliers. NetEnt has since released two sequels, Starburst XXXtreme and Starburst Galaxy, which chase far bigger wins. The original is the gentle one.
How to play and stakes
A win needs three or more matching symbols on a payline, counting from the leftmost reel. Because wins also pay from the right, three or more matching symbols counting from the rightmost reel also win. Only the highest win on each payline is paid.
Stakes are built from a level (1 to 10) and a coin value (0.01 to 1.00). Outside the UK the game itself runs from 10p to £100 a spin, and some casinos cap it lower. In the UK, slot stakes are limited by Gambling Commission rules: £2 a spin for players aged 18 to 24 and £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over. A UK minimum of 10p is the usual starting point, so this review uses 10p, £1, £2 and £5 for its examples.
RTP and the versions you may meet
The highest published RTP for Starburst is 96.09%. OLBG reports that NetEnt certifies six versions in total: 96.09%, 95.05%, 94.05%, 93.05%, 92.05% and 90.05%. NetEnt’s own game page could not be read for this review (the address returned a 404), so the six versions are a third-party report rather than something we confirmed with the provider. Other sites round the top figure to 96.1% or quote it as 96.08%, which is the same setting described slightly differently.
Two numbers on other sites do not fit. One US-facing site lists 94.05% as the RTP, which matches a lower version rather than the top one. Another quotes a range from 90.05% to 99.06%, and the 99.06% end appears nowhere else, so we ignored it. OLBG also says one UK operator offers an exclusive 98.05% setting, which is an operator claim we have not verified.
The important point is that UK casinos can run different RTP settings. The version in use is shown in the game’s paytable or help screen, and that is the number to trust for the casino you are using.
OLBG breaks the 96.09% down as about 68.69% from the base game and 27.4% from the Starburst Wild re-spins. That split is third-party data and is useful mainly as a sign of how much of the return depends on the wild feature.
Volatility
Most sources, including OLBG, class Starburst as low volatility: frequent wins, mostly small, with limited swings. A few review sites describe it as low to medium or medium, and one claims medium is the official classification. We could not find an official NetEnt statement to back that, so we follow the majority view and treat the slot as low volatility. The 500x cap points the same way, because a slot with such a modest ceiling cannot depend on rare huge hits.
Max win and what it is worth in pounds
Most sources give the maximum win as 500x the total stake. OLBG explains the arithmetic: the top line win is 250x, and the win both ways rule doubles it to 500x. A few sites disagree. One lists 250x, one lists 800x, and several quote 50,000 coins or “£50,000”, which is a coin count that depends on the stake setting rather than a pound figure. We follow the 500x figure, which is the most consistent and the one OLBG documents in detail.
| Stake | Max win at 500x |
|---|---|
| 10p | £50 |
| £1 | £500 |
| £2 | £1,000 |
| £5 | £2,500 |
These are the theoretical maximums per spin or re-spin, not typical results.
The Starburst Wild and re-spins
This is the whole feature set. The Starburst Wild can land on reels 2, 3 and 4. When it does, it expands to cover the entire reel, substitutes for the standard gems, and awards a re-spin with that reel held in place. If another Starburst Wild lands during a re-spin, it also expands and gives another re-spin. The sequence can reach three wild reels and three re-spins, then it ends.
One source lists the wild reels as 2, 3 and 5, which is a mistake, since the wild never appears on the outer reels. There are no free spins, no multipliers and no bonus buy. OLBG reports that a Starburst Wild lands about once every 11.9 spins (8.4%).
Symbols and paytable
The paytable has five gem colours, a 7 and a BAR. The figures below are OLBG’s reported payouts for 3, 4 or 5 matching symbols, shown as multiples of the total stake. They are for a single left to right line, and wins from the right pay the same again.
| Symbol | 3 of a kind | 4 of a kind | 5 of a kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purple or blue gem | 0.5x | 1x | 2.5x |
| Orange gem | 0.7x | 1.5x | 4x |
| Green gem | 0.8x | 2x | 5x |
| Yellow gem | 1x | 2.5x | 6x |
| 7 | 2.5x | 6x | 12x |
| BAR | 5x | 20x | 25x |
Five BARs on a line from both sides, helped by expanded wilds, is how the 500x top win is reached. The Starburst Wild itself has no payline value, since it only substitutes and expands.
Hit frequency and win rate
NetEnt does not publish a hit frequency on any page we could read. The figure we use comes from OLBG, a named independent source, which reports a hit frequency of 22.7%, meaning a winning spin lands about every 4.4 spins on average. OLBG does not explain how it measured or derived the number.
Other sites quote 22.6%, 22.65% and 23% without naming a method, so we do not treat those as separate evidence. A community tracker (SlotTracker) reports a hit rate of 1 in 4.4 across roughly 1.29 million tracked spins, which agrees with OLBG, although its data mixes casinos running different RTP settings and is not official. SlotPal’s own hit rate guide covers Big Bass and Eye of Horus only, so it has no Starburst figure to cross-check.
Remember that a hit includes any win, even one smaller than the stake, so a 22.7% hit frequency does not mean the balance rises on 22.7% of spins.
Starburst compared with its sequels
| Game | RTP | Volatility | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starburst | 96.09% | Low | 500x |
| Starburst XXXtreme | 96.26% | Very high | 200,000x |
| Starburst Galaxy | 96.00% | Medium to high | 25,000x |
The sequel figures come from OLBG and slots.info and match each other. XXXtreme keeps the expanding wild idea but adds random multipliers, while Galaxy adds several more features. Both are far more volatile, so the original suits a different kind of player.
Is Starburst enjoyable? Our verdict
This verdict is based on the mechanics, provider rules and independent data. We have not played the game for money, and nothing here is a claim of personal experience.
On paper, Starburst is a tidy, low risk design. Wins come often, the feature is simple, and the 500x ceiling keeps variance down. It works best for players who value pace and clarity over drama. It is a poor fit for anyone who wants a big bonus round or a high ceiling, because neither exists. Our verdict is that it deserves its reputation as an easy slot to understand, but its age shows in the lack of features and the low top win. The RTP version matters more than it should, because the lowest versions give up several percentage points.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Simple rules and a single feature
- Frequent small wins at about 22.7% hit frequency
- Wins pay in both directions
- Low volatility suits small stakes
- Top RTP of 96.09% is around the industry average
Cons
- Maximum win of only 500x
- No free spins or bonus round
- Six RTP versions exist, and lower ones are common
- Wild feature can end after a single re-spin
- Original official figures could not be checked on NetEnt’s own page
Starburst FAQ
What is the RTP of Starburst?
The highest published RTP is 96.09%. OLBG reports five lower versions, down to 90.05%, and UK casinos can use different settings. Check the paytable at your casino.
Is Starburst high or low volatility?
Most sources class it as low volatility. A few say low to medium. We could not find an official NetEnt rating, so we follow the majority.
What is the maximum win on Starburst?
500x the total stake. At UK stakes that is £50 at 10p, £500 at £1, £1,000 at £2 and £2,500 at £5.
What are the UK stake limits for Starburst?
The game runs from 10p, and UK rules cap slot stakes at £2 for 18 to 24 year olds and £5 for players aged 25 and over.
How often does Starburst pay out?
OLBG reports a 22.7% hit frequency, about one winning spin in every 4.4. NetEnt has not published a figure we could read.
Does Starburst have free spins?
No. The only feature is the Starburst Wild, which expands and awards up to 3 re-spins.
Which reels can the Starburst Wild land on?
Reels 2, 3 and 4. It never appears on the outer reels.
Do Starburst wins pay both ways?
Yes. Three or more matching symbols win from the left or from the right, and only the highest win per payline is paid.
Is there a Starburst bonus buy?
No. The slot has no bonus buy and no free spins round.
What is the difference between Starburst and Starburst XXXtreme?
XXXtreme has a 96.26% RTP, very high volatility, random wild multipliers and a 200,000x maximum win. The original has low volatility and a 500x top win.
Why do websites disagree about the max win?
Some report coin counts, some count the win both ways rule differently, and a few appear to contain errors. We use 500x, which OLBG explains in detail.
Can I trust the RTP shown on a review site?
Use it as a guide only. The version running at your casino is shown in the game’s own paytable, and that is the figure that applies.
How we checked the figures
- RTP versions, hit frequency, symbol payouts and wild frequency: OLBG Starburst review (third-party, UK focused).
- Max win conflicts (250x, 500x, 800x, coin counts): compared across OLBG, Racing Post, slots.info and several review sites. We followed the 500x majority.
- Hit frequency cross-check: SlotTracker community data (unofficial, mixed RTP settings).
- Sequel figures: OLBG and slots.info.
- UK stake limits: Gambling Commission rules as stated in the brief for this site (£2 for 18 to 24, £5 for 25 and over).
- NetEnt’s own game page returned a 404, so no figure was confirmed with the provider.
- Casinomeister has a Starburst page, but it holds no review content, so this article uses its own structure.
