Starburst

By Mike Chen, Gaming Analyst

Starburst is the NetEnt space and gem slot that came out on 23 January 2012, and it is still a regular in South African lobbies today, with five reels, three rows and 10 paylines, a single feature built around its expanding wilds and respins, and a medium volatility that keeps wins coming at a steady pace.

How Starburst plays

You spin for matching gems, golden bars and lucky sevens across the 10 paylines, and there is no free spins round to wait for, because the action comes from the colourful Starburst wild, which can turn an ordinary spin into a much bigger one whenever it lands. NetEnt puts the hit frequency at 23%, which means roughly one spin in four or five produces a win of some kind, so sessions tend to feel busy even when the amounts are modest.

Starburst RTP

NetEnt lists the RTP of Starburst at 96.08%, which is a long run average measured over a very large number of spins, and because RTP can vary between casino versions of a game, it is worth opening the game information at your casino to confirm the figure it runs. Our plain English guide to RTP explains what that percentage means for an ordinary session.

Volatility

NetEnt rates Starburst as a medium volatility slot, so you can expect a fairly even mix of small and mid sized wins without the long dry runs of high volatility games, which makes it a sensible choice for longer sessions on a modest budget.

Maximum win

NetEnt caps the maximum payout at 800 times your bet, which is low compared with modern feature heavy slots and reflects the game's steadier, lower risk design.

Expanding wilds and respins

• Whenever the Starburst wild lands, it expands to cover the whole reel and substitutes for all paying symbols to help complete paylines.

• Each expanding wild also triggers a free respin, giving you another chance to land winning symbols.

• The respins are the game's only bonus feature, so there are no free spins or bonus buys to think about.

Playing on mobile

Starburst runs in the browser on Android phones and iPhones at casinos that carry it, and with 10 paylines and a single feature it is one of the simplest slots to play on a small screen.

Starburst demo

NetEnt offers a free Starburst demo on its website and there is a play money version on this page, which is a quick way to see how often the expanding wilds turn up before you play for real.

Where to play Starburst

• YesPlay, which carries Starburst, its own YesPlay Starburst version and Starburst XXXtreme.

• EasyBet, which lists Starburst in its casino lobby.

• Betway, which features Starburst among the popular slots in its casino lobby.

If you like NetEnt's classics, Gonzo's Quest is another medium volatility favourite from the same studio.

Starburst is for players aged 18 and over only, so please play within your limits, and if gambling stops being fun you can call the National Responsible Gambling Programme on 0800 006 008 (a free call).