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Starburst Slot: Simple Rules, Clear Math

Starburst

Starburst is the definition of minimal rules: low volatility, frequent small outcomes, and a layout you understand in one minute. It's popular because the gameplay stays smooth and uncomplicated-no feature stack, no long bonus sequences. If you want a steady "background slot", Starburst fits that role.

Released: November 12, 2013
Starburst
Game Provider
NetEnt
Themes
Space, Gems
RTP
96.09%
Paylines
10 (both ways)
Volatility
Low
Max Win
500x
✓

Pros

  • Low volatility
  • Simple rules, fast play
  • Frequent small wins
  • Great "casual" slot
✕

Cons

  • Limited max win
  • Can feel repetitive quickly
  • Few meaningful features
  • Not suited for high-upside hunting
ℹ

Interesting Facts

  • One of the most-played NetEnt slots ever
  • Often recommended to new slot players
  • Popular as a "warm-up" game
  • RTP may vary across operators

Starburst Demo Game

Try the Starburst demo to see the expanding Wild Re-Spins in action, confirm how both-ways wins work in practice, and observe how the paytable values scale with the selected bet - all without any risk.

How Starburst Pays

Starburst is played on 10 fixed paylines. Wins pay both left to right and right to left on paylines - without gaps. Simultaneous wins on different paylines are added together; only the highest win per payline is paid. Paytable values are dynamic - they change with the selected bet.

Game Interface

Starburst base game interface with bet controls and payline markers
Base game interface: bet controls, spin button, and 10 fixed payline markers on both sides of the grid.

Symbol Set

Starburst reels showing classic symbols - gems, BAR, lucky 7
Classic symbol set: coloured gems, BAR, and lucky 7. Payout values shown in the paytable scale with the selected bet.

Wilds & Re-Spins (Starburst Wilds Feature)

Where Wilds appear: Starburst Wild symbols can land on reels 2, 3, and 4 and substitute for all symbols.

What triggers Re-Spins: One or more Starburst Wilds appearing on the reels activates the Starburst Wilds feature and awards a Re-Spin.

During Re-Spins:

  • A Wild expands to cover the entire reel where it appears
  • It remains on that reel while the other reels Re-Spin
  • New Wilds that appear also expand and remain, awarding an additional Re-Spin
  • Maximum: up to 3 Starburst Wilds can appear, awarding up to 3 Re-Spins

Bet and win accounting: Re-Spins are played at the same bet as the activating round. Total Re-Spins wins are added to any win from the triggering round at the end of the feature.

RTP, Volatility & Hit Frequency

  • RTP: ~96.08% (rules text shows 96.09% - presentation/rounding difference)
  • Volatility: Medium
  • Hit frequency: 23.00% (rate of any win event per spin)
  • Max payout: 800x bet
  • Bet range: 0.10 - 100

Starburst FAQ

Common questions about rules, Wilds, RTP, and mechanics.

The game displays RTP around 96.08%, and the rules text shows 96.09% (presentation/rounding differences).

No. It is labeled Medium volatility in the game information.

Starburst has 10 fixed paylines.

Yes. Wins can pay left-to-right and right-to-left on paylines, without gaps.

One or more Starburst Wild symbols appearing activates the Wilds feature and awards a Re-Spin.

Wilds can land on reels 2, 3 and 4.

The listed maximum payout is 800x bet.

The rules describe Wilds + Re-Spins as the main feature and do not present a bonus buy mechanic.

No. The rules state that paytable values are dynamic and change with the selected bet.

Comparison With Other Slots

Parameter Starburst Book of Dead Wolf Gold
Provider NetEnt Play'n GO Pragmatic Play
Release Date November 12, 2013 January 14, 2016 April 27, 2017
Theme Space, Gems Adventure Wildlife
Layout 5x3 reels 5x3 reels 5x3 reels
Pay system 10 Fixed Paylines (Win Both Ways) 10 Fixed Paylines 25 Fixed Paylines
RTP 96.09% 96.21% 96.01%
Volatility Low High Medium
Max win 500x Up to 5,000x stake 2,500x
Bonus trigger Wild on reels 2-4 => expanding reel + respin (up to 3) 3+ Scatters => 10 Free Spins 3 Scatters (reels 1,3,5) => 5 Free Spins; 6+ Money symbols => Money Respin
Signature mechanic Expanding sticky Wilds with respins + Win Both Ways Free Spins with a chosen expanding symbol Free Spins with a chosen expanding symbol

Provider

Starburst NetEnt
Book of Dead Play'n GO
Wolf Gold Play'n GO

Release Date

Starburst November 12, 2013
Book of Dead January 14, 2016
Wolf Gold April 27, 2017

Theme

Starburst Space, Gems
Book of Dead Adventure
Wolf Gold Wildlife

Layout

Starburst 5x3 reels
Book of Dead 5x3 reels
Wolf Gold 5x3 reels

Pay system

Starburst 10 Fixed Paylines (Win Both Ways)
Book of Dead 10 Fixed Paylines
Wolf Gold 25 Fixed Paylines

RTP

Starburst 96.09%
Book of Dead 96.21%
Wolf Gold 96.01%

Volatility

Starburst Low
Book of Dead High
Wolf Gold Medium

Max win

Starburst 500x
Book of Dead Up to 5,000x stake
Wolf Gold 2,500x

Bonus trigger

Starburst Wild on reels 2-4 => expanding reel + respin (up to 3)
Book of Dead 3+ Scatters => 10 Free Spins
Wolf Gold 3 Scatters (reels 1,3,5) => 5 Free Spins; 6+ Money symbols => Money Respin

Signature mechanic

Starburst Expanding sticky Wilds with respins + Win Both Ways
Book of Dead Free Spins with a chosen expanding symbol
Wolf Gold Money Respin (Hold & Win) with 3 progressive jackpots

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Themes

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RTP

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Max Win

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Paylines

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Volatility

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Max Win

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How Starburst Rating Was Calculated?

Here you'll find the explanation of the scoring methodology of this great slot game. Anything you want to know about the way of scoring - How We Rate Casino Games.

Game Mathematics

Weight 30%
Avg Score 6.5
Weighted Result 1.95

Feature Depth

Weight 20%
Avg Score 5.5
Weighted Result 1.10

Design & UX

Weight 15%
Avg Score 7.5
Weighted Result 1.13

Market Position

Weight 15%
Avg Score 9.5
Weighted Result 1.43

Risk Profile

Weight 10%
Avg Score 9.0
Weighted Result 0.90

Technical Integrity

Weight 10%
Avg Score 9.0
Weighted Result 0.90
Section Weight Avg Score Weighted Result
Game Mathematics 30% 6.5 1.95
Feature Depth 20% 5.5 1.10
Design & UX 15% 7.5 1.13
Market Position 15% 9.5 1.43
Risk Profile 10% 9.0 0.90
Technical Integrity 10% 9.0 0.90

Final Rating = 7.41 / 10

Solid but replaceable

Table of Contents

About The Author

Ivan Rodeo, Slots.Rodeo author
Ivan Rodeo

I review online gambling content with a mechanics-first approach: how games pay, what the paytable/rules actually state, and what the client discloses about RTP/volatility/limits. For casino reviews, I focus on licensing and ownership disclosures, payment/withdrawal terms, country restrictions, and responsible gambling tools. Reviews follow a fixed method:

  • Verify core rules in the in-game paytable/rules (symbol rules, bonus triggers, feature conditions) or in official casino terms (licenses, limits, withdrawals).
  • Capture primary evidence (screenshots from a demo/client UI, or the casino's published terms pages) and use it as the main reference.
  • Cross-check key details against provider documentation and regulator/licence records when available.
  • Separate confirmed facts from interpretation (what is stated vs what a player should realistically expect).
Published: | Updated:

Verification note: This page's mechanics, RTP/volatility label, and bet limits are taken from the in-game rules screens shown on this page.

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