Few space-themed slots have captured casino players’ imaginations like NetEnt’s Starburst. The simple five-reel, 10-payline slot was released in 2012 and introduced expanding wilds and Re-Spins.
Though Starburst is approaching its 15th birthday, it continues to attract players in the U.S. at DraftKings Casino and other major brands. It’s also regularly featured as the go-to slot for casinos offering a free spins bonus. Let’s examine what helps propel Starburst out of this world.
Starburst Slot: At a Glance
- Released: January 2012
- Developer: NetEnt
- Reels: 5x3
- Paylines: 10 (Win Both Ways)
- RTP: 96.08%
- Hit Rate: 23%
- Volatility: Medium
How to play Starburst slot
NetEnt’s Starburst slot boasts a space theme, with the five reels populated by mysterious extra-terrestrial gems. The game’s 10 paylines are fixed, so you select a total stake to bet across all available lines.
The beauty of Starburst is that it takes familiar retro slot symbols and gives them a 21st-century refurb. The brash 7, BAR, and colored gems are updated versions of the symbols you find in retro slots on the Vegas gaming floors.
Starburst also uses what was, at the time of release, a revolutionary Win Both Ways mechanic. Not only do 10 paylines run left to right (as in most classic slots), but they also run right to left. That gives you more opportunities to hit a winning payline if you hit a blank on reel 1.
Top base game payout in Starburst
- 3x BAR: 500x
- 4x BAR: 2,000x
- 5x BAR: 2,500x
Starburst bonus features
Similar to the gold tomb in the Book of Dead slot, the wild symbol is one of Starburst’s big draws. The multi-colored star symbol acts as a wild and may appear only on the center three reels.
When a Starburst wild appears, it triggers one free Re-Spin. Plus, when a wild appears during the Re-Spin, it expands to fill the entire reel — therefore increasing your chance to complete a winning line.
The remaining reels Re-Spin around it, potentially triggering more wilds — and up to three extra Re-Spins.
Starburst slot tips and tricks
Before you shoot off into space, let’s boldly go with a few tips for playing Starburst at your favorite online casino:
1) Double your chances with Win Both Ways
Conventional 10-line slots are hard to win with, as so few paylines are active during a spin. With Win Both Ways, however, you double your opportunities to hit a payline.
2) Bet small and rely on the high hit rate
Starburst doesn’t offer free spins, so your bonus payouts are all centered around hitting wilds and Re-Spins. Luckily, you can trigger Re-Spins as part of your base play.
A good rule of thumb is to start small (min. stakes start at just $0.01) and see how much you trigger Re-Spins over a 100-spin sample. Better still, start with the demo play option (if the casino allows it) and track your progress.
3) Find welcome bonus free spins on Starburst
Due to its medium volatility and popularity, Starburst is often included in casino welcome bonuses. You can sign up, deposit, and trigger free spins to use on this classic NetEnt slot.
Hunt around and find the best U.S. online casinos that offer this deal, or check out our Sweet Bonanza slot review to satisfy your sweet tooth even more.
