Most Exciting Sports Slots You Can’t Miss in 2024
Sports slots are games or online slots based on a specific sport, usually a popular one like football, hockey or horse racing.
- Most Exciting Sports Slots You Can’t Miss in 2022
- Sports Slots Explained
- Most Popular Sports Slots Worldwide
- Why Play Sports Slots?
- Types of Sports Slots
- New Sports Slots To Try in 2024
- Highest Paying Sports Slots
- Best Providers for Sports Slots
- Sports Slots – Mobile and Free Play
- Alternatives to Sports Slots
- Sports Slots Summary
- Sports Slots FAQs
Most Exciting Sports Slots You Can’t Miss in 2022
Football Star
- Return to player (RTP): 96.26%
We recommend playing at:
Football: Champions Cup
- Return to player (RTP): 96.82%
We recommend playing at:
Frankie Dettori's Magic Seven
- Return to player (RTP): 94.13%
We recommend playing at:
Sports Slots Explained
Sports are one of the hottest themes in online gambling in 2024, alongside adventure, music, TV, pop culture and mythology.
Whilst the stakes are high in a real-life game where the winner gets a shiny cup and eternal glory, sports slots take off the pressure from potential players. They require no special skills, but offer unlimited win potential.
The number of sports-themed slots is only expected to grow in the following years due to popular demand. Easy to play and highly interactive, they are a hit amongst sports fans and casual casino players alike.
Most Popular Sports Slots Worldwide
As you probably already know, there are hundreds of sports events attracting tight-knit player communities and the general public every year, such as the Super Bowl, the Champions League or the World Cup.
Most often than not, software providers will capitalise on these events and integrate them in their sports-themed slots, adding a touch of realism and adrenaline to the game experience.
Although the most popular sports-themed slots out there have a very modern design, along with state-of-the-art mechanics and visual effects, older titles manage to capture nostalgic players’ hearts, too. We've compiled a few of the most popular sports-themed slots below.
#1 Football Star (Microgaming)
(Source: Microgaming)
Football Star is one of Microgaming’s most iconic sports-themed slots. With an interesting structure of 5 reels, 3 rows and 243 ways to win, there is plenty of excitement to be had with this game. It is jam packed with 3D visuals, special features and mechanics such as stacked Wilds, collapsing reels and free spins with multipliers.
#2 Scudamore’s Super Stakes (NetEnt)
(Source: NetEnt)
A highly anticipated release by the provider in 2019, Scudamore’s Super Stakes remains a top choice for horse racing slots fans in 2024 as well. Based on the life of Peter Scudamore, the legendary English jockey, this title follows a classic 5×3 structure and has very accessible stakes (€0.10 min – €100 max). The payout rate of 96.11% is also above average, and if you use side bets, you can even get it up to 96.99%.
#3 Hot Shots (iSoftBet)
(Source: iSoftbet)
Hot Shots by iSoftBet is a funky title with a comedic streak. Based on the World Cup, this game replaces the players on the field with animals (bulls, bears, chickens, and foxes) and the usual grassy pitch is swapped for a forest clearing. Despite this game's light-hearted theme, we assure you the RTP is anything but, with an above-average rate 97.1%. Moreover, the expansive Wild symbols are sure to expand your wallet if you take this slot for a spin.
Why Play Sports Slots?
There are many advantages to playing slots themed on sports for casual gamblers and die-hard sports fans alike.
For starters, they provide a unique, highly realistic atmosphere and gameplay, comparable to the hallmarks of an actual game played on a stadium or court.
Software providers accomplish this by including stunning visuals, dynamic music, realistic crowd sounds, and sports commentary. Games are inspired by or based on real events such as the NHL, the NBA, the World Cup, with real sports personalities such as Maria Sharapova really putting players in the midst of the action.
Sports slot machines are also a great way to capitalise on your passion, and can be played by anyone for free or for real money. They also offer fantastic win potential and special features that stay true to the rules of each sport (for example, NetEnt’s Football: Champions Cup slot has a Penalty Shoot-Out bonus game, just like an actual football game).
Types of Sports Slots
Some software providers only create a sports slot very occasionally, as part of a special launch, whereas others have entire series dedicated to multiple sports.
Microgaming, one of the most prestigious software developers in the world, has created the Star series, incorporating branded titles for every sport: Rugby Star, Football Star, Basketball Star and Cricket Star.
In addition, with hundreds of sports being played every day on the world’s courts, stadiums and ice rinks, there are just as many sports slots to choose from:
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Football
If you can’t imagine a more perfect way of spending your afternoon than playing a football game with your friends, why not also win a huge jackpot while you’re at it? Football slot machine games are a great way of experiencing the emotions of a packed stadium or being the MVP in the world’s most important championships.
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Basketball
If you don’t want to jump through hoops (no pun intended) to get a nice game session and juicy payout, then you should definitely put basketball slots on your radar. Super beginner-friendly, many of them don’t feature very complicated symbols or game mechanics, but can still offer great bonuses, free spins and special features.
The most popular basketball-themed slot is Evoplay’s Basketball, as it manages to recreate the atmosphere of a real game down to the last details, from the court design to the sports commentators. Other popular, high-quality picks to try if you want to hit that slam dunk are Microgaming’s Basketball Star and Real Time Gaming’s Basketbull.
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Horse Racing
Horce racing is one of the oldest sports in the world, and one many casino veterans can’t resist. Many software providers have drawn inspiration from this classic sport. However, the one that takes the crown is Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven by Playtech, a tribute to jockey legend Frankie Dettori. Filled with free spins rounds and big jackpots, it’s the number one choice for horse racing fans everywhere.
If you’re looking for a lighter theme, you can also try Microgaming’s Sure Win, a fun, animated adaptation of a horse-racing game, delivered comic-book style. Other quality titles we highly recommend are Scudamore’s Super Stakes by NetEnt and AP McCoy: Sporting Legends by Playtech.
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Tennis
If your sporting idols are Maria Sharapova or Rafael Nadal, then you’ll have all the reasons in the world to love tennis slots. Playtech’s Tennis Stars allows you to take to the courts, spin the reels and win an infinite amount of free spins, making it our number one pick for tennis fans.
Another underrated gem to keep an eye on is Centre Court by Microgaming, a game that has been fashioned with some of the most beautiful and realistic designs of the iconic Wimbledon Court ever rendered in a slot.
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Hockey
If you’ve always felt at home on the rink, then you’ll be pleased to know plenty of casino software providers have paid tribute to this hugely popular winter sport. Ice Hockey by Playtech, Hockey Hero by Push Gaming and Hockey League by Pragmatic Play are just some examples of super high-quality games based on ice hockey.
These titles manage to seamlessly recreate the atmosphere of a packed stadium with music and sound effects, on top of special symbols and exciting free spins rounds.
New Sports Slots To Try in 2024
Looking for the hottest slot launches in the world of sports? Here are the ones you shouldn’t miss:
Football Glory (Yggdrasil)
(Source: Yggdrasil)
Based on the legendary World Cup, this 5-reel, 4-row title by Yggdrasil was released on the 12th of August 2020. It has a medium level of volatility, higher-than-average RTP rate (96.1%) and a max win potential of 4000x your stake.
Super Striker (NetEnt)
(Source: NetEnt)
Launched on the 4th of April 2020, Super Striker was designed to offer an action-packed gaming experience for players all around the world. And it certainly delivers on this premise – the game keeps the adrenaline alive on the pitch, bringing back NetEnt’s Bet Slip concept – also seen in Scudamore’s Super Stakes – alongside an innovative Golden Multiplier Feature.
All Win FC (Microgaming)
(Source: Microgaming)
This highly volatile title designed by Microgaming and All41 studios was launched on the 19th of May 2020, proposing a simple structure of 5 reels, 3 rows and 10 paylines. However, what made it stand out were its setting and the special symbols and features, such as expanding Wilds and free spins.
Highest Paying Sports Slots
If you’re looking to win big, here are some of the most profitable sports-themed slots to put on your radar:
Alaskan Fishing (Microgaming) – 96.63% RTP
Wildhound Derby (Play'n GO) – 96.93% RTP
Cricket Star (Microgaming) – 96.29% RTP
Best Providers for Sports Slots
While most providers just occasionally venture into the world of football- or basketball-inspired online slots, there are some who have consistently delivered high-quality sports-themed games for years.
So, next time you’re on the hunt to find the best sports slots available, you may want to look into these names first:
- NetEnt
- Microgaming
- Wazdan
- iSoftBet
- Pragmatic Play
- Yggdrasil
- Playtech
- Habanero
- RealTime Gaming
Sports Slots – Mobile and Free Play
If you’re looking to enjoy your favourite slots on the go, we have good news for you.
Since modern sports slot games use HTML5 technology, mobile compatibility issues have become a thing of the past, allowing you to enjoy playing from anywhere you like.
Plenty of social casinos allow you to play for free, simply for the fun of it, on any device. Game developers such as Playtech, NetEnt or Microgaming also offer demo versions of their best sports slots on their official website that you can play from your browser or phone at no cost.
Licensed online casinos such as Unibet and 888casino also offer free versions of popular sporty titles that you can try with demo credits, instead of real money, providing you with unlimited fun at no risk. You can also download mobile casino apps for a top-notch experience – e.g. PlayAmo, JackpotCity.
Alternatives to Sports Slots
If you want to switch things up and try something else in your next game session, aside from slots themed on sports, there’s a ton of fun to be had with the below:
- Adventure-themed – Connect with your inner explorer, gather clues and solve mysteries with slots like Gonzo’s Quest and Jumanji.
- Musical – What better way to spend an afternoon than rocking out with your favourite singers? Jimi Hendrix and Ozzy Osbourne slots are great picks for music lovers everywhere.
Sports Slots Summary
If you’re a sports fan, slots themed on sports are a great option to consider – you can have fun, enjoy your passion and win real money, even on days when you can’t watch your favourite team live on the courts.
There are sports casino games to suit everyone, with the most popular being basketball, ice hockey and football-themed slot machine games.
As opposed to real-life sports, these games don’t require any particular set of skills – they are games of chance that anyone can try out from any device of their choosing.
Thanks to developers such as NetEnt, Yggdrasil, Microgaming and Playtech, casino players all across the world now have access to the best sports slots out there. Head over to our list at the beginning of this article and try one out for yourself!
Sports Slots FAQs
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Yes – the demo version of sports slot machines is usually available on the developer’s website. If you want to play them for real money at online casinos, however, you need to be 18 years old.
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It’s hard to say which is the best, since players have different tastes. Having said that, titles like Football Star, Hot Shots, Football: Champions Cup and Football World Cup are highly popular worldwide.
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Yes. Many of them have jackpots, wild symbols and RTP rates of over 95% that can boost your chances of getting a bigger payout. For example, Yggdrasil’s Football Glory offers a jackpot of up to €500,000.
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Unibet, Ninja Casino and PlayOJO are great choices, but you can also find other quality operators in our table above.
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Yes. Many online casinos will allow you to try sports slot machines for free without registration. You can also find them directly on the developers’ websites.
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Our top pick would be Microgaming, since it has an impressive number of titles dedicated to many different sports. NetEnt, Wazdan, Playtech, Endorphina and RealTime Gaming are also solid choices.
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Yes. You should have no issues, since sports slots are usually optimised by the developers to run smoothly on all mobile devices (tablets and smartphones that run on Android or iOS).
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Unfortunately, no. If you play with demo credits, you won't be able to cash out any real funds, even if you win.
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Yes. Many of them offer in-game bonus rounds with free spins (NetEnt’s Football: Champions Cup and Yggdrasil’s Football Glory are great examples here).
Jake Schembri
