Irish Slots Games

Online slots themed around specific cultures and countries are commonly found in UK casinos, and Irish slots are arguably one of the most popular varieties. Offering bright green colours, shimmering pots of gold, and red-haired beauties coupled with exciting gameplay features, it’s no wonder that everyone wants to get a bit of the fabled Irish luck. To bring you the top Irish slots, our experts have tested dozens of popular slot games found at our recommended UK casinos. 

The Irish slot theme is popular amongst players all over the world, and as such, it can be found at many different online casinos. These slots encapsulate aspects of traditional Irish culture as well as some of the fun legends that we all know and love. If you think Irish slots games are all leprechauns and pots of gold, you’ve got a lot to learn!

Historical Background

The “Luck of the Irish” is a historical phrase that dates back to the 1800s when Irish Americans seemed to have an uncanny knack for gold and silver prospecting during the great rushes of the 19th century. Since then, the Irish and luck have been closely associated, with typical Irish symbols such as horseshoes and shamrocks being associated with good fortune.

It’s no surprise then that Irish-themed slots have been around since online slot games gave developers the opportunity to branch out from the traditional fruit machine aesthetic. This association with good luck as well as the bright and cheerful designs keep Irish slots as one of the most popular themes to this day.

Gameplay Elements

One of the great things about Irish slots is their diversity. Just as you can find a variety of different takes on the design and theme of Irish slots, the gameplay features are just as varied. There are no specific gameplay elements that typify an Irish slot; you can find games with bonus rounds, free spins, cascading wins, “both ways” pay systems, and much more!

That being said, our research shows that one common gameplay element that is found in a number of Irish slots - the jackpot. With many slots playing on the Irish themes by featuring leprechauns and pots of gold, it’s a natural fit for the game to offer a jackpot, marrying the theme with the gameplay to create a more engaging slot game.

Player Appeal

When playing online slot games, who wouldn’t want a bit of good luck on their side? While some players undoubtedly play the game because of the association with good fortune or the cultural connection to their own heritage, much of the appeal of Irish slots comes down to their design and gameplay elements.

Many Irish slot games offer bright and colourful designs as they evoke the folklore of leprechauns hoarding pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. As slots try to capture the beauty of the Emerald Isle, you see plenty of bright greens and golds which help create an appealing design.

Modern Irish slots also offer a range of engaging gameplay features that make the games fun to play. Some games use jackpots to give players a big prize to aim at, whereas others will offer the possibility of free spins, multipliers, and bonus games to create value in each spin.

Trends and Innovations

As technology in online slots advances, developers are using it to enhance the quality of games they can offer. Arguably the biggest change has been in the design of Irish slot games. The advancement of 3D design technology and video animations has been a game changer; developers can now bring their creations to life with fully modelled animation rather than just a picture of a leprechaun on the side of the slot.

We’ve also seen innovation in gameplay features reach Irish slots. Gone are the days of Irish slot games being exclusively three-reeled bog-standard games, we now see titles offering Megaways mechanics and Both Ways pay systems with engaging bonus rounds that offer huge rewards. 

In preparation for this article, our expert casino players went on the hunt for the best Irish-themed slots. After several days, you could fill the whole Emerald Isle with all the games they found! Trying out each game yourself would be time-consuming work, so our team has listed their top 10 Irish slots for you to check out below.

1. Irish Love - Created by 1x2 Gaming in 2020, this 5x3 reel slot has all the classic icons associated with Irish slots. You’ll find fair red-haired maidens, leprechauns, shamrocks, fiddles, and horseshoes, all represented as symbols in a bright and colourful art style. Irish Love has a min bet of £0.01 and a maximum bet of £50, making it accessible for players of all bankroll sizes and boasts a 96% RTP rate with med-high variance. Players can enjoy a selection of gameplay features, including free spins, sticky wilds, and scatter symbols.
2. Luck o’ the Irish Fortune Play 2 - With a max win of 50,000x your bet, you’ll be hoping that the luck of the Irish is on your side in this game from Blueprint. Despite being a high variance game, the RTP rate is 95.32%, which makes it a great option for UK casino players. While the theme of the slot is one of the more basic ones you’ll come across, it more than makes up for it with its gameplay features, including mystery symbols, synchronising reels, and “Hold and Win.”
3. 9 Pots of Gold - Developed by Gameburger in 2020, 9 Pots of Gold has a retro take on the Irish theme. The design is reminiscent of physical slot machines, as they have the scaled bonuses displayed to the right of the slot, reminding you of what’s up for grabs. The game has an exciting free spins bonus feature where players can earn between 10 and 30 free spins with 2x and 3x multipliers boosting your wins even further. There’s a max win of 2,000x on offer and the game offers an impressive 96.24% RTP rate with medium variance.
4. Clover Gold - A recent addition from Pragmatic Play, Clover Gold is unsurprisingly a fantastic-looking slot. Pragmatic Play always nails their slot designs, and this is no exception; each of the slot symbols is intricately designed with a modern take on the leprechaun as well as the traditional red-haired beauty. As well as looking great, Clover Gold offers a selection of engaging gameplay features, such as free spins, Cash Collector, multipliers, respins, and more. The RTP rate is 95.52% with a medium volatility level and a max win of 5,000x.
5. Rainbow Gold Shifting Riches - Another entry from Pragmatic Play, Rainbow Gold goes for a cartoony art style over the realism of Clover Gold and manages to capture the fantasy-like elements of the Irish theme. The mug of foaming beer, the green buckled hat, and the wishing well are just some of the symbols available in this game that wouldn’t look out of place in any Fantasy-themed slot but manage to retain their Irish roots. The RTP of this game is slightly higher at 95.54% but the volatility level is high, so be prepared before you play!
6. Leprechaun Charms Hold and Win - Combining the classic leprechaun element of Irish themes with the well-known cereal “Lucky Charms” brings us Leprechaun Charms Hold and Win from Prospect Gaming. While you could debate whether this game is Irish-themed or cereal-themed, there’s no denying that symbols and background design work on both levels. Players can enjoy a variety of different gameplay features, including the “Hold and Win” feature, free spins, and multipliers. There’s a 94% RTP rate with a medium volatility level and a max win of 5,100x your bet.
7. Lucky Mr. Patrick - This game, and its accompaniment “Lucky Mrs. Patrick” from Spinomenal plays more into the Celtic Irish theme rather than the fantasy elements of other slots. This is clearly displayed in the slot’s dark green surroundings and Celtic-inspired Free Spins symbol. The gameplay of Lucky Mr. Patrick is rather basic compared to most games with free spins, wild symbols, and scatter symbols as its only features, but the simplicity makes the action easier to follow while you enjoy the ambience of the game’s theme. This slot has an RTP rate of 95.9% and a max win of 1,000x your bet.
8. Wild Wild Riches Luck of the Irish Megaways - Offering a maximum win of 10,000x your bet and a max bet of £100, this Megaways slot from Pragmatic Play has one of the highest possible returns available on our list. The game’s Megaways reel structure means there are 117,649 ways to win with four jackpots on offer. The slot’s design is simple, yet effective, but the real meat of the game is found in its gameplay features. With free spins, multipliers, Cash Collector, wild symbols, and more, each spin will have you on the edge of your seat.
9. Shamrock Saints - If you’re getting bored of the traditional Irish aesthetic, this 2023 slot from Push Gaming might be just what you need. In a dark take on the Irish slots theme, Shamrock Saints eschews the traditional bright colours and smiling leprechauns for a dark, dingy slot with leprechaun gangsters sporting Tommy guns. If that’s not enough to get you going, the slot has a 96.3% RTP rate and a max win of 10,000x your bet with a med-high volatility level. There are plenty of exciting gameplay features too, including bonus games, free spins, and wild symbols.
10. Bounty O’Bucks - Bringing our list of the best Irish-themed slots to a close is Bounty O’Bucks by IGT. This traditional Irish slot machine marries the Celtic elements of Irish culture with fantasy elements by incorporating bright colours and a cartoony art style with the traditional Celtic font. As well as the delightful design, players can enjoy features such as free spins, wild symbols and “Spin The Wheel” bonus games. Bounty O’Bucks has an RTP rate of 94.15% and offers 30 bet ways. 

As you can see, each of these games offers an array of great features. To help you compare what we’ve found, our team has created a handy comparison table: 

After researching and reviewing dozens of Irish slots, our experts were able to find some common features that you should expect to see when you start playing.

The design is an obvious one that will stand out to you when you start playing different slots. While each developer has their own take on this theme, you’ll see plenty of shamrocks, leprechauns, and pots of gold. The green and gold colour scheme is almost ubiquitous throughout Irish slots; after all, they don’t call it the Emerald Isle for nothing!

You’ll also find that Irish slots typically use a traditional reel structure rather than the Cascading/Avalanche “Pay Anywhere” system that other slots use. Jackpots are also a common feature of Irish slots, as are free spins bonuses and multipliers. 

After thoroughly researching the best online casinos in the UK offering Irish slot games, our experts have agreed upon their list of the top five options: 

When playing Irish slots online at our recommended casinos, you get access to generous bonuses and promotions. These casino bonus offers allow you to play your favourite Irish games without risking your own money.

There are two primary casino bonuses that allow you to play Irish slots for free:

• Matched Deposit Bonuses - These bonuses match your deposit in bonus funds. For example, if you claim a 200% matched deposit bonus by making a £20 deposit, you’ll receive an extra £40 in your account. You can use this £40 worth of bonus funds to play your favourite Irish slots, as long as they are in the list of eligible games.
• Free Spins Bonuses - A free spins casino bonus gives you the opportunity to play real money slot games without using your deposit. Bear in mind that many free spins bonuses are limited to specific slots and may not be eligible for your game of choice. 

If you don’t believe in the luck of the Irish or can’t stand the sight of another leprechaun, then we’ve got you covered. There are plenty of slot themes to enjoy, and our experts have reviewed a handful of the most popular options:

• Egypt Slots
• Animal Slots
• Fruit Slots
• Aztec Slots