Autoplay Autoplay
A feature where the slot keeps spinning on its own for a set number of spins without you pressing the button. The UK has banned autoplay in online slots since October 31, 2021, and Germany has not allowed it since July 2021.
| English | Autoplay |
|---|---|
| Classification | Game Features |
| English | Autoplay / Auto Spin |
| Category | Game screen setting |
| Effect on win probability | None |
| United Kingdom | Online slots ban since October 31, 2021 (RTS 8C) |
| UK before the ban | Required setting a loss limit or a limit of up to 100 spins |
| Germany | Automatic consecutive starts banned since July 1, 2021 (Section 22a, paragraph 4) |
Overview
Autoplay is a feature that keeps a slot spinning on its own after the player sets conditions once, such as the number of spins. It is also called “auto spin.” It saves you from pressing the button every time, but it became a target of regulation because it removes the moment of deciding on each individual spin.
Autoplay does not change your odds of winning. The result of each spin is determined by the RNG, just as it is when you spin manually. What changes is the speed and focus of play.
United Kingdom: From restriction to ban
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| Before the ban | Allowed, but players had to set a loss limit or a spin limit (up to 100 spins) before starting |
| February 2, 2021 | The UK Gambling Commission announced a ban on autoplay in online slots |
| October 31, 2021 | Took effect. Technical standard RTS 8C: “Customers must manually start each game individually, and autoplay cannot be offered on slots.” |
The UK Gambling Commission cited consumer research as its basis. Of a national sample of 2,000 people, 358 were online slot players, and 190 of those used autoplay. Among them, 42% said they miss play during autoplay, 58% said they play faster than intended, 45% said they spend more money than intended, and 38% said they play for longer than intended. 34% said they gamble on something else while the reels spin.
In a survey by GamCare, a gambling harm support organization, 60% of 33 respondents said autoplay contributed to the harm they experienced. The Commission acknowledged views that autoplay can help with budgeting and accessibility, but gave more weight to the fact that it can lead to playing several games at once and can get around the 2.5-second minimum spin time rule.
Germany: The next round must be started manually
Under the virtual slot provisions (Section 22a, paragraph 4) of the new State Treaty on Gambling, which took effect on July 1, 2021, Germany ruled that a round can only be started by the player’s expression of intent, and that this can only be made after the previous round has ended. It explicitly prohibits programs that start the next round on their own once the previous one ends, as well as a single declaration of intent to play several rounds in a row. The same provision also sets an average of at least 5 seconds per round and bans playing several slots at the same time (Germany GGL).
Summary: What autoplay changes and what it doesn’t
| Item | When using autoplay |
|---|---|
| Win probability of a single spin | Unchanged |
| RTP · expected value | Unchanged |
| Spins per hour | Tends to increase |
| Moments to pause and think between rounds | Disappear |
Depending on the market where a game is offered, the same game may or may not have an autoplay button. Even when practicing with a free demo, it helps to build the habit of stopping based on time and budget rather than the number of spins (Bankroll management & responsible gambling terms).