Coin size meaning: in an online slot, the coin size (or coin value) is the cash value of a single betting coin, and your stake per spin is that value multiplied by the number of coins you bet. Change the coin size from 1p to 10p and the same number of coins costs ten times as much.
Coin size is the pound value of one coin; total stake = coin size × coins bet.
In many slots, coins bet = bet level × paylines.
Coin size scales wins and losses equally; it doesn't improve the RTP.
UK caps of £5 (25+) and £2 (18–24) limit the total stake, whatever the coin size.
Also called
Coin value, denomination
Formula
Stake = coin size × coins per spin
Effect on RTP
None in most games
UK stake cap
£5 per spin (25+), £2 (18–24)
Where shown
Bet settings panel and paytable
Coin size meaning: the value of one coin
Slots inherited the idea of coins from machines that took real ones. Online, a coin is a unit of account: the game counts your bet and its wins in coins, and the coin size converts those coins into pounds. A coin size of 5p means every coin you bet costs 5p and every coin you win is worth 5p.
Many modern slots hide this behind a single 'total bet' button, but the coin size still exists in the maths. Older-style and classic games often show it openly alongside the bet level, the number of coins bet per line. Our guide to reading a slot paytable explains how to tell whether a paytable is in coins or cash.
How coin size works out your stake per spin
On a game with fixed paylines, the stake is usually:
Total stake per spin = coin size × bet level (coins per line) × number of paylines
Coin size combinations on a 10-payline slot
Coin size
Bet level
Paylines
Total stake per spin
Allowed for 18–24s?
1p
1
10
10p
Yes
5p
2
10
£1.00
Yes
10p
2
10
£2.00
Yes (at the £2 limit)
20p
2
10
£4.00
No: above £2
50p
1
10
£5.00
No: 25+ only, at the £5 limit
50p
2
10
£10.00
No: above both UK caps
On ways-to-win or cluster games, the 'coins per spin' figure is fixed by the game (often 20 or 25 coins), so coin size is the main dial you turn. Either way, the game should show the total in pounds before you spin.
Worked example: coins on the paytable, pounds in your balance
Take a 10-line slot where three of the top symbol on a line pays 100 coins for each coin bet on that line. At a coin size of 2p and bet level 1, your stake is 20p a spin and that line win pays 100 × 2p = £2. Raise the coin size to 10p and the stake becomes £1, while the same line win pays 100 × 10p = £10.
Everything scales by five, including the cost. If the game's RTP is 96%, expected losses over 500 spins are about £4 at 20p a spin (£100 staked) and about £20 at £1 a spin (£500 staked). Coin size changes how fast money moves, not the share the game keeps. Our page do bigger bets win more? goes deeper on this.
Where you meet coin size
In the bet settings panel, usually labelled 'coin value' next to 'level' or 'lines'.
On paytables shown in coins rather than cash; the panel tells you which.
In free spins offers: the spin value (for example 10p) is effectively a fixed coin size and level chosen by the casino.
In bonus terms: a max bet rule such as 'max £5 per bet with an active bonus' limits your total stake, not the coin size alone (see max bet).
If you use free spins, you can't change the coin size during them; the value is locked to what the offer states.
Coin size and the UK slot stake limits
UK limits apply to the total stake per game cycle, not to any one setting. Since 9 April 2025 the maximum is £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over, and since 21 May 2025 it is £2 for players aged 18 to 24. The Commission's stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) defines a game cycle as running until all stakes are lost or all winnings delivered, so any extra stake within a cycle counts towards the limit. The government's announcement of the £2 limit (opens in a new tab) explains the reasoning.
In practice, a licensed UK casino should block any coin size and level combination that would push the stake over your limit. Our pages on the £5 slot stake limit and the £2 limit for under-25s explain how age is checked and what counts as a slot.
Why coin size matters for your budget
Coin size is the quickest way to change how long a budget lasts. A £20 budget covers 200 spins at 10p but only 20 at £1, and with a typical slot RTP of around 96% both will usually end below £20 over time. Choose the coin size to suit the session you want, not to chase a win; the bankroll basics guide shows how to plan this, and the UK net position display rule means your running result is on screen as you play.
Where to play: offers where the coin size is set for you
Both partner deals fix the spin value at 10p, so the stake per free spin is known in advance. Coral (18+, new players, checked 5 October 2026): deposit and bet £10 or more on slots to receive 100 free spins at 10p each, worth £10 in total, on selected games; accept them within 48 hours and use them within 7 days. Winnings carry no wagering. Deposits by PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe, prepaid cards and some debit cards don't count. See the latest Coral offer for current terms.
PlayOJO (18+, new UK customers outside Northern Ireland): a first deposit of £10 or more brings 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, worth £8 in total, with winnings paid as cash and no wagering. It can't be combined with other offers. Terms apply to both.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does coin size mean in slots?
Coin size is the cash value of one coin in a slot game. Your stake per spin is the coin size multiplied by the number of coins you bet, which on payline slots is usually the bet level times the number of lines. So a 5p coin on a 10-line game at level 2 costs £1 a spin. Wins are calculated in coins and converted using the same value. Our bet level entry explains the other half of the calculation.
Does a bigger coin size increase my chances of winning?
No. A bigger coin size raises the size of each win and each loss by the same proportion, but the chance of a winning spin and the game's RTP stay the same in most slots. If a game pays 96% over the long run, it does so at 1p or 50p a coin. The only change is how quickly your balance moves. Read the help screen in case a game has stake-dependent features. Our guide on RTP explained covers what the percentage does and doesn't tell you.
What is the difference between coin size and bet level?
Coin size is the pound value of one coin; bet level is how many coins you bet on each payline. Multiply them together, then by the number of lines, and you get the stake per spin. A 2p coin at level 5 on 10 lines costs £1, as does a 10p coin at level 1. Both settings change the cash value of every win in step. Our guide on paylines shows how the line count fits into the sum and why some games fix it.
Can coin size take me over the UK stake limit?
Not at a licensed UK casino. The £5 per spin cap for players aged 25 and over, and the £2 cap for those aged 18 to 24, apply to the total stake per game cycle. The casino must prevent any combination of coin size, level and lines that exceeds your limit. If you are 22, for example, a 10p coin at level 2 on 10 lines (£2) is the most that setup allows. See our page on the £2 slot stake limit for how age is applied.
Why are some paytables shown in coins?
Because the game's maths is designed in coins, and showing the paytable in coins means the numbers stay the same whatever value you choose. Many modern slots switch the paytable to pounds once you set your stake, which is easier to read. If yours shows coins, multiply each figure by your coin size to get the cash amount. For example, 250 coins at 4p each is £10. Our guide on how to read a slot paytable walks through both formats.
Can I change coin size during free spins?
Usually not. Free spins from a casino offer are credited at a fixed value, such as 10p a spin, which locks the coin size and level for those spins. Free spins won inside a slot's bonus round also use the stake you had when they were triggered. To change stake you must wait until the round ends. The value of an offer is set by the casino's terms, so read them first. Our guide how free spins work covers both kinds of free spins.
What coin size should I choose?
Choose the coin size that lets your planned budget last as long as you want to play, within the UK limits. A £10 budget lasts 100 spins at 10p but only 10 spins at £1, and losses are the likely result over time either way. Avoid raising coin size to recover losses; that tends to make losses bigger. Setting a deposit limit before you play helps. Our setting a gambling budget guide gives a simple method you can use before every session.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get free support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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