Barcrest slots are the British-made games behind Rainbow Riches, built by a company that started out making pub fruit machines near Manchester. Their quirk is an RTP that often changes with your stake. This page explains Barcrest’s history, its best-known games and what a stake-linked return really means for your money.
Barcrest began with two staff in 1968 near Manchester and released its first game, Invader, in 1970.
It has been part of Light & Wonder since 2011, when the group was still called Scientific Games.
Rainbow Riches, launched in 2006, is the series that made Barcrest a household name online.
Many Barcrest slots pay a different RTP at different stakes, usually around 94% to 96%.
Roots
Manchester area, UK
Early years
Two staff in 1968
First game
Invader (1970)
Owner
Light & Wonder (since 2011)
Signature series
Rainbow Riches (from 2006)
Typical RTP
About 94%–96%, often linked to stake
Barcrest: from pub fruit machines to online slots
Barcrest is one of the few slot names with genuinely British roots. The company started in the Manchester area in 1968 with just two staff and released its first machine, Invader, in 1970. For decades it built the fruit machines found in pubs, clubs and bookmakers, the kind with holds, nudges and a feature trail running up the side of the cabinet.
In 2011 Barcrest was bought by Scientific Games, the American group now called Light & Wonder. Its online games still carry the Barcrest name, and many still feel like the machines they grew from. If you want the wider story of how British machines shaped online play, our history of online slots in the UK covers it.
Barcrest timeline
Year
Milestone
1968
Business running with two staff in the Manchester area
1970
First game, Invader
2006
Rainbow Riches launches, starting the series
2011
Bought by Scientific Games, now Light & Wonder
2016
Rainbow Riches Pick ’n’ Mix and Reels of Gold released
2019
Rainbow Riches Megaways released
The Rainbow Riches family of Barcrest slots
Rainbow Riches is to Barcrest what Book of Ra is to Novomatic: the game that defines the brand. The original is a 20-line Irish-luck slot with three bonus features, Road to Riches, Wishing Well and Pots of Gold. Since then the theme has been rebuilt many times, each sequel testing a different mechanic.
Many Barcrest slots don’t have one RTP. Instead, the help screen shows a table of returns by stake band, with the figure usually rising as the stake goes up. This comes straight from UK machine design, where higher-stake play was often rewarded with a better percentage. Our glossary entry on RTP range covers the general idea.
To show how it works, here is an illustrative set of bands. These are not the figures for any specific game; read the real ones in your game’s help screen.
Stake band (example)
RTP (example)
Expected cost per £100 staked
10p–40p
94%
£6.00
50p–£1.80
95%
£5.00
£2 and above
96%
£4.00
Should you raise your stake for a better Barcrest RTP?
A higher RTP at a higher stake sounds like a good deal, but the cost per hour is what matters to your budget. Using the example bands above, compare 500 spins at each end:
500 spins at 20p puts £100 through the game. At 94%, the expected cost is £6.
500 spins at £2 puts £1,000 through the game. At 96%, the expected cost is £40.
The better percentage saves 2p in every pound, but the bigger stake multiplies the pounds by ten.
So the stake-linked RTP only helps if you were going to play at the higher stake anyway. It is never a reason to raise your bet. Our page on whether you should bet max works through the same trade-off on other games, and our slot budget guide helps you set a stake first.
Fruit machine habits in Barcrest slots
Barcrest’s online games keep several habits from the pub machines that came first:
Feature trails: Rainbow Riches’ Road to Riches is a board-style trail that moves up a ladder of multipliers, much like a cabinet’s side display.
Pick features: Wishing Well and Pots of Gold are variations on the pick-me bonus, where a choice reveals a prize.
Modest top prizes: the original Rainbow Riches tops out at 500× stake, far below modern high-volatility games.
Stake-linked returns: inherited directly from machine design, as explained above.
Holds and nudges, the other classic fruit machine tools, are explained on our fruit machine features page.
How to find and check Barcrest slots
Search the lobby for Barcrest, Light & Wonder or Scientific Games, or simply type Rainbow Riches.
Open your chosen game and go to the help or ‘i’ screen before you spin.
Find the RTP table and note which stake band your planned stake falls into.
Compare the RTP for your stake with the game’s top figure, so you know which number applies to you.
Set your stake from your budget, not from the RTP table.
UK rules on Barcrest’s online games
Online Barcrest slots follow the same rules as every slot in Great Britain: at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no autoplay or turbo, no slam-stop, and stake caps of £5 a spin at 25 and over and £2 a spin at 18 to 24. Feature buys are not offered to British players, so Rainbow Riches Megaways’ free spins can only be triggered on the reels. The UK slot rules guide lists every change and its date.
Barcrest slots: pros and cons
Advantages
Genuinely British design heritage, from pub machines to online
Simple pick and trail features that are easy to follow
Choices from medium-volatility originals to a high-volatility Megaways version
Rainbow Riches Megaways reaches a 12,500× stake max win
Drawbacks
Stake-linked RTPs mean low-stake players often get the lowest figure
The original Rainbow Riches caps out at 500× stake
Older games look dated beside modern releases
Max win isn’t published for every title
Where to play Barcrest slots
Barcrest games are found at many UKGC-licensed casinos, but line-ups change, so search for Rainbow Riches at any site before you deposit. We can’t confirm the current Barcrest selection at our partners. The sites below publish clear welcome terms (18+, terms apply); for a bonus aimed at this series, see our page on free spins on Rainbow Riches.
We can’t confirm which Barcrest games each partner lists today, so search the lobby for Rainbow Riches first. These UKGC-licensed sites publish clear welcome terms; 18+, terms apply.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
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 customers only. Opt-in required. 50% deposit bonus up to £100 on first deposit. Minimum deposit £20. 10x wagering on the bonus amount. Maximum bet or spin £5. Bonus valid for 7 days. Game, play and payment method restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Casumo reviewLicence: Recro Limited, UKGC account 61549. 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 limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is Barcrest best known for?
Barcrest is best known for Rainbow Riches, the Irish-luck slot series that began in 2006 and became one of the most recognisable online slots in the UK. Before that, the company built pub and club fruit machines from the Manchester area, starting with Invader in 1970. Its games keep the trail-and-pick bonus style of those machines. Sequels include Pick ’n’ Mix, Reels of Gold and a Megaways version. Our Rainbow Riches vs Fluffy Favourites comparison sets the original against another British favourite.
Who owns Barcrest?
Barcrest is owned by Light & Wonder, the American gaming group that bought it in 2011 when it was still called Scientific Games. The Barcrest name continues on its games, so you will usually see Barcrest rather than Light & Wonder on the loading screen. The group also owns other slot brands, including WMS, Bally and the Australian studio Lightning Box. Our Light & Wonder slots page explains how those brands fit together and which games come from each.
Why does the RTP change with my stake on Barcrest slots?
Many Barcrest slots set a different RTP for each stake band, with the figure usually rising as the stake goes up, a habit carried over from UK fruit machine design. The game’s help screen lists the bands, so you can see which figure applies to your bet. A higher percentage at a higher stake doesn’t make the game cheaper to play, because you are putting more money through it each hour. Set your stake from your budget first. Our RTP guide explains how to compare returns properly.
What is the RTP of Rainbow Riches?
The original Rainbow Riches has a published RTP of 95.00%, with medium volatility, 20 paylines and a top prize of 500 times the stake. Other games in the series differ: Rainbow Riches Megaways is listed at 96%, while Pick ’n’ Mix runs at about 94% to 96% and Reels of Gold up to 96%, both varying with stake. Casinos can also choose different versions. The help screen inside the game shows the figure you will actually get. Read our Rainbow Riches review for the features.
Are Barcrest slots high volatility?
Most classic Barcrest slots are medium volatility, including the original Rainbow Riches and Pick ’n’ Mix. The exception among the best-known titles is Rainbow Riches Megaways, which is rated high and can pay up to 12,500 times the stake thanks to its changing reel heights. If you prefer steady sessions with smaller swings, the originals are the gentler choice. If you want bigger spikes and accept longer dry spells, the Megaways version fits. Our volatility guide explains what to expect from each.
Is Barcrest a British company?
Barcrest started as a British company in the Manchester area in 1968 and spent decades making fruit machines for UK pubs, clubs and bookmakers. Since 2011 it has been part of Light & Wonder, an American group headquartered in Las Vegas, but its games remain closely tied to British tastes, most obviously through Rainbow Riches. Its online slots follow Gambling Commission rules like any other game offered in Great Britain. Our page comparing online slots and pub fruit machines shows how its two worlds differ.
Can you play Barcrest slots for free?
You can play many Barcrest slots in demo mode at UK casinos, but only after your age has been verified, which has been required since May 2019. Demo play uses virtual credits, so it is a good way to learn how Road to Riches or the Pick ’n’ Mix feature choice works. Remember that demo results are random and don’t predict real-money play. Some sites also let you see the stake-linked RTP table in demo mode. Our guide to free slots explains the age-check rule in full.
Does Rainbow Riches Megaways have a bonus buy in the UK?
No, Rainbow Riches Megaways has no bonus buy in the UK, because feature buys are not offered to players in Great Britain. The free spins can only be triggered by landing the right symbols on the reels. Non-UK versions of some slots include a buy option, which is why you may read about one elsewhere. The game itself is high volatility, with up to 117,649 ways and a 12,500× stake max win. Our Rainbow Riches Megaways review covers how the features trigger.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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