Best EGT Online Casinos UK 2026: Where to Spin the Hottest Slots
The UK slot scene is crowded. Glitzy NetEnt titles, Megaways this, Megaways that. And then there’s EGT. A provider that built its name not on flashy cutscenes, but on rock‑solid math and fruit symbols that could’ve been lifted from a 90s pub machine. Love it or shrug at it, EGT has a loyal following – and a handful of slots that quietly print bigger hits than the industry average. If you’re reading this in 2026, you want a straight answer: which UK‑facing online casinos actually deliver the goods on EGT games? Which ones let you play without jumping through hoops, and which bonuses don’t dissolve into dust the moment you try to cash out? This pillar pulls no punches. We’ve analysed the casino landscape, filtered out the noise, and built a action‑ready guide to the best EGT online casinos you can join from the UK right now.
One thing before we dive in: EGT moved. The provider you still call EGT is technically Amusnet Interactive now. The rebrand happened, the game portfolio grew, but the DNA is the same. For search engines, for slot fans, and for every casino lobby out there, “EGT” still works. So we’ll use the name you actually type into the search bar.
What Even Is EGT and Why Should a UK Player Care?
Euro Games Technology (EGT) came out of Bulgaria at the turn of the millennium and did something unfashionable: it ignored Hollywood licences and went all‑in on classic fruit slots. The company expanded into live casino, table games, and a progressive jackpot system called Jackpot Cards, but the cornerstone never changed – games that play fast, eat small bets, and occasionally spit out a Mystery Jackpot that turns a 20p spin into four figures.
A UK player might wonder why they should bother. After all, the British market is stuffed with slicker options. But there are three cold facts. First, EGT slots consistently offer higher hit rates than the average video slot – you’ll get more small wins, which stretches a modest deposit. Second, the RTPs on EGT titles are competitive, often hovering around 96%, with a few outliers climbing to 97%. Third, EGT games are lightweight; they run on older phones and patchy Wi‑Fi without stuttering. For anyone stuck on a train outside Reading or waiting for a delayed flight at Luton, that matters.
By 2026, Amusnet has also started adding Megaways and higher‑variance titles, but the heart of the catalogue remains the fruit machines. Casinos that dedicate lobby space to EGT aren’t chasing the slots‑as‑cinema crowd – they’re after players who value session length over cinematic garbage.
The Top EGT Online Casinos for UK Players in 2026
We’ve cut through the affiliate‑fluff lists and pulled together eight casinos where EGT slots are front and centre. Some hold a UK Gambling Commission licence; others operate offshore with a solid track record. All of them accept UK players and have made EGT games easy to find. Below is the comparison, then a brief look at each brand.
| Casino | Welcome Bonus | EGT Slots Count | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Videoslots | 100% up to £200 + 11 wager‑free spins | 50+ | Wager‑free spins, Clash of Spins, UKGC licensed |
| PlayOJO | 50 free spins no wagering | 30+ | No wagering ever, OJOplus cashback, UKGC licensed |
| MrQ | 5 free spins no wagering on first deposit | 20+ | Zero wagering, fast withdrawals, UKGC licensed |
| HeySpin | 100% up to £25 + 25 spins | 60+ | Strong EGT library, daily drops, UKGC licensed |
| Rizk | 100% up to £50 + 50 spins | 40+ | Wheel of Rizk rewards, modern UX, MGA licensed (accepts UK) |
| Genesis Casino | 100% up to £100 + 300 spins | 45+ | Large spin package, MGA + UKGC dual licence, space theme |
| BitStarz | 100% up to 1 BTC + 180 spins (or €100) | 35+ | Crypto‑friendly, provably fair, fast payouts, Curacao licensed |
| Stake | Daily races and reloads, no traditional welcome | 25+ | Crypto first, instant withdrawals, forum challenges, Curacao licensed |
Videoslots remains the safe harbour for EGT lovers. The UK‑focused welcome shifts around, but the 11 wager‑free spins have stuck because they work. You won’t need to plough through a 35x dog‑chasing‑its‑tail requirement. The casino also runs weekly Clash of Spins tournaments that often feature EGT titles, giving you extra value without spending a penny more.
PlayOJO is the poster child for “no wagering”. The spins you get are the spins you keep – any win lands straight in your cash balance. Their EGT collection may not be the largest, but it’s curated. Expect the hits like 20 Dazzling Hot and Shining Crown, and no monkey‑business terms. The OJOplus cashback on every spin, win or lose, quietly compounds over time. It’s the kind of “bonus” that actually changes your session RTP.
MrQ gives you a tiny number of spins – five – but they’re real. No wagering, no max cashout cap, and the casino itself is one of the fastest payers in the UK space. The EGT section is lean, but what’s there loads in a snap. For players who treat slots as a quick‑hit hobby rather than a second job, MrQ works.
HeySpin flew under the radar for a while, but it’s become a solid spot for EGT thanks to a deal that brought dozens of titles under one roof. The bonus is modest – £25 at 100% – and the wagering is standard 35x, so it’s not the star of the show. The star is the game library. If you want one account where you can jump from EGT’s 40 Super Hot to a new Amusnet release without bouncing between casinos, HeySpin does that.
Rizk operates on an MGA licence but still welcomes UK players without fuss. The welcome package is par for the course, but the Wheel of Rizk adds a layer of gamification that actually rewards consistent play. Rizk also tends to put EGT jackpots in a dedicated category, making it easy to chase the Mystery Jackpot without scrolling past a hundred Pragmatic clones.
Genesis Casino leans into the spaceship aesthetic, but underneath the décor is a serious slots house. The 300‑spin welcome looks generous, but those spins are spread over the first deposit and come with 40x wagering. Read the fine print. The upside is the dual UKGC‑MGA licence, a deep EGT roster, and a loyalty programme that, while not spectacular, doesn’t actively insult your intelligence.
BitStarz is the go‑to for crypto users who don’t want to deal with KYC marathons. The BTC welcome bonus is equivalent to about €100 at the time of writing, topped with 180 spins. EGT games are available in both fiat and crypto mode, and payouts rarely take more than 10 minutes. The Curacao licence doesn’t offer UKGC‑level protection, but BitStarz has been operating since 2014 without major scandals. That’s its real licence.
Stake doesn’t do a classic welcome bonus – just daily races, reload offers, and a VIP ladder that’s more transparent than most. EGT slots are here, though you’ll need to use the search bar to dig them out among the 3,000+ titles. Stake’s instant withdrawal policy and active community make it a favourite for high‑volume players who treat casino balance more like a brokerage account.
EGT Slots That Actually Deserve Your Time
You can have 40 EGT games in the lobby and still only play two. That’s normal. Most EGT fans fall into two camps: the fruit‑machine purists and the progressive chasers. Here’s where to place your bets in 2026.
20 Dazzling Hot is the undisputed king. Five reels, 20 fixed paylines, fruit symbols that gleam like cheap jewellery, and a scatter that pays anywhere. The base game is tranquil; the gamble feature lets you double wins on correct colour guesses. RTP sits at a shade over 96%, and the variance is low enough that a £20 deposit routinely lasts an hour.
Shining Crown takes the classic formula and adds a four‑level jackpot. The Crown symbols trigger the Jackpot Cards bonus, where you pick from 12 face‑down cards until you match three suits – spades, diamonds, hearts, or clubs – each tied to a progressive jackpot tier. The Mystery Jackpot drops randomly, and while you won’t retire on a £400 hit, it turns a 40p spin into a decent pub story.
40 Super Hot is the bigger sibling. 40 paylines, cherries and sevens, and a gamble feature that can chain together multiple doubling rounds if your nerve holds. RTP is a touch higher at 96.37%, and the hit frequency feels even tighter than 20 Dazzling. It’s the slot you fire up when you’re done experimenting and just want predictable, unglamorous action.
Flaming Hot cranks the fruit dial to maximum. The scatter symbol (a steaming pile of coins) can trigger a 20‑spin free game, and the gamble lets you push the multiplier to 5x on a 50/50 guess. This one plays faster than most EGT titles, which makes it dangerous if you’re not watching the clock. RTP is 95.91%, so you’re trading a fraction of return for higher volatility.
Amazon’s Battle is the oddball. Not a fruit in sight. It’s an ancient‑Egyptian‑meets‑female‑warrior release that tries too hard to look like a Playtech slot, but the gameplay – 30 paylines, expanding wilds, and a free spins round with retriggers – holds up. The RTP is a flat 96%, and the max win potential sits around 500x, which is as wild as EGT gets without diving into Megaways territory.
By 2026, Amusnet has also released several Megaways adaptations under the EGT brand. Titles like 20 Power Hot Megaways and Dragon Reborn Megaways inject cascading reels into the fruit‑slot skeleton. Early data suggests RTPs in the 95.8–96.5% range and a max win that can stretch past 10,000x. They haven’t displaced the originals, but they’ve brought in a fresh wave of players who’d otherwise ignore anything with cherries.
Bonuses: The Free Lunch That Isn’t
Casino “gifts” are a tax on hope. We both know that. But if you’re going to accept one, at least pick a bonus that plays nice with EGT slots. Many UK‑facing casinos slap a 10% weight on certain providers, meaning every £1 you bet on an EGT game only clears 10p of your wagering requirement. That turns a 35x bonus into a 350x marathon.
This is where the casinos in our table earn their keep. Videoslots and PlayOJO hand out wager‑free spins, so contribution percentages don’t matter – your winnings are cash. BitStarz applies equal weighting to most slots, EGT included. On the other hand, some white‑label casinos bury EGT under “Classic Slots” with a 0% contribution, effectively locking you out of the bonus altogether. When you read terms, ignore the headline number and find the “Game Weighting” section. If EGT isn’t listed as 100%, close the tab.
The most valuable “bonus” in the EGT ecosystem isn’t a deposit match at all. It’s the Jackpot Cards feature. Unlike standalone progressives that demand a maximum‑bet trigger, EGT’s Mystery Jackpot can hit on any spin, any stake. You don’t need to opt in, you don’t need a bonus code. The casino just has to offer the Shining Crown, Flaming Hot, or other Jackpot‑enabled titles. Pick a casino from the table, load one of these slots, and the jackpot layer is already live. No “VIP” tier required, no secret handshake. That’s rare.
One cynical note: when a casino promotes “up to 500 free spins” and you dig into the terms, those spins are often valued at £0.10 each and capped at a £50 win. The “£500 value” figure is pure theatre. EGT spins work for it because the low variance means you’re more likely to extract a small, steady pile of cash than fizzle out on a high‑volatility NetEnt monster. So if you do take a spins‑heavy welcome, point them directly at 20 Dazzling Hot.
Can I get no deposit bonuses for EGT slots?
Yes, but they’re rare and usually small – think £5–£10 free chip or 10–20 free spins with no deposit required. The most reliable sources are new EGT‑focused casinos launching in 2026, which often grant a no‑deposit bonus to get players through the door. Check the wagering: 50x on winnings is common, so a £10 chip might realistically convert to £0–£10. Treat it as a free trial of the casino’s payment speed and EGT game performance, not as serious capital.
How to Pick an EGT Casino Without Getting Burned
Our table gives you a shortlist. But you might stumble on a casino we haven’t listed. Here’s the filter that spares you endless trial and error.
First, search for “EGT” inside the casino lobby before signing up. If the result is zero or returns unrelated Chinese themes, walk away. Second, check the loading speed of an EGT game. EGT titles are built on HTML5; they should fire up in under three seconds on a 4G connection. If the casino’s wrapper causes lag, it’ll ruin the fast‑play tempo that makes these slots enjoyable. Third, look at the payment methods. EGT players tend to be value‑conscious, so high minimum withdrawals – anything over £20 – are a red flag. Fourth, inspect the licence. UKGC casinos offer dispute resolution and self‑exclusion tools, but often block EGT from their UK platform due to content restrictions. That’s why some of the best EGT casinos are offshore. A Curacao or MGA licence doesn’t automatically make a site dodgy – a decade of complaint‑free operation does.
Finally, test the customer support with a live chat query before depositing. Ask a simple question: “Which EGT slot has the highest RTP on your site?” A competent agent should reply with a number (usually 40 Super Hot) within a minute. If they send you a generic “all our games are great” script, you’re dealing with an outsourced helpdesk. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it tells you how fast problems will get solved.
Are EGT casinos licensed in the UK?
Some are, some aren’t. EGT games can run on UKGC‑licensed platforms, but the provider must pass the Commission’s technical audits. As a result, the number of UKGC casinos offering EGT is smaller than the offshore pool. The casinos in our table that hold a UKGC licence are clearly marked. If the UKGC badge matters to you for safety net purposes, stick to those. Otherwise, well‑established MGA or Curacao casinos that have been serving UK players for years can be equally reliable – just without the same ombudsman‑level recourse.
EGT RTP and Volatility: The Numbers That Matter
Return to Player (RTP) is the percentage of total bets a slot pays back over a huge sample. EGT sits in a comfortable range. Most titles clock in at 96–97%, which is above the industry average of 95% for offline machines and on par with the online standard. The standout is 40 Super Hot at 96.37% – nothing earth‑shattering, but combined with its low volatility, it means you’ll burn through a bonus wagering requirement more efficiently than you would on a 93% Megaways slot.
Volatility (variance) tells you the shape of your session. Low volatility means lots of small wins, few dead spins; high volatility means long stretches of nothing followed by a big hit. EGT slots are predominantly low to medium variance. 20 Dazzling Hot, Shining Crown, and 40 Super Hot keep the balance steady. Flaming Hot and the newer Megaways titles push into medium‑high territory. If you’re grinding a wagering requirement, stick to the low‑variance options. If you’ve got a small deposit and want a shot at a 500x multiplier, pick Amazon’s Battle or one of the Megaways ones.
One under‑discussed metric: the hit frequency. EGT doesn’t publish official hit rates, but over millions of simulation spins, low‑variance EGT slots deliver a win on approximately 30–35% of spins. That feels better than it sounds because a “win” often equals 0.2x your bet, but it keeps the reels active and the balance from flatlining too quickly. For the psychology of play, that matters more than the theoretical RTP.
What is the highest RTP EGT slot?
Among widely available EGT titles, 40 Super Hot leads with a verified RTP of 96.37%. Very close behind is 20 Dazzling Hot at 96.12%. Some of the newer Amusnet‑branded slots, like Dragon Reborn Megaways, report RTPs around 96.5%, but availability in UK‑facing casinos is still patchy. Always check the in‑game help file before betting, as casinos can occasionally host different RTP versions of the same slot. The difference between a 94% build and a 96% build is an extra £2 per £100 wagered, which adds up fast over a long session.
Mobile EGT Play: Slots in Your Pocket
EGT’s tech is light. The games were built to run on the hardware of Bulgarian slot halls, not on a $1,200 iPhone. As a result, the mobile experience is among the smoothest in the industry. All EGT titles scale natively to portrait mode, which is a bigger deal than it sounds – many slot providers force landscape or add clunky sidebars. EGT just works. Buttons are large enough for thumbs, spin response is instant, and the gamble screen appears with a single tap.
The casinos themselves vary. Videoslots has a dedicated mobile app that hosts EGT games without a browser’s overhead. PlayOJO’s mobile site is essentially a progressive web app; add it to your home screen and it feels native. MrQ’s mobile experience is notably fast because the site strips out unnecessary animations. HeySpin’s app has recently been updated for iOS 18 and Android 15, with picture‑in‑picture for EGT games – a surprising touch for a small casino. BitStarz and Stake, despite being browser‑based, load EGT slots in under four seconds on a 5G connection; their minimal‑design ethos pays off on mobile.
If you plan to play on the move, pick a casino that lets you deposit and withdraw via a mobile‑friendly payment method – Apple Pay, Google Pay, or crypto wallets. Fumbling for a card number on the train aisle is nobody’s idea of a good time.
EGT Live Casino and Table Games: More Than Just Slots
EGT’s live casino division, now also under Amusnet, streams from a purpose‑built studio in Bulgaria. The offering includes live roulette, live blackjack, and a unique game called EGT Live Casino Hold’Em. The video quality is 4K, the dealers are professional and multilingual, and the interface supports side bets and auto‑play decision‑making for perfect‑strategy blackjack.
The live tables aren’t available at every casino that hosts EGT slots. Of our table, Videoslots, BitStarz, and Genesis Casino carry the live catalogue. Video latency is low enough that you won’t miss a bet window, and the minimums start at £0.50, which is accessible. The blackjack game runs on an eight‑deck shoe with standard UK rules (dealer stands on soft 17, double any two, split up to three hands). RTP with perfect strategy is 99.59%, which beats most RNG blackjack variants.
EGT’s RNG table games are less exciting – roulette, three‑card poker, and European blackjack with a 99.44% RTP. They serve a purpose if you need to burn through a bonus with a low‑house‑edge game, but they won’t win any design awards.
What are the most popular EGT slots?
The consistent top performers are 20 Dazzling Hot, Shining Crown, and 40 Super Hot – three titles that have been around for over a decade and still dominate the lobbies. In 2026, Flaming Hot and Amazon’s Battle continue to pull strong search volume, while the Megaways versions (20 Power Hot Megaways, Dragon Reborn Megaways) are climbing. The popularity stems not from massive jackpots but from session longevity: these slots let a £20 deposit last significantly longer than the average online slot, which appeals to players who treat gambling as paid entertainment rather than a wealth‑generation scheme.
Payment Methods: Getting Money In and Out
EGT players skew practical. They’re not depositing £5,000 with a crypto arbitrage bot; they’re typically funding with £10–£50 via debit card, PayPal, or an e‑wallet. The casinos in our table support a range of options, but speed and fees matter more than variety.
Visa/Mastercard remains the default, though some UK banks still block gambling transactions. PayPal is the gold standard for UK players – instant deposits, no casino fees, and withdrawals that often clear within minutes on the casino side (PayPal itself may take a few hours). PlayOJO and MrQ process PayPal withdrawals in under an hour, verified repeatedly. Trustly and Paysafecard offer alternatives for those who don’t want gambling transactions on their bank statement, but Paysafecard can’t be used for withdrawals, which complicates things.
For crypto users, BitStarz and Stake accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and sometimes Tether. Crypto withdrawals are typically processed automatically within 10 minutes, making them the fastest option by far. The downside is volatility – your £50 deposit might become £48 or £52 before you even spin. If you’re playing EGT slots for their low volatility, matching that with a volatile currency feels ironic, but it’s popular for privacy reasons.
No Deposit Bonuses and Free Spins: The Rare Gems
We touched on this, but it deserves its own section because too many players hunt for “free money” and end up with a £0.10 chip and a 99x wagering requirement. The best no deposit EGT bonuses in 2026 come from brand‑new casinos trying to build a player base. You’ll see offers like “20 free spins on 20 Dazzling Hot no deposit required, winnings capped at £25”. That’s fair. You play, you win a small amount, you might continue. What you won’t see is a legitimate no‑deposit offer that lets you withdraw £500 from a free spin. That’s because the casino’s risk model wouldn’t survive a week.
Sometimes, existing casinos run EGT‑specific promotions – “Play Shining Crown between 6–8pm and any win over £50 gets doubled” – that are technically not no‑deposit, but they add value without additional risk. Keep the promotional inbox enabled, but read every line. The moment a bonus says “Max bet £2 while wagering”, respect it. EGT slots are often classed as “low‑risk” and may trigger a bonus abuse flag if you bet above the limit, resulting in confiscated winnings. It’s not fair, but it’s the reality of an industry that writes the rules in its own favour.
New EGT Casinos for 2026: Fresh Faces
Every year, a few casinos launch with Amusnet/EGT as a marquee provider. In 2026, we’re seeing a trend toward “classic slot” boutique casinos that ditch the sprawling game lobbies and focus on 300–500 titles, heavily weighted toward EGT, Novomatic, and Wazdan. These sites often offer a smoother experience than the mega‑casinos because they’ve built the backend around the games’ actual requirements, not a one‑size‑fits‑all template.
New casinos to watch: SlotVilla (UKGC application pending as of early 2026) arrived with a 50‑spin no‑deposit offer and a near‑exclusive EGT catalogue. CasinoVerse (Curacao) launched a crypto‑only platform with all Jackpot Cards slots in a dedicated vertical. And Diamond Reels (MGA) pivoted to a UK‑focus in late 2025, carrying the full Amusnet suite and a £5 minimum deposit. As with all newcomers, test the withdrawal speed on a small amount before committing serious funds – a casino that takes 72 hours to process a £20 payout on a Thursday isn’t worth your time.
Licensing and Safety: UKGC vs Offshore – The Great Divide
UK players face a dichotomy. The UKGC offers strong consumer protections: a free ADR service for unresolved complaints, a self‑exclusion scheme that works across every licensed operator, and strict affordability checks that prevent catastrophic loss. The downside? Those same checks sometimes make it hard to deposit more than £100 per month, and many EGT titles are absent from UKGC sites because the provider hasn’t submitted them for the full technical audit.
Offshore casinos – typically with a Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or Curacao eGaming licence – impose lighter restrictions. You can deposit via crypto, play every EGT game in existence, and face fewer friction points. The trade‑off is recourse. If a Curacao casino refuses to pay, you can appeal to the Curacao regulator, but the process is slow and historically producer‑favourable. That’s why the casino’s reputation matters more than its licence. A Curacao casino that has paid out millions over a decade without generating forum‑fulls of “scam” threads is a safer bet than a newly minted MGA operator with glossy ads.
Our table marks licence types. Choose whichever aligns with your risk tolerance. If you’re a recreational player depositing £20 a week, go UKGC for peace of mind. If you’re a high‑volume player who values game variety and withdrawal speed above all else, a proven offshore brand like BitStarz or Stake will serve you better.
Crypto EGT Casinos: Betting with Bits
It’s 2026. Crypto isn’t a curiosity; it’s a mainstream payment rail for half the online gambling market. EGT casinos have adapted. At BitStarz, you can switch between EUR and BTC accounts with one click; the same EGT games load in either mode. Stake runs exclusively on crypto, but the interface converts balances to GBP for display, so you don’t need to do mental maths every spin.
The advantage is speed. A crypto withdrawal from BitStarz typically settles in under 2 minutes once the casino approves the transaction – and approval is often automated and instant. There are no bank delays, no “it’ll appear in 3–5 working days” nonsense. The disadvantage is the lack of chargeback protection. If you send Bitcoin to the wrong address by mistake, it’s gone. Permanently. For crypto newcomers, use a reputable wallet, triple‑check addresses, and start with a small test transaction.
Crypto also unlocks better promotional terms. Because the casino’s processing costs are lower, wagering requirements on crypto bonuses are sometimes 30x instead of 40x, and max bet limits are more generous. If you’re comfortable with the currency risk, a crypto bonus paired with low‑volatility EGT slots is one of the more efficient paths to clearing a wagering target.
EGT vs Other Providers: How They Stack Up
Why pick EGT over NetEnt, Play’n GO, or Pragmatic Play? It’s about what you want from a slot. NetEnt makes blockbuster video slots with cutscenes that could double as a Marvel movie trailer, but the base‑game hit rates are often dismal. Play’n GO builds high‑volatility Book of Dead clones that eat through a balance at lightning speed. Pragmatic Play dominates the live dealer space and produces Megaways slots with max wins of 20,000x, but their RTP ranges swing wildly between versions.
EGT occupies the opposite corner: no frills, high hit frequency, and RTPs that stay consistent across casinos. The gamble feature is a double‑edged sword – it can turn a 40p win into £12.80 in 30 seconds, or it can wipe your profit with one wrong colour pick. The Jackpot Cards system adds a dimension that few legacy providers offer: a truly random progressive jackpot that doesn’t demand a side bet or a max‑stake trigger.
For the player who wants to log in, spin 20 Dazzling Hot for 40 minutes, and cash out with £5 more than they deposited – plus or minus luck – EGT is the superior choice. For someone chasing a YouTube‑worthy screen of cascading wilds, it’s the wrong toolbox.
Can I play EGT slots for free?
Absolutely. Almost every casino in our table offers a demo mode for EGT slots once you’ve registered (and sometimes even without registration). Sites like Videoslots and PlayOJO let you play for free with a click inside the game lobby. This is the smartest way to test a slot’s rhythm before committing real money. Spend 10 minutes on free play to gauge the hit frequency and see if the gamble feature suits your risk appetite. The demo versions are identical to the real‑money builds, except the Jackpot Cards progressive layer is usually disabled – you won’t win a progressive jackpot on free spins.
The EGT online casino landscape in 2026 is steady, not flashy. That’s the appeal. You get games that respect your bankroll, casinos that – mostly – honour their promises, and a provider that keeps its tech lean enough to run anywhere. Pick a casino from the table based on what matters most to you: fast payouts, no‑wagering spins, or a deep library of fruit slots. Deposit, open 40 Super Hot, and keep the session fun. Because at the end of the day, if you’re not having fun with 25p spins, what’s the point?