JohnSlots Slot Reels

Last updated on January 2, 2021

Slot Reels

Slot reels are the foundation of any slot machine. They can help determine what the game will look, feel and play like. Today we can spin virtual reels on our desktop and mobile with just one tap and cash out real money to our bank accounts instantly. Read our guide to find out all you need to know about slot reels and how they work!

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Find the Best Casinos Where You Can Spin Some Reels!

At JohnSlots, you have full access to some of the best online casinos hosting thousands of slot machines of all shapes, sizes and themes. Whether you love the classic 3-reel slots, contemporary 5-reel games or want to try the latest innovative games without any reels, you’ll find them here:

How We Choose the Best Slot Casinos

Our dedicated casino team continually strives to recommend some of the best online sites available right now. Any potential gambling site has to pass our strict evaluation process first before appearing in our expertly curated online casinos library.

Each site is carefully analysed to deliver an unbiased rundown of bonuses, promotions, casino game quality, payment methods, customer support, compatibility and more. We want to be sure that the slot casinos we are recommending to you are worth your time and money. And we will always tell you if they are not.

CASINO REVIEW

4 /5

Casushi Casino

4 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% up to £50 + 50 Spins

100% bonus on first deposit up to £50 plus 50 Free spins. Free spins are playable on Starburst and will be credited in increments of 10 spins per day for 5 days following the first deposit. Min. first deposit £20. Max bonus £50. Max bonus bet £5. Max bonus cash-out £500. Wagering requirement of 40x to cash out. Bonus expiry 30 days. Free spins expire 2 days. Game restrictions apply. Further Terms Apply.

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Casushi Casino

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

100% up to £50
+ 50 Free Spins

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100% up to £50 + 50 Spins

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

4.5 /5

Paddy Power

4.5 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100 Free Spins on Daily Jackpot Games with Promo Code PGCTV1

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Paddy Power

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

100 Free Spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100 Free Spins on Daily Jackpot Games with Promo Code PGCTV1

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

4 /5

Playluck

4 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

50% up to £50 + 30 Spins

Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid upon 4 deposits. Minimum deposit £20. Welcome package split over 4 deposits, 35x wagering applies.

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Playluck

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

Up to £100
+ 100 Extra Spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

50% up to £50 + 30 Spins

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid upon 4 deposits. Minimum deposit £20. Welcome package split over 4 deposits, 35x wagering applies.

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CASINO REVIEW

4 /5

Dream Vegas

4 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £400 + 50 bonus spins

One bonus offer per player. Minimum deposit £20. Max bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days otherwise any unused bonus shall be removed. Bonus funds are 100% match up to £400 on your 1st deposit, 40% match up to £3000 on your 2nd deposit, and 60% match up to £1500 on your 3rd deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds contribute towards any wagering requirements.

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Dream Vegas

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

£4,900
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1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £400 + 50 bonus spins

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

4 /5

Betfair

4 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

50 No Wager Spins for £10 in Bets with Bonus Code CASD11

Offer open to new customers using promo code CASD11 when registering. No wagering required on free spins! Spins Valued At 10p. Free spins available for 7 days after qualifying. Full T&C's apply.

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Betfair

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

50 No Wagering Free Spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

50 No Wager Spins for £10 in Bets with Bonus Code CASD11

VISIT CASINO

18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

Offer open to new customers using promo code CASD11 when registering. No wagering required on free spins! Spins Valued At 10p. Free spins available for 7 days after qualifying. Full T&C's apply.

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CASINO REVIEW

4 /5

PlayOJO

4 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

80 free spins no wagering

50 Free Spins on the Book of Dead slot after 1st deposit. Min deposit £10. Excl. new players in N.I. Each Free Spin valued at 10p. OJO’s Rewards and Game Play policy applies.

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PlayOJO

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

80 free spins no wagering

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

80 free spins no wagering

VISIT CASINO

18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

50 Free Spins on the Book of Dead slot after 1st deposit. Min deposit £10. Excl. new players in N.I. Each Free Spin valued at 10p. OJO’s Rewards and Game Play policy applies.

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CASINO REVIEW

4 /5

Videoslots

4 /5

ON REGISTRATION

11 free spins no wagering

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £200

11 Welcome Spins Wager-free and 100% up to £200 on your 1st deposit. Min. deposit £10. 7 days to activate the spins. Bonus spins expire 24 hours after activation. Activate the Welcome Bonus within thirty (30) calendar days under the 'My Bonuses’ section. 100% bonus up to £ 200 will be paid out in 10% increments to Main Account balance. 35x wagering. Play Responsibly.

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Videoslots

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

£200
+ 11 free spins no wagering

ON REGISTRATION

11 free spins no wagering

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100% bonus up to £200

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

4 /5

Karamba

4 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £50 + 20 bonus spins

Min Deposit: £10. Max bonus £50. 100 spins require 3 deposits. WR 35x, spins valid for 24hrs, on selected games.

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Karamba

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

£50
+ 100 bonus spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £50 + 20 bonus spins

VISIT CASINO

18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

Min Deposit: £10. Max bonus £50. 100 spins require 3 deposits. WR 35x, spins valid for 24hrs, on selected games.

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CASINO REVIEW

4.5 /5

Sky Vegas

4.5 /5

ON REGISTRATION

50 No Wager Free Spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

200 Free Spins for £10

Opt In Required. 7 Day Free Spin Expiry. All Free Spins Will Auto Play On First Eligible Game Loaded. £10 Staking Requirement Must Be Met Within 30 Days Of Opt In. Eligibility Restrictions Apply. Further Terms Apply.

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Sky Vegas

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

250 Free Spins

ON REGISTRATION

50 No Wager Free Spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

200 Free Spins for £10

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

4.5 /5

LeoVegas

4.5 /5

ON REGISTRATION

10 Free Spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £100 + 20 Wager-Free Spins

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LeoVegas

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

£100
+ 20 Wager-Free Spins

ON REGISTRATION

10 Free Spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £100 + 20 Wager-Free Spins

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

4.5 /5

Mr Green

4.5 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £100 + 50 Spins

Play Safe. New UK customers only. Opt in required. 1x per customer. Min. £20 deposit. 1st deposit only. Selected games only. Max. Bonus £50 with 35x wagering and 50 Free Spins at £0.20/spin on Starburst™️ with 35x Wagering. Free Spins and Bonus credited once deposit amount has been wagered on slots. Bonus and Free Spins expire 7 days after issue. Game weighting, game, country, currency, player restrictions and terms apply.

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Mr Green

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

Up to £100
+ 50 bonus spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £100 + 50 Spins

VISIT CASINO

18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

5 /5

Temple Nile

5 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £500 + 30 bonus spins

Min. deposit £20. Max bonus bet £5. Extra spins on selected games only- must be used within 72 hours. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus shall be removed. Bonus funds are 100% match up to £500 + 30 extra spins on 1st deposit, 25% match up to £800 + 25 extra spins on 2nd deposit, and 50% match up to £200 + 50 extra spins on 3rd deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 40x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution.

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Temple Nile

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

£1,500
+ 105 bonus spins

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £500 + 30 bonus spins

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

4.5 /5

888 Casino

4.5 /5

ON REGISTRATION

£5 No Deposit

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £100 on 1st Deposit

No Deposit Offer: Claim in 48 hrs • Deposit Offer: £20 min deposit • Valid for selected games • Bonus wins capped at £500 • 30x wagering - req. vary by game • Bonus expires within 90 days • Withdrawal terms, No Deposit Offer & Deposit Offer terms apply.

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888 Casino

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

£105

ON REGISTRATION

£5 No Deposit

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

100% bonus up to £100 on 1st Deposit

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

4.5 /5

Grosvenor Casinos

4.5 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

£50 Welcome Bonus, also available for Live Casino!

First deposit only. Min deposit £10. Max bonus £50. 30x wagering. Contributions differ for some games. Keep it fun - set your deposit limit. T&Cs apply.

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Grosvenor Casinos

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

Up to £50

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

£50 Welcome Bonus, also available for Live Casino!

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18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

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CASINO REVIEW

4 /5

Genting Casino

4 /5

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

Up to £400 in Casino Bonuses

Deposits between £20-£100 (max 4) wagered 35x (% game weightings apply) within 30 days on qualifying slot games will unlock cash bonuses of an equal amount. 15 days to accept/opt into each bonus.

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Genting Casino

TOTAL WELCOME PACKAGE

Up to £400 over 4 Deposits

1ST DEPOSIT BONUS

Up to £400 in Casino Bonuses

VISIT CASINO

18+. New players only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org

Deposits between £20-£100 (max 4) wagered 35x (% game weightings apply) within 30 days on qualifying slot games will unlock cash bonuses of an equal amount. 15 days to accept/opt into each bonus.

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In our Ultimate Slot Reels Guide, you will find:

History of Slot Reels
What Are Slot Reels?
Multi Reel Slots
Types of Reel Slots
Grid Slots

The Invention of Slot Reels

With slots easily accessible online, the traditional slot machines, where you have to pull a lever to spin mechanical reels, are turning into sentimental predecessors.

The brief history of slot machines began in 1891 when the first gambling machine with five drums containing card faces based on poker was invented in New York. Although popular among players in bars, this machine didn’t have a payout mechanism which meant players could only win food, beer or cigars.

The revelation followed when Charles Fey from California invented a simplified version with only three real reels and five different symbols. Soon afterward, an improved replica of this slot machine appeared with the iconic bubble gum vending attachment.

Fruit images were placed on reels as symbols to represent the flavours of the bubble gum. And that was the start of the classic 3-reel fruit slot machine as we know it.

What Are Slot Reels Exactly?

You can think of a slot reel rather like a wheel, covered in pictures (aka slot symbols) in a random order. Those wheels (aka reels) spin when you place your bet and they all stop at random positions, either on their own or by you pressing stop.

On a slot with 3 rows, three symbols from each reel will be in view when the reels stop spinning. If you get lucky and the different reels stop with matching symbols showing, you might win a payout! Although, this does depend on the payline(s) of the slot.

What are Multi Reel Slots?

Gone are the days when you could only play classic 3-reel slots. If the 1890s brought the first mechanical reels, the 1990s saw the rise of multi-reel slots featuring five, seven and more reels and, occasionally, no reels at all.

Their popularity is no coincidence since multi-reel slots contain multiple betting lines which consequentially mean more ways to win. Additionally, multi-reel slots employ additional bonus features, imaginative graphics and sometimes even multi-level gameplay for an extended gaming experience.

Types of Reel Slots

Read on to find out more about the different types of reel slots, or click on the links below to go straight to the relevant slot reel pages:

Best 5 Reel Slots

Best 3 Reel Slots

Typically, slot machines fall into the classic slots and modern slots categories defined by the number of reels they possess. Here are the four most popular types of reel slots you’ll find online today:

Classic 3 Reel Slots

Characterised by three reels and fruit symbols, 3-reel slots are the most popular online slots derived from the traditional land-based casino games. Although simple in gameplay, the classic 3-reel slots nonetheless can still offer some lucrative bonus features and high payouts.

7s on Fire is a good example of a classic 3-reel online slot.

Designed by Barcrest, known for its popular pub slots, the game comes with a standard 3×5 reel setup, five paylines and a potential of 1,250x your stake. Typical of 3-reel slot design, the game is easy to understand without the burden of many complicated bonus features thus great for gambling newbies or chill gameplay.

Modern 5 Reel Slots

Modern 5-reel slots are some of the most popular online games among casino players right now. Contrary to the classic fruit slot design, 5-reel slots come stocked with multi-lines and exciting bonus features giving you potentially a better chance at winning big and overall more entertainment.

The second best thing about these slots is that they are based on many different slot themes like the popular Egyptian slots, Adventure slots or Sexy slots among many others.

To have a feel for a modern 5-reel slot, try players’ favourite Dead or Alive from NetEnt.

It stands out from the crowd due to its fantastic Wild West theme, stunning graphics and thrilling bonus features. The stars of the show here are free spins with sticky wilds and multipliers which will double all your wins – an excellent choice for both new and seasoned slots players.

Slots with 7 Reels or more!

Unlike the 5-reel slots that occupy the majority of the industry’s slots market, the lucky 7-reel slots are pretty niche slots. Slots with 7 reels and more are unique, new generation online games that give players additional ways to win due to multi paylines and extra bonus features.

Played on a 7×7 setup, the Viking Runecraft slot is the perfect example of an entertaining 7-reel slot.

Not only does it offer a stunning Viking theme and excellent key stats, but it also delivers supercharged multi-level gameplay for any slot player. Play’n Go are known for their immersive and enjoyable slot games. Viking Runecraft takes things to a whole new level with this extraordinary 7 reel slot!

Slots Without Reels

Game developers are continuously seeking to reinvent slots by creating new-dimensional gameplay to impress players. As a result, we have slots without reels, also known as cascading grid slots or cluster pays slots.

The way these slots work is you have to match several identical symbols adjacent to at least one other symbol in a cluster to pick up a win. When you form a cluster, the symbols disappear, making way for new symbols to fall on the grid for a chance to create new winning clusters.

The first hexagonal cascading grid slot from Play’n GO, Honey Rush is a perfect illustration of a slot without reels.

This grid slot is all about creating colonies and charging up the Rush meter to unlock the extra features. Plus, sticky wilds come with up to 27x multipliers for some exciting wins.

Find the Best Slots at JohnSlots UK!

Casino game developers are on a constant journey of creating exciting new online slots to suit every casino player’s needs, and it can get tricky to keep up with the new releases. Use our expert slots page to stay up to date and find reviews of all the top slots!