Most slot players can easily recognize whether they’ve won or lost via the front of the machine. When those symbols line up just right on the reels, these players may be seeing a major payout heading their way.
Slot machines have become the most popular gambling options in the world. Walk into almost any casino and you’ll notice that the gaming floor is full of these popular games. A quick glance will see those famous reels spinning and spinning and spinning.
Slot games often drive casino revenues and profits with manufacturers offering newer and more creative games each year. Players can find games of every type, and style, and for every taste or interest.
This article offers gamblers a complete guide to slot machine reels and their importance to these popular games.
What are slot reels?
Chances are you’ve at least seen a slot machine in some form. Most people know the general look and design of a slot. Players drop in a few dollars (actual slot tokens or coins in the old days) and then press the spin button or pull a handle.
This puts the reels facing outward from the slot cabinet in motion. These spin vertically and eventually come to a stop, signaling whether a player has won or lost. The reels feature various symbols that relay the type of a particular spin. Players will often become accustomed to seeing some familiar symbols that may have been part of the world of slots since their invention in the late 1800s. Some of those common and popular symbols include:
Bells
Bars
7s
Playing card hands (A, K, Q, J, 10)
Playing card suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades)
Fruits
These certainly aren’t all the symbols a player will find in a random slot. However, these classics are still found in numerous games from Las Vegas and Atlantic City to Monte Carlo and Macau. Modern slots make use of high-energy themes and unique narrative arcs, so many games have moved beyond these classic symbols on the reels.
Some symbols also offer some extra winning power for players. Those include:
Wilds – These can usually be substituted for other symbols on the reels, allowing for more winning combinations.
Scatters – These unlock bonus features such as free spins and other bonus games. These can offer players extra ways to win including the possibility of some big prizes.
Multipliers – These multiply a regular win by a certain amount.
Most games feature three reels but more modern games have seen that expand depending on the game. As game manufacturers have innovated, additional opportunities to reveal symbols have been added. Some games even feature a completely separate set of secondary reels. But on older reels and even many still today, three reels is a popular combination.
The general idea remains the same, however, more than 100 years after the first slot machines were unveiled for eager players. A player drops in some money and spins those slot reels, eagerly awaiting which symbols show up when those whirling reels come to a stop – hopefully a nice jackpot.
How do slot machine reels work?
Up until the age of computers and modern technology, slot machine reels would spin because of real mechanical engineering within the slot cabinet. A series of gears and levers were used to crank up those reels.
Most modern slots however don’t even feature traditional mechanical reels, instead, players will find “video reels” that mimic those vintage slots of old Vegas. Obviously, these machines feature mostly computer and software components to make them function. These games use RNGs (random number generators) to make the reels spin and award wins and losses.
Some machines may feature what seem like mechanical reels. However, these reels are spun by the computer and software in the cabinet and not from some mechanical movement generated by the user as they once were by a player pulling an external handle.
In fact, the slot’s software has already determined the result of the spin when a player presses the spin button. The reels offer players just a visual representation of that selection with the bells, whistles, music, bonus games, etc. all part of the entertainment that comes with the machine. But those entertaining qualities keep players coming back for more of the action.
Research firm Technavio estimates the industry’s compound annual gross revenue to rise almost 13% from 2020-25, topping out at almost $9 billion. Manufacturer creativity seems to be driving demand for more creative and better products.
Changes and innovation in slot reels
With that in mind, how is the industry appealing to more players? Obviously, the use of modern computer technology moves video slots well past what could be offered on a traditional mechanical slot. One of the best innovations is the ability for players to bet on numerous paylines.
This offers players numerous ways to win. The technologically advanced offer numerous lines that can seem to crisscross across the reels. The slot’s ability to display all these wins also makes it easy for players. Beyond the gameplay, modern machines offer other unique properties such as:
High-definition visuals
Multiple screens
Expanded number of reels
Pop culture tie-ins and advanced gaming themes
Interesting bonus games and extra features
Advanced theater-like sound effects
In recent years, some slot manufacturers have even introduced skill-based games, which offer players the ability to play a role in the game’s outcome based on their own skills and strategy. These games are meant to appeal to a generation of players brought up on video and mobile gaming options.
Online and mobile game slots reels
Speaking of mobile slot games, slot developers have moved beyond traditional casinos. Players in legal jurisdictions can find some of their favorite games available right on their cell phones, mobile devices, and computers.
This has allowed players to compete for major jackpots right from their own homes. These reels spin on a player’s phone just as they would in a traditional casino. Those who find those slot symbols lining up just right can be in store for some big winnings as well.
The largest online slot win came in 2021 in Belgium. One lucky player cashed in for $23.6 million playing a Mega Moolah machine on the Napoleon Sports & Casino platform. Obviously, the vast majority of players won’t ever experience a win like that. Still, many players enjoy some winnings and entertainment, spinning slot reels here and there from the couch, subway, or maybe even on a park bench.
The mobile gaming fun carries over to the social gaming environment as well. Numerous platforms, such as Jackpot Party, offer players a chance to spin some reels without any real money on the line.
Players can learn how to play and check out some of the various games with no real skin in the game, which means you can keep some of that hard-earned cash in your wallet.
Many players see those slot machine reels and the symbols they reveal as just a nice way to have some fun, win or lose or even without anything on the line.
The future of slot machine reels
The slot industry continues to advance with unique options always around the corner. Advanced graphics, sound, and gaming options continue to make the casino floor quite a place for innovation.
Players now can just use bills and no longer need to carry around buckets of slot tokens. Cashless play is also now becoming an option, with players setting up an account and not even needing to slide currency into a machine.
More advanced narratives continue to gain steam as well. The technology just seems to ramp up every year, bringing more computing power and more fun to the slot area. Perhaps look for more skill-based games and more simulation of what players find in other mobile gaming environments. One thing is certain, slot machines’ popularity seems to show no signs of slowing down.
Frequently asked questions
What are slot machine reels?
These are the vertical cylinders located on the front of a casino cabinet. They can be really moving mechanisms or simulated on video slots. These feature symbols can align in certain winning combinations. Players see the results on paylines on the screen or in front of the game.
Do modern slots use mechanical reels?
Most modern slots make use of computer technology and feature video reels Even those with mechanical-looking reels make use of an RNG (random number generator) to determine the result of a spin. The reels just display this result as seen in video slots.
What are the symbols on slot reels?
These vary by game and can display various icons and unique features. Some symbols award more winnings than others. Players generally hope to find the best symbols lining up, dreaming of a major jackpot.
