One of the most satisfying aspects of playing slot machines is watching the reels spin and anticipating a big win. It\u2019s the very reason slots became as popular as they are today, and we are going to explain how slot machine reels work and the varieties of slots that are available using an assortment of reel mechanics.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The reels on an online slot machine<\/a> host the game\u2019s symbols. They are the most critical aspect of a slot because they house the game\u2019s symbols.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Typically, they run vertically from top to bottom on a slot, but there are some games, like Megaways slots, that add a horizontal reel to the top of the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Depending on the slot game you choose to play, individual reels can host a different number of symbols.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here are some of the most common slot configurations:<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The first number states the number of reels, and the second number represents the number of symbols available in each reel. Therefore, a 3×3 slot has 3 reels with 3 symbols on each.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The number of reels can dictate how many pay lines or ways to win a slot can offer players.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n How to read slot machines<\/a> can be a bit tricky, but to understand it better, let’s see how slot machine reels work and the different types of slot reels available.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When you press the spin button, the reels spin and create either a winning or non-winning spin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here are three examples of some of the most common symbols you\u2019ll find spinning on an online slot\u2019s reels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The number of reels on a slot machine is entirely down to the software provider that produced the game. They can produce as many reels as they can fit onto a screen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Two software providers are currently developing mechanics that can expand into an unlimited number of reels.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In these games, each winning spin will expand the number of reels by +1 an unlimited number of times until the slot produces a non-winning spin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If we want to get down to brass tacks, the most common number of reels you\u2019ll come across are 3-reel, 5-reel, and 6-reel slot machines.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Now we have covered what slot machine reels are and how they work, let\u2019s take a look at some of the different types of slot machine<\/a> reels you\u2019ll find in social casinos.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 3-reel slot machines are a dying breed in land-based gambling venues, but online, you\u2019ll still find plenty of software providers creating this type of slot game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The 5-reel slot is the most popular and most-played style of slot machine in modern iGaming. The 5×3 reel slot replaced 3×3 slots and the lion\u2019s share of games you\u2019ll find at online and social casinos will use this reel mechanic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Yet, nothing in the online casino gaming industry remains the same for very long. Soon developers created 5×4 slots and now 5×5 slots giving you 5 reels with 4 symbols on each or 5 reels with 5 symbols on each.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The number of symbols on each reel dictates how many pay lines or ways to win a software provider can add to the slot machine.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n By adding more rows, which is the same as adding more symbols to each reel, game developers can create slots with 1 up to 100 pay lines or 243 ways up to 7,776 ways to win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here are some more examples adding to the ones provided above:<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 6 reel slots are becoming increasingly popular. The two most common ways slot developers use 6 reel slots are Megaways or no pay line ways to win reel mechanics.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The attraction to Megaways slots is the vast 117,649 ways to win they can offer over 6 reels. There is a catch, though, as the number of symbols per reel is random.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some players like to call the reels shapeshifters because, on any given spin, each reel randomly produces between 2 and 7 symbols.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you land 2 symbols on every reel, you\u2019ll have 64 ways to win, but if all 6 reels produce 7 symbols on each, this gives you 117,649 ways to win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Other slot developers create 6 reel slots without using Megaways. As with all slot games, the number of symbols per reel dictates how many ways to win the software provider can fit onto the reels<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here are some examples to give you an idea of how many ways to win each reel configuration offers:<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n There are few 7-reel slot machines developed, mainly because they don\u2019t work well on mobile devices. Yet, there are still some software providers who have created 7-reel slot games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Reel Gems Deluxe by Microgaming (now Games Global) is an excellent example of a popular 7 reel slot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As you continue to explore the tens of thousands of online slots available to you, you will also come across Megaways slots that use 7 reels. Although, these games don\u2019t use the seventh reel in the traditional sense.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Instead of running vertically, the seventh reel generally holds 4 symbols and runs horizontally across the top of the reels. As the seventh reel is horizontal, developers can neatly design the slot to fit on smaller screen sizes using mobile responsive code.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Progressive Jackpots are a popular addition to many online slot games. A small percentage of your stake goes towards a prize pot that continues to grow until someone wins the jackpot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The way how to play progressive slots<\/a> usually depends on the game. Some slots may require you to bet a minimum amount for eligibility, while others give everyone an equal chance of winning, regardless of their stake.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n One thing to keep in mind is that progressive jackpots are not solely limited to slot games. You can also find them in other types of casino games such as blackjack and roulette. However, they are most commonly associated with slot machines.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n One of the pleasures and reasons why people play slot machines<\/a>, whether online or on a video slot in a land-based venue, is you will always have a wide selection of slot mechanics at your disposal. It\u2019s hard to believe that slots began with just 3 reels, 3 symbols, and 1 pay line, but now we are seeing Megaways slot with up to 117,649 ways to win. The best part of it is Spin Sorcery<\/a> has a slot type for everyone!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of the most satisfying aspects of playing slot machines is watching the reels spin…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":238,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-slots"],"yoast_head":"\n\r\n
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<\/span>How Do Slot Machine Reels Work?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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<\/span>How Many Reels Are on a Slot Machine?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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<\/span>Types of Slot Machine Reels\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3 reel slot machines<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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5 reel slot machines<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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6 reel slot machines<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Megaways<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
No Pay Line Ways to Win<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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7 reel slot machines<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Progressive Jackpot slots<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/span>The Pleasures of Playing Slot Machines<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n