3-reel Slots

Old-school nostalgia or modern take on a classic? 3-reel slots are seeing a rise in popularity at online casinos worldwide. Our OSAC reviewers did some digging to find out more about this machine that inspired the casino world.

What are 3-reel slots?

3-reel slots are slot machines or games with three spinning reels. While the 5-reel version has become more popular in recent times, the 3-reel slot is making a comeback with the addition of modern technology to create a more immersive and attractive experience.
3-reel slots were the original slot machines.
When Charles Fey developed his gambling machine in the late 1800’s it featured three reels with five symbols (horseshoes, diamonds, spades, clubs and a Liberty Bell).

These reels were set in motion by pulling a lever on the side of the machine. A player would win by lining up the symbols with the biggest payout coming from three Liberty Bells in a row.
This simple system soon became incredibly popular and new versions and varieties began appearing. One of these was the appearance of fruit (lemons, cherries, oranges and plums) leading to a popular nickname for 3-reel slots: fruit machines.

Are 3-reel slots as good as 5-reel slots?

The addition of modern graphics and gameplay to 3-reel slots has seen a rise in popularity for these games. With less reels there are fewer pay line combinations but the simpler mechanics actually lead to faster and more exciting play in some respects. Trying to follow all the different bonuses and wilds and scatters on a 5-reel slot can be overwhelming and some find that it distracts from the simple enjoyment of playing. 3-reel slots do still offer wilds, scatters and bonus games, but are much easier to play and follow.

Where can I play 3-reel slots?

3-reel slots are available at any online casino that offers slots games. The choice of games, while not as extensive as 5-reel slots, is still pretty impressive and growing by the day.

3 top online casinos for 3-reel slots

What are the best 3-reel slots games?

Break da Bank – a simple, classic 3-reel slot with an RTP of 95.75%
Couch Potato – 3 reels, 3 rows, 1 payline and an RTP of 97.43%
Wheel of Wealth – a classic with cherries and bar symbols now has a bonus feature and an RTP of 96.04%
Bar Bar Black Sheep – not a counting sheep game but a cool retro slot with an RTP of 95.03%
Mega Joker – a progressive jackpot 3-reel slot with incredible features and bonuses and an RTP of 99.00%

What are the strategies for playing 3-reel slots?

Like any online casino slots game, 3-reel slots rely on a Random Number Generator so there really is no strategy for winning. It’s all down to chance.
But, the two things you should always do (on 3-reel AND 5-reel slots) is research and read the reviews of the game and check out the pay tables before you play.