3 Reel Slots

Three reel slots deserve to be on every slot player's playlist once in a while. Their concise, concentrated gameplay gives them a unique character that's quite unlike the sprawling nature of many epic 5 reelers. Although 3 reel online slots might sometimes be considered basic, they still offer plenty of unique features, including a bonus game with significant cash prizes that make them well worth playing. Meanwhile, for slots newcomers, they provide an ideal starting point for discovering how to play and appreciate all types of slot games.

What Are 3 Reel Slots?

As the direct descendants of the metal 3 reel classic slot machines invented in 1895 and similar games now found in land-based casinos, today's online 3 reel slot games retain an uncluttered, streamlined format. These online slot games have room for bonus games, but they're usually short and sweet with routines that are far more scaled-down than those of their 5 reel slot counterparts. They are ideal for becoming accustomed to how bonuses are activated, and for experienced players, casino games like 7s on Fire can be a way to enjoy a gameplay-focused experience.

History of Classic Slots - 3 Reel Slot Machines

Since the original concept came about in the late 1800s, the classical three reel slots have gone on to have many variations. If you are new to the idea of slots, you might have come across a physical machine consisting of traditional fruit-themed symbols and lucky sevens.

These classic games were ahead of their time with spinning reels and automatic cash payouts if the player was successful. Not all the machines started as the classic fruit machines we now know today with the use of fruit-themed symbols, as some games were adopting bar symbols, bells, horseshoes and other symbols from different card suits. In fact, some penny slots or other games also used diamonds and included a wild symbol.

As technology has developed, the traditional slot machine has morphed into digital versions, allowing for unique gameplay that was impossible with mechanical games. This means modern slots now fall into the category of video slots, but the premise is the same, land the same symbol in a winning combo and then you can trigger the win feature.

Single Payline Slots

One of the benefits of playing 3 reel online slots is the single payline. Instead of it being more difficult to land a winning combination, it's usually much easier than trying to get five identical symbols. You can even win a cash prize for landing just one across a winning line, especially when the slot has a versatile wild. That said, some of the more recent 3 reel slots also include games with more paylines if that’s what you’re looking for.

Special Features In Classic Games & 3 Reel Slots

Three reel slot machines can use a single feature excellently, offering a nudge facility to help you coax the symbols into place. When there's a top multiplier combined with low variance for modest but frequent wins, these types of slots could soon make you feel like a winner - similar to the wildly popular Megaways slot mechanic.

Even though they are classic slots, 3 reel games can offer a wide range of special features, including bonus games. From free spin bonuses to some of the best Jackpot slots, as well as features like a scatter symbol and wilds, the way 3 reel slots use features often means they don’t get in the way of the fast-paced, straightforward play on offer, but help to add another dimension to the game.

Jackpot bonus rounds can come in the form of standard jackpot prizes or progressive jackpots, where the prize pool increases over time until won.

3 Reel Slot Game Themes & Graphics

If you think all 3 reel online slots are just a simple game full of fruits or jokers, think again. Just like the latest craze of new slots, 3 reelers are available covering a wide range of themes, with some of the best that use a 3 reel layout delivering beautiful visuals, whether offering sharp recreations of classic Las Vegas slots style gaming, or bringing something completely new to the market.

At LeoVegas, we’ll always have time for some 3 reel slot gaming. Considered perhaps the purest form of the genre, players of all types often enjoy a few spins on a 3 reel slot. Whether you want to experience something a bit more straightforward than many of the more hectic modern games around or simply want to taste what classic slot gaming is all about, these titles offer some of the best online slots, so you can’t go wrong.

Top 3 Slots With 3 Reels

Fire Joker

What sets Joker slot apart from a lot of the competition are its explosive bonus features. While the design is fairly routine, flaming respins and free spins rounds add an unpredictable degree of winning potential. The former is awarded when two reels have fully-stacked symbols on them, but no wins have been achieved, with these being held in place during a respin. Meanwhile, filling all nine positions with matching symbols will see the multiplier wheel spin bonus round, with the boost applied to your winnings. These impressive features make this Play’n GO slot worth a look.

Hot Chilli

Pragmatic Play is adept at creating graphically-impressive slot games with plenty of bells and whistles, but they’re also great when it comes to stripped-back slots designed for a totally different audience. Hot Chilli arguably has a foot in both camps, as unique graphics are coupled with uncomplicated gameplay. Nine paylines are in play during each spin, but wild chilli pepper symbols can come with a multiplier attached to raise the value of your wins. The biggest cash prize on offer is worth 888x your total bet amount.

Red Hot Gambler

Realistic Games’ Red Hot Gambler is a perfect slot for players looking for low volatility but engaging gameplay nonetheless. The layout is that of a pub fruit machine, and you can view the reels up close or from a slight distance. While impressive wins are potentially up for grabs for matching three symbols, it’s the red hot reel that players will want to keep an eye out for. Three matching flame symbols will cause this fourth section to spin and the chance to unlock big wins of up to 2,500x your stake.

3 Reel Slots FAQ

Are 3 Reel Slots Better?

It depends on your preferences, but three reel slots hold a place in the heart of many seasoned casino players. Harking back to traditional slots, these games tend to offer more simplistic gameplay than slots with five or more reels.

How Do 3 Reel Slots Work?

Three reel video slots are fairly simple. Online versions use random number generators to determine which symbols appear on the reels. Offline versions use a similar process, but the reels have fixed symbols on them - it’s the stopping position after they spin that is randomly determined.

How Do I Win on 3 Reel Slots?

To create winning combinations on a three reel slot, you need to match three symbols along one of the game’s paylines. The specific number of paylines will vary depending on the machine, but traditionally, straight lines from left to right or diagonally will lead to payouts.

What do reels mean in slots?

When looking at the slot machine layout, the columns of symbols are known as slot reels. The classic games started with just three reels and are one of the most popular categories amongst slot players, even today.

Are there bonus features in 3 Reel Slots?

Although these classic slots take the form of older games, there is still the chance to trigger a bonus game or feature in many 3 reel slots.