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What are 3-reel slots and how do they work?

Find out all about 3-reel slots, how they work, and which games are recommended by the oddschecker team.

Apr 13 2025, 7:04pm | 12 read

Online slots have come a long way over the decades – and so have slot machines in general. 3-reel slots are inspired by the classic fruit machines of years gone by, and they got their name from the fact that you’d usually have to line up fruit symbols and win sticks of gum.

Times have changed, and while there are tons of video slots at online casinos with thousands of paylines and six or more reels, there are still plenty that follow the classic formula.

In this guide, we’ll take you through what to expect from 3-reel slot games, how to play them, which slots are the best in the business and where you can get started.

Even though these games have fewer paylines and reels than most, please play responsibly. Always keep track of your play time and your bankroll.

What are 3-reel Slots, Anyway?
How to Play 3-reel Slots
What are the best 3-reel Slots to play with real money?
3-reel Video Slots
Differences between 3-reel Slots and 5-reel Slots
3-reel slots are still a popular format

What are 3-reel Slots, Anyway?

3-reel slots are games where there are three columns of symbols that fall downward when you place a bet. You’re betting on there being a winning line of symbols – based on the game’s paylines – and the symbols you can line up to win will vary from game to game.

3-reel slot games are particularly traditional compared to other types of slots you’ll find online. These games usually have few paylines – fewer than ten, in many cases – and with only 3-reels to play on, your possible combinations are in fairly short supply!

However, that doesn’t mean these games should be ignored. In fact, there’s still a huge following for 3-reel slots, mainly because they mimic some of the best-loved classic machines from years gone by.

Traditionally, physical fruit machines would have 3-reels and a few paylines for you to match symbols on. At real money casinos online, 3-reel video slots copy this standard but add in a few extra twists here and there.

For example, in some cases, you might find that there are 3-reel slots with jackpot prizes, a progressive jackpot connection, or even free spins and trail features.

There’s certainly more to 3-reel slot games than meets the eye, which is even more reason to keep reading to learn more about the best games to play right now!

Keep in mind that you’ll also find plenty of 3-reel slot games at social casinos. These slot sites let you play classic games (and even some newer titles) without having to pay in any kind of deposit. These sites and slots also tend to be legal in more states than their real-money equivalents.

How to Play 3-reel Slots

Playing 3-reel slots is pretty straightforward. For a complete overview of slots online, be sure to check out our guide on how to play slot machines in general.

Otherwise, here’s a quick overview of what to expect from 3-reel games.

Step 1: Head to a reliable online casino that offers 3-reel slots games. You can explore some good options listed in our guide below.
Step 2: After registering and logging in, look for 3-reel games. You might know the names of some already, or you could try searching for terms such as “fruit,” “joker,” or “sevens” to bring up traditional video slots.
Step 3: When you’ve found a game you want to play, click or tap it to launch.
Step 4: You should then be able to adjust the amount of money you play per bet or per line, usually with plus and minus buttons somewhere toward the bottom of the play screen.
Step 5: Check out the game’s paytable to learn more about the different symbols and values, and what bonus features are available for you to unlock (if any).
Step 6: When you’re ready, click or tap the spin button next to the main slot grid and watch the reels spin. When the reels stop, they will show you whether you’ve made a winning combination with a line of matching symbols.
Step 7: If you win, you receive money right away; if you lose, nothing changes.

Remember that this is just a general overview of how 3-reel slot games work in practice. Some will have extra features or bonus rounds to watch out for, such as free spins you can unlock.

There are also jackpot features to watch for in many 3-reel slot games. Jackpot prizes are much bigger than those you would expect from basic line wins, and they are also much harder to land as a result.

You might also come across 3-reel slot games with progressive jackpot prizes. These games let you play for a higher prize that’s shared between different casinos. This means that while you might be playing for particularly large cash pots, there’s an even lower chance of winning!

However, someone has to win progressive jackpots – and 3 reel slot games, like any others you’ll find at reputable casinos online, are designed to be completely random. Always make sure to play games that are designed by named developers and offered by casinos with clear regulation badges.

Remember that there are no precise ways for you to learn how to win at video slots. Simply pace yourself and your bankroll, and avoid chasing wins or losses.

What are the best 3-reel Slots to play with real money?

Some of the most popular slot games online have only 3-reels. This is largely because, for many players, the games remind them of the classic fruit machines you’d find in casinos and amusement arcades.

The best 3-reel slots available to play online combine modern functionality and features with classic symbols, and many of them are actually adapted from the fruit machines you’ll still see in casinos and slot lounges in the US.

Let’s run through a few of the best 3-reel games available to play online right now and where you can play them for real money.

Double Diamond: Double Diamond is one of the best-known 3-reel slots available for you to play online right now, arriving from the talented team at IGT. Its clean, simple design and handful of classic symbols have helped it become a modern classic. You can start playing the game over at Borgata Casino, with the added bonus of a 100% deposit match welcome bonus worth up to $1,000.
Almighty Sevens Jackpot Royale: This blazing hot 3-reel game comes stacked with all your favorite fruit, lucky sevens, and bar symbols, with a jackpot game tied in to bring the classic action into the modern age. You can check out the game for yourself at BetMGM, and while you’re at it, claim a $25 no deposit bonus and a cash match of 100% up to $1,000.
Triple Double Gems: This is one of several games in the Triple Double series that is based on hugely popular mechanical slots you can spot in casinos and slot lounges on land. Launched in land-based casinos in 2020, it’s a modern take on classic slot gaming that has adapted well to video audiences. You can play the game at FanDuel after signing up for a welcome deal worth up to $1,000 in bonus credit.
Fire Joker: This legendary 3-reel game might only have five fixed paylines, but there’s certainly more than meets the eye here. There are two main bonus features – a Wheel of Multipliers and Respins of Fire – to help keep the action moving. You can find the game in the catalog at Pokerstars Casino, which is offering a 100% deposit match all the way up to $600.
7s on Fire: 7s on Fire is a slot game that really does take things back to basics. There’s no flashy free spins round here; in its place, you’ll find a big bet function that brings in wild symbols. It’s one of several games you can play at Golden Nugget online, and as a new player, you can claim a 100% cash match up to $1,000 to start playing.
Double Patriot: Double Patriot is another variation on the Triple Double series explored briefly above. This is another great video slot version of a physical game you’ll easily spot in land casinos and gaming centers. You can also explore it right now at BetRivers Casino, with a welcome deal of 100% deposit matched up to $250.

3-reel Video Slots

As you’ve seen from some of our picks of the best 3-reel slots online, there are some games that have been adapted from real-life, mechanical machines.

Video slots are games that have been designed for play on internet browsers and in slot apps that pay real money. This means that while you don’t get any of the classic, physical spins and clunks you’d expect from real machines, you can still benefit from the same snazzy symbols and colorful action.

In fact, you don’t always have to pay to play 3-reel slots. At social casinos, you’ll find lots of free 3-reel classic slots that don’t require you to pay a deposit or even place a cash bet. There’s still a chance for you to win real prizes, and you can do so without having to dip into your own bank account!

3-reel video slots go above and beyond to lovingly recreate those classic, traditional fruit and slot machines you may well have played over the years. It’s largely what still makes them so popular. They might not have big, bold bonus rounds or slews of symbols to line up, but they still have that perfect functionality – and you always know what to expect.

Nevertheless, if you are completely new to 3-reel games, we always recommend that you check out the paytables of any slots you load. Paytables give you a clear picture of what symbols you need to spin into view, what paylines are available, and whether there are any jackpot prizes or hidden bonus features.

Above all, we believe you should never dive headfirst into a paid casino game without learning more about how it works.

Differences between 3-reel Slots and 5-reel Slots

The most obvious difference to consider when comparing 3-reel vs 5-reel slots is the fact that with smaller games, there are fewer paylines and symbols available to spin into view.

Although there are some 3-reel slots with features (as we’ve explored above), many of them are stripped back to the basics. This means that 5-reel games tend to be a little more advanced. For example, plenty of 5-reel games have two or more bonus features, including free spins and multipliers.

However, it’s not unheard of for 3-reel slots to have progressive or in-game jackpot prizes. This means that while you don’t always get to unlock big, hidden games, there’s still more than meets the eye.

Many 3-reel games tend to be stylized around classic fruit machine aesthetics. Very few have big brands or themes attached, so if you’re looking for slot games with movie or TV tie-ins, you’re likely to do well playing 5-reel games instead.

One popular question is which slot machines pay the best, 3-reel or 5-reel? Ultimately, there’s no real difference between them in this regard.

It’s always worth looking at the RTP and volatility of any games you play as these statistics tell you how likely slot games are to pay out over time and what your chances are of unlocking bonus features. You can’t always use them reliably to determine when games will pay out, but they might give you extra confidence.

3-reel slots are still a popular format

3-reel slot games are more popular than ever before, thanks largely to players thinking fondly of the times they might have spent playing classic fruit machines in arcades and casinos. There are always new 3-reel slot games popping up, demonstrating that this is far from an outdated or passing trend.

Take a look at some of the top 3-reel games listed in our guide above, and make sure to visit some of the best casinos hosting these slots after checking out our reviews.