Reel

Reels are the vertical columns in a slot machine that spin and display symbols. Classic slots have 3 reels, while most modern video slots have 5 reels. Some games use 6 or more reels for Megaways mechanics. Each reel contains a set of symbols in a predetermined order (the 'reel strip'). The RNG determines where each reel stops. The number of symbols per reel, combined with the number of reels, determines the total possible combinations and the game's odds. Physical slot machines had mechanical reels, while online slots use virtual reels that can contain hundreds of symbol positions each.