Find the best 3 reel slots in the UK. Online slots with 3 reels are fun and simple slots with a lot of potential for bonus games, free spins and special wilds.
On this page, you can check which 3-reeler slot machines are the best, see where to play them, what kind of mechanics and features you can expect, and learn about the providers behind the games.
We have listed here the best 3 reel slots you can play for real money. Our experts have tested the games, and hand-picked the finest games for you to try out.
The best 3 reel slots are listed in the table below:
| Rank | Name | RTP | Max Win | Where to Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Fire Joker | 94.23% | 800x | Play at Unibet |
| 2. | Charlie Chance in Hell to Pay | 94.79% | 6,666x | Play at Rizk |
| 3. | Shadow Society | 95.76% | 10,000x | Play at VoodooDreams |
| 4. | Big Bass Bonanza 3 Reeler | 95.50% | 5,000x | Play at Pokerstars |
| 5. | Break Bones | 94.12% | 3,333x | Play at Lucky Niki |
| 6. | Rabbit Hole Riches | 94.70% | 5,000x | Play at Casumo |
| 7. | Queen's Day Tilt | 94.30% | 5,000x | Play at Videoslots |
| 8. | Elemental Gems Megaways | 95.45% | 5,000x | Play at Pots of Luck |
| 9. | Freeway 7 | 94.00% | 5,000x | Play at Duelz |
| 10. | Sticky Joker | 94.67% | 1,650x | Play at LeoVegas |
Fire Joker is a Play'n GO classic with a long history. It may not light a fire under newer players, but it has seared a permanent mark in the hearts of many UK players.
Fire Joker is a very simple game but that makes it so good. It's fast-paced, fun, and easy to learn.
The game features two simple mechanics. There is a re-spin for those almost wins, and if you do happen to fill the entire screen with the same symbol, you get to spin the multiplier wheel.
| Provider | Play'n GO |
|---|---|
| RTP | 94.23% |
| Max Win | 800x |
| Released | 2016 |
| Features | Re-Spin, Bonus Wheel |
Charlie Chance series started with Charlie Chance in Hell to Pay, and our poor protagonist has had quite a ride since then.
The game is visually stunning, and the old Fleischer Studios design style suits this game perfectly.
The slot is also filled with features. Hit three scatters, and you get to run on the feature board and see which of the five features you trigger.
| Provider | Play'n GO |
|---|---|
| RTP | 94.79% |
| Max Win | 6,666x |
| Released | 2020 |
| Features | Free Spins, Re-spins, Multipliers, Win Spin, Instant Prizes |
Red Tiger released Shadow Society in 2022, and even though the game went a bit unnoticed, it is a masterpiece.
Shadow Society is one of the more complex 3-reel slots there are, and one reason is that it can actually expand beyond its physical limits.
Hitting the Progress symbols unlocks new features to the game. From better symbols to more reels and rows. After a while, you are actually playing a 5x5 slot instead of 3x3.
| Provider | Red Tiger |
|---|---|
| RTP | 95.76% |
| Max Win | 10,000x |
| Released | 2022 |
| Features | Free Spins, Symbol Unlock, Expanding Slot |
The Big Bass series of slots is amazingly massive, and it's no surprise that there is a 3-reel version of the game as well.
The design follows the exact same pattern we've all seen before. This game is not novel by any means, but it sure fills another niche that hasn't been done before.
The free spins and random modifiers are the main bread and butter of Big Bass Bonanza 3 Reeler. The unfortunate thing is that UK players miss out on some of the bigger features locked behind the buy bonus mechanic.
| Provider | Reel Kingdom |
|---|---|
| RTP | 95.50% |
| Max Win | 5,000x |
| Released | 2024 |
| Features | Free Spins, Random Modifiers |
Hacksaw Gaming is better known for the big high-volatility slots, but they do venture outside of their wheelhouse every now and then.
The name of the game, Break Bones, tells you quite well what this game is all about thematically.
During the base game spins, you can get Echospins, or re-spins, if you get the Skeleton Hand symbol. During the free spins bonus game, the Skeleton Hand symbol is more likely to show up.
| Provider | Hacksaw Gaming |
|---|---|
| RTP | 94.12% |
| Max Win | 3,333x |
| Released | 2022 |
| Features | Re-Spins, Free Spins, Multiplier Wilds |
Play'n GO has specialised in 3x3 slots and Rabbit Hole Riches is a perfect example of what they can do.
The game is based on Alice in Wonderland, and the visual design work is top-notch.
The list of special features and different bonuses is also astonishing. Just hit those scatters and see all the numerous options you have for bonus games, free spins and re-spins.
| Provider | Play'n GO |
|---|---|
| RTP | 94.70% |
| Max Win | 5,000x |
| Released | 2020 |
| Features | Bonus Game, Free Spins, Re-Spins, Multipliers |
Queen's Day Tilt combines the simple and fast-paced style of a 3-reel slot with all the special mechanics from larger cluster games.
Queen's Day Tilt is a perfect example of a small game that is packed to the rafters with special features.
There are a few ways to get free spins here. Win with both Knights, clear the screen from all but one symbol or get a single spin randomly if you lose.
| Provider | Play'n GO |
|---|---|
| RTP | 94.30% |
| Max Win | 5,000x |
| Released | 2019 |
| Features | Cascading Reels, Cluster Pays, Random Re-Spins, Free Spins, Increasing Multiplier, |
Pragmatic Play released Elemental Gems Megaways in 2022, and it became quite a unique hit. Elemental Gems Megaways is one of the rare Megaways slots that is only 3x3 in size.
When you play the game, you still get the same amazing Megaways feel with the same varying number of paylines.
Unlike many other Megaways games, this one has fewer special features. There is only the random multiplier that you get for each round, and that's it.
| Provider | Pragmatic Play |
|---|---|
| RTP | 95.45% |
| Max Win | 5,000x |
| Released | 2022 |
| Features | Megaways, Random Multiplier |
Freeway 7 is an all-American online slot with a heavy emphasis on the Vegas style.
The game was released in 2022 by ELK Studios. ELK has released numerous games that lean heavily on the theme, and this one is no exception.
You get a few neat special features here. The Nudge Re-Spins are great, as two reels are locked in the same position, and only the third needs to hit the right ones. The free spins also come with a random number of spins and increasing multipliers.
| Provider | ELK Studios |
|---|---|
| RTP | 94.00% |
| Max Win | 5,000x |
| Released | 2022 |
| Features | Nudge Re-Spin, Free Spins, Increasing Multiplier |
Play'n GO loves their joker slots, and Sticky Joker takes the already familiar design and pushes it even further.
The game has a futuristic design, which is a nice departure from the traditional visuals these games have had.
All jokers here trigger re-spins and stay on the reels. You can get multiple re-spins, one after another, if you keep hitting the jokers. And if you happen to get four or more, you also trigger the bonus multiplier wheel.
| Provider | Play'n GO |
|---|---|
| RTP | 94.67% |
| Max Win | 1,650x |
| Released | 2020 |
| Features | Re-Spin, Bonus Wheel |
In the UK, finding 3 reel slots is nice and easy. These games are popular and often come from big providers listed on multiple casinos.
This is great for players, as you can choose any of the best online slot sites and find the games you want. You can spend your time enjoying the games rather than going through all the casinos to find one with the right games.
3 reel slot sites in the UK are listed below:
A 3 reel slot is a slot machine with three symbol reels. These reels spin and stop at random positions creating symbol combinations that may or may not lead to a payout.
3 reel slots are the traditional design that was very popular in physical Las Vegas casinos. In the era of modern online casinos, 5 reel slots have become more popular.
Many players still enjoy and prefer the 3 reel slot design, as it is simpler and often faster. The downside is that these games often have fewer special features and mechanics, and the maximum wins are smaller.
3 reel slots work by spinning three reels full of symbols and stopping at a random position to create a symbol combination at a payline. If the combination is one of the winning ones, you get paid according to your wager.
These games work similarly to other online slot machines, but they are usually simpler and have fewer bells and whistles.
By having fewer reels, there is a smaller number of potential symbol combinations. This means the payout range is narrower, and the bigger wins you find in 5 reel slots are cut off. However, to compensate, the games have more frequent wins.
You can play 3 reel slots for free in a few different ways. There are free spins you can get to play the games for real wins, or you can get to know the games by playing the demo versions for free.
The former, and the more popular option, is to play slot free spins. These are free rounds casinos give to new players to try out their casino. The free spins bonuses come with terms and conditions, but if you follow them, you can convert the spins to real withdrawable cash.
In the UK, all demo slots need to include an age verification. This is why you need to create a casino account before you can try them out.
There are certain features that are very common throughout three reel slots. Low volatility, a bottom-heavy payout structure, fast gameplay and easy design are all things you find across the board.
As the games have smaller physical space, the features of the games must follow that design space. With no long paylines in sight, it's harder to make a game with similarly valuable symbols like in larger slots.
When it comes to special features, the following features are common in three reel slots:
You have a lot of choices when it comes to 3-reel slots in online casinos. Some of the most popular types of 3-reel slots are below:
The American-styled fruit machines are the first thing that comes to mind for many players when you talk about 3-reel slots. These are the one-armed bandits, the physical slot machines of old that were popular at the time.
Nowadays, fruit machines have evolved and adapted to the online era. The symbols may still look the same, but the games have become more exciting. Even simple things, like free spins, have added a level of complexity that these slots never had in their old form.
Progressive jackpots are a thing often associated with volatile 5-reel slots, but you can find them in regular 3-reel slots as well. Sure, they are not seeded at hundreds of thousands of pounds like the progressive slots you usually see in online casinos, but they can pack a mean punch.
For example, Relax Gaming's Jackpot Stars and Blueprint's Jackpot Kings network pots can be played in 3-reel slots. There are also plenty of smaller non-networked jackpots, like in Lucky Lady and Speed Cash.
3-reelers were extremely popular in Vegas back in the mid-1900s. The same visual themes and design can be found these days in online slots, which are popular, especially with the older casino crowd. The games are fast-paced, but also simple to play.
This category is one of the biggest 3-reel slot game categories in UK online casinos. However, this might not be for long, as providers are figuring out how to do more modern games in this design space.
Modern style 3 reel slots have started to become more and more popular. As game providers have figured out how to combine the modern visual design that you usually see in 3d slots online, the mechanics of larger games and the physical restrictions of 3 reel machines, the games have grown.
Games like Rabbit Hole Riches and Charlie Chance in Hell to Pay are a great example of how interesting a 3 reel slot can be when done correctly.
3 reel slots often have smaller maximum payouts and less valuable symbols, but that can all change when you play multiplier slots. These games can ramp up all those smaller payouts into sizable ones.
You can find games that have either multiplier symbols, which increase the payline win they are in, or general multipliers that increase everything.
The biggest difference between 3x3 slots and other classic machines is the number of paylines. Traditional slot machines often have only one horizontal payline in the centre of the reels.
3x3 slots add a few extra paylines to make the game more fun, and to allow different kinds of payouts. There can be other extra features, like free spins, bonus games and multipliers, but the layout is what matters.
Classic 3 reel slots are a category that is similar to fruit machines and Vegas-style slots. Some casino sites even use this as a name for all of the other traditional 3 reel online slots.
These games often use Vegas-style symbols, like bells, diamonds, and sevens, but their design is distinctly more online-oriented. While Vegas-style reelers try to look like actual slot machines, classic 3 reel slots are clearly online games.
Many of the popular game providers have released their own 3 reel slots. You can find games with different styles, mechanics and volatilities by checking out the various studios and their slots.
Play'n GO has always been a popular game provider for 3 reel online slots. One of their biggest 3 reel hits, Fire Joker, is still surprisingly popular even though the game was released back in 2016.
We have a list of casinos with Play'n GO slots, and you can check out our list of the best Play'n GO online slots to see what games you should try and where you can play them.
Red Tiger pushes the concept of 3 reel online slots further and are known to experiment more. Sure, they have their classic Vegas-styled slots, like Red Diamond, but there are also games like Shadow Society, that has all the features that you've come to find in bigger slots.
Their slots are easily available to British players. The list of Red Tiger casinos has some of the finest casino sites on it and plenty of amazing options to choose from.
Pragmatic Play is one of the most prolific game providers out there, which means they have dabbled in 3 reel slots as well. One of the 3 reel slots, Gold Train, even made our list of the best Pragmatic Play slots.
Some of their 3 reel slots worth mentioning are Aztec Gems, Starlight Princess Pachi and the very unique 3 reel Megaways game, Elemental Gems Megaways. You can find where to play Pragmatic Play slots on our game provider page.
3 reel slot games have their own strengths and weaknesses. These are what make the games unique, and whether you enjoy them depends on your own preferences.
Here are the pros and cons of 3 reel slots:
Games are faster
Easy to learn
Many have high RTPs
Fewer special features
Often they are visually boring
Smaller maximum payouts
There are plenty of options when it comes to different numbers of reels in online slots. You can choose the game that best matches your play style. The balance and feel are very different depending on the size of the play area.
Here are some different-sized online slot games to check out.
4 reel slots are a nice in-between option for those who want something different from the norm. While 3 and 5 reel slots are very common, 4 reel slots are a special treat.
When it comes to mechanics, 4 reel slots have more special features than their 3 reel counterparts, but feel easier and simpler than the standard 5 reel slots.
5 reel slots are the online standard. These games are extremely common and generally seen as the default option.
These games come in all shapes and sizes, at least outside the fact that they all have five reels. Being the most common style, there are games here for absolutely everyone.
Adding an extra reel makes the games feel more impactful. The longer your paylines can be, the more you can potentially win.
6 reel slots were somewhat uncommon, until the advent of Megaways slots. These games take full advantage of the extra reel to add bigger wins and more symbols in the game.
