Linked reels slots

What linked reels slots are

On a normal video slot, each reel stops independently: the random number generator picks a stop for reel one, another for reel two, and so on. In linked reels slots, two or more neighbouring reels are tied together for the spin. The game picks one result and shows it on every reel in the group, so they look like copies of each other.

NetEnt is the studio most associated with the idea: our provider facts list “linked twin reels” among its signature mechanics, next to avalanche reels and expanding wilds. The feature can run on every spin, as it does in Twin Spin, or appear only during a bonus. It is one of the reel-behaviour mechanics on our slot features hub.

How linked reels work on each spin

Using Twin Spin’s design as the model, this is the usual order of events. The random number generator chooses which reels are linked and where they stop together; the animation then shows it.

1. Before the reels stop, the game selects a group of adjacent reels to link, starting with two.
2. The linked group may grow to three, four or all five reels on the same spin.
3. All linked reels stop on one shared result and are highlighted, often with a frame.
4. The unlinked reels stop independently, as normal.
5. Wins are counted across the grid using the game’s paylines or ways, with the identical reels contributing matching symbols.

Because the linked reels are identical, a high symbol showing on one linked reel shows on all of them. On a 243 ways game, a three-high column of one symbol linked across three reels creates many ways at once.

The probability behind linked reels, with a worked example

The simplest way to see the effect is with round numbers. Suppose a premium symbol appears in view on any single reel 1 time in 10. The figures are illustrative, not taken from any real game.

Linking two reels turned a 1-in-1,000 event into a 1-in-100 event; linking three made it 1 in 10. That is why linked reels feel lively. But the published RTP is fixed, so the game has to give the extra value back elsewhere: lower pays for multi-reel matches, fewer premium symbols on the strips, or linking that happens only on some spins. Once you understand that trade, the feature is easy to read: it changes how often you see matches, not how much the game returns.

Linking doesn’t break the independence of spins. Each spin’s linking is chosen afresh, and the result of one spin tells you nothing about the next.

Linked reels slots you can find in the UK

Two games in our verified facts are built around linked reels, both from NetEnt.

The original Twin Spin applies linked reels on every spin over a fixed 243 ways grid. Twin Spin Megaways puts the same idea on a Megaways engine, where reel heights change each spin, giving a much higher ceiling. NetEnt’s parent company today is Evolution; see our NetEnt provider page for the studio’s background.

Other ways slots link reels

• Every-spin twin reels: a linked pair on each spin that can grow, as in Twin Spin.
• Bonus-only linking: reels join only in free spins, often to create giant symbols.
• Colossal or giant symbols: a large symbol spans several reels, which works like linking those reels for that position. See colossal symbols and mega symbols.
• Mirrored reel sets: some games run more than one reel set at once; unless the rules say the sets are linked, each set spins independently.

The common thread is that several reels share a result. When a game uses the word “linked”, the help screen should say which reels can join, whether the link can grow and whether it happens on every spin.

Linked reels vs linked jackpots: not the same thing

Searches for linked reels slots often mix up two features. A linked progressive jackpot connects several games or machines to one shared prize pool; it has nothing to do with how reels spin. In UK venues, Category B1 casino machines can offer a linked progressive jackpot of up to £20,000, against a standard £10,000 top prize, as the Gambling Commission’s gaming machine categories page (opens in a new tab) sets out. Online, jackpot networks link many casinos to one pot.

If you are looking for shared prize pools, our pages on linked progressives and jackpot slot machines cover them. This page is about synchronised reels.

Cost per spin and volatility on linked reels slots

Linking doesn’t change what you pay. On Twin Spin, with a 96.56% RTP, the long-run average cost is 3.44% of stakes: 100 spins at 20p (£20 staked) cost about 69p on average, and 100 spins at £1 about £3.44. The 1,080× cap is £1,080 at £1 and £2,160 at the £2 limit for players aged 18 to 24.

Twin Spin Megaways sits differently: its default RTP of 96.04% means an average cost of £3.96 per £100 staked, and its 38,000× ceiling is £76,000 at £2 or £190,000 at £5. The higher ceiling comes with a different spread of results, so read the game’s volatility rating rather than assuming the two play alike.

Is there a linked reels feature on fruit machines?

Not as a standard feature. British fruit machines rely on holds, nudges and feature boards, with the reels stopping independently. The closest experience is a hold: when you hold a reel, it keeps its symbol while the others spin again, which also makes a match easier on the next spin. Unlike linked reels, the hold is offered by the machine and used by you, and it doesn’t beat the machine’s built-in payout percentage.

Myths about linked reels

No slot remembers past spins. See do slot machines remember past spins for why the “overdue” idea fails.

UK rules for linked reels slots

The Commission’s standard on rules and the likelihood of winning (RTS 3) (opens in a new tab) requires an accurate explanation of the rules before you play, so the help screen must explain how reels link. Since 31 October 2021, UK online slots have had no autoplay, a minimum 2.5 seconds per spin, no turbo or slam-stop, and no celebrating returns at or below the stake. Stakes are limited to £5 a spin for those aged 25 and over and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds. Our UK slot game design rules page gives the detail.

Where to play linked reels slots

Search our partner casinos’ lobbies for NetEnt or for Twin Spin by name; we can’t confirm which casino carries which game, and availability changes.

For new customers aged 18+: Coral gives 100 free spins (10p each, selected games, 48 hours to accept, valid 7 days, no wagering on winnings) when you bet £10 on slots. Ladbrokes hands out 50 free spins on each of the first 10 days, up to 500, once you deposit and play £10 on slots; no wagering applies. At PlayOJO, a first deposit of at least £10 earns 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, paid out as cash winnings. Terms apply and some payment methods are excluded. Coral and Ladbrokes are run by one company, so you may not be able to claim both.

Use deposit limits and reality checks, and remember that losses are likely over time. The National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.