Reels of Gold slot

Reels of Gold slot: a Rainbow Riches game with two screens

Barcrest has its roots in the Manchester area, where it began with two staff in 1968 and released its first game, Invader, in 1970. It became part of Scientific Games in 2011, now Light & Wonder, and its best-known online brand is Rainbow Riches, a series that dates from 2006. Reels of Gold, released in 2016, is one of the most ambitious entries in that series.

The headline idea is two reel sets side by side. On the left is a 5-reel, 4-row set. On the right is a colossal set of 5 reels and 12 rows. Both spin together on one stake, and wins on either count. The Irish theme and leprechaun are familiar; the layout is not. The Museum of the Game's Barcrest listing (opens in a new tab) shows how far the company's catalogue goes back in physical machines.

How the Reels of Gold slot machine works

As with every UK online slot, the random number generator decides the stopping positions of both reel sets, and whether any fairy feature fires, the moment you press spin.

1. Choose your stake and the number of lines; the game offers up to 100, and you can play fewer.
2. Press spin. Both reel sets spin together.
3. If a full stack of wilds lands on a reel of the small set, it's copied onto the matching reel of the colossal set.
4. A fairy feature may trigger at random, adding wilds, multipliers or symbol changes.
5. Line wins on both reel sets are paid.
6. If three or more balloon scatters land across the two sets, free spins begin.

The colossal reels and copied wild stacks

The colossal set is three times taller than the small one. A full stack of wilds on, say, reel 3 of the small set is cloned onto reel 3 of the big set, which turns a column of 12 positions into wilds in one go. With so many rows, that one column can complete a large number of lines on the colossal side. It's similar in spirit to linked reels, except the link runs from one reel set to another rather than between neighbouring reels.

The seven fairy features in Reels of Gold

Reference listings describe seven random features that a fairy can bring in on any spin, in the base game or during free spins. None needs a trigger symbol.

Two of those deserve a plain-English note. Near Miss Free Spins and Near Miss Win sound like the game is rescuing you, but both are random events built into the game's maths and paid for out of its RTP. They don't mean the machine is being generous. Our page on slot machine near misses explains why near misses feel more significant than they are.

Reels of Gold free spins and balloon picks

Balloon scatters can land on either reel set. Three or more on the same spin, counted across both sets, start the free spins round. More scatters pay more straight away and give more picks from a row of balloons, which reveal how many free spins you get.

Reference listings also describe a gamble option for more spins, where losing the gamble can cost the whole feature. It doesn't change the game's long-run return in your favour; it only makes the result more all-or-nothing. If you'd rather keep what you've been given, decline it.

Reels of Gold RTP and why it varies with stake

Our facts list the RTP as up to 96%, varying with stake. That's a Barcrest habit: many of its games pay a slightly lower RTP at the smallest stakes and the full figure at higher ones, with Barcrest titles typically ranging from around 94% to 96%. The help screen shows the figure for each stake level, and UK rules on RTP information require it to be available.

The 94% column is an illustration of how a lower tier would cost more, not a published figure for this game. Don't raise your stake just to reach a higher RTP tier: a bigger stake still costs more in pounds per spin, even if the percentage is slightly better.

Reels of Gold max win

Published max win figures for this game don't agree with each other, and our verified facts don't include one, so we don't quote a number. The help screen at your casino gives the figure for the version you're playing. Whatever it is, UK stake limits apply: £5 a spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18–24, both set out in the Commission's stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab).

Big Bet and UK rules

Reference listings describe a Big Bet option, a bundle of 5 spins at a higher price where you pick which fairy features can trigger. Barcrest games often carry this in some markets. If your version shows it, read the price carefully: it raises the cost of each round, and it's still subject to UK stake limits. If it isn't offered, nothing in the core game changes.

The other UK rules apply as normal. Since 31 October 2021 there's no autoplay, each spin takes at least 2.5 seconds, there's no turbo or slam-stop, and the game can't celebrate a return equal to or below your stake. Full details are on our slot game design rules page.

From pub fruit machines to colossal reels

Barcrest's history is in fruit machines, and some of that thinking shows in Reels of Gold: frequent small events, random features that interrupt the base game, and a gamble option. The big difference is scale. The law caps a pub's Category C machine at a £1 play and a £100 jackpot, whereas an online slot falls outside the machine categories entirely and works to the online stake limits instead. Our guide to pub fruit machines explains the land-based side.

Other Rainbow Riches slots

Rainbow Riches Megaways is the high-volatility member of the family, and Pick 'n' Mix lets you choose features. For other leprechaun and clover games, see our Irish-themed slots page.

Is the Reels of Gold slot worth a look?

It suits adults who enjoy busy screens and random interruptions. Anyone wanting a simple game with a single number to remember should pick something plainer. Either way, decide on a spending limit before you begin.

Where to play Reels of Gold in the UK

Barcrest titles appear at many UK casinos, though lobbies change, so search for Rainbow Riches Reels of Gold before you sign up. You can usually try a free demo after age verification. None of our partners' sign-up offers is tied to this game; all are 18+ and terms apply.

Coral gives new players 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games when they deposit and bet £10 on slots; the spins last 7 days and their winnings carry no wagering, and certain payment methods don't qualify. Ladbrokes offers up to 500 spins, 50 a day for 10 days after £10 on slots, at 10p each with no wagering. With PlayOJO, a first deposit of £10 or more brings 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, paid in cash with no wagering. Coral and Ladbrokes share an owner. See more games in our slots hub.

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.