Reels of Gold app guide

Reels of Gold app layout: two reel sets on one small screen

Reels of Gold is built around a dual-screen idea. On the left is a regular 5 × 4 set of reels; on the right is a colossal set that is five reels wide but twelve symbols tall. Both spin together, and wins can come from either. Symbols such as stacked wilds can carry across from one set to the other, linking the two.

On a desktop monitor there is space for both. On a phone, the casino app has to shrink everything to fit, and this is where orientation matters more than usual. In landscape the two sets sit side by side much as the designers intended. In portrait the game rescales so both remain visible, which means noticeably smaller symbols, especially on the tall colossal reels.

For more on which games suit which orientation, see portrait vs landscape mobile slots. On a tablet the experience is closest to the full design; our iPad casino apps page covers bigger-screen play.

How your stake changes lines and RTP

Barcrest links several settings to stake size in this game. At the minimum stake, published descriptions say fewer lines are active (20) and the return is around 94%. Stake more and the game switches to all 100 lines, with RTP rising towards 96%. The game’s help pages show the exact stake thresholds for the version in your app.

Over 200 spins, a 2-percentage-point RTP gap on £40 of play is worth about 80p in theory. On £200 of play it is about £4. That gap is real but small, and it never justifies staking more than your budget allows. The RTP range glossary entry explains why one slot can show several figures, and our guide on how to find a slot’s RTP in an app shows where to look.

Losses are the likeliest result over time at any stake. The RTP is an average across millions of spins, not a forecast for your session.

Reels of Gold features: free spins and random extras

The main bonus is a free spins round triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols, drawn as balloons. Instead of a fixed number of spins, you pick balloons to reveal how many you receive. Separately, a random feature can strike on any spin and add extras such as moving blocks of wilds, payout multipliers or stacked wilds that transfer to the colossal reels.

Some versions also include an option to gamble a free-spins award for more spins, with the risk of losing it. Whether that appears in your UK app depends on the version, so check the rules. Our gamble feature glossary entry explains how these options work and why they add risk.

How to play Reels of Gold in a casino app

1. Log in to the casino app and check that your account verification is complete.
2. Type “Reels of Gold” into the lobby search. It may be listed as Rainbow Riches Reels of Gold.
3. Open the game and rotate to landscape if your screen is small.
4. Tap the information icon to see the paytable, line settings and RTP by stake.
5. Set your stake. The app will cap it at £5, or £2 if you are aged 18 to 24.
6. Tap spin for each round; autoplay is not available in Great Britain.
7. If the free spins round triggers, tap the balloons to reveal your spins, then play them out.

Our general guide to playing slots on your phone explains stake controls and paytables if this is your first mobile slot.

UK rules in the Reels of Gold app version

• Stake caps of £5 a spin (25 and over) and £2 a spin (18 to 24).
• No autoplay, even though some overseas descriptions mention it.
• At least 2.5 seconds per spin, with no turbo or slam-stop.
• No feature buy for players in Great Britain. Premium or Big Bet-style modes described for other markets may be absent or adapted, and any that appear still sit within the stake caps.
• Small returns below your stake are not celebrated as wins.

Our UK slot design rules guide sets out where these rules come from.

What a Reels of Gold session costs in practice

Because the game’s volatility is not consistently published, it is best to plan around the stake and RTP alone. At 50p a spin and the UK minimum of 2.5 seconds per spin, you could stake up to £12 a minute. Over 100 spins that is £50 staked, with a theoretical cost of around £2 at a 96% RTP. Real results will vary much more than that, so decide how much you are happy to spend before you start.

The app’s own tools help: a deposit limit, a time reminder and a loss limit can all be set in a couple of minutes. Our casino app limits guide walks through them on iPhone and Android.

Playing the Reels of Gold demo

Demos are available in many UK apps but only once your age has been verified. Because the two reel sets look so different on a phone, the demo is a sensible way to choose between portrait and landscape before you play for money. Demo balances are play money only and never withdrawable.

Reels of Gold vs other Rainbow Riches slots

Rainbow Riches Pick ’n’ Mix suits players who like choosing their bonuses, and Rainbow Riches Megaways is the high-volatility option. Read more about the studio on our Barcrest page.

Reels of Gold on a phone: pros and cons

Where to play Reels of Gold on mobile

Barcrest games are widely supplied, but no lobby is fixed, so search before you deposit. At Ladbrokes, new customers aged 18+ who deposit and play £10 on slots unlock 50 free spins a day for their first 10 days, a maximum of 500; each batch is worth 10p a spin on selected games, must be claimed from the in-app inbox before 23:59 and lasts 7 days, winnings have no wagering, and deposits by PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, Neteller, Moneybookers or prepaid card don’t qualify (T&Cs apply). Coral’s welcome deal for new players (18+, T&Cs apply) is bet £10 on slots, get 100 free spins: they are worth 10p each on selected games, have to be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, and winnings carry no wagering, while e-wallet, Paysafe, prepaid-card and some debit-card deposits are excluded.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.