There’s a limitation inherent with mechanical reels: They must fit within the slot machine casing.Įver since 1895 with the debut of Charles Fey’s Liberty Bell as the first three-reel slot, the most common configuration for slots with mechanical reels has been three reels. Whether on video or reels, games can have odds leading to the same payback percentage, but have a completely different feel. But the difference in formats does affect the play experience. Truth be told, the games are more alike than different, with results driven by random number generators.

Video slots are the most popular games in live casinos today, and their Internet equivalents draw legions of players to online casinos.īut three-reel slots with mechanical reels still have their following.