3 Reel pokies
How many reels does your typical pokie have? Usually, the count is five, but if you got three reels, you are looking at a classic one. The so-called pokies can be told apart from the rest by this very characteristic.
These days, 3-reel slot games are not as common as they used to be (before 5-reel ones were introduced, that is). However, there is still a great choice of them across numerous online casinos. They are different in design, payouts you can expect, and even payline count. The most common setup is a grid of 3 lines and 3 rows, also known as 3x3.
List of 3 reel pokies to try for free
Slot List
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RTP:96.1%
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Volatility:Medium
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Maximum win:500x
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Slot type:3 Reel
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RTP:95.5%
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Volatility:High
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Maximum win:2.000x
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Slot type:3 Reel
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RTP:99.1%
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Volatility:Low
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Maximum win:-
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Slot type:Highest RTP
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RTP:96.1%
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Volatility:Low
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Maximum win:499x
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Slot type:3D Pokies
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RTP:99.0%
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Volatility:High
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Maximum win:x2000
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Slot type:Highest RTP
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RTP:97.0%
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Volatility:Medium
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Maximum win:400x
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Slot type:Highest RTP
Casinos with 3 reel pokies
Reviews of the best 3-reel pokies
Golden Tiger
Golden Tiger is a classic Asian-themed pokie by iSoftBet. It’s got 3 reels and 5 paylines, a jackpot, a bonus round, as well as a multiplier boost. With the bonus triggered, you are in for a wheel to spin and a shot at winning a prize 1,000 times your stake. With medium variance and simple visuals, this 3-reel slot machine will still hit the right spot if you are a fan of classic games like that.
Golden Tiger | ||||||||
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RTP | Release date | Reels | Lines | Volatility | Min. bet | Max. bet | Max. win | Software |
95,95% | 2019 | 3 | 5 | Medium | 0.1 | 10 | 10,000x | iSoftBet |
3 Hit Pay
3 Hit Pay by iSoftBet is a retro pokie with an RTP of a bit over 95%. While it carries no multipliers, substituting wilds, scatters, free spin, or the gamble feature, this 3-payline pokie is still a great opportunity to enjoy some old-fashioned gameplay. And the payouts really are worth it, too. Been missing those one-armed bandits? This one brings back the memories through its sevens, cherries, and bar symbols, with numerous payout options depending on the combinations landed.
3 Hit Play | ||||||||
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RTP | Release date | Reels | Lines | Volatility | Min. bet | Max. bet | Max. win | Software |
95,4% | 2018 | 3 | 3 | Medium | 0.09 | 9 | 10,800x | iSoftBet |
Burning Stars Xmas edition
Burning Stars Xmas edition by Wazdan is the kind of pokie you want to play even if you are not a huge fan of the classics. It's got quite juicy visuals (cherries, grapes, lemons, watermelon halves, plums), and modern gameplay. You've got autoplay for 10 to 1,000 games and can participate in competing for one of the four jackpots depending on the level of stake. All in all, it’s the perfect compromise between a modern look and the good old fruit machine classic.
Burning Stars Xmas edition | ||||||||
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RTP | Release date | Reels | Lines | Volatility | Min. bet | Max. bet | Max. win | Software |
96,12% | 2021 | 3 | 3 | Medium | 0.1 | 10000 | 2,187x | Wazdan |
Absolute Ripper Reels
Absolute Ripper Reels by iSoftBet is a 2021 pokie with a decent RTP of 96%. You’ve got multipliers and free spins, and a classic 3-3 layout. With stakes ranging between 0.75 and 75, this pokie will be enjoyed by those into classic games of this sort with smaller or bigger budgets alike. The graphics are pretty basic, with the best-designed piece being the pokie's name appearing on the reels as a logo. Nevertheless, with its medium volatility and a maximum win of 400x, it may be a great option to consider.
Absolute Ripper Reels | ||||||||
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RTP | Release date | Reels | Lines | Volatility | Min. bet | Max. bet | Max. win | Software |
96% | 2021 | 3 | 3 | Medium | 0.75 | 75 | 400x | iSoftBet |
Gift Rush
Gift Rush is a 3-reel pokie with 5 paylines by BGAMING. What sets it apart from many other classic games of this type is some extra attention paid to the visuals. You’ve got candy canes, mittens, Xmas tree stars, baubles, gingerbread men, and the like. The pokie itself conveys a really jolly atmosphere. Despite its modern maximum win of x499, it comes with medium volatility and an attractive RTP of 96%, making it a great game to try if you are only starting to get a better feel of the classic pokie scene.
Gift Rush | ||||||||
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RTP | Release date | Reels | Lines | Volatility | Min. bet | Max. bet | Max. win | Software |
96% | 2022 | 3 | 5 | Medium | 0.1 | 300 | 499x | BGaming |
Play 3 reels slots for free - no download required
How about playing the best quality slots with 3 reels without going anywhere and signing up with a new casino? This is very much possible, courtesy of Smartpokies! All you need to do is pick the pokie to your liking among those reviewed by our expert team and get playing! Here is what you do step by step:
- Find the pokie you like after checking out our review and table that gives all the basic information
- Press PLAY FOR FREE (a button shown on the pokies preview when you hover over). *Pressing PLAY FOR REAL will get you redirected to the casino website where you can sign up, make a deposit and play.
- Wait for the game to load and see what the fuss is all about.
How to win real money at 3 reel online pokies
With 5-reel pokies dominating the gambling industry, players still have a decent choice of classic 3-reel slots. These remain popular for a number of reasons. Such pokies always pay both ways while also being simple to master. That has to do with them missing, in many cases, all the fancy features like multipliers, scatters, wilds, and the like. Besides, you can find 3-reelers that come with jackpots, which certainly adds more fun to the game. So how do you go about winning while playing those?
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Mind the RTP
If you have played pokies for a while now, you know RTP is one of the key parameters. Does the fact a pokie has 3 reels mean it will have great RTP or the kind that won't even turn your head? The truth is, the sheer number of reels does not affect the RTP of any given pokie. Therefore, rather than making a generic decision to play or not play such games, it helps to actually study the RTP of the given pokie. Some of them may be low while others may cross over the 97% threshold which makes the game very appealing.
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Consider the volatility
As you probably know, high volatility means infrequent but large wins while low volatility means the opposite. Many assume 3-reelers come with low volatility and are simply incapable of producing wins that would be even mildly impressive. However, this is a mistake you should not be making. The fact is, 3-reel online slots often come with high or very high volatility. It has to do with the reel count being low, which means even as few as 3 symbols can render an immense win.
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Play for free
Free play is the best way to evaluate any pokie for yourself without risking any money. When playing for free, you are under no obligation to switch to real money, but even after you run out of the amount you started with. Playing 3-reel pokies allows you to get a better feel of the game and check if certain strategies you try pan out. And don’t make the mistake of thinking playing for free is different from playing for real money in terms of outcomes. Random Number Generators are used either way, so every outcome you get and manage to analyze shapes up a better picture of the pokie you are dealing with.
Over at Smartpokies, you can play any of the free 3 reel slots! It’s easy – just press Play for fun on the pokie preview and wait for the game to load. We do make it super easy for you to try the best games without any strings attached!
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Take advantage of casino bonuses
Modern casinos are all about motivating players to make that first deposit. It makes sense that the first welcome bonus is the most generous, too. You can count on 100% of your deposit up to a certain amount – and that gives you double the budget you’d be playing with! It’s wise to double your bankroll just like that, especially since that does not take any extra effort on your part.
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Get familiar with the paytable
All pokies got paytables, which break down all the wins you could score and the symbols it takes. It helps to know which symbols are more lucrative than others. Knowing this, you will be able to build your strategy and see if it’s working. Some of the features also require higher bets to be made, which will also give you a better idea of how to handle the gameplay.
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Keep to your budget
Making a budget and sticking to it is always important. The budget needs to be set before you start playing for real money and should not change in short term. The best advice is the boring "only bet what you can afford to lose". It's true though. Sticking to the boring budget and not budging helps you manage your finances and afford to come back for more.
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Don’t chase after the elusive jackpots
The bigger the jackpot – the more players are eager to get it, and the smaller your chances of accomplishing that dream. Smaller jackpots do tend to pay out more often, and you could easily get one if you are persistent, instead of losing all your money chasing after the huge jackpot everyone wants.
Try best 3 reel pokies for free
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30x
You will have to wager bonus 40x times the bonus value to clear the bonus!
Advantages of 3-reel pokies
So why do players love three-reel slots so much? Some companies make a point of releasing new ones from time to time. It seems to be more like a fashion statement by many players out there. But the reasons for their popularity must run deeper, so let's have a look at some of them below.
Great for new players
Classic slots, both those made years ago and modern releases, are great for newbies to get comfortable with. They boast the much-needed simplicity and spare the player the heavy weight of endless special features and bonuses. Your head does not get spinning as soon as you start studying the paytable and trying to learn all the rules and exceptions. Besides, modern features aren’t necessarily boosting your chances to win. Instead, they are there to add more visual thrill to the game without having any effect on how likely you are to win – more or in general.
Your budget will last longer
As mentioned before, many modern pokies with 5 reels and over boast an immense number of bonus features. Some of those take higher bets – as in you are supposed to bet on all active lines to score a win. 3-reel slot machines don’t come with all those twists and turns, instead offering three reels that will keep your budget going for longer than otherwise. If playing pokies is not just about the result for you but a process, you should appreciate that.
Sentimental value
This one is not just about remembering a specific pokie you used to play. It’s also about many modern 3D pokies that look like movies and TV shows these days. There is animation, crazy plotlines, and whatnot. Classic pokies spare you the torture of having to thrash through all that pizazz, allowing you to focus on what matters more
FAQ
What are 3 reel slots?
They are pokies that have 3 reels and typically few or no special features.
Are 3-reel slots the best?
It’s the classic example of tastes differing. Some players are into 3-reel slots for the reasons listed above while others prefer 5-reelers.
Are classic 3-reel pokies better than 5-reel ones?
Some players will argue vehemently that they are. Others may disagree, as these pokies can be quite different.