The thrill of watching those slot machine reels spin around and around, lighting up with cherries, bells, and bars as they go, holds an enduring appeal for many casino-goers. But over the last couple of decades, slot manufacturers have moved more and more towards video slots over the classic mechanical ones. And one of the most popular types of video slots to emerge is cascading reels games. These provide Casino Nine players with extra winning chances that simply aren’t possible on normal slots. Read on to find out exactly how cascading reels work and what makes them so exciting.
What Are Cascading Reels?
Cascading reels, also sometimes known as tumbling reels, are a special feature found on some video slots. They work differently than standard slots. With normal slots, when you spin and form a winning combination along a payline, those symbols disappear, and the remaining ones fall down to fill the gaps. And then the round ends.
But with cascading reel slots, whenever you hit a win, the winning symbols disappear and are instantly replaced by new symbols tumbling in from above. This can sometimes create new winning combos, again and again, from a single spin. Essentially, each spin can result in multiple consecutive wins as the symbols cascade down the reels.
Some Key Benefits of Cascading Reels
This cascading tumbling action brings some major benefits for players:
- More winning chances – Each spin can result in a series of consecutive wins as new symbols cascade down. So your chances of winning are dramatically increased.
- Bigger payouts – With more wins per spin, your overall payouts per spin will obviously be higher. Those wins all add up!
- More excitement – Seeing those symbols tumble down with the chance of multiple wins keeps the excitement high and makes gameplay more dynamic.
- Special features – Many cascading reel slots have innovative bonus features that are activated by the tumbling symbols, like multipliers.
Some Popular Cascading Reel Slots
Cascading reels first started appearing in land-based casinos in 2003 with the game Money Honey by Aristocrat. But they really took off in popularity online. Here are some top examples that you can find at most online casinos:
- Gonzo’s Quest – This slot with a Spanish conquistador theme is one of the most popular ever made. Its cascading reels make multiple wins and blast your balance skywards.
- Jammin’ Jars – Push the plunger to release the fruit in this vibrant, candy-colored game. The hip-hop soundtrack picks up in pace with every consecutive cascade win.
- Reactoonz – This features a fun cast of alien-like characters and a 7×7 reel layout for even more tumbling symbol action.
- Book of Dead – Embark on an Indiana Jones-style adventure in this Egyptian excavation-themed game where scarab beetles and sarcophagus symbols cascade down.
Mechanics Behind Cascading Reels
So, how do these slots actually work? The programming behind them utilizes random number generation to determine the symbols produced with each spin.
When you hit spin:
- The RNG produces a random sequence that correlates to specific symbols on the reels
- The reels spin and stop to show the result
- If a winning combo is formed, those symbols disappear
- The RNG generates another random sequence to fill the empty spots
- If new wins are formed from the replacement symbols, steps 3-5 repeat
- When no more new wins are created, the round ends
The key point is that each time new symbols cascade down in steps 4 and 5, they bring new winning chances. This is why some slots pay out 97%-98% in the long run – far higher than the average 92%-95% for normal video slots. The extra winning potential balances out the higher volatility.
Are Cascading Reel Games Right for You?
These types of slots appeal most to players who:
- Enjoy lively, fast-paced games with a dynamic feel
- Like slots with higher volatility for bigger (but less frequent) payouts
- Want more excitement and winning chances compared to classic slots
So, if the standard video slots feel a bit stale, give cascading reels a try. Tumbling down those reels as symbols explode and multiply could rain rewards in your direction!