Reel Gambler was launched in 2019 by the UK-based developer Realistic Games. One glance upon this slot takes us back through time and places us in front of a traditional European cabinet-style machine. Well, not completely traditional. This machine is not a mechanical one-armed bandit seen in old-timey pubs. It is a modern electronic cabinet with a retro feel and all the zings and dings we like to hear. The game is a 3-reel, 3-row slot with 5 paylines which is the basic pattern of the first generation of slot machines, land-based and online.
No matter how far advanced modern online slots are, casino lovers and slots fans will always crave the traditional format due to its simplicity and instant payouts without too many complications and additional steps towards getting a sizeable balance boost. This generates the need for slots like Reel Gambler, machines that are based on the traditional experience but feature quality graphics and stunning visual effects. Reel Gambler comes with a creative solution of giving the player a chance to choose between two camera views. One focuses on the reels, whereas the other one takes a step back and shows the user the entire cabinet and its surroundings.
The paytable contains symbols such as a single bar, bells, oranges, watermelons, grapes and cherries. There are not given much effort in terms of animation; instead, they are left flat and traditional. The game's logo also joins the symbols as the highest paying icon, and the colourful word “BONUS” plays the role of the triggering factor for the one bonus round in the game. The five lines are active on every spin and three of the same symbols on one of them are enough to award a payout.
Once the bonus round is triggered, the player will be awarded a random feature: Win Series, Multiplier, Red Repeater, Full House, Black to Black, Stop a Fruit or Spin a Win. In Win Series, the player clicks on Start and spins multiple wins, after which they are all added together and credited to the player’s balance. Q, K and A symbols are omitted from the Multiplier feature, but other icons represent multiplier values added to the extra spin win. Random cards are drawn inRed Repeater and the key is to draw as many red cards to prolong re-spins and wins.
For a basic slot, with basic looks and a basic structure, Reel Gambler is jam-packed with features that have been thought through very well and executed in an adequate, fun way. The RTP is a bit below the industry standard and it can be seen as the only downside of this particular Realistic Games product. The game ticks all the other boxes and represents a rarity in the endless sea of online slot games we sail daily.
