5-reel slots are among the most numerous games on our “Types of casino games” list. Pop into most of the best online casino websites, and you will likely find hundreds of slots, most of which will be based on the typical 5-reel slot machine.

As well as being the staple of the online gaming world, these games are also arguably the most prosperous to play if you want to win large sums of cash.

They come in all sorts of shapes, styles, and themes, and each is likely to have a varying array of special features which put you in a better position to win real money.

If you were also wondering when is the best time to play slot machines at a casino, here’s the answer.

If you are new to the world of online gambling, then we are happy to introduce you to 5-reel slots. Read on to learn more…

The summary of the article

Most online casinos offer 5-reel slots, some considering them the best online slots. However, the best domains will provide free 5-reel slots with no download necessary. They will offer the best casino payment methods, support options and games, and dish out offers such as free online slots with bonuses. 

Here are just a few of the best online casinos offering real money 5-reel slots…

Top 10 online casinos with the best 5 Reel Slots [2023] - Updated list

Rank

Casino

Sign Up Bonus

Safe & Trusted

Rating

Get Started

1
Up to €1750 + 50 Free Spins
Yes
Rating 9.99 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
2
jackpoty small logo
Up to €2000
Yes
Rating 9.98 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
3
Up to €3500 + 270 Free Spins
Yes
Rating 9.98 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
4
bc.game small logo
Up to 1260% Bonus
Yes
Rating 9.97 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
5
Up to €1000
Yes
Rating 9.97 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
6
100% up to €500 + 200 Free Spins
Yes
Rating 9.95 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
7
Up to €500 + 150 Free Spins
Yes
Rating 9.93 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
8
100% Up To €300
Yes
Rating 9.90 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
9
ohmyspins smallest logo
100% up to €500 + 200 Free Spins
Yes
Rating 9.85 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
10
Up to €3500 + 100 Free Spins
Yes
Rating 9.81 out of 10
See moreGet bonus

What is in a name? The meaning of 5-reel slots

Five-reel slots go by many names. They are commonly called video slots. Down under and in New Zealand they may be called pokies. Both names refer to their original video cabinet style of gameplay in brick and mortar casinos.

Some titles are 3D slots with impressive, snazzy graphics. Others are mobile slots, on account of their ability to be played via phones and tablets. There are even free online slots you can play. They are all, by and large, one and the same, though.

As their name suggests, they differ from 3-reel slots (classic slots) on account of there being five reels for you to spin. They do work in largely the same way, though, so let us take a closer look at that.

Special features in 5-reel slots

Most 5-reel slot machines come with several bonuses that you can enjoy. A bonus game may consist of free spins (you can spin the reels for free), an instant win bonus (click on a symbol to win a prize, like a scratch card), or wild symbols. The latter can act as a joker in a deck of cards and be used to act in the stead of any icon you may need to land a win. 

Most of these games are sometimes called the best bonus slots although the number of features they offer and the features themselves vary from title to title. Let us look at some of them:

Multiple bonuses

Some games contain just a free spin bonus. Others can contain free spins, instant win bonuses and a great deal of other special features.

Features

Some of those other features may include progressive (uncapped) jackpot prizes, a variety of wild (joker) icons such as expanding wilds, or multipliers, as well as re-spins and free spins.

Interactive games

A handful of games may also include interactive games with slot machine bonus rounds. These involve selected from a series of items on the screen to win cash prizes.

Video/sound effects

Video slots tend to be more thematic than classic, 3 reel slots. Expect a gripping soundtrack, unique special effects, and dazzling symbols in 5-reel slots, especially in those which are themed on franchises such as movies and games.

Scatter symbols

Scatter symbols get their name because they count no matter where they land on the reels, like the Fishcat symbol in OMG Kittens slot machine. They will usually provide wins, but most will also trigger any number of the bonuses mentioned above.

Paylines

The number of paylines in a 5-reel slot can vary. While classic slots typically allow you to play with between 1 and 5 lines, 5-reel slots may dish out as many as 256, or even more. The majority though will be between standard 20 line slots and 30 line slots, such as the Thundercats slot.

As you can see, there are a few things to learn about, and they can differ from game to game. With that in mind, playing free 5-reel slots with bonus features is a great way to get your practice in, and learn which game is ideally suited to you.

How to play 5-reel slots online

It is relatively straightforward to learn how to play 5-reel slot machines. Each game features a set of five reels, and upon those reels sit symbols. Every time the reels spin, they will come to a stop, displaying a random array of symbols. Players will win coins if they match up three or more symbols from the leftmost reel to the rightmost. Those symbols must land on paylines or predetermined positions on the reels which can be viewed from the paytable. 

A player can choose to place a bet anywhere between a predetermined minimum and maximum limit. They may also be able to adjust the number of paylines (ways to win) in each game. The best way of exploring these options is to engage in free online slots with bonus, via demos at casinos and the websites of software providers.

How to win playing 5-reel slots

Slots are games of chance, and yet, bagging a win playing real money slots is not as difficult as it sounds. Here are five steps to bear in mind if you want to win…

1️⃣ Take advantage of a real money no deposit slots offer, to boost your balance

2️⃣ Play slots which have low variance if you want to win regularly, but smaller sums

3️⃣ Play slots which are highly volatile if you want big wins, although, they do not pay out regularly

4️⃣ Look for games which feature a high RTP rate

5️⃣ Avoid playing slots which feature too many symbols. The more symbols there are, the more likely you are to find a useless one ruining a potential winning combination

The most popular 5-reel slots you can play online

The most popular slot games online tend to be 5-reel slots. Players love these types of online casino games, and some stand out above the rest. You will find the best 5-reel slots below in our most popular casino slot machines list:

5-Reel Slot

Developer

Volatility

RTP Rate

Special Bonuses

Mega Moolah
Developer
Microgaming
Volatility
Low
RTP Rate
88.12%
Special Bonuses
Progressive jackpot, free spins
Mega Fortune
Developer
NetEnt
Volatility
Medium
RTP Rate
96.6%
Special Bonuses
Progressive jackpot, free spins
Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead
Developer
Play ‘n Go
Volatility
High
RTP Rate
96.21%
Special Bonuses
Free spins, expanding symbols
Book of Ra
Developer
Novomatic
Volatility
Medium/High
RTP Rate
94.26%
Special Bonuses
Free spins, expanding symbols
Starburst
Developer
NetEnt
Volatility
Low
RTP Rate
96.09%
Special Bonuses
Free spins, expanding wilds

3-reel slots vs. 5-reel slots – The breakdown

3 Reel Slots

🔴 Often lack the extensive number of paylines found in video slots

🔴 Tend to ignore bonus features such as free spins

🔴 Many do not even use wild symbols, the most basic bonus found in slots

🔴 Seldom tend to be themed, with many of their symbols based on classic fruit machines

5 Reel Slots

🔵 Often come with a plethora of paylines and more adjustable wagering range

🔵 Often have themes, reflected in the symbols

🔵 Will likely come with a variety of bonuses which take place on a second screen

🔵 Some can even deliver multi-million-euro progressive jackpot prizes among other things

While playing a classic slot is straightforward, you should try and get some practice in with free 5-reel slots before you play. Playing free five-reel slots will allow you to become familiar with all the features and concepts of a game before you wager real money on it.

5-reel slots: The good and the bad

As with anything, five-reel slot games have both pros and cons. Here are some of them:

PROS
  • A variety of themes ensures there is something for everyone
  • Some carry multi-million-euro jackpot prizes
  • Most carry special features such as free spins
  • They are commonly found in all major casinos
  • With so many features, you can get a helping hand to land wins
CONS
  • The payback percentage (RTP) varies, so you need to do your homework first
  • 5-reel slots may contain many symbols; the best games are those with few symbols

The best casino software developers offering top 5-reel slots

While you can always find top Aristocrat slots, Blueprint slots, Nextgen Gaming slots, and Williams Interactive slots at online casinos, there are other software providers out there which offer more popular games. Bally’s slots include the Titanic slot machine, and BetSoft slots such as the Lucky 7 slot are always worth a punt. However, the biggest and best online casino software providers in the business and their top games include:

Our FAQ on 5-reel video slots – Everything you need to know

If you want to learn more about special features in these games, then we strongly recommend that you play 5-reel slots for free. If you have questions about slots in general, our FAQ guide may be able to help.

5-reel slots you can find online are games which are often themed, contain 5 spinning reels, a wealth of symbols and often, many special bonus rounds. They are arguably more profitable to players than classic slots.
No, but they are different. The two games offer different styles of gameplay. Three-reel slots are simpler and easier to get to grips with, but 5-reel slots offer a wealth of bonuses amongst other goodies.
Not really. The number of reels in place does not change much, but the number of symbols appearing on those reels does. The more symbols a slot has, the more difficult it will be to get them into winning combinations.
This is up to you. However, we would recommend you start by playing free games for slots with 5-reels and 3-reels and see which one you like the most.
Microgaming and Net Entertainment, are the two biggest developers of slots for instant play and mobile users. RTG is the biggest provider of 5-reel slots which are free to download.
In theory, yes, but there are exceptions. Almost all online casinos offer 5-reel slots. The only ones which do not are those licensed out of countries where games of chance (which slots are) are not legal.
If you want to win frequently but smaller sums, play low variance games. If you fancy big wins but do not mind those wins appearing far apart, then highly volatile games are for you. You need a big budget for the latter, though.

Play 5-reel slots online for real money today

While it is advantageous to learn to play 5-reel slots for free online, eventually you will want to start spinning those reels for real money. One of the best ways to do this is to choose an excellent casino. Our page not only details the best 5-reel slots you can play but also an array of top casino sites.

Our recommended casinos carry top online casino bonuses, have a superb security policy, and are licensed and certified for fair gaming. Check out our recommended casinos to play the best 5-reel slots online today.

Other related articles you might enjoy: