Return-to-player percentage
95.8%
Minimum wager
0.09
Slot format
Video Slots
Variance level
High
Reel count
5
Progressive jackpot
No
Popularity status
Maximum wager
45
Game provider
NetEnt
Bonus features
Yes
Payline count
9
Theme
Gangster
Reel Steal online slot review
NetEnt's original Reel Steal may have been released in 2008, while the 2018 revamp retains the same action, including 25x multipliers and free spins, with added optimisation for mobile play.
Theme and storyline
Reel Steal drops players into an 80’s gangster setting where mob bosses and police detectives face off in the streets. The free spins bonus round offers the game's greatest prize potential when the Wilds are combined.
In the base game, the Wild can already add 5x multipliers to winning paylines, making its potential in the Reel Steal storyline clear. Other symbols tied to the theme also award prizes and help explain the lasting popularity of this classic.
Visuals, audio and animations
The game's 2008 origins are apparent in graphics and design that closely reflect that decade, although the dated presentation does not remove the entertainment offered by the game.
The symbol artwork suits the gangster setting, but the background receives limited attention, with a simple design concentrated in the top left-hand corner. The remaining area is plain colour, something that could have been refreshed when the game was re-released in 2018.
The soundtrack uses a funky-styled song that suits the 80s setting. The original review welcomed the decision not to overhaul these small gameplay touches in the revamped edition, since keeping them intact should appeal to fans of the original game.
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Gameplay overview
Reel Steal runs across five reels and three rows, with nine paylines overall. Lower-value symbols depict the gun, camera, bag of cash, briefcase and safe of cash. Higher-value symbols represent characters such as the mob boss and detectives. The man with the gun offers the biggest in-game prize: up to 1500x your stake with five symbols on any active payline.
The Wild and Scatter symbols unlock the route to bonus rounds and larger prize multipliers. The Wild appears as a yellow car, while dynamite represents the Scatter and leads to the free spins bonus round. There are no other symbols in play, and the paylines are few, but the available multiplier sizes are presented as the game's main reward potential.
Bonuses and free spins
The Wild is the first feature to note, with its multiplier changing according to where it appears. During the base game, it supplies a 5x multiplier on every winning payline it connects to. If it lands during free spins, that multiplier rises to 25x, creating the possibility of the slot's larger prizes.
Landing the Scatter triggers the free spins round and provides the opportunity to find the 25x multiplier. Three Scatters award 15 spins, four award 20 spins, and all five symbols on the reels provide 25 free spins in total.
Scatters can also pay at random, so payline combinations are not required. Five Scatters landing anywhere on the reels award a 100x multiplier, while just two of them double your stake.
Bet sizes, RTP and variance
The per-spin minimum is €0.09, increasing to €45 for high-stakes players. RTP is set to 95.87%, alongside high variance. The 25x multipliers may be difficult to trigger and suggests a balance large enough to withstand the game's major swings, warning that players might experience stretches with very few wins.
Final thoughts
Reel Steal may be familiar from its first appearance at online casinos in 2008, but Evan Carrington's original review, presented here by GCCans, describes the revamped version as retaining the original gameplay for newcomers to iGaming. Its funky soundtrack and large multipliers may attract interest, while the review stresses the importance of understanding high variance and playing patiently when pursuing the game's larger prizes.
With 12+ years of experience in the iGaming industry, Evan specializes in reviewing online casinos, analyzing slot games, and evaluating player safety. Their expertise covers casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus conditions, and withdrawal policies. Through hands-on testing and independent research, Evan delivers transparent, fact-based reviews to help players better understand gambling platforms, their features, and potential risks.
