Return to player percentage
95.8%
Minimum wager
0.09
Slot format
Video Slots
Volatility 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 slot review
NetEnt’s original Reel Steal may date to 2008, while its 2018 revamp retains the same action, including 25x multipliers and free spins, with added mobile optimization.
Theme and Storyline
Reel Steal plunges players into an 80’s gangster setting, where mob bosses and police detectives clash in the streets. The free spins bonus round offers the game’s greatest prize potential when Wilds combine.
In the base game, the Wild can add 5x multipliers to winning paylines, establishing its role in Reel Steal’s storyline. Other themed symbols also pay prizes and help explain the game’s lasting popularity.
Visuals, Audio, and Animations
The game’s 2008 roots show in graphics and design that reflect the decade, but its dated look does not rule out an entertaining experience.
The symbol artwork fits the gangster setting, but the background is simple, with most of its design concentrated in the top left-hand corner. The rest is plain colour—an area that could have been refreshed when the game was re-released in 2018.
A funky soundtrack suits the 80s setting. The original review welcomed the decision to leave these small gameplay touches intact in the revamped edition, as they may appeal to fans of the original.
Top casinos to play Reel Steal:
Gameplay overview
Reel Steal has five reels, three rows, and nine paylines. Lower-value symbols depict a gun, camera, bag of cash, briefcase, and safe full of cash. Higher-value symbols portray characters such as the mob boss and detectives. The man with the gun offers the game’s biggest prize: up to 1500x your stake for five symbols on any active payline.
The Wild and Scatter symbols open the way to bonus rounds and larger prize multipliers. The Wild appears as a yellow car, while dynamite is the Scatter that triggers the free spins bonus round. There are no other special symbols, and the game has few paylines, but the available multiplier sizes are presented as its main prize potential.
Bonuses and free spins
The Wild is the first feature to watch, with its multiplier depending on where it lands. In the base game, it gives a 5x multiplier on each winning payline it connects with. During free spins, that rises to 25x, creating the possibility of larger prizes.
Landing the Scatter triggers free spins and gives you a chance to find the 25x multiplier. Three Scatters award 15 spins, four award 20, and all five symbols on the reels grant 25 free spins in total.
Scatters can also pay at random, without requiring payline combinations. Five Scatters anywhere on the reels award a 100x multiplier, while two double your stake.
Bet sizes, RTP and variance
The minimum bet per spin is €0.09, rising to €45 for high-stakes players. The RTP is 95.87%, with high variance. The 25x multipliers may be hard to trigger, and the review suggests having a balance that can withstand major swings, as players may go through stretches with very few wins.
Final thoughts
Reel Steal may be familiar from its first appearance at online casinos in 2008. Evan Carrington’s original review, presented here by Al Buraq Regina, describes the revamped version as retaining the original gameplay for newcomers to iGaming. Its funky soundtrack and large multipliers may appeal, but the review emphasizes understanding the high variance and playing patiently when pursuing bigger prizes.
Evan Carrington brings more than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, specializing in online casino reviews, slot game analysis, and player safety assessments. Their expertise includes casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms, and withdrawal policies. Combining hands-on reviews with independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based coverage to help players understand gambling platforms, their features, and possible risks.
