Quick Stats
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Provider | NetEnt |
| Game Type | Video Slot |
| RTP | 96.96% (operator versions may vary) |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Reels / Rows | 5 × 5 (default layout: 1-3-5-3-1) |
| Paylines | 45–3,125 Ways to Win |
| Min Bet | $0.50 |
| Max Bet | $100.00 |
| Max Win | 1,000x stake |
| Features | Re-Spins, Wild, Free Spins |
| Theme | Retro Candy & Fruit, Arcade |
| Release Date | 25 July 2013 |
| Platform | Desktop & Mobile |
What Is Reel Rush?
Reel Rush is a fruit and candy pokie that ditches the standard rectangular grid in favour of a diamond-shaped layout — one symbol on reel 1, three on reel 2, five on reel 3, three on reel 4, and one on reel 5. That gives you just 45 active ways to win at the start of each spin. The hook is what happens next. Land a winning combination and the grid expands, unlocking more positions with each re-spin. Hit wins across five consecutive re-spins and the entire 5×5 grid opens up for 3,125 ways to win and 8 free spins.
The visuals and soundtrack draw directly from early 1990s arcade and console gaming — think chunky pixel art, boiled sweets, and fruity icons against a cheerful countryside backdrop. It doesn’t aim for cinematic polish. What it aims for is the same addictive loop that made those cartridge games impossible to put down.
This game suits players who enjoy a structured escalating mechanic and don’t need a high-variance jackpot to stay engaged. It is not the right call if you’re chasing 5,000x+ payouts or want a modern feature-dense slot with buy-in options.
RTP and Volatility
The standard RTP is 96.96%, which sits meaningfully above the industry average of 95–96%. In plain terms: over millions of spins, the game returns roughly $96.96 for every $100 wagered. That is a long-run theoretical figure — a single session of 50 or 100 spins will play out very differently.
One important note: RTP can be adjusted by the operator. The blackspins.com listing quotes 96%, while NetEnt’s own game page and the majority of independent sources confirm 96.96% as the default. If the RTP at your specific casino matters to you, check the in-game paytable or the operator’s game information page before you play.
Medium volatility means Reel Rush lands somewhere between a grind and a thrill ride. You can expect wins with reasonable frequency — multiple sources point to a hit rate somewhere around 3 to 5 spins between payouts in the base game — but the big returns are tied to completing re-spin chains and reaching the free spins. A $20 session at $0.50 per spin gives you 40 spins to work with; medium volatility makes it realistic to still have chips at the end of that run, though not guaranteed.
Betting Range
Minimum bet is $0.50 per spin, set by adjusting the bet level (1–10) and coin value (0.01–0.20). The two figures are multiplied, then applied across 50 positions to produce the total stake. Maximum bet is $100 per spin. At 1,000x maximum win, a $0.50 spin can return up to $500, while a $100 spin has a theoretical ceiling of $100,000 — though reaching that peak requires hitting the jackpot-equivalent payout in free spins.
Set your coin value and level before you start. Changing them mid-session won’t carry over to re-spins already in progress.
How to Play Reel Rush — Step by Step
- Set your bet. Use the Bet Level and Coin Value buttons at the bottom of the screen. Multiply them together and then by 50 to confirm your stake per spin.
- Check the paytable. Tap the wrench or info icon to see all symbol payouts, the re-spin progression table, and full game rules before committing real money.
- Hit Spin. Press the large green SPIN button. The 1-3-5-3-1 grid will animate and the RNG will determine outcomes.
- Watch for wins. Matching symbols must land on consecutive reels from left to right, starting on reel 1. Three or more matching symbols form a win — low-paying candy symbols pay from 3 of a kind; high-paying fruit symbols pay from 5 of a kind.
- Track your re-spins. Every win triggers an automatic re-spin. The winning symbols lock in place, new positions open on the grid, and the active ways to win increase. This can chain up to five times.
- Reach free spins. If you land a win on your fifth consecutive re-spin, 8 free spins begin on a fully unlocked 5×5 grid. This is where the game’s biggest payouts are most likely.
- Collect after free spins. There are no retriggers in the free spins round and no gamble feature — your winnings are collected automatically.
Try this: Demo the game at $0.50 per spin for 20 rounds before increasing your stake, just to get a feel for how often re-spin chains actually reach the 4th and 5th step.
Symbols and Paytable
Reel Rush uses ten symbols — five low-payers and five high-payers — along with a Wild.
The five low-paying symbols are coloured boiled sweets (red, blue, green, yellow, and purple oval candies). They each pay identically. Three matching candies return 5x your coin bet; five matching candies return 50x. Crucially, you cannot mix colours — only identical symbols count.
The five high-paying symbols are fruit icons styled as candy: plum, grapes, watermelon, lemon, pineapple, and strawberry. These only pay from five of a kind on the full grid. Payouts for five matching fruits range from 100x (plum) up to 1,000x (strawberry), with grapes at 150x, watermelon at 200x, lemon at 250x, and pineapple at 500x.
Note: these coin-value figures come from multiple independent sources and the source page, but exact monetary values depend on your active coin setting. Always confirm in the in-game paytable.
The Wild symbol appears on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 — not reel 1. It substitutes for all other symbols and has no value of its own. Because there is no scatter in Reel Rush, the Wild carries extra weight; it regularly converts near-misses into wins that then trigger re-spins.
Bonus Features
Re-Spins
Every winning combination triggers an automatic re-spin. The symbols forming that win lock in position. Simultaneously, additional positions on the grid unlock, increasing the active ways to win. The unlock sequence follows a set progression — starting from 45 ways, then 252, 504, 1,080, 2,025, and finally 3,125. Each new winning re-spin moves you one step up that ladder. If a re-spin produces no win, the sequence resets and a fresh spin begins at 45 ways.
The re-spin chain rewards patience. Single wins early in a session have low payout value, but if you chain three or four consecutive re-spins, the expanding grid starts stacking winning positions quickly. Watch the grid, not just the individual payout number.
Free Spins
Land a win on your fifth consecutive re-spin — meaning six wins in a row total — and you trigger 8 free spins. The entire 5×5 grid is fully unlocked for the full duration. All 3,125 ways to win are active on every single free spin. The Wild continues to substitute for all symbols. There are no retriggers. What you get is eight shots at the game’s highest possible payout configuration.
This is where Reel Rush earns its keep. Getting to free spins requires a chain that most sessions won’t complete — but when it lands, you’re playing the most powerful version of the grid for 8 straight rounds.
Is Reel Rush Worth Playing?
Pros:
- RTP of 96.96% is well above the typical operator average, giving better long-run value than most slots on the same lobby.
- The expanding re-spin mechanic is genuinely engaging. Each win has stakes beyond its face value — you’re building toward something.
- Medium volatility makes it playable across a range of budgets without burning through a bankroll in five minutes.
- Mobile-optimised via HTML5, plays cleanly on smartphones without a separate app.
Cons:
- Maximum win of 1,000x stake is modest by 2025 standards. Many comparable-volatility slots offer 5,000x or more.
- High-paying symbols require 5 of a kind, which only lands consistently on the fully expanded grid — you need to chain wins just to access the better payouts.
- No retriggers in free spins and no gamble feature limits the upside once you’re in the bonus round.
- The fruit and candy theme is simple, and the visuals are dated compared to modern releases.
Reel Rush is a well-constructed classic that rewards players who enjoy a mechanics-driven slot over a jackpot-driven one. Its RTP and medium volatility make it a reasonable choice for NZ players who want sustainable sessions rather than high-risk swings. If you regularly compare slots on max-win ceiling, look elsewhere — but if the re-spin escalation sounds fun and you can live without a 10,000x headline number, this one holds up.
Responsible Gambling
Reel Rush uses a certified random number generator. Every outcome is independent, random, and cannot be predicted or influenced by previous spins or patterns. Set a firm budget before you start and treat it as the cost of entertainment. If gambling stops feeling like fun, contact local responsible gambling services for support.