Rainbow Riches Reels of Gold slot

What the Reels of Gold slot is

Reels of Gold is part of the long-running Rainbow Riches series, which Barcrest started in 2006. Barcrest has roots in the Manchester area, began with two staff in 1968 and is now part of Light & Wonder, the US group previously known as Scientific Games. Wikipedia's page on Light & Wonder's history (opens in a new tab) covers how Barcrest came into the group.

What sets this game apart from the original Rainbow Riches slot is its split screen. A normal grid sits on the left, and a much taller set of colossal reels sits to its right. You can find more Irish-themed and pub-style games in our slots hub and on the Barcrest studio page.

Two grids on one phone screen

The layout is the first thing to think about on mobile. The main grid has 5 × 4 = 20 symbol positions, and the colossal set has 5 × 12 = 60, so the screen is showing 80 positions at once. On a tablet that reads easily; on a small phone each symbol is tiny.

Barcrest hasn't published a preferred orientation that we can confirm. Rotating the phone sideways usually gives a wide two-grid layout more room, but check how your app displays it. Our guide to landscape vs portrait mode explains why some games force one orientation, and the phone vs tablet comparison is worth a look if you play busy games often.

How the features work

The two reel sets. Rainbow Riches Reels of Gold places its main grid alongside the colossal reels on the right, and both spin together on every play. The paytable explains how wins are counted across them.

The fairy. In the base game a fairy can appear at random and add a feature, such as reel multipliers or extra wilds. It arrives without warning and can't be triggered on purpose.

Free spins and the balloon pick. Three or more scatters trigger free spins. Before they start you pick balloons, and those picks decide how many spins you get. There is no skill in the pick: the outcome is random, so no balloon is a better choice than another.

The feature details here are the main ones Barcrest's specifications describe. Exact multiplier values and spin counts are in the game's help screen.

Reels of Gold RTP: why it changes with your stake

Many Barcrest games, including several in the Rainbow Riches family, set a different RTP for different stake levels. Barcrest's typical range is around 94% to 96%. For Reels of Gold the published figure is up to 96%, which means at least some stakes return less.

In pounds, that range matters. Using standard game maths (expected loss = amount staked × (100% − RTP)), the cost per £100 staked is £4 at 96% and £6 at 94%. On the same session, the stake you choose could change your expected cost by half as much again.

The only reliable way to know your figure is to check. The Gambling Commission's technical standards require game rules and return information to be available to players, and in apps that usually means the game's help or paytable screen.

1. Open Reels of Gold and set the stake you intend to play at.
2. Open the game's help, rules or information screen.
3. Look for the RTP or return to player section, which may list figures by stake.
4. Note the RTP for your chosen stake, not just the highest figure.
5. If it is lower than you'd like, compare a different stake or a different game.

Our guide on finding a game's RTP in an app has plain steps for the most common app layouts, and the high RTP casino apps list looks at which apps make this information easy to find.

A £20 budget on Reels of Gold

Because volatility isn't published in the specifications we could verify, it's best to plan as though a session can swing either way. Fix the budget first, then pick the stake.

• 10p a spin: 200 spins from £20. The most time for your money and the best chance of seeing the free spins.
• 50p a spin: 40 spins. A short session; the bonus may not appear at all.
• £1 a spin: 20 spins. Very short, and the stake-linked RTP may differ from the 10p figure.

Whatever you choose, the house edge means the expected result is a loss. Treat the budget as money spent on entertainment, and stop when it's gone rather than topping up. A deposit limit set in the app before you start makes that easier.

Reels of Gold vs other Rainbow Riches slots

The Rainbow Riches series has several games we cover, and they differ more than the shared theme suggests.

If you want a simpler screen for phone play, the original Rainbow Riches or Pick n Mix are easier to read. If you want more movement, Rainbow Riches Megaways has a listed 12,500x top prize and high volatility.

UK slot rules on Reels of Gold

The government confirmed the online slot stake limits in its announcement of the £5 and £2 maximum stakes (opens in a new tab): £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over from 9 April 2025, and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds from 21 May 2025. Apps check your age band when you sign up.

Reels of Gold also follows the slot design rules in the Commission's responsible product design standard (opens in a new tab): no autoplay, at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no turbo or slam-stop, and no celebrating a win that is equal to or less than your stake. Our page on why there's no autoplay explains the reasoning.

Who the Reels of Gold slot suits

Reels of Gold suits players who already like the Rainbow Riches style and want more on screen at once. It is less suited to small phones, and to anyone who wants a single clear RTP figure, since the number depends on stake.

Where to play Reels of Gold with a welcome offer

We can't confirm that our partners carry Reels of Gold, so search the app's game lobby before signing up. The offers below are for slots in general, need you to be 18+, and come with terms.

PlayOJO's app gives 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza to new UK customers (not Northern Ireland) whose first deposit is £10 or more. Each spin is 10p and any winnings are paid as cash with no wagering; the offer can't be combined with others.

At Coral, new players who deposit and bet £10 on slots between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027 get 100 free spins at 10p on selected games: accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days, no wagering on winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded.

Ladbrokes gives 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500, 10p each, selected games, no wagering) after you deposit and spend £10 on slots. Claim each day before 23:59; spins last 7 days. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers don't qualify. For a wider list, see our best slot apps.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.