Awesome Reels Slot Machines

Awesome Reels slots must be some of the highest risk, highly volatility games to ever appear in Vegas. You can experience very long periods of spinning without winning anything at all, but if you do hit a big win, you could bag hundreds of dollars, even on a minimum bet.

Released in 2012, Awesome Reels presented a very different play-style from previous generations of slots made by WMS.

It's going to be very interesting to see how these new high-volatility games are liked. Will long periods without winning put players off? Or will the prospect of big wins on minimum bet keep them playing?

Having played the games quite a bit, I would suspect that the next versions will be quite different from the first series. The main reason for this is the extreme volatility of the games, where you can go for long periods without a win.

When I played these games in casinos, a lot of people put in $20, lost it very quickly and then went on to play another game. Also, a lot of players I saw were very excited to hit the free spin bonus, only to be awarded under 100 credits by the end of it (very common). The result was they went and played a different game.

So, perhaps these were just isolated incidents, or that when you do hit a big win, it is so good that it makes you want to keep playing. It will be interesting to watch and see how it all pans out with these games over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RTP of Awesome Reels slots?

WMS has not widely published a specific RTP figure for Awesome Reels. As an explicitly high-volatility series, the theoretical return to player is designed around infrequent but large wins rather than regular smaller payouts. High-volatility WMS titles of this era typically fall in the 94-96% RTP range, though the extreme variance means session results can deviate significantly from the theoretical figure.

Can I play Awesome Reels for real money slots?

Yes, Awesome Reels slots were released by WMS in 2012 and were available for real money play in Las Vegas casinos and other US venues. The series was designed specifically as a high-volatility, high-reward real money slot experience. The prospect of winning hundreds of dollars even on minimum bets is the core real money appeal – alongside the risk of extended losing runs.

What makes Awesome Reels different from other WMS slots?

Awesome Reels represented a deliberate departure from WMS's previous slot design when released in 2012. The defining characteristic is extreme volatility – players can spin for long periods without any wins at all, but when wins come they can be very large even on minimum bets. This high-risk, high-reward play style was notably different from the more balanced volatility of earlier WMS titles.

Is Awesome Reels a high-volatility slot?

Yes, Awesome Reels is one of the highest-volatility slot series to appear in Las Vegas casinos. Long periods without a win are common, and the free spins bonus frequently pays out modest amounts despite the excitement of triggering it. The game is specifically designed for players who prefer rare but large wins over frequent smaller payouts, and requires a substantial bankroll to weather the dry spells.

Who makes Awesome Reels slots?

Awesome Reels was developed by WMS (Williams Interactive) and released in 2012. It was an early example of WMS pushing deliberately into extreme high-volatility territory, offering a play style markedly different from previous WMS slot generations. The series appeared in Las Vegas casino floors and other US land-based venues as part of WMS's ongoing evolution of slot machine design.

Is Awesome Reels suitable for all players?

Awesome Reels is best suited to experienced players who are comfortable with high volatility and have the bankroll to sustain extended periods without wins. Casual players or those on a limited budget are likely to exhaust their funds quickly – as observed by players putting in $20 and losing it before a significant win occurred. Players who prefer more consistent returns are better served by lower-volatility titles.