Slots have come a long way since the days of pulling a mechanical arm in a dusty RSL on a Saturday arvo. We’ve gone from three reels and a single payline to cascading grids, megaways, and now a mechanic that literally refuses to stop adding reels when the wins keep coming. Infinity reels are the latest brainchild of slot developers, and they’ve quietly become a favourite among punters in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth who want something a bit different from your standard spin-and-pray affair.
The pitch is simple. Each winning combination can trigger an extra reel to be added to the grid, which then locks into place and potentially creates more winning combinations. More combinations means more reels, more reels means more combinations, and so on. It’s a chain reaction of symbols that can turn a humble spin into something that looks like a slot machine trying to eat the screen. Below, we’ll walk through how it all works, where Aussies can play it, and what to look out for before you part with your hard-earned.
What infinity reels actually are
The infinity reels mechanic was popularised by ReelPlay with their game “El Dorado Infinite Reels” back in 2019, and the studio has since rolled out a handful of variations. The idea is a natural evolution of the tumbling reels concept, where winning symbols disappear and new ones drop in. Instead of new symbols, infinity reels spawn an entire new reel on the right-hand side of the grid, expanding the play area each time a win lands.
The reason it’s caught on is that there’s no theoretical limit. Some games cap it at 12 or 15 extra reels, while others genuinely keep going until a non-winning spin. Every additional reel comes with a multiplier bump, so the longer your chain, the bigger the payout. It’s the sort of feature that suits the laid-back Aussie punter who’d rather watch a chain reaction unfold than chase a fixed jackpot. The visual of an ever-growing reel set also makes for genuinely entertaining sessions, even when the wins are modest.
How the mechanics work
For a beginner, infinity reels can look intimidating at first glance because the grid keeps shifting. Here’s a friendly walk-through of what actually happens when you hit the spin button, explained as though we’re sitting side-by-side at the pub.
Step one is placing your bet. Most infinity reels titles let you adjust your coin value and bet level using plus and minus buttons beneath the reels. A typical minimum bet at an online casino starts around 20 cents and can climb to $100 or more per spin depending on how brave you’re feeling. New players often start at the lower end until they get the hang of how quickly the multiplier climbs during a chain. Step two is hitting spin: the reels tumble into place and the game evaluates any winning combinations from left to right, just like a standard slot. Wins are usually highlighted with animated overlays and a coin count appears at the bottom of the screen. The sound design tends to escalate with each reel added, building anticipation as the chain progresses.
Step three is watching for the expansion. If you’ve landed a winning combo, an extra reel slides in from the right and locks into position. The new symbols then drop into place and are evaluated again. If they create another win, another reel joins the party. The grid keeps growing until a spin fails to produce a winning line. Some games will even shrink the grid back down with a flourish once the chain ends, returning you to the original reel set for the next spin. Step four is collecting or gambling. Once the chain ends, your total payout is tallied and either paid directly to your balance or offered up via a gamble feature where you can risk it on a coin flip or a card draw for a chance to double it. The gamble is optional, and most seasoned players skip it because it adds unnecessary variance.
If you’re new to the format, it helps to play a few demo rounds first. Many Aussie-facing casinos offer practice mode, and that’s a fair dinkum way to get your head around the rhythm without burning through your bankroll. Once you’re comfortable, switch to real money and start with the smallest coin size until you understand the volatility.
Where to play infinity reels in Australia
Online pokies remain hugely popular among Australians, despite the strict regulatory environment under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The Act makes it illegal for companies based in Australia to offer real-money casino games online, but locals are free to play at internationally licensed offshore operators that accept AUD and support local payment methods.
When you’re picking a site, it’s worth looking at the infinity reels catalogue, the welcome bonus structure, the deposit options (POLi, BPAY, Neosurf and crypto are common), and whether the platform runs smoothly on your phone. Here’s how a few of the well-known names in the Australian-friendly market stack up against each other.
| Casino | Infinity reels selection | Welcome bonus | Payment methods | Mobile experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Fortune | 6+ dedicated titles, including exclusive variants | Up to $5,000 across first three deposits | Visa, Bitcoin, Neosurf, POLi | Dedicated mobile site, iOS and Android optimised |
| Uptown Pokies | 4 titles, growing library | $8,888 welcome package with free spins | Visa, eZeeWallet, Bitcoin, Neosurf | Responsive browser version, no app needed |
| Playamo | 3 titles | $1,500 + 150 free spins | Visa, Skrill, Neteller, Bitcoin | App available, fast load times |
| King Billy | 2 titles | $2,500 + 250 free spins | Visa, Paysafecard, crypto | Clean mobile interface |
Joe Fortune stands as one of the leaders of the Australian-friendly online casino market, with a deep pokies catalogue and reliable AUD banking. If you’re chasing infinity reels specifically, it’s one of the more established operators carrying the format, and the dedicated mobile interface makes it easy to spin on the run.
Bonus features worth knowing
Beyond the core expanding reel mechanic, most infinity reels games layer on a few extras to keep things spicy. The most common are increasing multipliers that climb with each reel added, free spin rounds triggered by scatter symbols, and wild substitutions that help complete winning lines.
Some titles, like ReelPlay’s “Age of Conquest”, add a jackpot feature where filling the entire expanded grid with the same symbol awards a fixed prize. Others include mystery symbols that transform into matching icons to extend a chain when you’re a single symbol short of a win. There’s also the popular “level up” mechanic in a few games, where reaching a certain chain length transports you to a new environment with upgraded symbols and bigger multipliers.
If you’re chasing the uptown pokies casino no deposit bonus, keep an eye on the wagering requirements attached to any free spin winnings. No-deposit offers typically carry higher playthrough conditions than matched deposit bonuses, so it’s worth reading the fine print before committing. A 50x playthrough on a $10 freebie means you’d need to wager $500 before cashing out, which can be a tough ask on a single slot.
Smart strategies and bankroll tips
Infinity reels can be volatile, so it’s worth setting a budget before you start. Treat your session like a night out at Crown rather than a sure thing, and never chase losses.
Start small. Even a few cents per spin is enough to get the feel for the chain reaction mechanic without wiping yourself out in the first ten minutes. Use autoplay sparingly, because chain reactions can burn through your balance faster than you’d think when multipliers stack up. Set a stop-loss limit before you kick off, and cash out when you’re ahead. If you’ve doubled your session bank, consider locking in some of the profit and walking away with a smile. The chase is where most players get burnt.
Most infinity reels games display the theoretical return to player (RTP) somewhere in the info menu, typically ranging between 95% and 97%. A higher RTP doesn’t guarantee short-term wins, but it does mean the game returns more to players over the long haul. Pair that with sensible bet sizing and you’ll get more spins for your dollar, which is the real secret to enjoying any slot format.
Mobile play and software providers
The beauty of infinity reels is that it works beautifully on a phone. The expanding grid is responsive and adapts to the screen size, and the animations tend to be smooth even on older devices. ReelPlay remains the dominant studio for the format, but you’ll also find adaptations from Microgaming, Yggdrasil and a handful of boutique providers trying to put their own spin on the mechanic.
Loading times are usually under five seconds on a decent 4G connection, and most games run straight in your browser without needing to download an app. For punters in regional WA or outback Queensland where the wifi can be patchier than a damaged road train, it’s worth checking the game’s data usage before kicking off a long session. A typical infinity reels spin uses roughly the same data as loading a short Australian cricket highlight clip, so keep that in mind if you’re playing on a limited mobile plan.
Battery life is another consideration. The constant animations and expanding grids can drain your phone faster than scrolling through your socials during the Boxing Day Test, so keep a charger handy if you’re planning a marathon session.
Playing safely under Aussie rules
Australia’s online gambling landscape is famously strict. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 means Australian-licensed operators can’t offer real-money casino games online, so most of the action happens at overseas-licensed sites that still welcome Aussie players. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) actively monitors and blocks unlicensed operators, and a current blacklist is maintained on their website.
If you choose to play offshore, look for casinos licensed by respected regulators such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission or the Curaçao eGaming board. Reputable sites will also offer responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits, session reminders, and self-exclusion options. Services like Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858) provide free, confidential support to anyone who feels their playing is getting out of hand.
Some states take things further. In Victoria and Western Australia, the relevant state regulators maintain their own exclusions registers that apply across multiple operators, which is worth knowing if you’re a regular punter who wants tighter control. Setting deposit caps and time reminders is the easiest way to keep the activity fun rather than stressful.
For those who’d rather not play with real money at all, social casinos and free-play versions of the same games are available on the App Store and Google Play. You won’t win any cash, but you’ll get the same chain reaction thrills without putting a cent on the line.
All up, infinity reels are a genuinely entertaining twist on a format that’s been around since Charles Fey’s Liberty Bell. The chain reaction mechanic adds a layer of anticipation that traditional slots often lack, and the multiplier bumps mean even a small bet can snowball into something memorable. Whether you’re spinning on the train from Central to Penrith, killing time during a lunch break in Adelaide, or unwinding on the couch after a long arvo, the format suits a quick session or a longer chase. Just remember to play within your means, read the bonus terms, and treat any win as a bonus rather than an expectation. If you keep that mindset, infinity reels can deliver plenty of entertainment without the spin-cycle stress that comes with chasing a single fixed jackpot. No worries, give it a fair crack, and the reels will do the rest.