Always Hot Deluxe: three reels, fruit and nothing else

Back to the three-reel machine

Some players want a slot they can read in one glance, and Always Hot Deluxe is built for them. Three reels, three rows and five paylines: cherries, lemons, oranges, plums, grapes, watermelons, a star and the red seven. That is the whole cast. Greentube’s Deluxe version keeps the bright cabinet look of the original and sharpens it for modern screens.

There are no free spins and no wild symbol in the usual sense. Every win comes from lining up matching symbols across the three reels, so each spin is decided the moment the third reel stops.

Where the excitement comes from

With only three reels, a single spin can fill the screen with one symbol, and those are the results that make the game. The sevens are the prize everyone watches for. Lower fruits land often and return modest amounts, keeping the balance ticking.

After any win, the gamble option lets you guess the colour of a hidden card to double the amount, again and again until you collect or lose. In a game without bonus rounds, that gamble is the only extra decision you will make, which is why many regulars use it, and why it deserves a careful test.

Testing Always Hot Deluxe in demo mode

The demo gives you 1,000 virtual credits, with no sign-up and nothing to install. Because spins are so quick, 300 spins take only a few minutes with autoplay. Try this:

• 100 spins at a stake equivalent to £0.05 without gambling;
• 100 spins at the same stake, gambling every win once;
• compare the two balances.

It is a simple experiment, but it shows clearly how the gamble changes the swings of a session.

Is it worth a try?

If you miss pub fruit machines, yes. If you need features to stay interested, probably not. You can play Always Hot Deluxe free here, and the same game runs for real money at the casinos below.