Tumble (cascading reels): what it means in slots
A tumble, also called cascading or avalanche reels, removes winning symbols and drops new ones into the gaps, so one paid spin can produce several wins in a row.
By Ryan Jessop. Updated .
Key takeaways
- Winning symbols disappear and new ones fall in.
- Continues until no new win forms.
- One spin can pay several times.
- Often paired with multipliers.
How tumbles work
- A winning combination pays.
- Those symbols vanish.
- Symbols above drop down and new ones fill the top.
- If a new win forms, it pays and the process repeats.
Examples
Sweet Bonanza and Gates of Olympus both use tumbles with pays-anywhere wins: eight or more matching symbols anywhere on the grid pay.
Tumbles and the spin-speed rule
A paid spin still takes at least 2.5 seconds in the UK. Tumbles within that spin play out as part of the same game cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a tumble a free spin?
No. Tumbles are extra wins within the same paid spin.
Do tumbles cost extra?
No.
Which slots use tumbles?
Sweet Bonanza and Gates of Olympus among our reviewed slots.