Abstract: A reel mechanism for use in a playing device comprises a DC motor having a rotor formed with an outer apron on which are displayed a plurality of substantially equally spaced symbols which are to be sequentially displayed in a visual field. The rotor rotates about the stator with the rotor having permanent magnetic poles which interact with the stator. The apron has a plurality of perforations or recesses associated with the individual symbols which are scanned by a plurality of photo-transistor scanning devices so as to generate for each symbol upon its passing of a particular position unique information scanning signals which identify each of the symbols.