An apparatus for detecting the position of a reel in a reel-type slot machine is described. A drive gear is mounted on axis with each reel and stepper motor. The drive gear rotates with and is driven by the motor. The drive gear includes at least one flag to detect a home position once every revolution of the reel. The drive gear drives a second gear which has a proportional ratio to that of the drive gear corresponding to the number of symbols displayed on the reel. The driven gear also has one or more flags placed thereon. A detection device positioned near the mesh point of the gears signals both the home position of a reel and intermediate positions corresponding to each display symbol on the reel. Such apparatus can be used to detect the position of the reel with increased accuracy but without adding mass to the reels.