Bonanza Slot Review
The Bonanza video slot is set on the reels of a bustling gemstone mine, amidst lush greenery and rocky hillsides. Few games see the spotlight as often as Bonanza does, and its monumental success is largely attributed to the popularisation of the Megaways™ engine. Developed and coined by Big Time Gaming, Bonanza is a staple of any live casino, holding its ground against casino titans like Starburst™. With an RTP of 96%, free spins, and a massive 117,649 ways to win, this timeless hit from Big Time Gaming may be worth checking out!
About the Bonanza Slot
The reels of Bonanza are surrounded by sprouting greens and multicoloured daisies. A rustic cabin sits to the left, snug as a bug in a rug, and a cascading watermill splashes to the right of the rolling Bonanza reels. Bonanza features six reels, dynamic rows, and an extra row up top. The final, fixed row is reserved for the mine’s Carts which haul glistening gemstones, G-O-L-D, and coveted Wilds. The slots has 10 symbols and an unprecedented 117,649 ways to win!
The Bonanza Megaways™, the game’s most identifying feature, took the world by storm. Before the game’s release in 2016, the Megaways™ concept was still new to the casino scene. Players would occasionally bump into 1,000 or 250-liners from Microgaming, anything more than that was largely unheard of. As was Big Time Gaming, one of the smaller developers at the time. With the explosive launch of Bonanza, Big Time Gaming skyrocketed to triumph and popularity in the blink of an eye. To this day, studios and providers all over the world are bidding for a Megaways™ licence of their own in pursuit of BTG’s big-time success.
In a way, Bonanza was Big Time Gaming’s debut on the stage reserved for the world’s biggest and best developers. The talent behind Bonanza certainly did it justice! A lively western tune accompanies every spin, perfectly complementing the ambience of California’s Gold Rush of the 19th century. The graphics and smooth animations are equally stunning — from the shrubbery to the water droplets, every detail is polished to perfection. The wooden cabin, picturesque foliage, and bustling mine construct the perfect backdrop to a game that bridges the peaceful countryside with the perilous era of industrialization. It may seem like the reels are somewhat clunky in comparison to other elements, but we think that the contrast reflects on the beauty and rigidity of the time, emphasizing the hazards of those risking it all for the G-O-L-D.
Bonanza packs a rocky punch, let’s take a deeper look at the game and its most exciting features.
Gameplay
Bonanza may strike as a complicated game, but if you’ve ever set your sights on a game with more than 20-30 paylines, then odds are you’re good to go! Detailed gameplay instructions can be pulled up by clicking on the blue “hamburger” menu on the lower left of the user interface. There you will find the paytable, game rules, features, as well as AUTOPLAY and sound settings.
Wager
Wagering on Bonanza is as straightforward as it gets in any casino slot. Simply press on the green arrow buttons beneath the STAKE field to select your desired wager. No need to tinker with coin values, levels, or paylines! The minimum wager is €0.20 (or currency equivalent) and there is no MAX BET feature in Bonanza, players must adjust all wagers manually. Winning symbol combinations, excluding Scatters, are attributed from left to right. There is a massive total of 117,649 ways to win. If you’re unfamiliar with the Megaways™ engine, think of it as having 117,649 possible paylines.
Symbols
Bonanza features a familiar set of six card symbols: 9, 10, J, Q, K, A, and four lustrous gemstones in green, blue, red, and purple. Winning combinations can be attributed in groups of three to six, except for the purple jewel, which can trigger wins in groups of two to six. On top of the regular symbols, Bonanza also features Wild and Scatter symbols.
Dynamic Rows and Cascading Reels
- The Bonanza online slot has six fixed reels, but the number of rows may change with every spin. Each reel can land anywhere from two to seven symbols.
- Bonanza is also one of the early adopters of cascading reels, sometimes dubbed as Avalanche. Anytime you hit a combo of winning symbols, the symbols in it will disappear and will be replaced by new symbols from above. Cascading reels are a perfect addition to a Megaways™ slot game, creating many more possibilities to win on every spin. This chain reaction can continue until no winning paylines are available.
Carts
The Mining Carts in Bonanza take up an entire row, stretching above reels two, three, four, and five. Think of it as an extra row, with even more opportunities to activate one of the many ways to win. Each spin prompts new carts to arrive and some symbols, like the Wild and Scatter during the Free Spins feature, can only appear in carts. If one of the cart symbols is part of a winning payline, it will be replaced from right to left by oncoming carts.
Wild
The Bonanza Wild is the most hazardous explosive, three sticks of dynamite. It’s crucial to handle such munition with care, the dynamite will only arrive in one of the carts. The Wild will blow through unwanted symbols, replacing them with any other symbol (excluding the Scatter) in the game to trigger a win.
Scatter
The Scatter symbols in Bonanza come as bars of gold, in all shapes and sizes. The bars may drop with the letters G, O, L, and D on them, as well as +5. Lucky players who land all four G-O-L-D bars will be rewarded with 12 free spins. Landing additional Scatters on the same, triggering spin will award an extra five spins on top. Scatter symbols can land anywhere on the reels and do not have to fall on the leftmost reel to count as a win.
Bonanza Free Spins
Activating the Bonanza Free Spins casino bonus feature is no easy feat! Players must land on all four G-O-L-D bars in one spin to claim 12 free spins and proceed to the bonus game. Any additional Scatter symbols on the same spin will award +5 free spins. During this round, an unlimited win multiplier is active. The multiplier will increase by one for every winning combo and will not reset on losing spins.
In this welcome casino bonus game, the carts can carry special Scatter symbols. These Scatters will appear as stacks of gold bars, and can only arrive in one of the carts. Land on a few of these stacks and get even more free spins. Three Scatters will award five free spins, and four will drop an additional 10 free spins.
Winnings will be displayed on the bottom right for the duration of the round, and the total amount will be credited when the Free Spins bonus round concludes.
Bonanza Free Play
Before committing to a real wager, we recommend trying out the Bonanza video slot in the free play DEMO version. Make sure that you are logged into your LV BET account and head over to the Casino page. Search for Bonanza and hover over the thumbnail of the game until you see the grey DEMO button. Experiment with different betting strategies and see if this historic slot is the right fit for you!
Almost all of our 1,000 casino games are released with a free-to-play DEMO mode. Play Bonanza or take a moment to browse and discover other hot titles from Big Time Gaming like Extra Chilli Megaways™ or Who Wants To Be A Millionaire™.
Game Rules
- Variable pay ways up to 117649.
- All wins begin with leftmost reel and pay left to right on consecutive reels, except Scatter which pays on any.
- All Payouts are multiplied by Stake.
- Press the Play button to start the spin at the stake displayed.
- The 6 reels will spin and then come to stop, displaying the result.
- Symbol Wins - A win is matching consecutive symbols, regardless of height, from left to right starting from left most reel. Highest win paid per winning combination. All winning combinations are added together.
- Carts - Each cart adds a symbol to the reel it is above for reels 2,3,4 and 5.
- The RTP is 96%.
Conclusion
Bonanza propelled its devs, Big Time Gaming, to the forefront of innovative game development practically overnight. The popularised Megaways™ engine revolutionised casino games, forever transforming the way we know them. With dynamic rows, free spins, and over 100,000 ways to win — the game offers an unforgettable experience full of twists and turns. No two spins will ever feel the same, that’s the beauty of Bonanza and the secret to its extraordinary success. The creative team at Big Time Gaming flawlessly deliver every element of the game, from gorgeous visuals to immersive sound design. With no stone left unturned, we conclude our review and let you pass the verdict!
Before you do, remember to try out the Bonanza DEMO (for free!) and keep your eyes on LV BET’s promotions, you could well find yourself benefitting from a No Deposit Bonus or Free Spins on Bonanza.