Speaking to CasinoBeats, Hendricks began by reflecting on his role as Chief Operating Officer at Wizard Games where he oversees the growth and development of the company.

By carrying out a number of operational improvements, Hendricks also shared that Wizard Games has been able to place more of a focus on the ‘creative’ side of the business, which includes the launch of new games and mechanics.

Hendricks said: “With the ongoing operational improvements and our drive towards improving efficiency, the intention is that we’ll allow ourselves more room for creativity. This, in turn, allows us to focus more on game concepts, designs, quality, localisation and the product itself.

“A clear example of our initial steps towards this drive is our recent release, Teddy’s Tavern, which was in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. It has quite a unique mechanic which is called DigiDrop where all wins are multiplied. It has a very unique payout system.”

DigiDrop, he told CasinoBeats, sees players awarded wins depending on the symbols that land on a particular spin during the game.

He added “Normally a game would have symbols which would pay out on a payline. In this particular instance, the symbols are the win values. A zero, or a blank symbol, indicates a loss. Then you have 1-9 which indicates how much you win. 

“Any combination of those numbers which are adjacent to one another determine how much you can win – for example a two next to a zero would give you x20 your bet. It’s very straightforward. It pays fast, up to x10,900 your bet.”

Set up in the latter part of 2021, Wizard Games has already established itself among the leading studios in the igaming industry. Hendricks believes that this has been made possible by the company’s close collaboration with Pariplay.

He said:  “The studio was very embedded in Pariplay’s ecosystem. We still are, even though we are now Wizard Games, and we operate within the Aspire Global ecosystem. As a result of that, our close collaboration with Pariplay and their commercial and compliance teams essentially allows us to leverage as many commercial opportunities as possible. 

“With these close collaborations, we have managed to gain market entry quite fast. Our games, for example, are currently certified in 11 European markets and there is a heavy focus on the US and the wider North American market for us.

“We’ve managed to establish ourselves quite well already as a result of our close collaboration with Pariplay.”

Watch the full interview HERE

The post Deane Hendricks, Wizard Games: the magic behind the mechanics appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Slot of the Week

Book of the Full Moon – Wizard Games

Wizard Games transports players to Ancient Egypt for its latest slot Book of the Full Moon, which also sees Roman Emperor Julius Cesar swing by for a host of page-turning features as the title claimed Slot of the Week.

Backdropped by the pyramids of Giza, Book of the Full Moon presents a 5×3 reel slot with 10-paylines and a maximum win of x1,222 the player’s bet. The slot has low volatility with an RTP range of 92.05-96.05%.

Scatter books can also land on the reels, offering eight, 10 or 12 free spins when three, four or five land on the same spin, respectively. 

Additionally, wild pyramids can appear on the reels, substituting for all symbols other than scatter books. Landing three, four or five wilds on the same payline will award x2.5, x7.5 or x25 the player’s stake, respectively. 

During the base game, a random book feature can occur. This causes a book to spin through all symbols in the game, selecting one symbol to become enhanced by a random multiplier. 

Any wins that occur using the randomly selected symbol will add their multipliers together. This accumulated multiplier value will then be applied to the player’s stake before being awarded. 

In the free spins game mode, the book feature will be active on every spin, with at least one paytable symbol chosen to present multipliers on every spin it appears on. 

This multiplier will begin at x4 but can increase if enough scatters appear across the feature. 

When four scatters appear, one new symbol will become enhanced. If another four scatters land on top of the first four, a new increased multiplier will appear.

A third set of scatters will add a second enhanced symbol, while a final set of four scatter symbols will unlock the highest multiplier value. Each upgrade adds another two spins to the free spins counter. 

Featured slots 

Catdiana – BGaming

BGaming has placed a feline spin on one of Hollywood’s greatest adventurers as players take on Catdiana, a 5×3 reel slot with 25-paylines and a maximum win worth x2,500 the player’s wager. The slot has medium-high volatility with an RTP of 95.3%. 

Julia Alekseeva, Co-CPO at BGaming, stated: “With such a charming main character taking inspiration from the ever-popular Indiana Jones and Puss in Boots, we’re hoping players will be feline just fine with Catdiana.

“Our two sumptuous bonus games lead the way with inspired mechanics, including blazing reels and three lavish jackpots, while the ancient temple-themed style and crisp audiovisual effects add an extra dynamic. This is the best time to get your paws on prizes.”

Coin symbols can land on the reels, displaying monetary prize values that range from x1 to x20 the player’s bet. Landing six or more coins on the same spin will activate the hold-and-win game mode, in which these displayed prizes can be won. 

Ark scatters are included on reels one, three and five, awarding access to the free spins game mode when three or more land on the same turn, as well as an instant payout worth x1 the player’s wager. 

Additionally, Catdiana wilds can drop into play, substituting for all symbols other than ark scatters and coin symbols. Landing three, four or five wilds on a winning payline will award x1, x10 or x20 the player’s bet. 

During the free spins game mode, the middle three reels will merge, allowing them to drop giant 3×3-sized symbols into play, working as nine individual identical symbols to increase the win potential. 

For the hold-and-win game mode, players are given three spins to land as many gold coins on the reels as possible, with each additional coin that appears resetting the number of spins to three. 

Once the three spins have been completed, players will receive the total sum of all coins that dropped into play. 

Additionally, two jackpot coins can appear in this feature, with mini (x30) and major (x100) coins available. However, if players manage to fill the bonus reels with 15 coins, they’ll gain the mega jackpot worth x1,000 their stake. 

Coins of Zeus – Betsoft

Betsoft’s took players atop Mount Olympus as the studio presents mythological Hold and Win spins in Coins of Zeus, a 3×3 reel slot with five-paylines and a maximum win worth x10,000 the player’s wager. The slot has high volatility and an RTP of 96.18%. 

Fernando Van Velzen, Head of Account Management at Betsoft Gaming, stated: “With Coins of Zeus – Hold & Win, we have brought a fresh perspective to the mythological theme. The combination of high-quality design, captivating mechanics, and features like the Zeus bonus give players a truly immersive gaming experience. We are confident it will become a standout addition to our award-winning portfolio.”

Silver coins can land on reels one and three, while gold coins can appear in the middle reel. When three or more coins land on the same spin, the Hold and Win feature will be activated. 

Silver coins display monetary values from x1 to x15 the player’s bet, while jackpot coins of mini (x25), minor (x50), major (x150) and grand (x1,000) can also appear. These prizes can be won in the Hold and Win feature, becoming collected by gold coins that stay sticky in the middle of the reels. 

Wild Greek columns can also land on the reels, substituting for all symbols other than the silver and gold coins. Landing three wilds on a winning payline awards x10 the player’s bet. 

Players are given three spins in the Hold and Win feature as the gold coins collect the values of all other coins that appear around it. Each coin that lands on the reels will reset the number of spins to three. 

The feature will end when no respins remain, with players gaining the value of all the gold coins from the middle reel. 

During the base game, the Hold and Win feature can be randomly triggered when any coin drops into play, as part of the game’s ‘gift of the gods’ feature.

The post Wizard Games, BGaming and Betsoft: on the spin appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Backdropped by the pyramids of Giza, Book of the Full Moon presents a 5×3 reel slot with 10-paylines and a maximum win of x1,222 the player’s bet. The slot has low volatility with an RTP range of 92.05-96.05%. 

Scatter books can also land on the reels, offering eight, 10 or 12 free spins when three, four or five land on the same spin, respectively. 

Additionally, wild pyramids can appear on the reels, substituting for all symbols other than scatter books. Landing three, four or five wilds on the same payline will award x2.5, x7.5 or x25 the player’s stake, respectively. 

During the base game, a random book feature can occur. This causes a book to spin through all symbols in the game, randomly selecting one symbol to become enhanced by a random multiplier. 

Any wins that occur using the randomly selected symbol will add their multipliers together. This accumulated multiplier value will then be applied to the player’s stake before being awarded. 

In the free spins game mode, the book feature will be active on every spin, with at least one paytable symbol chosen to present multipliers on every spin it appears on. 

This multiplier will begin at x4 but can increase if enough scatters appear across the feature. 

When four scatters appear, one new symbol will become enhanced. If another four scatters land on top of the first four, a new increased multiplier will appear.

A third set of scatters will add a second enhanced symbol, while a final set of four scatter symbols will unlock the highest multiplier value. Each upgrade adds another two spins to the free spins counter. 

If readers would like to test out the demo version of Book of the Full Moon for themselves, they can click here to be directed to Wizard Games’ official website. 

The post Wizard Games merges ancient civilisations in SOTW win appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Chicken Burst – Wizard Games

Take a trip to the farmyard as Wizard Games’ latest slot presents a 5×3 reel title with 40-paylines and a maximum win of up to x10,000 the player’s bet. The slot has medium volatility with an RTP range of 88.06-96.1 per cent. 

Bonus gold coins can appear, displaying monetary values from x0.2 to x2.5 the player’s stake. Gold coins can also appear displaying jackpot values of mini (x20), minor (x100) or major (x500). 

Special blue, red and green chicken coins are also available, providing a random chance of activating the hold-and-win game mode when one or more appear on the same turn. 

Wild coin purses can also drop into play, substituting for all symbols other than gold and chicken coins. These wilds can only appear on reels two, three and four. 

When one or more chicken coins drop into play, they can randomly activate the hold-and-win game mode. 

As the bonus game mode begins, five random gold coins will be added to an empty reel set while the triggering chicken coin performs its respective feature. 

Blue coins will reveal a monetary prize from x0.2 to x2.5 the player’s bet or one of the three jackpot prizes, while green chickens collect the values of all other coins on the reel set and red chickens multiply all other coins by x2 before revealing their own coin value. 

Players are then given three spins to land as many coins on the board as possible, with each coin that appears resetting the number of spins to three. 

If players manage to fill the reel set with 15 coins, they will win the game’s grand jackpot prize worth x5,000 their stake. 

Fulong 88 – Play’n GO

Several bet selections are available in Play’n GO’s latest Far East release, a 5×3 reel slot with 243 ways to win and a maximum win of up to x5,000 the player’s wager. 

George Olekszy, Head of Game Retention at Play’n GO, said: “Fulong 88 is yet another title we’re incredibly proud of, for a number of reasons. The designs and overall aesthetics of the game combined with some fantastic features are sure to engage fans, especially those that have loved our other Asian-themed releases. We can’t wait for folks to see more.” 

Five animal symbols depict the high value symbols, with foxes, frogs, tortoises, tigers and phoenixes available. At different bet levels, these symbols will offer different prizes, with wins worth x1 to x125 the player’s bet on offer. 

While the fox symbol only appears in gold, the four remaining high value symbols can be selected to turn gold at different bet levels. The higher the bet level, the more enhanced the game becomes. 

Choosing to turn the frog gold will increase the player’s stake by x2.5, while the tortoise, tiger and phoenix levels will increase the player’s bet by x4.75, x8.5 and x11. 

At these different levels, the high value symbols will award higher payouts for winning combinations. 

Gong scatters are available, triggering 10 free spins when three or more appear on the same spin. 

Gold coin bonus symbols can appear, with each coin collected by a blue sphere that sits above the reel set to provide a random chance of triggering the Fulong’s Fortune game mode. 

After being collected, the coin will be replaced by a ying-yang wild symbol, which substitutes for all symbols other than gong scatters, while occasionally splitting into two to increase the number of ways to win to 576. 

In the Fulong’s Fortune game mode, players are presented with a number of gold coins in a pick-me style bonus game where jackpot prizes can be won. 

The jackpot prizes available in this feature depend on the bet level that the player has selected. At the base level, with only the fox appearing as golden, no jackpot prizes are available and the Fulong’s Fortune game mode is unable to be accessed. 

If the golden frog level is active, the mini jackpot is able to be won in the feature, offering x250 the player’s bet. For the tortoise, tiger and phoenix levels, minor (x468.75), major (x9,375) and grand (x25,000) jackpots become available. 

To win one of these jackpots, players must match three jackpot diamonds of the same colour in the pick-me bonus game. 

In the free spins feature, low value symbols are removed from play and all wilds are guaranteed to split into two to increase the win potential. 

Mutant Trawlers – Bang Bang Games

Bang Bang Games showcases a nuclear spillage in its new slot release, presenting a 5×3 reel slot with 243 ways to win and a maximum win of up to x3,069 the player’s bet. While using an RTP of 96 per cent, the slot has medium-high volatility. 

Mushroom cloud scatters can land on the reels, triggering 12, 15 or 20 free spins when three, four or five land on the same spin, respectively. 

Three fish symbols are also available, with small, medium and large fish symbols displaying monetary values that can range from x0.5 to x40 the player’s stake, depending on their size. 

On random base game spins, fishing boats can appear above any reel. These boats will collect the displayed prize values of any fish symbols that have landed in its reel. 

After collecting these prize values, the boat will transform into a trawler to trigger the trawler respins feature. This causes a free respin to occur while the trawler stays above the reel set but gains a x2 multiplier, giving players another chance to collect fish symbols. 

Each fish symbol that is collected will be enhanced by the trawler’s multiplier, which itself will increase by a value of one after each collection 

New boats can appear during this respin feature, collecting any fish values that are in its own reel. The feature draws to a close when a respin occurs and no fish symbols land to be collected. 

The trawlers will become active in the free spins feature to enhance the game mode, with their multipliers not resetting in between spins but staying persistent for the duration of the free spins. 

Lastly, wild nuclear warning symbols can appear on reels two, three, four and five, substituting for all symbols other than prize fish and mushroom cloud scatters. 

Fugly Pets – Stakelogic

The unwanted animals of a derelict pet store take centre stage in Stakelogic’s latest slot, showcasing a 5×5 reel board that uses 3,125 ways to win and a maximum win of up to x5,000 the player’s wager. This slot is highly volatile with an RTP of 96 per cent. 

Daniela Fricchione, Head of Account Management at Stakelogic, stated: “One thing we love to do at Stakelogic is to play with player expectations. When you think of a pet-themed slot, you imagine something cute and cuddly. Well, we’ve taken that rulebook and fed it to the dogs, putting a fresh spin on the genre with Fugly Pets. 

“It’s not just the theme that is unconventional, either. The game is jam-packed with special features, with the roadkill bonus and super symbols really helping the slot stand out from the pack.”

Cascading wins occur throughout this game, causing winning symbols to disappear after providing their payouts, making way for new symbols to drop in from the top of the reels. 

Super symbols can appear throughout the game, with 2×2, 3×3 and 4×4-sized symbols randomly dropping into play to increase the win potential. Each super symbol will remove symbols below it to land on the very bottom row. 

Beside the reel sits a symbol multiplier reel. Each time a high value pet symbol contributes to a winning cascade, its multiplier value will increase to x2, causing any other winning cascades on the same spin that involve said symbol to become enhanced. 

This can then be repeated, with multipliers of x4, x8, x16, x32 and x64 also available. These high value symbol multipliers will reset in between spins. 

During the free spins game mode, these multiplier values will not reset in between spins, increasing the win potential significantly. 

The post Wizard Games, Play’n GO and Bang Bang Games: on the spin appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Big Money Megaways – Blueprint Gaming

Blueprint Gaming has called upon Big Time Gaming’s famous Megaways mechanic with its latest slot, presenting a five-reel title with up to five rows. While offering up to 15,625 ways to win and a max win of x15,000, the game has medium-high volatility with an RTP of 95 per cent. 

Jo Purvis, Director of Marketing & Relationships at Blueprint Gaming, stated: “The launch of Big Money Megaways adds to our growing collection of money-themed releases, which always enjoy great popularity. It’s a proven theme we think players will respond positively to, especially with the bonus games on offer.

“Megaways provides 15,625 ways to win, granting players more chances to land dollar symbols, trigger money spins and ultimately increase winning potential to open the vault and earn the game’s biggest prizes.”

Gold dollar sign mystery symbols can appear, revealing random identical paytable symbols across the board. 

Additionally, money scatters can appear on the reels, displaying either question marks or ‘frenzy spins’ text, with some also appearing in gold with question marks to represent a jackpot symbol. 

Landing three or more money scatters on the same spin will trigger the money spins game mode, with each question mark or jackpot question mark revealing either a monetary value between x1 and x10 the player’s bet, or jackpot values of mini (x10), minor (x25), major (x100) or mega (x2,000). 

In the money spins game mode, players are given three spins on an empty reel set to land 

as many money scatter prize symbols on the reels as possible. 

Each symbol that drops into play will reset the number of spins to three. Once all three spins have been completed, players will receive the accumulated value of all money prizes that have dropped into play. 

If any ‘frenzy spins’ symbols drop into play, an enhanced bonus game mode will be triggered once the initial three spins are completed. 

Depending on the number of ‘frenzy spins’ that appeared, players will be given a number of spins in which all prize symbols that appear will be instantly awarded. 

Players can buy access to the money spins game mode for x60 their stake, or to one frenzy spin for x100 their stake. 

Hot Slot: 777 Cash Out Grand Gold Edition – Wazdan

Wazdan has extended its Hot Slot series with the addition of a new bank vault symbol, showcasing a 5×3 reel slot with 20-paylines and a maximum win of up to x2,500 the player’s bet. The slot has variable volatility levels of low, medium or high and an RTP of 96.12 per cent. 

Coin symbols can drop into play, displaying either monetary values of x1-x10 the player’s bet or jackpot values of minor (x20), major (x50) or mega (x100). 

Landing these symbols on the same spin as a special ‘cash out’ symbol will instantly award the displayed prizes to the player. 

Furthermore, the game’s grand jackpot prize of x2,500 will be awarded if the reel set becomes entirely filled with coin symbols.

Cash register symbols can also appear, revealing the words ‘cash out’ as they collect all values from golden coins, or jackpot golden coins, present on the same spin. 

Additionally, sticky cash vault symbols can appear displaying counter values between one and 20. These symbols will stay sticky on the reels for a number of spins represented by the counter value. 

Once the bank vault symbol has been on the reels for the displayed number of spins, it will reveal a number between one and five. The symbol will then collect the values of any standard or jackpot coins that appear across those one to five spins. 

Players can also activate the Chance Level feature, allowing them to double their chosen stake – without impacting paytable prizes – in order to increase the chances of landing a jackpot symbol.

Incan Treasures – Wizard Games

Wizard Games has transported players to Machu Picchu with its latest slot release, presenting a 5×3 reel slot with 20-paylines and a maximum win of up to x10,000 the player’s stake. This slot has an RTP range of 88.09-96.02 per cent and medium volatility. 

Benedict McDonagh, Managing Director at Wizard Games, commented: “We are thrilled to unveil Incan Treasures, taking players on an immersive adventure through ancient ruins in search of great rewards.

“Standout features include the gold coins mechanic, awarding multipliers of up to x500 during the base game, alongside rising multipliers of up to x2,000 during the bonus round. With stunning visuals and an adventurous spirit, Incan Treasures exemplifies the creativity that Wizard Games is renowned for.”

Machu Picchu scatters are available, respectively awarding eight, 10 or 12 free spins when three, four or five scatters land on the same spin.

Bonus tribal shields can also drop into play, offering instant wins between x1 and x500 the chosen bet depending on the number of shields that appear on the same turn. 

Additionally, wild W symbols can appear, substituting for all symbols other than the scatters and shields. Landing three, four or five wilds on a winning payline will also award x2, x5 or x12.5 the player’s wager, respectively. 

In the free spins feature, the tribal shield collection bonuses become enhanced. Each time a shield win occurs, the prize values for each number of shields that are collected on subsequent spins will be increased. 

This allows for shield wins to offer a maximum prize of x2,000 the player’s bet. 

Furthermore, landing three, four or five Machu Picchu scatters on the same free spin will award two, three or four extra spins, respectively. 

The post Blueprint Gaming, Wazdan and Wizard Games: on the spin appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Piggi Bank – Wizard Games

Players aim to land prolific piggy banks in the latest title from Pariplay subsidiary Wizard Games, showcasing a 5×3 reel slot with 20-paylines and a maximum win of up to x2,500 the player’s wager. This title has low volatility and an RTP range of 88.01, 94.01 and 96 per cent. 

Benedict McDonagh, Managing Director at Wizard Games, stated: “We are thrilled to expand our portfolio with our exciting new release, Piggi Bank. Incorporating a popular, nostalgic theme with a simple yet lucrative bonus game, we’re confident this will be a smashing slot added to our portfolio.

“We want to be a go-to destination for operators looking to offer diverse, engaging content that stands out to a variety of demographics, and this light-hearted release is another step on our journey to this goal.”

Prize piggy bank symbols are available, displaying monetary values between x0.5 and x200 the player’s bet. These prize values will be collected into the player’s balance if the pig symbols land on the same spin as a special hammer ‘collect’ symbol. 

Additionally, if five or more piggy bank symbols land on the same spin, nine free spins will be awarded. 

Wild money bag symbols are also available, substituting for all symbols other than the piggy banks and collect hammers. Landing three, four or five wilds in a winning combination will also payout x4, x10 or x30 the player’s bet. 

When the free spins game mode is triggered by five or more piggy bank symbols, all those piggy banks symbols will apply their values to a bank vault that sits beside the reel set. 

Then, each time a hammer collect symbol appears during a free spin, the accumulated value in the bank vault will be awarded to the player’s free spins winnings. 

Furthermore, any piggy bank symbols that drop into play throughout the free spins will apply their values to the bank vault sum. 

Players can buy access to three varieties of bonus game mode triggers, with an option to see either five or six pigs landing on the reels available for the price of x80 the player’s wager. 

Alternatively, players can select an option for between seven and nine pigs to appear for x100 their stake, or between 12 and 15 for x120. 

25 Coins – Wazdan

Wazdan’s staple slot series has been expanded with a new cluster-collecting bonus feature as the studio released a 5×5 title that offers a maximum win of x2,000 the player’s wager. This slot has variable volatility levels while using an RTP of 96.17 per cent. 

Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, stated: “Our renowned Coins series of games has proven to be incredibly popular, with more and more features – and reels – being added to every fresh instalment.

“The introduction of a new mechanic to our offering is another hugely exciting moment, and we’re confident that players will love 25 Coins.”

There are no standard symbols in this game, as prizes can only be won during the hold the jackpot bonus game mode. 

This bonus feature is activated by landing any five gold or bonus coins on the middle row in the base game. 

Bonus coins appear throughout both the base and bonus game modes, presenting prize values between x1 and x5 the player’s stake. 

Special cash infinity symbols can also drop on the reels, displaying monetary values between x5 and x10 the player’s bet. These symbols stay sticky on the reels to increase the chances of triggering the hold the jackpot mode.

Wazdan has introduced a ‘cluster collector’ symbol in this new title. This symbol will stay sticky on the reels until the end of the hold the-jackpot bonus game. 

These symbols will collect the values of all coin or cash infinity symbols that appear in the nine positions adjacent to it, adding the values to their own value. This will occur for up to five spins. 

Other symbols that can drop in during this base game include mystery symbols, which can transform into any symbol other than the infinity symbols and a jackpot mystery symbol that will reveal either a mini (x10), minor (x20) or major (x50) prize. These symbols will only perform their features in the hold the jackpot feature. 

Additionally, these two symbols can appear as ‘sticky to infinity’ alternatives, staying on the board until the jackpot feature has been activated and completed. 

With the bonus game mode, three spins are initially awarded to the player, with each new bonus symbol landing on the reels resetting the number of spins to three. 

All symbols that drop onto the reels during this game mode stay sticky for the entirety of the hold the jackpot spins. 

Furthermore, three different jackpot symbols can land on the reels to award players with their corresponding jackpot prizes. Jackpot prizes come in the form of mini, minor and major values, offering x10, x20 and x50 respectively.

Treasure chest symbols are also available, collecting all values from other prizes on the reels and attributing them to their own value. It will then apply a random multiplier between x1 and x20 to its value. 

Hercules Unleashed Dream Drop – Relax Gaming

The latest slot release from Relax Gaming implemented the studio’s Dream Drop mechanic into a title that took players up Mount Olympus to tell the tale of Hercules. 

While using a 5×5 board with 259-ways to win, the slot offers a maximum win of x10,000 alongside its progressive jackpot prizes. The slot uses an RTP of 94 per cent. 

Shelley Hannah, CPO at Relax Gaming, commented: “Hercules is an iconic character that has transcended many forms of entertainment through the years, we are thrilled to have this fabled Greek hero front and centre in our latest release which we are sure will prove popular with players and operators.

“If the great game artwork, engaging mechanics and gripping features weren’t enough to captivate players, we are confident the gargantuan Dream Drop Jackpot will be enough to pique their interest.”

When five identical high value symbols appear in the first reel during the base game, a respin feature is activated. This causes the symbols and any identical symbols appearing on other reels across the board to become sticky, while a free respin occurs around them.

If another identical symbol lands on the board due to this respin, the feature will be repeated. This allows the chance for a large number of paying combinations to be formed with the respin symbol. 

Special lightning symbols can appear during these respins, causing the board to expand by one row each time they drop into play. A maximum board size of 10×5 can be achieved with this symbol. 

Moreover, the identical symbols that appear during the respin can appear with multipliers of x2, x3, x4 or x5, which will be applied to any payline wins that are formed with those symbols during the respin. 

Once a respin occurs with no identical symbols or lightning symbols dropping into play, the feature will end and all payline wins that have been formed will payout their prizes. 

For the bonus game mode, this respin feature is enhanced, as three spins are allocated to the player instead of just one. 

The game mode starts with the lowest-paying high value symbol – the blue lion – appearing as a full stack in the first reel, but this symbol can be upgraded as the game mode plays out.

Special shields can appear in this game mode, with values of one, two or three. These values will be collected in a meter beside the reels. Once this meter reaches a value of 10, the symbol will be upgraded to the next-highest paying high value symbol. 

As in the base game respins, symbols can appear with multiplier values of x2, x3, x4 or x5 that will be applied to any wins formed using said symbols. 

Furthermore, Relax Gaming’s Dream Drop jackpot function is available in this game. 

Randomly triggered jackpot spins can occur in the base game, and when five DD symbols land on the reels in this feature, players will be taken to the Dream Drop bonus. 

Five varying jackpot reels appear in this jackpot feature, while special shields appear beneath them on each spin. Each of these shields will present a number that will be used to fill the space on the shield’s respective jackpot reel. 

Once a jackpot reel is filled by the shields, it will award its respective prize. Five jackpot prizes are available, with players hoping to be lucky enough to claim the millionaire mega jackpot. 

Pigeon Hut – Stakelogic

Stakelogic’s slot production has turned to the hustle and bustle of the city streets with its new release, a slot split into two 5×3 boards that offer 20-paylines each to allow a total of 40-paylines, providing a maximum win of up to x12,500 the player’s bet. 

Daniela Fricchione, Head of Account Management at Stakelogic, commented: “At Stakelogic, we love finding new ways to entertain our players and explore different themes and genres. Pigeon Hut is one of our most amusing and unique titles to date, with the game combining a unique theme with engaging gameplay bonuses and strong winning potential.

“We take pleasure in finding inspiration in the strangest of places, and with Pigeon Hut, we have drawn on the back alleys of cities, bringing them to life with a vibrant animation style and memorable cartoon characters.”

Bonus pigeon wing scatters can appear, triggering eight, 10 or 15 free spins when three, four or five wings land on the same spin, respectively. 

Wild W symbols are also available, substituting for all symbols other than the pigeon wing scatters. Landing three, four or five wilds on a winning payline will respectively provide wins worth x3, x6 or x15 the player’s wager. 

Furthermore, firecracker bonus symbols can drop into play, activating the firecracker bonus features. This causes all high value symbols on both reel sets to transform into wild symbols as a respin bonus occurs. 

When a firecracker symbol drops into play, all high value pigeon symbols in its half of the reel set will turn into wild symbols. These wild symbols then become sticky on the board as a respin occurs around them. 

Each wild symbol will also cause its mirrored position on the opposite reel set to transform into a wild. 

If firecracker symbols land on both reel sets on the same spin, then the bottom reel set will perform its feature first, before the top half repeats it. 

Additionally, two firecracker symbols on the same half of the reel set will cause the wild symbols to appear with multipliers represented by the number of firecrackers that dropped into play. 

As the free respin occurs, any additional firecrackers symbols that drop into play will award one extra respin while increasing any multipliers on the wilds by a value of one. The respins will end when no further firecracker symbols land on either reel set. 

In the free spins game mode, more firecracker symbols and high value pigeons will be added to the reel sets. 

The post Wizard Games, Wazdan and Relax Gaming: on the spin appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Golden Elk – Wizard Games

Wizard Games transported players to an enchanted forest with its latest slot release, showcasing a 5×3 reel grid with 50-paylines and a maximum win of up to x2,576 the player’s wager. This slot has medium volatility with an RTP range of 88-96.25 per cent. 

Benedict McDonagh, Managing Director at Wizard Games, stated: “Golden Elk sees us exploring an enchanted forest in our latest release, where our dazzling graphics clearly shine through. 

“The action-packed game contains both a free spins and a respins mode, as we look to continue to refine our portfolio to appeal to a broad player base.

“2024 is set to be a milestone year for us, and we’re delighted to kickstart it with this exciting new release.”

When six or more golden elk symbols appear on one spin, the spinning wheel bonus feature is activated. 

This presents players with three spins on a mini 3×1 bonus reel that can only reveal either nothing or a golden elk. 

Nine wheel pointers sit above the mini reel and each one has the chance to light up when a golden elk symbol lands on one of the three reels. Only one will be selected per elk, and this will also reset the number of spins to three. 

Once all spins have been played out, the wheel will spin and each highlighted wheel pointer will point to a multiplied bet amount prizes from x1 to x50 or jackpot prizes of minor (x20) or major (x100), which is then awarded to the player. 

However, if players manage to light up all nine wheel pointers, the spinning wheel feature will be skipped as the grand jackpot prize of x2,000 is awarded. 

Book of Elements: Burning Ice – Gamomat

Gamomat turned to the ever-popular ‘Book of’ mechanic for its latest title, presenting players with a 6×4 reel slot that has 20-paylines. The studio’s fantasy-themed slot release uses high volatility with an RTP of 96.13 per cent. 

Book symbols are available, working as wild symbols and as scatters. As wilds, these symbols will substitute for all other symbols in the game. 

As scatters, the book symbols will trigger 10 free spins when three or more appear on the same spin. Landing three, four, five or six books on a winning payline will also provide payouts worth x2, x20, x200 or x500 the player’s stake, respectively. 

When the free spins feature begins, one random paytable symbol – not including the book – will be chosen to be enhanced throughout the game mode. 

This chosen symbol will be able to expand across the reels each time it appears across three or more of the reels. 

These expanded symbols can then provide wins without the use of paylines, increasing the win potential significantly. 

Landing three or more scatters in the bonus game itself will result in an additional 10 spins being awarded to the player. 

Sticky Star Fruits – Apparat Gaming

Apparat Gaming implemented a cocktail of features into its latest fruity slot releases, offering wins through 10-paylines on a 5×3 reel grid. This juicy slot title uses an RTP of 96.14 per cent. 

Martin Frindt, Co-Founder, and Chief Product Officer at Apparat Gaming, commented: “Fruit slots are an absolute blast and in Sticky Star Fruits we deliver explosive big win action through free spins and sticky wilds.

“This is a bold, bright fruit slot that will stand out in any operator game lobby, drawing players to the fruit-filled spectacle they can experience when they fire up the reels for the first time.

“The gameplay is volatile, but this adds to the anticipation of a fruit frenzy occurring with each spin which we know makes for a fruit-lover’s paradise.

“As always, Sticky Star Fruits has been developed with a German accent, an approach that has seen our games be a hit in our home market of Germany and beyond.”

Low value symbols are represented by cherries, lemons, oranges and plums. If the right number of matching combinations land on a single spin, these symbols can offer between x0.5 and x10 the player’s bet. 

Next up, grapes, watermelons and coin purses depict the medium value symbols, offering between x1 and x25 the player’s wager. 

Bells and lucky sevens top the paytable as the game’s high value symbols, providing wins between x0.2 and x50 the chosen stake. 

Blender scatters are also available, triggering 10 free spins when three or more land on the same spin. 

Finally, wild star fruit symbols can appear, substituting for all symbols other than the blender scatters. During the free spins game mode, these symbols will stay sticky in their positions on the board. 

Pandastic Adventure – Play’n GO

Transporting players to the Far East, Play’n GO’s latest slot releases sees players hope to land high value panda symbols on a 5×3 board, offering 20-paylines and a maximum win of up to x6,500 the player’s wager. 

Gold coin scatters can drop into play, triggering eight free spins with instant cash prizes of x3, x5 or x15 when three, four or five land on the same spin, respectively. 

Additionally, wild W symbols can appear, substituting for all symbols other than the gold coin scatters. Landing five wilds on a winning payline will award an instant win of x30 the chosen bet. 

In the free spins game mode, players need to collect eight wild symbols across the eight free spins to trigger the game’s extra bonus feature – the temple treasure bonus. 

For this extra bonus feature, players are given three spins for a hold-and-win style game mode that takes place on an empty reel set. 

On this empty grid, flowers can drop into play depicting monetary prizes including x2, x4, x6, x8 and x10 the player’s bet. 

Also, jackpot prizes can drop into play, with values of mini (x50), minor (x100), major (x1,000) and grand (x5,000) available. 

Each prize that drops into play will stay sticky on the reels, while resetting the number of spins to three. 

Once all spins have been completed, or the board becomes filled with prizes, the player will win all displayed prizes. 

The post Wizard Games, Gamomat and Apparat Gaming: on the spin appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Elvis Frog: Trueways – BGaming

The first episode of 2023 saw Alex Baliukonis, Game Designer at BGaming, discuss the return of the studio’s hound frog in Elvis Frog Trueways.

Elvis Frog Trueways is a six reel slot with up to eight rows, using the studio’s Trueways mechanic to offer up to 262,144 ways to win. The game has special futures including free spins and a coin respin game mode, which gives players the chance to win a mega jackpot prize. 

This slot sees the return of the amphibious rock and roll star, which Baliukonis stated is a key component in the success of this game as players “like to play with someone”. 

He continued: “It’s always great when you get that big win and somebody can celebrate it with you. So Elvis Frog is about emotional design and retention. Above that, he’s also part of the game and all the greatest features are triggered by him.”

“He can bring you a multiplier. He can bring you free spins. So he’s like your buddy who’s helping you to win.” 

When explaining the game’s features, Baliukonis said: “The main character, Elvis Frog, plays the role of the wild and can replace any symbol in a winning combination. In free spins, he has a wild multiplier which gives the ability to increase the winnings.”

He continued: “Also, in the mechanics of Trueways, we have got the hold and spin mechanic, which is very popular amongst players. If you get six or more scatters, you are going to get from 12 to 20 free spins.”

Check out the above video to hear Baliukonis discuss the different jackpot prizes on offer in the title and how the free spins feature impacts gameplay.

Wild Dragon’s Fortune – Tom Horn Gaming

In the spring, SlotBeats took a trip to East Asia as Mykhailo Pushnia, Game Producer at Tom Horn Gaming, took the stage to run through Wild Dragon’s Fortune. 

Pushnia was eager to dive into the inspiration behind Wild Dragon’s Fortune, a 5×4 reel slot with four base game mode options for the player to choose from. These game modes vary from 20-winlines up to 1,024-ways to win through Tom Horn Gaming’s Gifts of Fortune mechanic. 

Looking into the initial design process behind the slot, Pushnia explained: “With this game we decided that we can increase the payouts for the symbols, or we can use higher multipliers, but what actually makes these features outstanding for the players?

“We decided to come up with different winline sets for these base game levels, so while you’re playing on the first level you’re having just 20 winlines, wild multipliers from x1 to x5 and you’re playing low volatility games, slowly getting some nice wins.

“Then, you have the second level which already has 40-winlines, higher wild multipliers and so on, so you actually can receive bigger wins. With the third one you have 100-winlines.”

He continued: “As the biggest feature, we have this 1,024-ways and maximum wild multipliers, so on the last level, with four upgraded symbols, players can get wilds with multipliers up to x8 and there are very big wins.”

While players select what number of high value symbols they want to become enhanced as a Gift of Fortune, the game also offers players the choice of four game modes when triggering the free spins feature from landing blossom tree scatters. 

Commenting on the range of bonus game options, Pushnia said: “In regular free spins game modes, you’re waiting for it and it appears in, let’s say, 200 spins right? 

“But, with Wild Dragon’s Fortune, we decided we wanted to bring something new to the free spins to have players actually experience different game plays, in the same way that we have that in the base game.”

Watch the video above to hear why Pushnia believes the East Asian theme “fits slots perfectly” and what players are able to access using Tom Horn Gaming’s proprietary bonus buy feature – QuickX. 

Treasures of the Count – Wizard Games

With Halloween representing an opportune time for slot studios, October saw SlotBeats cover one of Wizard Games’ spooky slot titles – Treasures of the Count – as the studio’s Director of Game Studio, Simon Jagdhar, shed light on the vampire-themed release. 

After detailing his role within Wizard Games’ slot production, Jagdhar began to dive into the slot release, which offers a 5×4 reel grid, 40-paylines and a maximum win of up to x2,919 the player’s stake. While presenting several base game and bonus features, the slot uses low volatility with an RTP range of 88.08 to 96.06 per cent. 

Explaining why the industry witnesses an abundance of Halloween-themed games at this time of year, Jagdhar said: “Seasonal slots present a great opportunity because of a lot of the work and effort that goes into the seasonal preparation by casinos.

“It’s a very strong period of promotion, emails, text messages, some casinos might go as far as etching out a specific area on the casino homepage just for the seasonal games. Knowing this, providers have an opportunity to feature in all of that promotional activity by making and delivering an on-season game.”

Looking at the slot’s base gameplay, Jagdhar continued: “A good base game is critical to any game. When we make our base game, we always aim to make it as entertaining as possible. 

“We want to have good base game features that happen at a good frequency and have a reasonably good average pay to sustain the player’s balance over time. The last thing you want to see is your balance dwindle away in a couple hundred spins. Something needs to happen to boost it back up again. 

“So, since our main feature in Treasures of the Count is a hold and spin with cash symbols, we also use cash symbols in the base game to hint at what is going to come later in your bigger feature.”

Delving further into the slot’s main bonus feature, the Count Respins game mode, Jagdhar explained: “It’s a hold and spin but we’ve added a multiplier element to it. It works like a classic hold and spin, you get your three spins to get as many cash symbols as you possibly can. 

“The way the multiplier element of the game works is if you fill up a column with cash symbols then there’s going to be a multiplier applied to that column. This multiplier can go as high as x20.” 

To listen to Jagdhar detail how Halloween slots can outlive the short holiday to perform well during other seasons, click the video above.

Donkey & the GOATS – AvatarUX

Bringing the year to a close was AvatarUX, with the company’s Head of Studio, Hubert Spala, appearing on his second Beyond the Reels episode of the year to run through boxing-themed slot release Donkey & the GOATS. 

Looking back at what inspired the slot, Spala stated: “This game is very unique. We are well known for our PopWins games, and this is not a PopWins game. This is a big reach for us in some completely new ground.

“We wanted to have a completely new set of features to work with one another. It’s a foray into a completely new style for us on every level, the visuals, the audio, how they play, how they feel. They are just completely new entities. 

“We want to make a whole family of games like this, we want to expand on this idea. It took a lot of work to get all those features to work together in this fashion, so this is a very new project for AvatarUX.”

Explaining why the studio chose to focus on the sport of boxing for this title, Spala said: “We always look into our portfolio and check what we are missing. You might have an Irish game, an Egyptian game, classics so to speak, but we never really tackled a sport game, and we have some sport enthusiasts inside the studio. 

“We have some people with some expertise in boxing, which actually helped us to figure out what we actually wanted to show, what kind of fights, what kind of scene, what kind of battles, who is going to be our greatest of all time, the ‘GOATs’.”

“It’s all twisted to be a little bit of a parody, but it’s still boxing. You can recognise some famous hits, famous attacks and bouts but it’s all overdone to be a little cheeky, which is of course most visible in our Donkey character – based on the legendary Dom King.”

To watch Spala guide viewers through the many features on offer in Donkey & the GOATS, while providing insights into the studio’s plans for the title to kick-start a new slot series, watch the video above. 

The post AvatarUX, Wizard Games and Tom Horn Gaming – Beyond the Reels rewind appeared first on CasinoBeats.

JinglePop – AvatarUX 

AvatarUX has brought the season’s greetings with its latest PopWins slot title, showcasing a 5×3 reel slot with 65,536 ways to win and a maximum win of x20,000 the player’s bet. The slot has high volatility with an RTP range of 94-96 per cent. 

Nicola Longmuir, CEO at AvatarUX, commented: “It’s the season for giving, and we’re giving players the chance to win big in our latest release JinglePop. 

“With innovative reels rewards, supersized symbols and a max win that will become a real treat, it’s a wonderful way for us to herald in the festive season.”

As a PopWins title, each winning symbol in the game will pop and disappear, allowing it to be replaced by two symbols to increase the number of ways to win for that spin. 

This feature is repeated as long as there are more wins as a result of the new symbols appearing on the extended reels, but will reset in between base game spins. 

When activating the free spins game mode, landing three, four or five scatters will trigger the feature with 2048, 6250 or 15,552 starting ways to win, respectively.

After being triggered and before the bonus game mode begins, players are taken to a reels rewards feature.

This presents players with a grid that is the same size as the base game board when the free spins feature was triggered. 

One spin is awarded while each cell in the grid can reveal either a blocker symbol, or one of several free spins bonuses to enhance the bonus gameplay. 

Throughout the free spins game mode, a multiplier will increase by a value of one with each PopWin that occurs, which will be applied to every subsequent win in the game mode. 

Tycoons Billionaire Bucks – Betsoft 

Money talks in Betsoft’s latest slot title, releasing a 5×3 reel title with 25-paylines and a grand jackpot prize of x1,000 the player’s wager. The slot is highly volatile with an RTP of 96.26 per cent.

Fernando Van Velzen, Head of Account Management at Betsoft Gaming, stated: “2023 has seen our releases encompass innovation and variety in theme, mechanics and variance. Hold and win especially has been embraced by our players, so ending the year with Tycoons Billionaire Bucks is fitting. 

“The mix of features, frequent wins and great characterisation in an immersive sequel is the perfect finale to a successful year. We know our players are going to enjoy spinning the reels with the Tycoons.”

Scatter briefcases can also drop into play, paying out independently from paylines to offer x5, x10 or x20 the player’s bet when three, four or five drop in on the same spin respectively. 

Additionally, gold bars can appear displaying monetary values that range from x2 to x45 the player’s stake, or jackpot values of mini (x50), minor (x100), major (x500) or grand (x1,000). 

Landing six or more gold bar symbols on the same spin will activate the hold and win game mode, where the gold bar prizes can be won. 

Wild text symbols are also available, substituting for all symbols other than the gold bar prizes and briefcase scatters. 

In the hold and win game mode, players are given three spins to land as many gold bars on the reels as possible. Each gold bar that appears will remain sticky on the board for the duration of the game mode, while resetting the number of spins to three. 

Once all spins have been completed, players will receive the accumulated value of all gold bars that have dropped into play. 

Grand Pepper Party – Wizard Games 

Wizard Games has turned up the heat with its latest slot release, presenting a 5×5 reel slot with 50-paylines and a maximum win of up to x5,000 the player’s stake. Players can expect medium volatility with this game, as well as an RTP of 96.01. 

Benedict McDonagh, Managing Director at Wizard Games, explained: “Grand Pepper Party adds some real spice to our games portfolio, with our latest hit focused on a raucous fiesta with a tasty max win of x5,000.

“With the potential to land a supersized wild on any spin, it further adds to the excitement as we incorporate new mechanics and themes into our titles.”

Green chilli pepper scatters are available, triggering five free spins when three land on the same spin. 

Red chilli pepper wilds can also appear, substituting for all symbols other than the green chilli scatters. Landing three, four or five wilds in a winning combination will payout x1, x5 or x20 the player’s bet, respectively. 

Additionally, these wilds can appear in various sizes, with 1×1, 2×2, 3×3 and 4×4-sized red chilli wilds available. 

In the free spins game mode, a 1×1 wild will appear on the first spin and roam into new positions on every subsequent spin. 

Each scatter that appears in the free spins game mode will be collected in a meter beside the reels, with every three scatters that are collected awarding an additional three spins while transforming the roaming wild into its next highest size, going from 1×1 to 2×2 and then 3×3 and 4×4. 

Once the wild becomes 4×4-size after nine scatters have been collected, this feature cannot be repeated. This allows for a maximum number of free spins of 14. 

Galactic Racers Dream Drop – Relax Gaming 

Aliens and robots get ready to race in Relax Gaming’s latest slot, showcasing a 5×4 reel slot with 1,024 ways to win and five progressive jackpot prizes on offer. This slot has an RTP of 94 per cent.

Shelley Hannah, CPO at Relax Gaming, said: “We are ending 2023 on a high with Galactic Racers Dream Drop, which has all the elements required to be a sure-fire hit.

“With beautiful graphics and fast-paced action that will keep players entertained from start to finish, and hopefully culminating in a big jackpot win, Galactic Racers promises to be a notable addition to our content portfolio.”

Throughout the game, a random multiplier frames feature can occur in individual cells on the board. This will cause any wins that occur using symbols in said frames to be enhanced by whatever multiplier has been presented. 

If wins occur through several multiplier frames, the multiplier values will be added together before being applied to the winning payouts. 

During the free spins game mode, these multiplier frames will stay sticky on the reels for the duration of the game mode. Landing trophy scatters during the game mode will award one extra free spin each. 

Furthermore, jackpot spins can occur with Dream Drop symbols able to drop into play on an empty reel set. Landing five DD symbols on this spin will activate the jackpot game mode. 

As the jackpot feature is triggered, players must spin a special jackpot reel set with the number of reels that get filled with DD symbols offering specific jackpot prizes. 

If players manage to land one, two, three or four full reels of DD symbols, they will respectively receive the rapid, midi, maxi or major jackpot prize. 

The mega jackpot prize will be awarded if all five reels on the board are filled with DD symbols. 

81 Joker X – Tom Horn Gaming 

Tom Horn Gaming presented a playful joker theme with its most recent slot title, publishing a 4×4 reel slot with 81 ways to win and a maximum win of up to x1,000 the player’s wager. This title has an RTP of 95.12 per cent with medium volatility.

A representative from Tom Horn Gaming added: “Combining a popular Joker theme with a strong performing wild multiplier mechanic, we believe 81 Joker X will appeal not only to traditional slot lovers, but also to the younger demographic which enjoys fast gameplay with good win potential.” 

Low value symbols come in the form of blue, green, purple and red sparkling crests. If the right number of winning combinations land on a single spin, these symbols can offer between x1 and x4 the player’s wager. 

Meanwhile, gemstones in the form of blue diamonds, green circles, purple octagons and red love hearts depict the high value symbols, offering between x1 and x160 the player’s wager. 

Additionally, wild jokers can also appear, substituting for all symbols in the game. 

If one, two or three joker wilds contribute to the same payline win, the payout will be enhanced by multipliers of x2, x4 or x8 respectively. 

A gamble option will be available after any successful spin, allowing players to try and double their winnings by guessing the colour of a random playing card’s suit. 

Also, players can aim to quadruple their winnings by guessing the exact suit of the card. 

The post AvatarUX, Betsoft and Wizard Games: on the spin appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Through the partnership, Pariplay has offered Tipico a collection of proprietary slot releases from its slot studio brand Wizard Games, in addition to third-party content from its Fusion aggregation platform. 

Tsachi Maimon, President and Head of iGaming at NeoGames, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to provide a wealth of fantastic content to Tipico US at the start of 2024 for their updated online casino in New Jersey.

“Following our successful collaboration in the European market, we can’t wait to bring our Wizard Games and Fusion offerings to even more players in North America, a key region for us. 

“With excellent results emerging from regulated states so far, we’re confident this partnership will take Pariplay to new heights.”

The content integration is set to take place in Q1 2024, building on an existing partnership between NeoGames and Tipico that has previously led to similar arrangements in European markets.  

Adrian Vella, US CEO at Tipico, added: “As we celebrate the launch of our new and improved, industry-leading online casino platform in New Jersey, we’re ecstatic to be able to offer Pariplay’s market-leading content to our player base in the new year.

“The Wizard Games portfolio, combined with an expansive Fusion offering, will ensure there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Pariplay is quickly becoming one to watch in the North American market, and we’re honoured to hit the ground running with this collaboration.”

While this move sees Pariplay enhance the distribution of its in-house and third-party slot studios in New Jersey, the firm recently brought Wizard Games’ content catalogue to Germany in a deal with ZEAL.

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