Bonanza : Free Play & Expert Review

Slot Overview

Released in 2016 by Big Time Gaming, this slot was one of the earlier Megaways games to garner attention. It established many of the mechanics associated with this studio’s Megaways games.

With each spin, the Megaways game engine modifies the value of symbols on each reel. Winning combinations appear by matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, rather than by fixed paylines. This can produce 117,649 possible winning combinations in Bonanza, making each spin exciting and unpredictable.

The reels are a 6x4 setup, and they do a good job of creating the atmosphere of mining, as the reels are made of rock and the symbols are rare stones and diamonds.

Try testing out the Bonanza free play to see for yourself what rare stones you might come across.

Theme and Design

With explosive dynamite sticks, wooden timbers, gemstones, and gold bars, these elements transport the player to a rough Wild West mining world. With mine carts rolling along tracks above the reels, Bonanza does a good job of transporting you to a rocky mountainside mine.

The scenery evokes a rustic and gritty underground mine with rocky hills. A water wheel sits on the upper right side of the game, further enhancing the atmosphere. The symbols are various colourful gemstones, gold bars, dynamite, and playing cards.

The theme is well-supported by the sound and animation design. The sound of coins, gold bars sparking, carts trembling, metallic clangs, explosions when dynamite Wilds appear, and other elements that do a good job at picturing the mine setting.

The music is a little tense but proper, with twangy Western undertones and sound effects that amplify the theme. Every time you spin the reels, the cart above them sets off on a journey through the mine and brings symbols that can create winning combinations.

During our playthrough of the Bonanza demo, we managed to trigger the free spins option, which dramatically changed the game's backdrop and atmosphere.

The background lighting intensifies, while the rocky mine glows deep red. The sounds also intensify, creating a sense of urgency, as though you are digging faster through the mine. 

Technical Features

Wager limits

The wagering limits here are a minimum of 0.20 and a maximum of 2. Canadian High rollers may choose a free slot machine with a larger wagering cap, but novices will find the stake range to be welcoming.

RTP & Volatility

The Bonanza RTP is 96%, which is right on the industry average. The volatility here is high, meaning that wins are less frequent, but when they occur, the chances for a big payout are higher.

Bonanza tips: Since the volatility is high in this game. Don't rush to bet all your cash. Ease into the game and feel for yourself the pace of the game.

Symbols

The symbols come in various colorful gems and playing cards, modelled after the rocky theme of this free slot.

Below are the symbols and their values from lowest to highest:

• 9 – x3= 0,1, x4= 0,2, x5= 0,4, x6= 0,8

• 10 – x3= 0,15 x4= 0,25, x5= 0,5, x6= 0,9

• J – x3= 0,15, x4= 0,25, x5= 0,5, x6= 1

• Q – x3= 0,2, x4= 0,25, x5= 0,6, x6= 1

• K – x3= 0,2, x4= 0,4, x5= 0,6, x6= 1,75

• A – x3= 0,2, x4= 0,4, x5= 0,6, x6= 1,75

• Green Gem – x3= 0,25, x4= 0,5, x5= 0,75, x6= 2

• Blue Gem – x3= 0,25, x4= 1, x5= 1,5, x6= 2

• Red Gem – x3= 1, x4= 2, x5= 2,5, x6= 7,5

• Diamond – x2= 2, x3= 5, x4= 10, x5= 25, x6= 50

Wilds and Scatter

The wild in this free video slot is the TNT symbol, which substitutes for every symbol except the scatter.

The scatter consists of 4 different symbols that together spell GOLD. Landing them on the grid will trigger 12 free spins.

Cascading Reels

The cascading reels system in this Bonanza free slot is what makes this game stand out from the rest. Every time a winning combination lands, the symbols that appeared in the win explode and disappear.

New symbols drop in the empty spaces, potentially creating new winning formations. This process is called a reaction and can be repeated indefinitely during a spin. This feature adds a continuation feeling so that players are more engaged throughout the spin.

Megaways Mechanic

Big Time Gaming’s Megaways system, which Bonanza uses, dynamically changes the number of symbols on each reel per spin. Each reel can hold 2 to 7 symbols, and with the help of the top horizontal reel, where the carts roll in, the system can potentially create 117,649 ways to win.

Because the paylines aren't fixed, many Canadians find this slot much more engaging and fun than other traditional slots.

Free Spins

The free spins function can potentially increase the excitement in the Bonanza free slot. It starts with 12 spins and an unlimited multiplier that begins at 1x and grows by 1 with each cascading win.

Because of the cascade's ability to chain together endlessly, the multiplier can climb very high throughout the round. Retriggers are also possible by extra scatters joining the game through the top horizontal reel brought by the cart.

This combination of reel spins, multipliers, and retriggers can lead to huge wins and intense rounds.

How to play Bonanza

As you explore the deep mines that hold unimaginable wealth, a short guide will help you dig through the stones of the Rocky Mountains.

1. To start, press Bonanza free play, press the green rectangular button with the “play” symbol on it, located on the lower right of the screen.

2. To adjust your bet, you will find the bet tab above the spin button with 2 arrows located underneath the value. Press the left or right arrows to increase or decrease your bet. 

3. Clicking on the 3 horizontal arrows located between the spin and betting buttons will open a tab where you will find more information about the payouts and game rules. You can also adjust the sound options from here.

Best Casinos to Play the Bonanza Slot with Real Money

Digging through the Rocky Mountains and discovering the rare gems this game had to offer must have been an exciting experience. Well, we have traversed some mines ourselves and prepared a list of online casinos for Canadian players to explore and play the Bonanza slot machine real money version.

Take out your torch and look for a Bonanza bonus that will boost your chances of striking gold.

Bonanza Free Spins and Bonus Offers

As you go deeper into the mines, it is good to take with you a free spins no deposit deal so that you can strike the rocks without having to worry about losing your shovel. The road ahead is treacherous, so make sure you employ the Bonanza free spins at your disposal.

Bonanza Compared to Other Mine Slots

Our experts bring you similar-themed video slots so you can continue your quest of finding gold in rocky peaks where endless wealth awaits.

	Bonanza	Mystery Mine	Gold Mine Megasplit
RTP	96%	95,44%	94,4%
Progressive	❌	❌	❌
Volatility	High	Medium	Low-Medium
Max Wager	2	100	15
Wilds	✔️	✔️	✔️
Scatters	✔️	✔️	✔️
Autoplay	✔️	✔️	✔️
Ways to win	117,649	25	243

SlotsCalendar Verdict

Hits

• Free spins

• Megaways mechanic

Misses

• No jackpot