Bonanza

The Bonanza slot by Big Time Gaming is a one-of-a-kind gem in the online gambling world. It offers up to 117,649 ways to win on a single spin, thanks to BTG’s patented Megaways mechanic. This online slot remains a crowd favorite with shifting reels, unlimited multipliers, and casino bonus rounds. 

But is the Bonanza slot game a bonanza of bigger wins or a bankroll blunder waiting to happen? Decide for yourself with our unbiased Bonanza slot review below. Learn everything, from the game grid and betting options to symbols, bonus features, winning potential, and strategic tips.

BONANZA SLOT DETAILS

The Bonanza online slot has a vibrant mining theme, crisp graphics, and a colorful soundtrack. It offers high volatility, some impressive features, and a huge maximum win. Before diving into the specifics, let's take a quick look at some essential details.

🤑 RTP96%📈 VolatilityHigh👛 Min. Bet$0.20💸 Max. Bet$20📱 Mobile Launch DateDec. 2016

HOW DO YOU PLAY THE BONANZA ONLINE SLOT GAME?

Learning to play Bonanza is pretty straightforward. The slot has six reels plus an extra horizontal reel in the form of four mining carts. They appear at the top of the game grid, adding symbols to reels 2–5.

Like other games with the Megaways mechanic, Bonanza has varying numbers of symbols, ranging from two to seven symbols per reel. But unlike other Big Time Gaming slots, this game has a unique Duel Reaction system. Every time you get a winning combination, the symbols react—they disappear, and new symbols take their place.

The game’s variability and cascading reels allow for multiple winning combinations on a single spin. All you need to do is select your bet size and get spinning. Matching symbols on adjacent reels gets you a win, beginning from the leftmost reel. Free spins are triggered by the scatter symbols, which can appear anywhere except on the horizontal reel. Only the wild symbol shows up there.

Of course, the base game and free spins round work differently. Below, we cover the specifics of the main features, winning symbols, and bonus features in more detail. 

WHERE TO PLAY BONANZA ONLINE SLOT

If you want to give the game a whirl, you can play Bonanza in demo mode or to win real money. As a popular Megaways slot, it's available at many reputable online casinos. Here are five top platforms where you can play Bonanza on your desktop or mobile device

DraftKings Casino

If you don’t choose an online casino featured in this Bonanza slot review, pick one licensed and regulated to ensure a safe gaming experience.

BONANZA SLOT SYMBOLS

The Bonanza slot machine features a mixed bag of colorful symbols contributing to its vibrant mining theme and engaging base game. Here are the different types:

• Low-Value Symbols: 9, 10, J, Q, K, A.
• High-Value Symbols: Red Gem, Green Gem, Blue Gem, Purple Gem.
• Wild Symbol: Pack of dynamite only appearing in the carts.
• Scatter Symbol: The letters G, O, L, D.
• Free Spin Scatter Symbol: A stack of gold bars only seems in the carts during the bonus rounds.

Each symbol plays a role in creating one of the 117,649 winning combinations and triggering bonus features. (More on that below.)

RTP OF THE BONANZA SLOT

The Bonanza slot boasts a Return to Player (RTP) of 96%, which is relatively high for an online slot. This means that for every $100 wagered, the game is designed to pay out $96 over the long run. It’s an average calculated over hundreds or even thousands of spins, so it doesn’t guarantee a 96% return on each spin.

The RTP is a theoretical percentage that gives players an idea of the game's payout potential. For example, the Bonanza slot machine has a higher winning potential than a game with an RTP of 90%. This indicates a good return on wagers over extended play, making it appealing for casual and seasoned players.

VOLATILITY OF THE BONANZA SLOT

As a medium-to-high-volatility slot, Bonanza Megaways offers the potential for substantial wins. However, these larger payouts occur less frequently than lower-volatility slots. When choosing your bet amount for every spin, this risk-reward ratio is worth considering.

HOW BONANZA SLOT BETTING WORKS

In this section of our Bonanza slot game review, we break down how to place your bets and the range of wagers available:

• Setting Your Bet: Start by setting your bet size using the controls on the right side of the screen, under the waterfall. Adjust the bet amount by clicking the left and right arrows.
• Minimum Bet: The minimum bet is typically $0.20 per spin, depending on the operator. This low entry point makes it accessible for more conservative players who prefer smaller stakes.
• Maximum Bet: The maximum wager allowed per spin is typically set around $20, however, this will also depend on the casino operator you choose. This higher limit is perfect for players who enjoy taking bigger risks.
• Spin Button: Press the big green spin button to start the game once you've set your bet amount. When the reels spin, your wager is deducted from your balance, visible in the bottom-left corner.
• Autoplay Feature: Use the autoplay feature for a more hands-off approach. Set a predetermined number of spins of up to 100 to play automatically at your chosen bet amount. You can also set loss and single-win limits to manage your bankroll.

GETTING PAYOUTS FROM THE BONANZA SLOT

According to Big Time Gaming, the maximum win amount on Bonanza is an impressive 26,000 times your stake. If you’re playing with the typical maximum bet of $20, you can bank up to $520,000 in a single round.

Of course, the payout amount depends on the value of the symbols and the combinations you land. You’ll need a combo of high-value symbols, reactions, and multipliers to achieve the maximum win during the free spin round. 

Wins occur by landing matching symbols on consecutive reels, starting from the leftmost reel. Remember, with the Megaways mechanic, each of the six reels can have a minimum number of two and a maximum number of seven symbols. Plus, there’s the horizontal reel, which adds more symbols to reels 2, 3, 4, and 5. 

When you land a winning combination, the symbols explode and disappear from the reels. New symbols drop down to fill the empty spaces. This cascading reel feature means you can get additional wins in a single spin.

The free spins feature also offers some big potential wins. The unlimited win multiplier kicks in during this bonus round, starting from 1x. It increases every time there’s a reaction and a new symbol appears.

BONANZA SYMBOLS, FUNCTIONS AND PAYOUTS

Each symbol has a different payout value, depending on both how many appear in a round and your bet size. The rarest and most valuable of these symbols is the purple gem. It awards a max win of up to 50x your stake (when you land six of them). 

Next is the red gem, awarding up to 7.5x your stake. The blue and green gem symbols pay up to 2x your original stake. They show up less often, but they reward you with bigger wins. 

Playing card values represent the range of lower-value symbols, from 9 to Ace. While they're more common, they can add small wins to your bankroll throughout the game.

Like most other slots, Bonanza also comes with wild and scatter symbols. Represented by a pack of red dynamite sticks with the word “WILD” emblazoned across them, the wild symbol acts like a joker for all symbols except the scatters. As mentioned, it only appears on the horizontal reel of carts at the top of the game screen.

The game’s scatter symbols are represented by bars of gold with the letters G, O, L, or D. If you land all four, congratulations—you get 12 free spins. Each extra scatter symbol awards another five free spins. 

During the free spins bonus game, the scatter symbol is a stack of gold bars only appearing in the carts. Three awards five more free spins, while four awards an extra 10 free spins. Here’s a quick breakdown of the values and functions of each symbol:

• 9: 3 symbols pay a minimum of 0.1x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 0.8x your bet.
• 10: 3 symbols pay a minimum of 0.15x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 0.9x your stake.
• J: 3 symbols pay a minimum of 0.15x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 1x your wager.
• Q: 3 symbols pay a minimum of 0.2x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 1x your bet.
• K: 3 symbols pay a minimum of 0.2x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 1.75x your stake.
• A: 3 symbols pay a minimum of 0.2x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 1.75x your wager.
• Green Gem: 3 symbols pay a minimum of 0.25x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 2x your bet.
• Blue Gem: 3 symbols pay a minimum of 0.25x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 2x your stake.
• Red Gem: 3 symbols pay a minimum of 1x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 7.5x your wager.
• Purple Gem: 2 symbols pay a minimum of 2x, and 6 symbols pay a maximum of 50x your bet.
• Wild Symbol (Dynamite): Substitutes for all symbols except the scatter and appears in the carts only.
• Scatter Symbol (G, O, L, D Letters): Triggers 12 free spin rounds when all four letters land. Additional scatters award another five free spins each.
• Free Spins Scatter Symbol (Gold Bars): Three symbols award an extra five free spins during the bonus round. Four symbols award ten additional free spins. 

The Bonanza online slot is jam-packed with rewarding features you won’t find anywhere else. From reactions and free spins to win multipliers and wild carts, these features add a unique twist to an already popular game. Let’s explore them in detail.

BONANZA SLOT FREE SPINS

The free spins feature in Bonanza Megaways is one of the most thrilling aspects of the game. Landing four scatter symbols to spell the word “GOLD” gives you 12 free spins. Each extra scatter after that awards five more free spins. 

During the free spins round, an unlimited win multiplier starts at 1x and increases by 1 with every cascading win. There's no limit to how high the multiplier can go.

BONANZA SLOT BONUS BUY

For a price, players can skip the wait and get instant free spins with the Bonus Buy feature. It bypasses the need to land scatter symbols. Instead of waiting to win free spins, you can go directly to the free spins bonus.

BONANZA SLOT REACTIONS

Reactions in Bonanza refer to the cascading reels feature. Winning symbols react by exploding, and new ones drop in to fill the gaps. It’s an attractive extra, with multiple winning combinations possible on a single spin. 

BONANZA SLOT CARTS

Bonanza’s slot carts are a quirky feature you’ll notice immediately. Four little mining carts emerge from a tunnel on the right of the game grid, each carrying a symbol. They land on top of reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 as they move horizontally with every spin. Watch for your wild symbols—you’ll only see them in one of these carts. 

BONANZA SLOT WILD DYNAMITE

The Bonanza online slot features a wild dynamite symbol acting like a joker. It substitutes all other symbols during a spin, except scatters.  This explosive symbol can significantly increase your chances of landing a win, especially during bonus rounds.

OUR BONANZA SLOT EXPERIENCE

Set against a Wild West backdrop, the Bonanza online slot features gold-trimmed and sparkling symbols designed to catch your eye. The mining theme is apparent from the get-go, with lush greenery and twangy country music that’s upbeat and pleasant.

The game grid takes center stage, flanked by a running watermill and a miner’s hut. Its rocky background makes the symbols stand out, which we appreciate when every spin is unique.

At first, the carts moving across the screen seem distracting, but a nice rhythm emerges after a few spins. The Reactions keep things interesting, with new symbols appearing and big wins counted on-screen. The controls are easy, the instructions are simple, and the payouts are precise.

TIPS TO SUCCEED AT THE BONANZA SLOT

Here are some tips to enhance your experience while playing Bonanza:

• Start with Smaller Wagers: Understand the game mechanics before gradually increasing your stake.
• Utilize Autoplay: The autoplay function sets a loss, single win, and spin limit.
• Manage Your Bankroll: Create a budget and stick to it.
• Take Advantage of Bonuses: Use online casino bonus codes and welcome offers to boost your play.
• Understand the Paytable: Familiarize yourself with symbol values and payouts.