Jackpot Slot Machine

In the grand scheme of online slot machine titles, this effort from 777igt is probably among the most straight to the point you’re likely to come across this year. Not that we’re particularly complaining about that. 

The problem with having reams and reams of 5-reel, 25-payline gamblers like this, is that people become ever more desperate for any way to differentiate them from one another. This means more and more ridiculous themes, when sometimes all you really want to do is get to the good stuff, cut out the cute, and win some big cash prizes.

As the name suggests, Jackpot is all about that and little else. In the spirit of things, then, here’s how this lovely looking casino game plays. 

Red or Black

Jackpot definitely takes the idea of simulating a casino experience at home to its heart. Or maybe that should be spade. Well, actually, there is a surprising lack of suites in the whole game, instead the developers have opted for some more exotic images and motifs. Which is just fine with us. 

The aim of the game is to match up like-pictures in threes, fours or fives. These are winning combinations providing they land on active paylines on the reels. The images include the letters (A, K , Q, J), number 10, and three different icons – all look like treasure of various types, and are easy to distinguish between. Each corresponds to a different monetary value. 

There are also three jackpots. These are the bearded man – Mega Jackpot and most valuable;  the treasure chest – Mini Jackpot and second most valuable; and the precious artifact, which is the Minor Jackpot. You need to land five of each of these at once to secure the respective jackpot payout, which isn’t easy but is definitely pretty good when it happens. 

Playing for Keeps

Jackpot offers different ways in which you can increase your opportunities to win, and the amount you can win at a time. These are definitely worth noting down. First up, look in the bottom of the screen you’ll see a box where you can adjust the size of your bet. By doing this you’re basically putting more money down on the table, and this means you can win more money as a result. Easy. 

You can also adjust the number of paylines in play. Only winning combinations that land on active paylines will count as a win and payout, and so the more paylines in play the better your chances of landing something on them. Be warned, though, money flies out when you’re max betting on all 25 paylines. 

The Winning Combination

There are a few other pictures you’ll want to pay attention to, on top of those mentioned before, as these really change the face of the game. First up,   First up, there’s a Scatter. This will multiply any win lines, by an amount that reflects how many of them you managed to land on the reels. 

Next up is the Free. This will payout free spins, again dependent on how many you landed. A Bonus Game will be triggered when you land what look like golden bowls on reels three, four or five, which is also a lot of fun. Finally, the Japanese calligraphy is a Wild card, and can substitute for any of the ‘standard’ pictures to make a winning combination (so everything other than the Bonus, the Free, the Scatter, and the jackpots). 

Hitting the Jackpot

Jackpot is definitely a modern game for the avid old school players. It harks back to the days of one-armed bandits in pubs- not really themed on anything, just keen to use some exotic iconography to try and create a truly compelling game. 

It’s not particularly basic, mind – there are a lot of ways to win and there’s a bit more to remember than with many games of this kind. Far from a bad thing, this means you’re likely to come back to it again and again. And again. Not least given the gameplay is so sharp and slick; definitely a cut above almost every other gambler we have played in the last few weeks, so best be remembering the name (Jackpot, in case you forgot).